EXETER HIGH STREET

Last Saturday our family went to Exeter to spend the day praying and checking out the town.
Here are some pictures we took of High Street (DOWNTOWN AREA)

AWESOME SURPRISE!

Today we received a package with goodies in it....we were totally blessed to open and find our favorite snacks from Japan.
We love you guys CCIWAKUNI....(Now Sandra will have to fight with the kids over the snacks!)

Meet Simon of Chivenor!

Simon of Chivenor is a great brother who loves the Lord. Simon will be making the move with us to Exeter in Sept. He has been living in and out of North Devon for a few years and is originally from Plymouth. He has been serving at Calvary Chapel Woolacombe working with the young guys and skateboarders and is a very gifted teacher.

Simon will be a tremendous blessing to have with us in Exeter, please pray for Simon, we want Simon to be able to find a good job in Exeter. We know that the Lord has wonderful plans for Simon and desires to do great things with him, we are stoked on his decision to be a part. I look forward to serving with Simon and watching the Lord work.

Wednesday Night in Exeter

Greetings!

A quick update on last night as many of you know we began with our new believer's study in Exeter. We really had a great time, although the evening that the Lord had in store for us was a bit different than what we had anticipated. As far as the new believer's, no one showed up because of different circumstances, but, the Lord allowed us to have a wonderful time of worship and prayer as we planted the flag in Exeter.

The Lord brought a word of encouragement to all of us through the time of prayer, the Lord was confirming in our hearts that now is the right time, and that school is the right place. We arrived with the expectation that the Lord would show us and give us clear direction with the church plant in Exeter. We recognize that this is all about Jesus and we want to do all things according to His will.

In short, we all left there having heard from the Lord, encouraged and we were able to in a sense, plant the flag there. Please pray as we will continue to meet on Wednesday nights, pray that the Lord would do all that He desires to do, also pray for our study as we will start with a survey through the Bible. Also, pray for provisions for the church still needs several things necessary to start a church.

We thank all of you for the prayers you make on behalf of our family.

New Believer's Study in Exeter

Hey Friends, just wanted to quickly throw out a prayer request for the new believer's study that Simon Cotter and I will be going to do in Exeter tonight. We are excited at what the Lord is doing there in Exeter and looking forward to the church plant there next month.

Tonight we will be meeting at Emmanuel Christian School, it will also be where the church will be meeting until the Lord moves us. We have been in contact with several of the people in Exeter about tonight. Please pray for the following...

- These new believer's would grow in their understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it's our desire that they would fall in love with Jesus.

- Simon and I as we will conducting the study and leading in worship.

Thanks

Pechonis Family

Meet the Pechonis Family, we have tremendously blessed by them as we continue to live with them as we await the move into our house in Exeter.
Phil, Megan, Max, Zack, Katie and Alex, they've been living here, in Woolacombe for about 8 years. Please keep them in your prayers as they are seeking direction from the Lord in regards to their next move as they follow the Lord.

PRAYER REQUEST

Greetings everyone!

Meet the WOOD FAMILY......Eric, Mandy, Eden and Elijah.....
We've been blessed to meet them here in England during Creation Fest, they've been part of the band "Take No Glory" that was serving here. They will be heading back to America next week and please lift them up in your prayers during this time as they seek for guidance and leading for their family on what the LORD has for them next. And also continue to pray for the rest of the band "Take No Glory" for direction.

More pictures from Bristol, UK

It's interesting to me to read and at times visit sites that are attributed to great men and women of the faith. In many of my personal readings, I often wonder if the lives these man and women lived are real, perhaps through the course of time legend has run its course in regards to the stories, then I am reminded that the faith of men and women of the past is something that run much deeper than a simple oral proclamation. The faith of the saints of old ran deep, so deep that it affected every aspect of their lives, the way they lived and thought. Andrew Bonar once said, "Christians today have been inoculated with a mild form of Christianity that they are now immune to the real thing". Can God do these things today? Do we believe that He can? I am referring to the story posted on the blog preceding this current post. If we believe that God is not only able, but also willing to do these things again, then why do we live as if He can't? I am also reminded of the question that Jesus raises in Luke 18:8 "...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" In regards to your life, what will the Son of Man find?

Visit to the George Muller Musuem

Today we took a little road trip to Bristol. We primarily went to IKEA to pick up a few things for the house, but also made a stop at the George Muller Museum while we were there. Sandra and I both have read the biography about George Muller and were totally stoked to visit the museum. below I have posted a bit about who George Muller is, in case you didn't know, be blessed.

It is ironic that these massive buildings that dominate the ridge at Ashley Down were known for generations as the Muller Homes. Their founder, German immigrant George Muller, was insistent on the title 'The New Orphan House' as he did not want his name to be prominent, for he considered himself merely an instrument in the venture. In fact, in his youth he must have seemed an unlikely candidate for such benevolent activities, due to his dissolute lifestyle.

After a great change of heart he became a minister and in 1832 was appointed joint pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Great George Street. That same year he started an orphanage at no 6 Wilson Street, St Pauls, near to where Elizabeth Blackwell once lived. The Blackwell house, though dilapidated, still stands but the Muller house was pulled down several years ago.

