Thursday 9th June 2016

Hi everyone,

Today 11 people came through the doors for Bible study. One guy came who had not been before. I had been spent some time with him after he had approached me last Sunday.

God brought him along today.

It was a peaceful day with people participating in Bible study.

Next week we will have a week off Thursday Bible study as I have other things to attend to.

Please pray for the group particularly those searching for accommodation.

Pray also for those who move out of the area. Unfortunately as people move on from Edward Eagar Lodge or the area they often stop attending. Pray that they will continue to find and worship the Lord wherever they are.

Thanks for your prayers

Michael

Thursday Bible study

Hi everyone,

Today 9 people came to Bible study. It was a relatively quiet day but people participated in Bible study. Its hard to know whether things are taken to heart or not.

One guy came for the first time. He was not travelling so well mentally but visited and came back 3 times during the afternoon.

Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit work in their lives to transform them.

There are many distractions and false teaching out amongst them. Pray that God will reveal himself to them and that they will come to know and accept the true Jesus.

Please continue to pray for the group as they encounter many distractions from a life with Jesus

Michael

May SHUM team

Thanks to the May SHUM team. I hope that you enjoyed the month apart from waking up very tired on Wednesday morning. It was great to serve with you and I hope that we this will continue into the future.
I hope this month has encouraged you to continue to share Jesus with all the people who cross your life.
Take care and hope to see you again.
Please pray for us when your mind drifts to memories of SHUM.
Thanks
Michael

Thursday 26th May 2016

Hi everyone

It was a relatively quiet day with 9 people attending bible study.

One new person came I had been encouraging him to attend the last couple of weeks

so it was great to see him there.

Another guy came because I had prayed for him and his application for the disability pension had come

through very quickly. He speaks very little English but was very thankful.

Pray that he does not misunderstand or misinterpret God's grace and that he will come to know and accept Jesus as Lord.

Please continue to pray for the group.

Thanks

Michael

Thursday 12th May 2016

Hi everyone,

Today went relatively smoothly. 

Today 11 people came through our doors. This was pretty good considering others were not there as there was a FREE excursion  to Taronga Zoo today, organised by Edward Eagar Lodge.

Please continue to pray for this group that God will work in them and transform their lives.

Many have a knowledge of the Bible and Jesus but applying this to their lives is always a struggle.

Unfortunately there will be no Thursday group next week as I am unavailable next Thursday.

Thanks for your prayers

Michael

Thursday 5th May 2016

Hi everyone,

On Thursday we had 8 people attend Bible study. One lady came, who suffers from anxiety. She came very early but left before we began as she became very anxious.

She need lots of prayer. I also visit her son. He has multiple mental illnesses however he can focus and concentrate when we meet and have Bible study together.

We had quite a number of regulars away today pray they will return and pray that God will continue to work in their  lives

Thanks for your prayers

Michael

Thursday 28th April

Today 13 people came through our doors. There was a bit of heated discussion but it was controlled. God is gracious and continues to bring people, two new people  attended today.

One of them is a man who does not speak much English but has come to the parts of the service on Sunday that he can understand. God works in amazing ways even when our languages are different God can still draw people to Him.

Please continue to pray for the group that God will work in the people who attend and transform their lives.

Thanks for your support prayers.

Michael

April SHUM

Thanks to the April SHUM Team for their particpation in the month and their presence last Sunday.
The people on Sunday always enjoy SHUM's participation in the service. It was great to have them there. This ministry certainly cannot continue without willing participant's.
Praise God that He continues to provide through people like you. Hope to see you all again in the not too distant future.
Thanks again
Michael

Thursday Return after Easter

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your prayers. We returned to Thursday Bible study this week after recess during Easter.

Today 13 people came through our doors. Out of these people 3 had not been before.

It was quite a good time with people asking questions and it was very evident that God was at work in their lives.

I had been at Edward Eagar lodge earlier that morning seeking out 1 person in particular I was told

wanted to attend. I actually found him and was able to encourage him to come which he did.

