News  from our Members

The Continuing Story of Wyllie   Marian Barge

This story started back in the year two thousand.   If you want to read up on it I am sure our secretary can dig up a back copy for you.  (Available on our web-page www.anglicanrenewalministries-wales.org.uk   Issue 28)

As we start a New Year I am in the throes of setting up a program to take us through another year.  I am still struggling as to how to reach this village, but unlike when I first started I have got an excellent team working alongside of me, encouraging and supporting me in every way.

The last five years have not been easy but then when Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me”, He did not say that the cross was light or that there were not huge craters along the way causing you to stumble!

One of the things that happened last year was that we lost our base house because our friend Heather went to live in Canada.   We used to use her home as a drop-in for prayer time and refreshment.   But I can now go into at least eight houses for refreshment if needed, perhaps one of these days one of them will become our prayer home.

The pub which we work in, not pulling pints, have seen their business as a restaurant more than double since we have been using it.   I commented on this to the landlady and she intimated that she knew that it was God blessing them for what they were doing for us.     Also although I did not know this family before we started our ministry there I feel that they have become part of my family.   They are having a big family celebration in February this year to which Brian and I have been invited.

Bishop Dominic came to the pub to take a service last year and after the service one of the team was talking to him about whether we should just let this ministry fizzle out.    He encouraged us to go on until 2007 - a good Bible number 7 - so in faith we will carry on.

We still have all the special services i.e. Mothers Day, Easter Sunday etc. as well as holding an outside barbecue with a gospel group band playing.

We have time in the history of the village (which is approximately ninety years old) the Committee asked if I would  conduct an armistice service.    So on Remembrance Sunday morning about thirty villagers turned out to lay wreathes and pay their respects to the fallen of the community.

After the service one of the villagers commented to my husband that since I have been going into the village good things have been happening.    Hallelujah!!    People know we are around.

Perhaps we have to work at gaining the people’s trust before we can begin to win souls for Christ!

So you see it is not easy when you start out on the road of evangelism but, even when the going gets tough, and we have many days like that, keep going as God is not in the business of failure rather in tile business of revival.

 

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