Cash sessions to help fight the New Year gloom

Churches across the UK have declared war on the misery of Blue Monday – the day when the UK is supposed to be at its most depressed.

'Blue Monday', this year January 24, is the name given to the day which is symbolically labelled "the most depressing day of the year". It was identified by happiness and motivation expert, Cliff Arnall, formerly a researcher, lecturer, and post graduate tutor at the Medical and Dental School of Cardiff University who devised the following mathematical formula:

The model was broken down using six immediately identifiable factors; weather (W), debt (d), time since Christmas (T), time since failing our new year's resolutions (Q), low motivational levels (M) and the feeling of a need to take action (Na).

But as the decorations get taken down and the credit card bills roll in, we at Woodford Baptist Church are among those encouraging a positive outlook for 2011.

Instead of feeling weighed down with the economic gloom, they are challenging people to be brave and take control of their finances.

Church members Matt & Ruth Savage from Woodford Green and Ed & Charli Whetham from Leytonstone have been trained by money experts at charity Christians Against Poverty to assist local people with their money by putting on three free sessions for cash-strapped residents.

They say: "So many of us are guessing at our finances. We're hoping for the best while continuing to spend, really without knowing what we have available.

"The Bible says the truth will set you free and certainly when you know what your situation is – even if it's a mess – you can start to tackle the issue."

The church is one of more than 700 across the UK that has received training to run CAP Money to help get people's finances back on track. The congregation, like many others, wanted to do something to serve their community during the financial crisis.

Matt added: "All the emphasis in recent times has been buy now and pay later. It's fun at the time but can bring about months of worry, especially when we are all living through a time of uncertainty.

"With so many expected changes in our incomes this year we need to learn how to take back control of our money and remember the joy of saving up for something.

"This is why we're putting on these three sessions during which we'll help people get to grips with what money they have coming in and what is going out of their accounts. We'll also be showing people of all ages and incomes how to really use their bank and use cash over cards.

"No one will have to disclose private financial information. Most of the course is about enabling people to see their own situation clearly."

The sessions take place at Woodford Baptist Church from 8pm for three Thursday nights beginning on 17^th February. For further details or to register, email capmoney@woodfordbaptistchurch.co.uk

About Christians Against Poverty

Christians Against Poverty is a home-grown debt counselling charity which is determined to reduce poverty in the UK caused by debt. It partners its financial expertise with the care of the local church to offer free debt help and a solution to people through 150 centres. The fast-growing charity intends to have a debt-counselling CAP centre in 500 towns and cities across the UK by 2015. For more about CAP see www.capuk.org

Simon Posonby Evening

Simon Ponsonby, Pastor of Theology at St Aldates Oxford, New Wine speaker and author of several books including ‘More...’ will be speaking at Woodford Baptist Church on the evening of Wednesday 12th January.

Simon’s passion is that God’s children know and experience the fullness of life Jesus came to bring.

Simon is a brilliant, gentle, down to earth, encouraging speaker whose theme, ‘More...’ is taken from his book of the same title. No matter how much we already have, there is always MORE...

Don’t miss this opportunity - come early to get a good seat.

Wednesday 12th January 2011, 8pm.

Global Day of Prayer 2010

After a snatched picnic in the church, a group of us jumped onto a coach and headed off to West Ham Stadium for the GDOP event on Sunday 13th June. The weather remained perfect as thousands of worshippers gathered together to lift up the name of the Lord and to pray for the nation.

As World Cup fever gripped thousands of people in stadiums in South Africa, West Ham stadium, echoed to the sound of praise and fervent prayers as people from all denominations and walks of life came together in unity of purpose.

Speakers included the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Stephen Timms MP, making his first public appearance since recovering from surgery following his recent stabbing attack, and Tony Anthony of Taming the Tiger fame.

In between prayers for a range of issues from government, youth, the persecuted church, times of worship were lead by Noel Robinson, Beverley Trotman, Graham Kendrick and Lara Martin, with dancers waving colourful flags from around the world to the side of the stage.

GDOP's Jonathan Oloyede stressed how this nation belongs to Christ and can only be transformed by prayer, unity and evangelism.

Everybody, including the children had a great time and felt the sense of unity in praying with thousands of other Christians representing churches from all over the UK.

Family Day

When: Sat 3 July, from 3pm

Where: Metropolitan Police Sports Club, High Road, Chigwell, Essex IG7 6BD

Description: There is something for everyone at this family day - come to socialise or simply to read a book! Games: Football, rounders, mother may I, Pictionary, Twister, Dominos, Cards, Drawing, The new WBC Dance Fest. BBQ: Vegetables, Meat (burgers, sausages, chicken) and Fish. Price: £6 adults (12+), £3 for children or concessions*. Or buy a family ticket for £15 (2 adults and 2 children). *Concessions: Pensioners, Single Parents, Unemployed, Full time students. Really tasty healthy food, great company - what more could you wish for? Bring your own games if you wish. Don't miss out!

Book Library

We are looking for Christian books to start a lending library. Please
take time to look through your collection of Christian books that you
would recommend others to read, and that you would like to donate to
this new library. We will need to catalogue any books you donate
before they get loaned out, so please read the info at the bookcase in
church for how to go about doing this.