I also had an interesting conversation to one lady who has been coming to Church and bible study on Sunday and Tuesday.

She said she did not understand alot of what we discussed at each meeting but was learning and wanted to join us today, she did.

Praise and thank God that he continues to work in people's lives. Pray that they will respond appropriately with heart felt acceptance of Jesus as Lord.

Thanks

Michael

March SHUM

Hi everyone,

Thanks to the March SHUM Team who participated faithfully in the month just passed. It was also great to have them at our Easter Sunday service which was well attended. People enjoyed that day despite some frayed tempers and agitation.
Indeed praise God that all events over Easter seemed be well attended on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. It had been an extremely busy time for me coming up to and including Easter.
Hope to see the March SHUM team again in the not too distant future.
Thanks agin for your prayer support and participation
Michael

Thursday 17th March (Now in recess for 2 weeks)

Hi everyone,

Today was a strange day. Altogether 12 people came through our doors. One came just to let me know he was doing ok but had an appointment so he had to leave early. It was good he came to let me know. Another two had not been before they were from Edward Eagar Lodge and one of them had attended on Sunday I had encouraged him to join us. He had to leave early as he had appointment as well . The other guy well I suspect he may have been there for the lunch.

By the time we started Bible study there were only 5 others. However the others trickled in soon after.

Please continue to pray for the group.

Thursday Bible study will be in recess for the next two Thursdays. ( so don’t invite anyone from Tuesday night or tell them when we will restart)

Next Thursday, (Thursday before Good Friday) I have been inviting people to dinner at the lodge which is at 4.30pm and then we will have a short service including communion at 6pm.

I have also been inviting people to our service on Good Friday 10 am followed by a prayer walk around Surry Hills, ending back at the lodge for hot cross buns coffee and a light lunch.

Please pray for the events over the Easter weekend.

Pray that people will attend and their hearts maybe open to the Lord.

Thanks for your prayers and I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday week.

Michael 

Thursday 10th March

Hi everyone,

Today 10 people came through our doors.  One guy who I have been following up from a couple of months ago attended for the first time. I knew him from Edward Eagar Lodge where I am chaplain.

However unfortunately many were not travelling well mentally.

Half way through the study 5 people needed to leave, most not going well mentally. One guy left but stayed to talk to me after and just hung around outside. Another guy I spoke to before we started and he left because he said he could not concentrate and focus on the study. Another guy left because he was mentally not well and angry and began speaking to himself and getting angrier during Bible study. Praise and thank God he left amiably and did not cause any problems with  others.

Please continue to pray for Thursdays and that God will bring people in a good mental state ready to study His word together.

Strangely enough , except not so strange, it happens regularly, I met another guy who was living at the Lodge but has now moved out. I met him at the entrance of the Church just waiting for people to come in. I chatted with him and prayed with him. Pray that God will work in Him and that one day he will return.

Thanks

Michael

Thursday 3rd March 2016

Hi everyone,

Today 10 people came through our doors. However it was a complicated day.

One lady came early to see me from the lodge. She has been coming consistently to weekly bible studies and Church. She is having many legal problems which has led to her situation. Together we  rang ‘legal’ at Wesley who could not help. However whether this is reality or not this is breaking her faith. She did not stay for the study, I prayed for her but she is looking to disconnect from us as God is not answering her in the way she wants.

Please pray that God will speak into her life and keep her in his hand.

Another lady who attended passed out during the study.  After we had finished and cleaned up I had to wake her up and bring her back, giving her coffee until she was coherent. (She had clearly been on something the last day or so and was collapsing from exhaustion) She woke up convinced someone had stolen her phone and some money and that this person was at the Edward Eagar lodge. She went to the lodge and I later followed and then guided her out of the lodge to avoid causing more problems.

Fortunately we found her money in her things but not the phone. I took her back to her borrowed car and she settled down, hopefully to return home.

