MARCH 2017
ISSUE 22
K I NGFI S H E R FAMILY This is family! We are already a quarter of the way through 2017! In the Vision talk that I gave back in January, I said that 2017 could prove to be a golden year for us, as our two UK congregations merge together to form one vibrant, faith-filled, dynamic congregation and we look to refocus on and give our all to the mission we were given by Jesus Christ 24 years ago.
by which these children are going to Mithowa, was the victim of a be able to have a better future, and robbery, during which he lost his you have enabled this to happen. passport, his bank card, his cell Following on from this, we have phone and all his money. I shared launched the Dumagat Education this news here and around the Program This is an opportunity for Family network. Within minutes, us to invest in those children in a people from India, from the more ongoing way, through pledging Philippines, from other countries in just £5 per month for a five year Africa as well as in the UK were period, to pay for board and lodging responding in prayer. We were able for some of those children to to supply Charles with finances and receive more in-depth schooling at he and his family felt completely We have already embarked upon the elementary school in the lifted up in loving prayer and action. some faith-stretching initiatives. At nearest town, Sibug, which is at the This is family! I cannot imagine the end of January, we launched two foot of the mountain. Our target… anything more exciting to be a part international initiatives: Adopt a to help 16 children to receive that of! Country, and the Dumagat opportunity. Again, you have been so Education Project. The Adopt a All this and the opening of the new generous in your response to this, Country scheme gives the Treasure Seekers building! March that we are able to not only help opportunity for each of us to focus those 16 children, but also resource 4th is the launch date for the new particularly on one of the countries the school at the top of the shop in Gloucester, just three doors represented in the International away from the ‘old’ shop which is mountain that we originally helped Kingfisher family and commit to soon to be reopened as an art via the Harvest Appeal! praying regularly for that country. I workshop and information centre. am pleased to report that every When times are hard here in the With the launch of the new worship country in the Family is now UK and yet our hearts are still open album, Begin Again next month and covered in committed prayer! Can and generous towards people on my new book, The God of Promise you imagine the difference this is the other side of the world who later in the year, I get the sense that going to make around the world? have literally nothing, you just know this is shaping up to be a year unlike that Jesus Christ is doing something any we have experienced so far! The Dumagat Education Program in terms of was launched at the same time. This stirring hearts follows on from our Harvest Appeal and bringing of 2016 where we raised money to plans to pass! both equip a school in the Sierra We are Madre mountains in the Philippines becoming a so that the children of the Dumagat global family, tribe could get a proper education, seeing lives and to buy ginger seeds for the changing here in Dumagat adults to plant and grow the UK and their own crops.You were so genuine care generous in response to this Appeal and concern that we were not only able to do around the this, we were also able to buy the world. Recently, children a computer and generator our National so that they can learn basic Director in computer skills. Education is the key Malawi, Charles Some of the children of the Dumagat tribe at the school in the mountains with their new computer, funding by our Harvest appeal.
News from Kingfisher Treasure Seekers
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News from Kingfisher Church The launch of Kingfishers’ second album You may remember that in October last year we did a live recording of our second album, Begin Again. The album is now almost ready and will be released on Easter Sunday, 16th April. It is a celebration of all that God has been doing and saying in our church, captured in twelve songs that have grown out of that journey. There will be copies of the album at church to buy from Easter Sunday at the cost of £10. Or you can pre-
order your copy online from our website www.kingfisher.org.uk (under the resources tab), or by paying with cash or a cheque at church before March 16th for no extra cost. If you pre-order you will receive two acoustic Kingfisher songs that won't be included on the album, and these will be emailed directly to the purchaser.
Dumagat Education Program The Dumagat are a tribe that lives in the Sierra Madre mountains in the Philippines. They are a poor and isolated group of people, but they are coming to know the Lord and the children are all now receiving a basic education. The aim of this program is for us at Kingfisher in the UK to support some of the children to go further in their education by attending a school in the nearest town, Sibug, at the foot of the mountain. The children cannot travel up and down the mountain each day so need to stay in rented accommodation during the week. We have the opportunity to invest in these children’s future by donating just £5 a month over the next five years. This money will pay the rent and a daily meal for the children to stay at the foot of the mountain during the week and attend Sibug Elementary School. If you join this sponsorship program you will receive regular updates on how the children you are helping to support are doing. Would you consider becoming a sponsor in the Dumagat Education Program? If you would like to sign up please email the office on info@kingfisher.org.uk. Thank you to all those who have already signed up to be a sponsor, you will receive photos of the children you are helping to support very soon!
