I cherish the role I have as a preacher within the Local Ministry Team, one reason being the friendships I am enjoying with members of the churches; some of whom are also members of the Team.
I believe that friendship is a wonderful gift from God and one we can, as Christians, offer, not only to one another but also to our friends and neighbours; including and, perhaps especially, those who have not yet come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus was nicknamed ‘the friend of sinners’ by his religious critics and it has been a joy for me to see the Lord Jesus expressing himself in friendship within the Team over the past few years. We were brought together as strangers by Alan Jevons at the rectory in 2004 (I think), since when the opportunities to meet together and be involved together in the Lord’s work in the parishes have, for all of us, become particularly precious.
I lead the work of the charity Schools Outreach [www.schoolsoutreach.org] which developed out of my involvement with the young, an involvement that began way back in 1958. The charity recruits, trains and places pastoral care specialists into schools, there to give time and a confidential listening ear to individual pupils who are referred to them by the teaching staffs. Sadly, it is looking likely that, unless we experience a financial miracle within the next few months, the work of the charity will have to cease in 2010. Your prayers will be sincerely appreciated.
Gordon Bailey