Community

On Saturday 19^th October, the Rector, Stewart Jones, undertook a Stationary Sponsored Walk – walking from 10.00 to 16:00 hours on a treadmill, outside the Church doors.

Funds were raised by sponsorship, competition entries (guess how far he would go) and donations.  So far, £2,100 has been raised, although further sponsorship monies are still to be collected.   The competition was won by Serephine Nyiramimani, who is shown receiving the £100 BULLRING gift card.

Well done to Stewart and many thanks to all those who supported him.   If you would like to donate, please go to https://mydonate.bt.com/events/howfarwillhego/105305

To view more pictures of the day please visit our Dropbox page.

‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’. This is what we saw on Oct 5^th during Healing on the Streets on Edgbaston St by St Martin in the Bull Ring.

This is what happened. I’ll start with this one.

1. A gentleman came sat on the chairs to be prayed for his hernia. He said he had been before. First time he was prayed for his ‘reflux’. He was unable to swallow properly and he was healed. The second time he came he had both knees in pain and MRI scan had shown they were really bad. He was prayed for and the pain went and then the doctors could not understand it as the knees were fine.
2. A lady came back for the second time and said that the first time she came she was healed of a ‘thing in her past’. Now she wanted a prayer for a physical condition. As the team prayed she and the team could see an improvement.
3. A lady asked for prayer for her knees which were in pain. She was due to have an operation. She was in tears when she left not because of pain but because of joy.

Let me give you now some more prayers people requested.

1        A lady suffering from stress

2        A lady needed employment

3        Another one had financial problems

4        A lady with a painful family history and low self-esteem.

5        Someone suffering from hypertension and another from bi polar.

6        Bereavement

7        Peace of mind

8        To be free from drugs

9        Accommodation for family including a baby on the way

10      Suffered a drop in salary

11       Cancer

There were many more requests but these will give you an idea (perhaps you know) that there is suffering around us. These are passers-by who responded to the invite: ‘Would you like a prayer today?’…. Many of them are from a non-Christian background but somehow they are happy to accept prayers in Jesus’ name. I finish now with this account:

‘M’ was asked ‘would you like a prayer today?’ He stopped and did not say anything. He walked towards the chairs and then he said, ‘I am not a believer’, but he sat on the chair. Quickly the team member summoned up another two members and all knelt down by M. He said he and his family need to be safe. His wife is expecting a baby and they also have a two year old girl. They need better accommodation.

As we prayed for M the sense of God’s presence increased and that’s when we realised we were visited by a touch from Heaven. We asked for the Holy Spirit to come and bless M and do whatever He wanted to do in M’s heart and life. We waited for a bit and we saw a smile appearing on his face. Yes! We didn’t have to wait any longer. We gave him ‘Why Jesus’ booklet. He stood up with the booklet in his hand and the smile was all over his face by now.

Blessings

Revd Elsie Blair-Chappell

Please see the latest news from our Community Lay Minister Joy…

Click here to view the exhibition, THIS IS CHURCH

It is time to not just sit back and watch!

For two thousand years there has been a  church in Syria. But now its very survival is threatened by violence, conflict  and persecution. The church is on its knees.

Open Doors has been active in Syria since  before the war. We are helping the church in Syria to care for thousands of  families in desperate need. “I believe the Lord has been preparing the church  for this day,” says Pastor Edward in Damascus. “Who else can give hope and  really spread peace other than our Lord?”

The church in Syria is asking for your help. Please join us to speak out, provide emergency relief and pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria.

Please visit www.opendoorsuk.org and sign the petition that will be taken to meetings with the UK government, the EU and the UN over the next few months.

We urge, on behalf of the Christians of Syria, that all those with  influence and power do everything possible to:

• Protect the lives, livelihoods and freedoms of all the people of Syria
• Safeguard the existence of the Christian community and in particular stop the assaulting, kidnapping, torture and killing of Christians by extremist and criminal groups
• Guarantee safe fair and proper access for all to humanitarian  assistance, both inside and outside Syria
• Make it possible for Christians to remain in and/or return safely to their homes without fear or threat of violence
• Safeguard the right of Christians to be able to worship in peace and safety and allow them space to offer compassionate care and contribute to making peace
• Ensure the establishment of a new Syria with a society and constitution that in theory and in practice guarantees and respects the right to freedom of religion and belief for all

Open Doors – Saving persecuted Christians worldwide.

