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]]>Redeemer Pioneers - The Parkers in NijmegenTestimoniesRedeemer Church ColchesterWed, 21 May 2025 10:22:00 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/memberstory-prayerandprovision567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:682df83867c64a0c17d7c14d

A Story of Prayer and Provision

At Redeemer, we believe in the power of prayer, community, and God's perfect timing. Today, we are humbled to share a deeply personal story from one of our members. A testimony of desperation turned to hope, of quiet prayers answered in the most tangible ways. This honest and powerful reflection reminds us that even in our hardest seasons, God sees us, hears us, and moves through His people. Let’s listen to her reflection after our resent preach from Geoff Maile, which was on ‘From Promise to Provision.’

May this story encourage you to trust, to listen, and to call on God.

“So about 12 years ago we weren’t in a good place with our finances, it’s a long story! But we were making the very real decision between eating and heating.

We were regularly missing meals to make sure the kids had enough and that we could top up our gas and electricity meters. Then when the car failed it’s MOT we just couldn’t cope with how desparate we felt. We prayed for answers, for help and to be able to provide for our children. The thing we didn’t do was to talk to our church family, as we were so ashamed!

Within days of praying, 3 things happened…

1) My mum turned up with shopping having felt prompted to get as many bogof deals so she could give me the free ones!

2) Our Pastor turned up with so much food we just stood at the door and cried.

3) We were passed an anonymous envelope that contained enough for the car repairs.

These were 3 things that happened for 2 reasons.

1) We cried out from our hearts knowing our God is our Provider.

2) People listened - when praying, other people had trusted what God said to them. They may have questioned random requests whether it was getting the free items in the supermarket or putting a substantial sum into an envelope, but they didn’t doubt what God said, trusting His provision in their circumstances.

We all need to keep crying out from the heart and trusting what we hear. Lastly, if we need help or someone to come alongside, don’t feel ashamed to reach out and know you are so loved.”

- Redeemer Church Member

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]]>Community SpotlightKiera WestTue, 13 May 2025 16:29:42 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/redeemerchurch-servingthecommunityfoodbank567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:6823442ef2da7c767b2367fdColchester Foodbank

At Redeemer, we’re passionate about being a church that actively serves the needs of our community. One of our members, Graham Barker, has been faithfully volunteering at Colchester Foodbank since 2019—and he’s given us an inside look into how it operates, the challenges it faces, and how we can all get involved.

Behind the Scenes at Colchester Foodbank

The Colchester Foodbank is currently based at Tollgate, Stanway, and is one of the largest in Essex—second only to Harlow. From this central hub, and with support from 9 satellite sites across the area, the Foodbank provides vital supplies to individuals and families facing hardship.

The operation is vast, with two main teams:

• Front of House volunteers meet clients, offering support and signposting services, including financial advice in partnership with Colchester Council.

• The Warehouse Team (which includes Graham) receives, sorts, and manages all donations—everything from supermarket collection trolleys to contributions from the public and local businesses.

Food is sorted, dated, and then packed into parcels ready for delivery or collection. However, donations have dropped significantly in recent months, meaning the Foodbank is now spending thousands of pounds weekly to buy essential supplies.

A Volunteer’s Perspective

Graham serves as the Lead Warehouse Volunteer every Monday and Tuesday. He describes the work as deeply meaningful—but also emotionally challenging:

“I don’t think I have the skill set to work Front of House. I find it too heartbreaking and would not know how to handle the clientele.”

He also reflects on the need for a stronger Christian presence within the Foodbank team:

“There’s a surprising lack of Christian emphasis. Some of the trustees may attend church, but many of the volunteers are not Christian.”

Despite these challenges, Graham continues to serve faithfully and encourages others to come see the operation in person, especially on a Monday when the warehouse is buzzing with activity.

How You Can Help

Want to make a difference? Whether you’re interested in volunteering, giving, or just learning more about how the Foodbank supports our neighbours in need, visit the Colchester Foodbank website (see bottom of the page for the link).

Let’s continue to be a church that loves and serves our town in practical ways, like Graham is doing.

More Information

Colchester Foodbank: A Lifeline in Times of Crisis

Colchester Foodbank, part of The Trussell Trust network, has been serving the community since 2008, providing essential support to individuals and families facing financial hardship. In 2023 alone, the foodbank assisted over 24,500 people, a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the growing need for its services.