Starting Friday 10th March, 1pm - 2.30pm Contact Sally on 228489 or sally.collis@kftseekers.org.uk to sign up
News from Kingfisher Church Coming in April - Celebrate Recovery Do things constantly get you down? How successful is your own willpower? How do you handle stress? Are past hurts spoiling your life? Are you struggling to stop a bad habit or addiction? What steals your joy and your peace? Celebrate Recovery (CR) could be just what you are looking for. CR is a Christ-centred, 12-Step recovery programme that is based on eight biblical principles. Through structured weekly meetings it offers the opportunity of a new start and ongoing support for men and women as they seek freedom from their hurts, hang-ups and habits. At Kingfisher we believe that God is in the business of life transformation not just life improvement. Our mission statement has within it the desired aim to see people transformed into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, but so often life gets in the way and our brokenness becomes an obstacle to taking hold of the rich and satisfying life that Jesus said He had come to give us. It’s true that God loves and accepts us as we are, but He loves us far too much to leave us that way.
community is enough to illicit this life change, but others, struggling to cope with past hurts and entrenched behaviour patterns need more direct accountability and support to see that sustainable change become a reality. This is what church is about; to motivate one another to acts of love and good works, to meet together, to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:23-25) and we are praying that CR will be a really accessible way for people, at Kingfisher and beyond, to find that safe environment where they can face and share their struggles and discover hope, through Jesus, for a better future. Each session starts with Large Group Time which includes a short time of worship and either teaching on a Celebrate recovery
For many people coming into the family of the church, discovering who God is and being part of
Adopt a Country With our Adopt a Country scheme you have the opportunity to be a prayer warrior for either Malawi, Mozambique, India or the Philippines. When you’ve chosen a country to pray for you will receive quarterly prayer requests and information on what God is doing in that country through Kingfisher church. The leaflets and sign up sheet will be at the information area at church for the next few weeks or you can email or phone the church office: info@kingfisher.org.uk, 01452 304339 giving your name, email address and the country that you have chosen to pray for.
principle or a testimony from someone who has benefitted from the programme. Later we break into smaller Open Share Groups which are always gender specific and, where possible, issue specific. Groups are led by people who know and have worked through the programme themselves. There are strict guidelines in place to ensure safety and confidentiality. We share our thoughts and feelings about the week’s lesson before moving into open sharing where we can share more about our recovery journey. The groups do not provide counselling or therapy. The evening ends with a social time which is an opportunity to get to know others. For further information please contact Janet Gray on 07834 521917
News from Kingfisher Treasure Seekers Treasure Seekers Performing Arts show On December 8th and 9th last year TSPA put on another amazing end of term show! Hundreds of people squeezed into the Police Headquarters at Waterwells to watch this fantastic Christmas show put on by a cast of about 150 adults with learning disabilities. There was even snow and live reindeer to welcome those who came to Thursday evening show! TSPA are currently rehearsing for their next end of term show which is 80’s themed and will take place on 30th and 31st March. If you would like to come along and experience a TSPA show the flyer to the right has all the details!
Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch On December 12th last year Treasure Seekers hosted a Christmas lunch for about 40 senior citizens from the local area. Thank you to Steve Evans who organised the lunch and to the many people who helped to cook, serve and sing in order to make this a fantastic day for some of our community’s most vulnerable and lonely people.
News from Kingfisher Church The last service at Kingfisher Kingsway! After seven years of serving the community in Kingsway we left on a high on Sunday December 18th with a fantastic Christingle service. A few families from Little Fishes joined us and the children and youth enjoyed making christingles (or a hedgehog in Harvey’s case!). There was a real feeling of celebrating what God has done in Kingsway over the past seven years and of what He will hopefully continue to do as He waters the seeds we’ve planted there.
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Little Fishes Christmas party in Kingsway
News from Kingfisher Church Christmas at Kingfisher Tredworth
ASIAN
This years Holiday Club!
FOOD NIGHT Saturday 1st April 7.30pm Adults £5 Under 12’s £2.50 Sign up at the information area at church
Registration forms will be available after Easter
GET INVOLVED WITH THE NEWSLETTER! In order for this newsletter to grow and develop, we need your help! If you go to any Kingfisher event and have taken a great photo, then please email it to Kirsty at info@kingfisher.org.uk. The copy deadline for the next issue (due out in June 2017) is 22nd May. Or if you would like to get involved in the production of the next newsletter then email us with your particular area of interest. Hope you enjoy hearing all that is happening across the Kingfisher Family!
Kingfisher Church Moor Street Tredworth Gloucester GL1 4NJ www.kingfisher.org.uk info@kingfisher.org.uk +441452 304339 Š Kingfisher Church, 2013