Are you passing by? I think it’s time for a cuppa!

From Tuesday 20th August the Tea Lounge is changing its range of teas to that most famous, independent tea merchant: Taylors of Harrogate.

On sale will be a variety of teas from the more traditional blends such as Earl Grey, to flavoured and fruit teas. On a lovely afternoon what’s better than a slice of cake and a pot of tea on our terrace?!

St Martin’s is again joining with 4,700 properties throughout the country to celebrate our rich heritage, and is inviting people to discover more of our Christian faith and Birmingham history and culture. 

Regular guided tours will take place.  There will also be a unique opportunity to see the Bull Ring from a different perspective by going up the church tower!

Guided Tours: 10.30am-3pm (1pm-2.30pm Sun)

Bell Tower Guided Tours: 11am-3pm (1pm-2.30pm Sun)

During St Martin’s HOTS in August we had the chance to use our umbrellas. They were very useful as we used them to shelter us from the rain and from the sun! The weather was just a mixture but that it didn’t stop us to pray for passers-by.

A few weeks ago I visited the Harnhill Centre of Christian healing. The model they use to help people to overcome hurts and brokenness in their lives is a model called the Circle of God’s love. They explain to all who go there that as we position ourselves within the circle of God’s love, we see God continually ministering to us with his forgiveness, healing, redemption and renewal.

From the moment of creation to the very end of the book of Revelation we see God loving us. One verse in the Bible that is used a lot at Harnhill is Isaiah 43:4.  God says to his people, ‘Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.’

We find a remarkable statement in this verse: ‘You are precious and honoured in my sight and I love you’. These three truths of God’s attitude towards us – precious, honoured and loved underpin the giving of Jesus in exchange for us.

That’s why we have the motivation to go out and pray for folks we don’t know but who are known by God who loves them and sees them as precious and honoured people.

Here they are:

1. A young man with a brain injury as a result of a fall nine years ago came for prayer. He was with  some friends heading to a party when he saw folks sitting on the chairs and his curiosity led him to be prayed for. He received the ‘Why Jesus’ booklet and the team members prayed he will meet Jesus as he goes to the party making it a special celebration.
2. A solicitor of Asian origin stopped to talk and the team were able to witness the love of Christ to him. He has a love for people in his country especially for the poor and destitute. He has respect for Christianity and has been exploring the Christian faith.
3. A lady came for prayer who shared her many problems with the team. She has been through divorce with 5 children and one of them is in hospital with an undiagnosed illness. She is a Christian but she struggles to maintain her faith.
4. A lady suffering from an infection in her eyebrow and eyelashes came for prayer for herself and for her friend who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.
5. A man who had a stroke 30 years ago had depression since then and feel unable to make decisions.
6. A lady was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago asked prayers for healing to remain – the team also prayed for healing of emotions , memories and for her to know Jesus and  receive the Holy Spirit.

These were the requests from people who are precious, honoured and loved by God who gave them Jesus to live and die for them.

To finish I want to write this entry in our book from July:

A lady who had glaucoma came for prayer. She thinks is getting worse and is worried about going blind. The team prayed and told the condition to leave in Jesus’ name. She also mentioned that she had an operation for cataracts at LASIK eye surgery in Dallas. The team prayed against shock and trauma. She said she felt much better afterwards. The team asked if she could read and she said she needed magnifying glasses. One of the team members gave her a bible to read and this is what the team member wrote: ‘She read out a passage from my Bible- tiny print’ Praise God’.

Because I know this lady in question well I phoned her to know how she is getting on. She said she felt much better after she received prayers. She went to see her specialist and he said her condition has not deteriorated and does not need to see her until January. She was a bit surprised, shocked, concerned and not so sure what to think as he usually sees her every other month!

I think I know what we should think and say:

Thanks be to God

Blessings

Revd Elsie Blair-Chappell

Starting this Sunday (25^th August) St. Martin’s is participating in collecting items that are desperately needed for women and children in Syria. The charity (Hand in Hand) is organising an aid convey in early September.

The items that are needed are: Baby milk (up to six months); nappies and baby wipes; Children’s school materials (e.g. pencils, writing pads); women’s hygiene products; bandages and dressings; non-prescription medicines (e.g. pain killers, laxatives); children’s winter boots; baby clothes (new only); winter blankets or duvets.

Please leave your items in the church with a member of staff or a volunteer by Sunday 1^st September at the latest.