How to Access Support

If you find yourself in need, the first step is to obtain a foodbank voucher. Local agencies such as Citizens Advice, housing support officers, and health visitors can issue these vouchers after assessing your situation. Once you have a voucher, visit one of Colchester Foodbank's centres, where trained volunteers will provide you with a three-day emergency food parcel tailored to your dietary needs. During your visit, you can also enjoy a warm drink and a friendly conversation in a non-judgmental environment. 

How You Can Help

Colchester Foodbank relies heavily on the generosity of the community. Over 90% of the food distributed comes from public donations. You can contribute by donating non-perishable food items at various collection points across Colchester, including major supermarkets and the foodbank's main site at Tollgate Retail Park. 

Volunteering is another impactful way to support the foodbank. Whether you can spare a few hours a week or assist during peak times, your time and skills are invaluable. To get involved, contact the foodbank directly for more information and application forms. 

Facing Challenges Ahead

Despite its crucial role, Colchester Foodbank is currently facing a significant challenge. The lease for its current location at Tollgate Retail Park is set to end in January 2025, and the landlord plans to redevelop the site. The foodbank is urgently seeking a new permanent home to continue its operations and support the community. They are appealing to landlords, business owners, and the public for assistance in finding a suitable location.

Looking Ahead

Colchester Foodbank's mission extends beyond providing emergency food; it aims to address the root causes of poverty and hunger. Through partnerships with local agencies and advocacy efforts, the foodbank strives to create long-term solutions that reduce the need for food aid. 

Your support, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, plays a vital role in ensuring that Colchester Foodbank can continue to be a beacon of hope for those in crisis.

For more information or to get involved, visit colchester.foodbank.org.uk.

February 2025 Update:

Hi Redeemer, 

Thank you so much for your love, support and prayers for International student ministry in Bulgaria. We are so thankful to have a Church supporting the ministry and us. My Visa got approved and I will be going back to Bulgaria on the 14th of February whilst Sam will be coming back around the 6th of March. 

Read the Bulgarian Christian Student Union director’s newsletter (below) which shares about the events, activities and the groups in 2024.

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]]>The Svandas - our Bulgarian journey - updateGuest UserWed, 23 Oct 2024 15:42:49 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/launch-parties-smash-burgers-and-dining-tables567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:67191378b2e43e1260e77175A month after moving to San Fransico what life looks like for the Woodleys

Our dear friends, Bekka and Jordan, along with little Alfie, have now been in San Francisco for just over a month.

Below is a short video sharing what life has been like for them over the past four weeks. It includes some highlights and a few prayer points they'd love you to stand with them in.

If you would like more regular updates and to stand with them in prayer you can join their Prayer WhatsApp group here.

As mentioned in the video they are hoping to raise some funds towards a car, if you would like to support that, or support them financially in general there are various ways you can support them financially please email Bekka (rebekah@relationalmission.com) to find out more.

Just under 10 years ago God placed California on my heart and throughout our marriage both Jordan and I (Bekka) have felt this call growing stronger and stronger through prophetic words and through our own times of calling on God. This calling hasn’t always been an easy one to hold onto and throughout the last 7 years we have experienced many closed doors and a lot of heartache, but God never let us close it down completely.

Through a series of prophetic words and after an invitation to come from Tom and Josie Shaw, we knew that it was Sanctuary Church in San Francisco that God wanted us to go and support and so last year we decided to drop everything, leave our jobs, rent out our house and go and volunteer for Sanctuary for 6 months.

It was during this time that God really confirmed to us that this was the place he intended for us to take our family.

At the time we were not sure what that would look like but we shared this heart with the leaders in the church and, due to some significant changes within the leadership, a position opened up for Jordan to take on a position of Associate Pastor for the church. In all honesty at the time I think we almost couldn’t believe it was happening - this was something we had fought for for 7 years and now it seemed like the door was finally being opened. We knew there were alot of other hurdles to com to actually make it possible to get out there but God has smashed down each and every one of those in ways that we could never have even asked for and so in just under 2 weeks myself, Jordan and Alfie will officially be on a plane to Los Angeles and then will drive on up to San Francisco to go and join the team at Sanctuary Church!

We could never thank each and everyone of you enough for the part that you have played in preparing us, loving us, and getting us ready for the next step. Whilst it’s painful to have to leave, we’re blessed to have walked this journey with you all.

How can you support us?