Over time George Muller rented several other houses in Wilson Street, to accommodate the increasing number of orphans he took into care. As the work expanded he realised that these rented houses were far from ideal for many reasons. One of these was the fact that the residents of the street raised objections to the noise made by the children playing outside. Purpose built premises were the answer.

Muller operated his orphanages on the 'faith' system - having faith that money would be provided to him for their upkeep. In faith he embarked on the search for suitable land and found it in Ashley Down. The money for the construction as well as the other costs came from donations.

In 1845 he entered into a contract for the purchase of the 7 acres of ground at £120 per acre for the accommodation, feeding, clothing and education of 300 destitute and orphan children. On June 18th 1849 the orphans transferred to the new building. By 1886 he had received £700,000 through prayer and had over 2,000 children in his care.

The buildings are made of grey Pennant stone dressed with freestone. They may present a grim exterior to the world, but one of the features is the high ceilings and the number of windows - 300 in Number 1 House.

Although the day started at 6am for the orphans, this was normal for working-class children of Victorian times. The standard of education was high, with boys staying at school until 14 years old and always being provided with a job to go to when they left the home. Girls stayed until they were 17 years old and went into domestic service, nursing and teaching.

George Muller died a poor man in 1898, with few possessions. At his funeral over 100 carriages followed the hearse and thousands of people lined the route to Arnos Vale Cemetery. His work was carried on but by the 1950s the large communal dwellings were being phased out in favour of smaller family units in ordinary houses. In 1958 the children and organisation headquarters had moved from Ashley Down and the buildings became Bristol College of Science and Technology (more recently changed to City of Bristol College, Brunel Campus).

A museum showing items from Muller's work, including information on the children, is at Muller House, 7 Cotham Park, Bristol, BS6 6DA. The museum is open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Visitors are welcome but prior notification is appreciated.

Shannon Ray

Please continue to pray for Shannon, she will be graduating from the Mission Training School at CC NORCO this coming weekend.
Upon graduation she will be flying back to her home in Texas, soon after she will be applying for her missionary visa to come to the UK to serve the Lord with us.

CREATION FEST: Day Three

WHOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA!

PRAISE THE LORD!

It's really been a blessing to be part of this event here in North Devon, and we thanked everyone who participated in everyway for this event.

These are just some of the pictures take from the 3rd day of Creation Fest...please check out www.creationfest.co.uk for more pictures....

We are now starting to plan and go forward for next year event....

More pictures from DAY 2

The weather was wonderful for the Day 2 of Creation Fest.....Many locals came and heard music from different bands, there was many games, skits and crafts for the kids. Thank you all for your prayers for this event.

Creation Fest: Day Two

Hey just wanted to update with some random pictures of Creation Fest. The festival went so good, we were all totally amazed, the Lord did a wonderful work in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike. All the bands were amazing, 95% of them were British, the Queens finest.

The first picture is of the skatepark, it was around 6000 square feet, it was asembled in just over a day. Pro skater Judd Heald was here to assist with the design and construction of the park, along with a pro BMX guy. Judd did a get job during the whole event, also the whole skatepark team did a great job.

Bob Coy from CC Ft. Lauderdale was also here teaching some seminars. It was great to spend some time with him and the team that was here from Florida.

The christian band Christafari put on an amazing show both Friday and Saturday night. Their music is creative, lively and evangelical in nature.

Dweeb and Four Coenerz covered Kirt Franklin and Tobi Mac's song, "I am God". They did a great show and carried a lot of momentum with them into the preaching of the Gospel.

LZ7 did a song dressed as superheroes, it was quite funny and entertaining.

Creation Fest: DAY 1

Here are some pictures of Creation Fest from the 1st Day....We all had an awesome time and we thank you all for your prayers for this event. Words can't explain for all the things the LORD has done during this 3days OUTREACH here in NORTH DEVON, UK..
On the first day, the rain has finally stopped but even though there was a bit of water and mud every where people came and see what is CReaTion FeSt all about, many came to know the LORD.

PRAYER REQUEST

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS ON BEHALF OF CREATION FEST...WE WILL POST MORE PICTURES OF THE EVENT SOON...SORRY WE'VE BEEN SLOW TO POST PICTURES. BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT ALL YOUR PRAYERS ARE BEING HEARD...THE WEATHER HAS BEEN GREAT, IT DIDNT RAIN TODAY FOR THE SECOND DAY OF CREATION FEST AND MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT AND MANY ALSO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO THE LORD AND MANY ALSO REDEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO JESUS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR CREATION FEST AND ESPECIALLY FOR TOMORROW (SUNDAY) BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE OUT HERE IN WOOLACOMBE.

ALSO, IN A COUPLE OF DAYS WE WILL GO TO SEE A HOUSE FOR RENT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER, AND IT'S ONLY A 10 MIN WALK TO THE CITY CENTER. PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD'S WILL IN REGARDS TO THIS HOUSE.

CC COSTA MESA

We are blessed beyond with the team from CC COSTA MESA....they brought almost 100 people to volunteer and most of the staff for the Creation Fest. They're team is divided in 5 groups that is so hard to keep up with them.

Please continue to pray for them.......

ILFACOMBE ROADSHOW

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS...This past Wednesday we were able to go out and minister to the people of Ilfacombe,
it was raining most of the day and then right after the first song of "Take No Glory" the rain stop and it was a beautiful evening to share the the love of Jesus.