Please continue to pray for the Thursday group and the people that attend. Pray that God will work in them and transform them. Whatever the reason, many of them are struggling with God and life.

Thanks for your prayers they are most needed.

Michael

Thursday 25th Feb 2016

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your prayers. Today 12 people came through our doors not including 1 person who came afterwards to speak to me about some issues. It was a relatively quiet day with people participating well. We ended our day sharing communion together. It was a very hot day but it was good to see that many had braved the heat to attend.

One person was upset today and he is usually a very easy going happy person. Please pray that God continues to work in Him.

Please continue to pray that God works through this group and lives are transformed.

Thanks

Michael

February SHUM 2016

The first SHUM month for  2016 has been completed.
Thanks to the team who participated. I hope that I will see you return some time and that you will continue to support us in prayer. I also hope that you were encouraged and challenged during your month with us. If you know people who are interested in participating please encourage them to do so and contact me. These first few months see a bit slow to find participants.
Please commit this to prayer and pray that God will continue to provide people for His good work.
Thanks
Michael

People in Conflict - Thursday 18th February 2016

Hi everyone,

Today 11 people came through our doors. 2 of these I met through Wesley Mission and are Christians from the US only here for a couple of months but wanted to attend.

The study was received quite well today with everyone participating. The group has changed again a little. I realise this is due to my involvement with Edward Eagar Lodge. Some people from the lodge attend Bible study consistently but when they leave the lodge they just drop all contact, unfortunately.

Another guy attended from Edward Eagar lodge today, it was his first time. He was brought and encouraged by one of the other residents who attends consistently and is great at inviting and encouraging others to attend.

One lady who attended  to see me, left soon after that. I visited her later this afternoon and drove her to her sons newly acquired, housing provided place. Taking with us a load of things she was providing for her son.

Once there I then unpacked the car , this took a few trips. Then Ineeded to do some shopping for them as both are house bound with Physical and many mental challenges. I have been following both of them up for over a year now visiting them and having short Bible studies together.

Please pray that they will be able to attend the Thursday group soon.

Please pray for a lady who has not attended the last week or so. She is angry and upset.

Please also pray for another 2 ladies who are not attending each because of another person who is present.

As you can see this group requires a lot of prayer support.

Thanks

Michael

Thursday 11th February2016

Hi everyone,

Today was a very busy day. This was not just because of the number of people but because many had issues which they wanted to talk about before and after today’s Bible study.

14 people came through our doors today. Two did not stay for Bible study. They came from Edward Eagar Lodge and it was their first time. We’ll see if they return next week.

Please pray that God will work in their heart and help them to see their need for Him.

Praise God that even though it was a very busy hectic day , my wife , was there to chat to people and that God brought many people together today.   

Please pray for one person who was extremely disgruntled on from Tuesday night because they did get the attention they required. (Tuesday night was very busy)

Pray that God may give her a heart of forgiveness and repentance and that I may have wisdom to know how to continue to handle these situations in a Godly manner.

Thanks for your prayers

Michael

Thursday Bible Study starts for 2016

Hi everyone,

Today was our first Thursday for 2016. 10 people came through the doors to join us for Bible study. It was great to see some people I had not seen for the past couple of months. P Unfortunately there were no new comers from Tuesday nights invitations. Thank you for your prayers as it was good to see people return. There were another at least 4 who were supposed to attend but 3 of them did contact me to say they could not make it.

Another guy came late after we had finish and wanted to chat because he had something else occur this afternoon

Please continue to pray for the group and their commitment to the Lord

Thanks

Michael

SHUM 2016

Hi everyone

February SHUM began SHUM for 2016.

It was an interesting night with people not yet back in full force but still enough there for us to chat, share and pray with. It  was a good night for our first night back. Interestingly enough 2 people happened to pass by who I had not seen for over a year. It was good to see them.

Please continue to pray that God continues to bring people and with that opportunities to encourage people in our Lord , Jesus.

Thanks

Michael