Our 4 main prayer points would be;

1. For the final details such as housing, a car, finances and shipping our belongings (and hopefully our cat!)

2. For each of us as we settle into what this new season of life will look like and the changes we are about to face

3. For our family and friends that we are leaving behind, both for comfort now and for wisdom in how to keep communications going across the globe

4. For Sanctuary Church, that we will see God move and strengthen our Church and for their launch in January.

Support us Financially

Bekka will not be allowed to work due the requirements of the VISA and so we are going to be in need of some support! Both now for our moving costs and during our time out there. To find out how best to support us financially please email us here.

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]]>Obeying God’s CallSendingGuest UserWed, 12 Jun 2024 09:51:07 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/the-svandas-our-bulgarian-journey-so-far567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:66696f913f093d4e113886a3

Hi, we're the Svandas! For those who don't know us - we got married and moved to Colchester in July 2023. We have loved getting involved with the life of the church, developing friendship and growing in our faith.

 Jasmine a full time 'relay' ministry worker, a year programme with UCCF to get disciplined and trained to equip and encourage the Christian Union. Jas has a heart for seeing students at the university to hear the gospel, grow and see non-Christians come to faith. At Essex University, we’ve had two people and one person at ARU Chelmsford come to Christ . Jasmine has grown in so many different ways including a passion for mission..

Sam has supported Jas’ ministry whilst being a full time software programmer in the insurance industry, he also enjoys programming in his spare time. Sam has adapted from re locating in Essex and has grown relationships within the church community.

We both have a passion for the church and feel a strong sense of calling to evangelise (even though we both have different ways of doing this, we recognise that everyone is called to be a different part of the body of the Church).

Many years ago, God put the word "international" on Jas' heart. She's been exploring this call ever since. The CU continued to stir a passion for her as she connected with international students and various mission organisation's. When applying for Relay, she was aware of the opportunity of  going abroad to the Christian Union. God started to make this message clear when Jas started her role, and participated in a conference, which shared  opportunities of IFES Christian Union’s across Europe. When she heard about the low number of staff workers and the lack of resources in these countries it broke her heart.Bulgaria was the only country that stood out and God was continuing to stir a passion. At the end of the session, Roxy (UCCF Staff Worker Essex) said “if not you, who”? In a room with 50 Relay workers, she was unable to find anyone with the same passion and knew God was clearly talking to her. Jas spent the following weeks praying and asking God where He wanted Jas to go. All throughout that time, Bulgaria did not leave her heart. It became clear that's where she had to go.

Sam was terrified of the idea of moving abroad.It wasn't until Sam went to a conference "Called To Go", hosted by Relational Mission, that God made it clear to him how we could make it work for us, with moving abroad, his job and even family. In fact, nothing really stood in our way from doing something like this. From that point on Sam was confident and excited that we'd be able to go on mission in another country. They have received plenty of encouragement from their family, and church family, that this was what we are called to do.

Eventually Jas applied to UFM (United For Mission) to partner up with IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students). A part of this application process was to speak to Silas, a staff worker who is currently working in Sofia. They both met him online and made them both super excited to go.It was a very easy application process, again showing that God was leading us into this.

 They flew out in March to Bulgaria and stayed in the capital, Sofia, for a week. Most of the time we were with Silas, learning about Bulgarian culture and getting to know him better. We got some amazing insights to what life is like out there as a ministry worker and made some connections to local churches and people.Halfway into the visit we sat down on a bench, and we spoke about everything and spent time praying to make sure it was God’s will. Since then, we've been putting things into place to make the mission a reality. We've had training with UFM and are currently sorting out visas and learning their language . Jas will need to raise £8000.00  to cover her ministry and living costs. Funds will also cover  buying Bibles, coffees for students, cooking meals, travelling to other cities to support the students, travel costs for conferences, flights home, food and accommodation.

The Svanda’s would love for family and friends to support us in this next year ahead. If you are interested in supporting financially or would like to follow and receive a regular prayer letter we would love to hear from you. You can find the links at the bottom of the blog.

We believe prayer is the starting and most foundational part of this journey,will you join us in prayer?If you’re interested in learning more or supporting us then don’t be afraid to drop us a message!

Prayer Points:

-       The visa application process goes well and we are both accepted. This is a rather complicated process as there’s 2 of us involved.

-       Moving out of Colchester goes smoothly and we are able to get rid of our stuff easily

-       A nice place for us to live in Bulgaria. We are searching for a place in the Center of Sofia so we are easily accessible to students

-       Our marriage, that we continue to grow as a couple, honouring God in all we do

-       Both of us will continue to grow in our walk with God

-       Most importantly, the students and churches we’ll be working with!

