These last few weeks have offered several opportunities for me to preach in other places, either midweek or on the Lord's Day. Although there is real blessing in ministering to a settled congregation of God's people, serving other causes and other fellowships from time to time is also a great joy.
Just over a fortnight ago, I had the privilege of visiting Pontefract Evangelical Church for their Autumn Mission Week.
Pontefract, if you don't know it well, is one of the ' five towns ' in the district of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and has a rapidly growing population of almost 29,000 people. Once a market town famous for its illustrious Pontefract Cakes, it is now a sprawling and diverse community with many needs.
Right in the centre of Pontefract sits Pontefract Evangelical Church. Pastored by Bill Dyer, Paul Howell, and Richard Myerscough, and supported in full time ministry by their Pastoral Worker Mike Wilde, the church has a congregation of over two hundred people who regularly fellowship together. They are members of the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches, and affiliated to the Yorkshire Gospel Partnership.
Some of you will be aware that both Paul Howell and Gary Aston (their recent Youth Minister) have preached for us, and spoken at our Easter YP Holiday in years gone by. Gary is due to speak at WHBC at our Hot Pot Supper on the 18th November, and then to preach at both services on the Sunday.
Every year Pontefract EC hold two 'Faith For Our Times' missions in addition to their regular evangelistic work - one in the Spring for a fortnight, and the other in Autumn for a week. Their format is simple - each year the church produces a glossy booklet of testimonies which is distributed to over 10,000 homes, and which advertises coffee mornings both morning and evening every day, held in the church building, at which an invited speaker will preach for 20 - 30 minutes.
It has been my privilege to speak at 'Faith For Our Times' on many occasions now, and along with other speakers, have experienced the joy of knowing people coming to know Christ as Saviour under the preaching.
We rejoice in our fellowship with such a like-minded church. Please pray for them.
You may also be aware that Jonathan Dyer (Bill's son) is married to Sarah Foxall's sister Naomi! We live in a small world...
Posted by Danny at November 3, 2006 10:50 PM | TrackBackAdd that to the fact that my Dad used to have Gary's job, that he has inextricable links with Pontefract, that I was saved on a camp run by Jonathan Dyer and that I worked for the church in Wheelock... there's even more than we think!
Posted by: Dan at November 6, 2006 3:25 PM