Early Christmas 29th November 2012

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your prayers today.

10 people turned up for Bible discussion although a couple of people had to leave in the middle of study. Two new people attended today. One guy came to know of us through someone else on the street he had the map that we give out on Tuesday nights in his hand. He enjoyed the afternoon and is clearly going through some issues. Unfortunately it looks like he will not be back as he is leaving the area. At least that’s his plan.

Another guy who has been a keen regular for the last couple of years but has really gone wayward as of late, returned today. It was great to see him. Please pray for him that this will be the beginning of getting his life back in order.

A friend and supporter of this ministry provided a fantastic lunch today. It was Christmas early. We had turkey, ham, bread rolls, salad, coleslaw, potatoe salad and desert. It was great and I am hoping appreciated by all. My friend also went to the trouble of driving all the food and containers in.

Big thanks to her and her Bible study friends for their efforts and concern

Thanks again and please continue to pray for the group

Michael

Last Tuesday Night for 2012

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your participation and prayers throughout the year. Last night was the last Tuesday night for this year.  It was  a busy night with people coming in about 3 waves at different times. Chocolate cake was available and was finished but lasted till the end of the night. Thanks to the November SHUM team whom I hope were challenged and encouraged by the month.
Praise and Thanks to God for sustaining yet another year for SHUM. God has provided willing participants who want to share the gospel with others all throughout the 10 months of SHUM this year.
Pray that God will continue to provide and give me wisdom to develop this ministry in whatever way God may want this to occur.
Thanks everyone for your support and prayers and have a joyous Christmas.
PS The Thursday group will continue during December.
Michael

CMS Misssionary thoughts on SHUM

IINTERVIEW with a CMS MISSIONARY on SHUM - To listen please click here!

Thursday 22 November 2012

Hi everyone,

8 people attended Bible discussion yesterday. This did not include another who came and dropped something off for someone but had to leave.

It was a relatively quiet day without incident and people participated well. We also shared communion together.

The minister of the Church I attend was also there to join in as were faithful helpers Ann and Derek.

It was a sort of relief for me to not have as many people there yesterday. God clearly knows what I can cope with and when I need a breather.

Please continue to pray for the people that come and their state of mind and position before God

Thanks Michael

A Busy day Thursday 15th Nov 2012

Hi everyone

Thanks for your prayers, they were needed. Today 14 people attended Bible discussion. By 12.20pm 5 people had arrived with a couple of them being very agitated speaking loudly and aggressively. I called Derek, who assists me each week, over so we could pray about today. I could already see that things could easily get out of hand very quickly. God was gracious and by the time Bible study came around things did calm down with that bunch. However two others who attended today and have been running a longstanding argument for the past month and a half, one of them in the midst of Bible study stormed off and was unhappy, I think with the other.

Although he  has told people he has  forgiven the other clearly there is a way to go.

We need to encourage and pray for both to reconcile their relationship

I was hoping they could both at least get through a session of some event together. However unfortunately that was not today.

Please pray for both, it was more than appropriate today maybe even too appropriate that the passage we studied was Philippians 4:2-9 – Paul encouraging reconciliation between two arguing sisters in the Lord.

Thanks again for your prayers they are most appreciated.

Michael

Thursday 8th November

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your prayers!

Today again 13 people attended Bible discussion and another person came to see me after we had finished that person was quite distressed.

One guy attended from Tuesday night’s invitation. Praise God. He enjoyed our group however it sounds like he will be moving on(?) but wanted to still try and make the Thursdays. Please pray about this as when people move on they generally do not return unless they return to the city. Another new guy came from the invitation of one of the guys who attends semi regularly. He said he was Muslim yet he participated in our discussion which pointed to Jesus as the only way to salvation. Most likely he was Muslim by association. He is Lebanese.

Praise God for another guy who attends semi regularly but has severe mental illness. He arrived at about 11.30 and stayed for the discussion and until we had finished. He was not causing a commotion or disturbance as previously has happened. God was gracious and today went relatively smoothly , well as smooth as things can go. We talked about the races which happened this week – the Melbourne cup and the US presidency and this was a natural progression into today’s study on Philippians.

Thanks again for your prayers

Michael

Meet the November SHUM Team

Last Tuesday night began November SHUM. The night went well and many people came to speak and engage with us in conversation. The group handled itself well speaking to as many people as we could on the night. We left central with people still there and many invitations, encouragement and prayers were given to those we conversed with.

Thanks for your prayers

Michael

A chaotic day Thursday 1st November 2012

Hi everyone

Thanks For your prayers

Today 13 people showed for Bible study. This was not including faithful helper Derek and myself. Two guys who attended today obviously had  a previous altercation. Unfortunately as soon as they saw each other they began arguing. One guy left with the other staying. The one who stayed  was then mentally unstable being annoying, threatening and irritating during the whole afternoon even after people had left.

Fortunately I was able to get him to leave Church calmly without calling the police. Praise God.

Just before Bible study began I set down some rules on how we were to speak and treat each other. Praise God everyone but the guy who was unstable stood by that and were very patient with him.

I did my best to stay on track with the Bible discussion whilst in between trying to contain the other guy who was moving all over the hall. However the group were quite subdued due to events that had already transpired.

Please continue to pray for the group that people will learn and grow in Jesus , that I will teach clearly and that God will control people and their mental state.

In Him

Michael

October 2012 SHUM Team

Thanks to the people who participated in October SHUM. It was encouraging serving with you and I hope you were challenged and encouraged. Hope to see many of you again soon.

Michael