-       May students have open hearts to hear and respond to the gospel.

-       For the students to have boldness to share their faith in their universities.

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]]>The Svandas - our Bulgarian journey so far!SendingGuest UserWed, 29 May 2024 10:50:00 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/roxyingermany567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:664c881769cd6863924d2088

“‘They see me…They know me… And they love me’”

Mehr Zusammen (more together) is an annual conference for Newfrontiers in Germany for church leaders and congregation to come together for a weekend. Last year, I served at the weekend away looking after all the kids and I loved it enough to come back! The weekend was full of quality time, good teaching and also giving plenty of room for prayer and prophecy.

I arrived late on Thursday night with some of the gang from England and drove up and up and up right to the top of a hill side. Little did we know of just how beautiful the view and the venue was. It was a youth hostel in a castle! (Germans know how to do youth hostels well).

We spent the weekend looking at the Holy Spirit. Who is he? Where is he in the Bible? How can live with the Holy Spirit? We had two sessions each day, a time for a church update and prayer, and time for prophecy in the ‘boiler room’. We had a lot of fun outside the sessions too! Walks in the Forest, family games night, BBQ, and a scavenger hunt around the castle.

For the churches, the weekend serves as an oasis to be refreshed and as a reset to hear where God might be leading us and their church. For me, this has been part of my journey obeying God to follow our call to make disciples. For some of us we are called to stay and some to go and it’s been on my heart for a while to consider going again (having already served in Austria for a year). It’s been piecing a puzzle together that I still don’t know quite what the picture is. And so this weekend was part of that journey. Enjoying God has he takes me along with him.

But one thing that I’ve been encouraged by from the stories of missionaries and Old and New Testament people is that God’s people are meant to be mobile. We are foreigners and exiles. And in that sense just like in Abraham’s story, it was an act of obedience to follow God’s voice and instruction. Never mind the destination. And for me, pushing doors and going anyway was an act of obedience.

Having gone last year, I loved seeing the families again and how much they’ve been praying for me during the year. They had stories to share with me and I with them. It has a real sense that we were brothers and sisters, partners in the gospel. The kids have of course grown loads and with new people coming I got to hear how God has been moving in their lives and churches. During 2023, I also did the Called To Go course, and having met a family who have now moved to Chemnitz, Germany, on the course, it was so nice to actually spend time together in person.

I think why I love being in these settings is not so much being in Germany (though I love practicing the language and eating the food) but being in a context of ministry pioneers. My day job is working as a missionary in the UK, coming alongside students to disciple them, and to help them share Jesus with their friends. And so in some way, though I went to Germany it was like coming home. They see me in my struggles. They know me in the kinds of weakness. And they love me with the gospel of grace.

And so dear reader, if you are part of a Relational Mission Church, you should consider some of the opportunity to go and learn, to bless and encourage others in RM. You don’t have to be considering long term oversees mission to come alongside brothers and sisters. It is worth taking time to explore options and wait on God to see how he might use you.

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]]>Mehr Zusammen - More Together Germany - Roxy's ReflectionsChurch PlantingNewsSendingRedeemer Church ColchesterWed, 08 May 2024 13:10:15 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/pacificrim-conference567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:663b79bc6907423f3b557716

Recently Hugh travelled to serve at the Relational Mission conference in Seoul. The ‘East’ is a place we carry in our hearts due to prophetic words we have had as church, relating to the ‘east opening up with the move to Colchester.’ This blog is a re-post from David Bareham who serves as a Community Hub leader in Relational Mission. You can find the original post HERE.

The Pacific Rim Conference was the third conference that I have been to in East Asia. The first, in Japan, was with Community Church Nagoya and we gathered around 15 people in Toyota. The second was in Hamamatsu, Japan, where we gathered 35 people from several nations including a group from Yeonnam Community in Seoul. This time we were in Seoul, South Korea where we joined with other Relational Mission churches and pioneering situations all around the Pacific Rim, up to 50 people at some of the sessions! This growing momentum is a real encouragement to all of the churches in the region.

The Pacific Rim Conference was hosted by Yeonnam Community Seoul who did a great job in organising and blessing us with generous hospitality. Great teaching from Mike Betts, Stef Liston and Hugh Pearce to encourage the churches, incredible praise and worship times, and loads of prophetic ministry, some of which was very directional.

Coffee and Bible

Yeonnam Community Church was built on a foundation of friends meeting in coffee shops and reading the Bible together. We had the privilege each morning to join this tradition and we split into small groups to meet in different coffee shops in the area. This is a simple, but powerful way of encouraging one another in our walk with Jesus and doing life with each other. This was modelled so well to us by our hosts from the Yeonnam church, and we can learn a lot about this regular, unhurried time in the Word together.

Searching for the one true God

It was a privilege to hear Yueka’s testimony again. Yueka is from Community Church Nagoya, and I first heard her testimony when she was baptized in November 2023. The second time of hearing was just as powerful! Yueka was searching to find out who the real God was. She tried other religions, including Islam where she read the Koran, and attended mosques. She then had an incredible encounter with Jesus and was convinced that He was real. She decided to follow Jesus and connected into Community Church Nagoya where she was baptized and discipled. That was nearly 6 months ago, and it was great to see her again and to know that she is growing in the Lord.

Families on a mission

We had two families share about what it means to be in a pioneering situation with young children. Firstly Nilesh and Risa shared about pioneering in Nagoya with their two young boys, Aaron and Izaac. They shared the joys and challenges of family life when planting a new church, and gave some real encouragement to other families in a similar situation.

Then Mim shared about pioneering with her husband Pete, and their two young daughters Annabel and Lydia in Taipei, Taiwan. There were some real gems of insight into a Christian family and their daily discipleship habits and how they engage their daughters in the mission.

These two reports were of real benefit for all those with children or those that might be starting families soon.

Renewed and new friendships

It was lovely to see friendships renewed from our previous conference last November, and new friendships being formed. It is part of our DNA as a family of churches that we enjoy one another’s company. So we spent much time in coffee shops, often around the word, meals out together for lunch and dinner, and just hanging out together. These growing friendships are the sign of a real family, i.e. putting the relational into Relational Mission!

Commissioned to go

When we came to the end of our conference time together there was a time of commissioning. It was great to pray for one another and send each other out to continue the work that God had called us to.

Prayer

I believe that the success of the conference was a result of much prayer. I was so grateful to a group of prayer warriors and prophets who daily prayed for our ministry while we were away. The battles won in prayer saw breakthroughs and victories at the conference. It was such comfort to know that the prayers of the saints were being offered up on our behalf. Thank you to all who gave themselves to prayer for this conference.

It felt as if this conference was a marker in the ground. A time when Relational Mission recognised its brothers and sisters from other nations, and set our course for global mission.

If you would like to know more about the Relational Mission family of churches you can visit our website on www.relationalmission.org or message me at hugh.pearce@redeemerchurchcolchester.org.

From Mim in Taipei, Taiwan

Hi all, thank you so much for praying for us at the RM Pacific Rim conference!

I joined the conference from Taipei, Taiwan, where we’ve been living for almost 7 years. It was so wonderful to meet people in different pioneering and church planting contexts in this part of the world. I felt so encouraged and blessed hearing their stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness and it really strengthened my faith. It was so refreshing to worship and pray together and we had lots of really helpful teaching on building good foundations and thinking about strategy moving forward. As the conference was small, we had lots of time to get to know different people and share meals together, which was a really great way of building relationships and encouraging one another. I have come back to Taipei feeling encouraged and with more faith to step out and see what God will do here!

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]]>God is at work in the Pacific Rim - David's reviewResourceGuest UserWed, 15 Nov 2023 13:03:00 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/the-call-resources567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:6554c1a4653f6a2cca5936b9

It was so encouraging to come together again from across our Relational Mission churches for our recent leaders conference!

God has given us a bold and courageous vision, calling us to be globally fruitful, to cross all the boundaries laid before us, making disciples and planting locally led churches.

In October 2023, over five hundred leaders from across our family of churches gathered together to worship Jesus, enjoy fellowship with one another, and be freshly envisioned for what God wants to do among us and beyond us.

The Call - main session recordings

Audio

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]]>The Call - ResourcesChurch LifeNewsRedeemer Church ColchesterTue, 31 Oct 2023 14:51:43 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/2023/11/introducing-sweetmans567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:6541147f09ced344dcc0f2ab

INTRODUCING is a blog series introducing you to some of the members of Redeemer. You will meet some of them through their fact file, their life story, or their faith journey.