For more information please speak to Steve Rothon.

(image courtesy of freefoto.com)

Global Day of Prayer

The Global Day of Prayer London event is taking place in the afternoon of Sunday 13th June 2010. We are planning to have a coach go from church to the prayer event at West Ham Stadium, after a picnic lunch at church. Please contact the office if you're interested in securing a place.

Overview of the GDOP London Vision

Several years ago, Jonathan Oloyede a convert from Islam, had several vivid visions of renewal, revival and transformation coming to the UK. These included graphic pictures of Wembley Stadium filled to capacity with worshipping and praying Christians. The inspiration which sparked him into action was a vision of people all over the four Nations praying the Lord's Prayer at the same time; in pubs, churches, schools, offices, homes and on the streets. As the Christians prayed in one accord, Light and Healing spread across the British Isles.

On the 20th February 2006, a significant group of Leaders from London and the nation met at Holy Trinity Brompton to listen to a vision for united prayer across the Capital and United Kingdom. The leaders jointly agreed to link this Prayer Initiative to Pentecost and the Global Day of Prayer movement which had originated out of South Africa in 2001.

On June 4th 2006, London held its first GDoP event at Westminster Chapel where just over 1,000 Christians joined an estimated 250 million Christians praying in 198 countries around the Globe.

The plans for 2007 were much bigger…

Throughout the entire year, hundreds of churches engaged in 24 hour prayer relays. The theme Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done envisioned that strong united prayer networks would be established in all of the 33Boroughs in London. The Prayer Chain began at 12.Midnight December 31st 2006 and has continued unabatedthroughout 2007 up until today. As you read this letter, Christians this very moment are in prayer for you,London and the nation!

On Pentecost Sunday May 27th 2007, 20,000 people from across the Church gathered together at West Ham FC where the stadium resounded with the thousands of Christians worshipping, praying and celebrating together. On that same day Christians in 204 nations had gathered to join in the Global day of Prayer.

In 2008 the prayer movement was recognized by Downing Street and Parliament. In acknowledgement of Global Day of Prayer's increasing importance in the life of the Church and capital, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a reception 'In honour of the Global Day of Prayer' and the 'invaluable work of the churches in London'. The event on Pentecost Sunday once again saw thousands of Christians worshipping, praying, repenting and celebrating in the sweltering heat of Millwall Stadium. In attendance was the Capital's new mayor Boris Johnson who shared his vision of how churches could work with him in stamping out gun and street crime. London and the UK joined 214 nations in prayer for our world.

In response to the Mayor's invitation and in light of the rising frequency of gun and knife crime the month of August saw the Global Day of Prayer London in partnership with the Peace Alliance, Premier Christian Media and hundreds of churches hold a Peace Prayer Relay for 33 consecutive nights. All the boroughs of London were involved with this prayer marathon making it an historic chain of events as prayers were offered for young people in our capital.

The vision continued into 2009… We lead London into seven nights of prayer for young people early in the year to pre-empt the gun and knife crime surge.

2009 saw just over 50 prayer celebrations take place throughout all 33 London boroughs and greater London. We joined together with Christians in 220 Countries, (every nation under the Sun!!) in lifting Jesus as Lord over the whole Earth.

It is reportedly, the largest Prayer meeting the World has ever seen. Here in the Capital, we had an unprecedented river of prayer running through every one of London's boroughs in numerous locations; in prison, on high streets, in parks, churches and various venues around the M25 ring road.

Reports put the numbers of mobilised Christians through out the 10 days leading up to Pentecost along with the morning, afternoon and evening celebrations, at around 50,000! If every church and denomination did what they promised to do in their morning services and meetings, then praying Christians would be well over 100,000 within the Capital alone.

For 2010, GDOP London seeks to mobilise 25,000-30,000 Christians at West Ham Stadium into the Great Commission through the office of a national Evangelist along with organising Prayer events in all 33 boroughs of London. We also hope to mobilise 1 million believers everywhere to pray the Lord's Prayer at noon daily.

It is our prayer that in response to this corporate national outcry the Lord will raise up inspired leaders and Christians who catalyse reform in the spheres of government, media, education, business, family life, justice in society. We truly believe that by informed prayer and appropriate action, this nation can be transformed by God.

Wembley 2011

All of the previous years are leading to the fulfillment of a vision to see Wembley filled with believers from all cultures, colours and creeds worshipping the Lord. There are plans to merge prayer and mission at Wembley and these are still being worked on in partnership with other organizations.

Free Money Management Course!

In response to the growing financial crisis in the UK, a national charity has today announced that it will be offering local residents in South Woodford the chance to get their finances back on track with a free money management course called CAP Money.

Christians Against Poverty, the national debt counselling charity, is running the three-week course through us as a partner church.

Teaching good money management skills, budgeting tips and overall advice on how to curtail expenditure, the course will be open to everyone, whether they’re Christian or not. The course begins on 25th February at 8pm and will be held at the Church.

Trained CAP Money Coaches Ed & Charli Whetham and Matt & