Reblogged from be the light:

Recently I have been painting with whoever wants to join me to create some stunning pieces of art. It is a peaceful thing to do, a haven in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. People often want to talk too. Here is an example from Norwich which I did over a two day period as part of ‘Celebrate Norwich’ a joint church venture to show-off all that the churches get up to. Around 150 people painted this with me: Painting with people doesn’t have to be over complicated – the results can often be …

A re-post of one of my favorites!

8.15am- head to Peterborough. Prepare and pray for the day ahead.
9:30am- meet some volunteers, three women who have taken time off work to be part of the team being chaplains in the city. I go through the days program with them.
10am- Lead a training session on Treasure Hunting for a group of YWAM students from Argentina plus my volunteers… Lots of practical practicing and having a go in the prophetic. For some of the Argentines they receive some prophetic words. They seem well chuffed.
11.30am- I join one of the 5 teams heading out into the city to find our treasure. Hearts are pounding… It’s scary but we meet loads of people.
12.30- Feedback time. It’s been a ball ‘out there’ and treasure has been found!
1pm- Street performance with the YWAM team. We talk with some of those watching the songs in Spanish and some of the drama. “They’ve got balls to do that” one lad says. We talk about faith for a bit.
2pm- YWAM team go and volunteers join me on our regular ‘point of contact’ out in the city. Today we’re offering free hugs, free fruit, and opportunities for people to talk if they need.
3pm- I sit for a while and listen to a guy who needs to talk about how he feels after splitting up with his girlfriend… He hasn’t had anyone to talk to for months and has felt sad.
3.30pm- the team have prayed for a few people, had fun, hugged lots and lots, given away around 80 pieces of fruit.
4pm- I’m waiting on a step in the cold for a couple who want to buy a sleeping bag for a guy on the streets and want me to pass it on. It’s getting cold and this kind gift will be needed…
4.10pm- with new sleeping bag in hand I join the debrief of the team. We pray for those we have met as well as for each other.
4.30 I look for the guy whose sleeping bag I have for him… Can’t find him anywhere!
5pm: I call in at one of the shops we went in on our treasure hunt… But they’ve closed… So I keep looking for the guy who is homeless. I walk back to where he usually hangs out. No joy.
5.45pm- I give up looking for the guy and head home…

What a beauty of a day.

A week on and Jeff finds me out and tells me, with tears, of a new coat that an elderly lady and her care-worker went and bought him… For £107! He kept telling me how much it had cost them and how he had tried to dissuade them.

We prayed again this week, Jeff said that his new coat reminded him of his new life in Jesus. Simple.

It was a lavish affair, free porridge in the morning and hot chocolate in the afternoon, street performers galore, free starbucks coffee in the bank, dancers, face painters, balloons and ladies adorned in dresses made out of credit cards offering free Barclays jelly beans.

The weather was wet and miserable, yet some people still gathered round to see someone swallow a sword or dance with big masks. People seemed to be having fun. Yet the whole day, as I observed, seemed slightly surreal with a smackering of ‘desperation’ and the need to recruit people in for their business. It made me think of the stark contrast of the rest of the year when the bank is, well, just a bank.

It got me thinking… Am I ever like that? Do I show my faith in any gimmicky ways and do I ever come across so desperate that I will offer all kinds of free things, without any substance and power?

He was accompanied by the Bishop of Birkenhead who is a great supporter of what we do.

The Archbishop of York web site said about his visit: ‘He will find out about The Light Project – which trains students on a foundation degree course in theology and evangelism. Based in Chester city centre, its students have placements with churches and other projects such as ‘Night Church’ and a homeless drop-in centre.’

Glyn Jones who leads the team in Chester presented  Dr Sentamu with a relay baton, engraved with the words ‘The Light Project’ and one of our infamous brown t-shirts. The baton represents the passing on of the good news of Jesus that we seek to do in many creative ways.

Gill Reeve, assistant director spoke about how much Dr Sentamu affirmed the practical projects that we do and that we are educational, yet practical. He commented about ‘Night church’ our late night church for clubbers and night life and the students who train with us.

During the visit Glyn gave a presentation of the work of the project, a bit about the history, our ethos and desire to reach people with the good news. Dr John Sentamu spoke about the strength of being a living and learning community. Bishop Keith of Birlenhead expressed how much the Archbishop had loved the visit.

People are loved and loved by God and as I spend a great deal of time listening to people, I somehow wanted to take a step in going to those who are the least reached with the best news this world has been graced with.

Here is the link: www.tattoostory.org 

While my intention isn’t to create a new evangelistic methodology and ‘thing’ the whole process of listening to people is good news. Over 16 years as serving as an evangelist I have found that the more I listen and value people the more opportunities I have to share the message of Jesus, yes through words, but also through presence and showing something of the good news through how I regard and love people.

One of the most powerful street evangelism days i have had was to set up a settee and simply say ‘I will listen.’ I found plenty of people willing to talk and who needed to unload something of their lives. Afterwards people wanted to know what motivated me to spend a day listening to people.

These were then placed by the young people upon a maze to show our journeys together. Some of the pictures and discussion afterwards were profound… I’m humbled by how one young man shared something of his life with me. 

I’ve got a good excuse though, I’m in bed and posting up a quick blog as I’ve not been too well… (arrrhhh I hear you say.) Thanks.

Despite wrestling with a right pain in my behind (also known as Sciatica) I have been refreshed thus far with still one more session from Simon Ponsoby to go I know I’m in for more of the same tonic of vibrant authentic sung worship and open hearted teaching; despite Simon saying over dinner he wasn’t sure what he was going to speak on in the morning. If it’s anything like people said of his morning’s ‘off the cuff’ teaching then I’m in for a treat. 

So, what’s been refreshing for me while I’ve been here? 

Top of the list is the presence of God. It is so good to be ministered to. I sat at the front of the main hall being prayed for by one of the ministry team (a complete stranger) who shared some words that God had given him for me. I simply wept as I felt that unmistakable tangible presence of my heavenly Father loving me and reassuring me. Earlier on in the day I sat with one of the regional team leaders of the Baptist Union who shared two words that God had given him for me. What an encouragement to me.  

We have also been treated by a musical assemble called Epiphany, a group who play prophetic worship with violins, flute, cello, piano and percussion and ‘play over people.’ May sound slightly freaky, but my goodness I loved it! I sat in a room for an hour and a half with music and prayer and it felt like 20 minutes had passed. 

I also have felt refreshed through meeting with my Baptist brothers and sisters. Over meals, in the bar, planning mission week-ends or talking through the Presidential year and The Big Hearted Tour, it has been so good to be with my baptist family. I came along to this conference with my Pastor Phil Campion and church leaders Bill and Carol Swale from Biggleswade Baptist church. They have refreshed me so much by looking after me and helping me with my sore back. 

I have also been refreshed by being affirmed. Tonight Paul Maconochie spoke about going with the flow of the river, and the river, he shared, goes to the dead places. The river gives life, so it flows to the places that are dead, where the least, last and lost are. What an encouragement for the work of The Light Project and the ‘banging of the drum’ over the past years declaring ‘come on Church, let’s go!’  

Here is the Fresh streams vision:

• To unite, encourage and resource leaders and churches…
• to be passionate about God, real in relationships and stuck into God’s mission…
• missionary leaders growing missionary disciples…
• longing to see this country reached and transformed by the power of the Gospel

Next year I have the privilege of speaking at the Fresh Streams conference. Click HERE the link.

The hug..

Digital idea January / February 2012.