🇨🇦 HANNAH & CONOR SWEETMAN 🇨🇦

Hannah & Conor recently moved from Canada to the UK - with Hannah taking up the role of the Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Redeemer.

We are so excited to have joined such a wonderful, warm community that is Redeemer Church Colchester.

Back when we were in the first flush of dating and eventually marriage, dreaming about what a future in England could look like together, we had no idea the way God would slowly put the pieces into place in a way that drew on each of our individual experiences and dreams, weaving them together in a way that still wows us today. The warm, spirit-filled welcome that we have received here in Colchester has been nothing short of incredible, and we’re excited to see how God allows us to contribute to the life of the church and the city.

Going back to the beginning of our relationship, I (Hannah) have lived a variety of chapters that originated in rural Ontario about 4 hours north of Toronto in a community called North Bay, where I grew up in a tight-knit family with one older sister who invited me along on her adventures as a constant tag-along companion, a father who devotedly pastored a small church of 100 people, and a fun-loving mother who left her teaching career to keep the family running through her wit, energy and constant support to our church family.

Eventually, as I graduated secondary school, I felt led to move to Toronto to attend a Christian University (a foreign concept for the UK, so we’ve heard!) called Tyndale University. In this context through studying Business, Philosophy and Theology, I found my eyes and mind opened in a way that allowed me to grow in my faith and understanding of the world in all its multifaceted complexity and beauty. That season taught me to see God in a new way that wasn’t the simple Sunday school boxes that I had previously put Him in. It also was a time of repentance, refinement and deep spiritual growth with God and others. Through each different chapter of my life, through working at summer camps, leading children’s ministries, and the studious and social years of university and eventually a few years working in administration in the corporate office of a paediatric healthcare company, I can confidently say that God used each period to shape the unique blend of my personality, interests and skills today.

One of the defining features of my journey has been the realisation and fusion of two different sides of myself: a desire to take God and the world seriously through intellectual understanding and a philosophical acuity, and the side of myself that loves to have fun, care deeply, and bring joy to those around me as best I can through ministry and working with children. I've always believed that deep faith and learning can coexist in a joyful, childlike way. This perspective has led me to become a licensed minister who can switch seamlessly between serious theological or apologetic discussions and then in the next moment playing on the floor with a toddler. I'm all about merging these two sides, offering depth but also the warm and casual dynamic that hopes to make everyone feel at home.

For me, (Conor) watching Hannah grow into who God has called her to be has been a beautiful and encouraging experience, especially as I’ve seen how the Lord has married us together in a traditional sense, yes, but also in a way that allows us to thrive according to our unique journeys and passions. My journey of faith began in the context of a large family of 4 siblings, all homeschooled throughout our childhood by our devoted and caring mother, and a father who brought creative and intellectual energy to the household as he worked in Student Life at Tyndale University, where Hannah & I would eventually meet. After a childhood full of reading, drawing, going to camp, navigating life with a physical disability, and getting into plenty of squabbles with my many siblings, I began to take my faith seriously just before secondary school, as I had a few memorable experiences of worship and presence with the Holy Spirit that made a lasting impression on me. Throughout secondary school, I found a group of friends from different churches who spent every weekend together hanging out and praying on Friday nights. During those worship nights, I grew substantially in my social life, biblical knowledge and experience of Christ in worship.

However, as I entered my university years, I realised my faith was not as strong as I once thought, and I had trouble integrating my longing for a sense of glory and power that I experienced in worship and even in my own interest in the arts and literature, with the practical demands of day-to-day life and the social and educational strain of that time. Throughout the early years of university, I experienced a period where I “deconstructed” my beliefs and attempted to figure out what I actually wanted to believe in and obey. It was a time of questioning and introspection, a journey of understanding what I truly believed and why.

Out of the confusion of that time, I emerged with a more solid and mature faith, especially after a semester of studying Shakespeare at Oxford in my last year of university. As my undergraduate years came to an end, my understanding of the intellectual foundations of my faith deepened, and my heart underwent a transformation through repentance. I gained clarity on the God-ordained balance of beauty, goodness, and truth. Throughout this time I began to seek a deeper connection with God, and devoted myself to a commitment to service. This journey of faith led me to create Ekstasis Magazine, a project that merged my interest in faith and the arts, and now my full-time job today. 

In retrospect, my journey was marked by various influences–experiences in circles such as Toronto Airport Church (Toronto Blessing), studying the mysticism of old saints, grappling with doubts, my own disability and struggles, and finding the redemption and kindness of God through it all. 

Our individual journeys, as different as they may seem, have converged beautifully into the present. It's here that we find ourselves in a place where faith and creativity intersect, where our shared passion for God's beauty, the church, and service to others can flourish. My path has been one of seeking the transcendent through the arts and literature, while Hannah's journey has emphasised the importance of merging loving God with your heart and your mind!

We also have both enjoyed serving in many different capacities over the years such a leading the Marriage & Pre-Marriage Courses for our church, helping with Alpha Courses, working with the homeless, opening our home to two young girls every month through Safe Families, an organisation that provides respite care for young mothers in crisis, and of course, serving in children’s ministry! 

And that brings us to the present moment. Together, Conor and I believe that our union is about more than just merging our individual journeys. It's about what we can do together, how our unique qualities and experiences can combine to create something even greater.

Our marriage story over the 4 years, is one of growing in new directions, following the call of Jesus, and continually aiming towards growth. It's a reminder that wherever you start, God has a plan to take you to the next stage. As we step into this new chapter, our vision is clear. We want to be vessels through which the Holy Spirit can actively bring joy, creativity, and intellectual curiosity to our church and wider community. 

We want our home to be a cosy gathering place where yummy food, laughter and meaningful conversation is in abundance! We also hope to travel and experience the world and the different cultures that surround us. But most importantly, to honour God in everything that we do. 

We are looking forward to getting to know everyone better over the coming months! 

God Bless,

Conor & Hannah 

The last couple of months have been pretty full-on in ways we could never have imagined. The leadership in the church is going through a huge transition as the Shaw family, who currently lead the team here, are moving back to the UK and we have largely been helping the Church to walk through this and the leadership team to prepare for the next season.

Initially, when this news was delivered to us we struggled a bit to understand why God had held off making a way for us to be here until this point however the last couple of months have shown us he really does have purpose in his timings.

Being here through this season has meant that we have really been able to grow deeper and more intentional friendships as we have been able to share in the processing of the next season with members of the Church here. It has also enabled us to really lean into the things God has grown in us over the last 5 years in terms of Church knowledge, wisdom and other gifting's he has been building within us both as we help the core team build a plan and a vision for the coming months.

We love this Church and the people in it and feel blessed to be able to really dig into seeking what God has for them in the coming months. San Francisco needs the Church more than ever and we are confident that God will use Sanctuary in so many wonderful ways.

In May we had to come home briefly to sort out our VISAs and, what should have been an easyish process, turned into a real 'God this is in your hands' time for us.

The original VISA we were here on was a visitor VISA and we needed to apply for a volunteer VISA. We were told by legal advisors that the wait time for that was only 21 days so we didn't need to rush, HOWEVER, when we applied, the next interview date was the 24th July – Jordan returns to work on the 7th August so we would not have been able to get back here at all.

In faith, I sent an appeal to the embassy, we did not even slightly meet the criteria for expedition but God is bigger than the criteria!. Around a week later we received confirmation that our interview would take place on the 4th May!!

So, we got home. had the interview, and were approved!! We were told we would have VISAs in a week so booked our flights back. Sorted! So we thought...

The day before our flight we still had no VISA and were faced with having to forfeit our flights, book new ones and miss a lot in SF. We just made the call to try and change the flight when I received the email that our VISA was ready to collect! So, we headed to Heathrow that evening and Jordan rushed into London at 6am the next morning to collect them before our flight! God kept us on our toes but really did remain faithful!

Prayer Request

• The Church here - that we will be able to support them and build them up in the best possible ways to be ready for what God has next for this Church.

• Sending the Shaws - that as a Church we are able to support and send the Shaw family well and that they are able to enjoy their last 6 weeks in San Francisco with a smooth landing once they are back in the UK

• Future Plans - for God to make clear to us what he wants us to dig into for the future, we do not feel that our time here is done yet but we need some clarity and firm answers on this so we would love some prayer for guidance and wisdom on this

• Accommodation back home - there have been a few changes in what our plans had been meaning that when we land in July, we currently don't have anywhere to live. Our house is rented out until December so we need somewhere to live for around 4 months.

• Finances - As mentioned above, we are a little stretched as we come into the last few weeks of our time here. God has kept us going so far and we know he will sustain us but we could do with some prayer in this area.

May / June Highlights

• Experiencing Gods blessings andprovision whilst back in the UK getting VISAs

• Increasingly deepening friendships with people here enabling bigger and more challenging conversations

• Both helping to run, and being able to attend Alpha Marriage Course

• Growth in the Worship leaders that we are spending time alongside

• Celebration California Camp with other NF churches in California

• Yosemite trip with friends

Adventures

Whilst the majority of our time here is spent helping with the running of the Church and volunteering with the homeless, we have been so blessed to be able to experience some amazing things while we've been here.

We've been to Ice Hockey Games and Baseball Games, visited Alcatraz and Angel Island, watched adults roll down hills on kids tricycles and eaten ALOT of food!

Also, most recently, we got a chanced to visit Yosemite National Park with some friends from the Church and WOW what an incredible example of Gods INCREDIBLE creation!

Bekka is also still enjoying her times with the homeless community here, spending time making pancakes in the park for them and also working with food banks to help them put together grocery bags for people to collect. Getting to speak to them and support them in their journeys has been a real privilege.

Final Months

We are looking ahead now at what is the last 6 weeks out here and whilst we are very much looking forward to what God will do in this time, we are incredibly sad that our time here is coming to an end. God is really at work here and we are loving watching him move and grow in the Church, having to say goodbye to that feels very heavy on our hearts right now.

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]]>Bekka and Jordan in San Francisco - May / June updateChurch PlantingGuest UserTue, 13 Jun 2023 09:19:17 +0000https://redeemerchurchcolchester.org/blog/the-parkers-and-nijmegen-the-story-so-far567931fc4bf118d6ee53d8cb:56793a54395614c5cd4264e0:64882de97c34a03404a470daLast June Redeemer said goodbye (sniff sniff) to the Parkers as they were sent to plant a church in Nijmegen, in east Netherlands, close to the German border. Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands (remind you of anywhere?!) and has a population of about 180,000. The Netherlands is an affluent country and most people are comfortable financially. This means comfort can be a big idol for the Dutch. As a result, there is an ambivalence to the church and Jesus. Like much of Western Europe, if people think about God at all, it is simply to think ‘why do I need Him?’

Plant Nijmegen, as it was originally called started life as four families called by God to step into this setting of ambivalence to show the people of Nijmegen the beauty of the church and their need for Jesus. To start with the focus was on the four families getting to know each other, building a team and getting themselves settled into a new country and city. Moving to a living in a foreign country involves a lot of life admin and logistical challenges. However,this allowed the team to all pitch in to help each other and strong personal bonds were built in this time, creating a strong foundation as a leadership team.

The church started life in September as small mid-week life groups and since the end of March has been meeting on Sunday under it’s new name, Novio church. There are approximately 20 adults and 20 children, which includes a core team of 18. The church is made up of a mix of Dutch and international families and includes some students. Services are led in Dutch with an English translation.

Traditionally, Dutch churches are more word focused and heavy on tradition so one of the challenges Novio faces is encouraging people to step into using the gifts of the spirit, both by modelling this and providing solid teaching. There is a mix of cultures, nationalities and life stages in the church and leadership team which has meant there is a real focus needed on building unity and church culture. An additional challenge for the Parkers is that they are planting a church at a very different life stage from when they planted Redeemer.

But it isn’t all challenges, God has been blessing the Parkers and the Novio church team abundantly. The Parkers moved to the Netherlands as a family of three, but are now a family of four, welcoming baby Eliza at the end of December last year. Jasper is as proud a big brother as you can imagine, gladly telling anyone within earshot that he has a little sister. Ben and Mikka have also both been blessed with the provision of jobs that they are both enjoying and feel fulfilled in. Rather than just being a means to get them into the Netherlands, both feel that their jobs are a part of the reason God has called them to Nijmegen.

They have also been blessed with great relationships with their fellow church planters. There is a strong team dynamic, but also a strong bond of friendship has already developed.

Please join us in praying for the following:

• For Eliza’s passport to come through quickly so the Parkers can visit the UK in the summer.

• That the church would see salvations early on and show the beauty of the church, to Christians and non-Christians alike

• For the good leadership team dynamic that has developed to remain strong and continue to build.

• That the Parkers would continue to learn how to balance to family life and church life well,

• For their jobs to be extended beyond current contracts

Ben and Mikka would like to thank everyone who has supported them with prayer, financial gifts, encouragement and practical help. They were greatly blessed by how well they were sent by Redeemer. Well done church!

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]]>The Parkers and Nijmegen – the story so far.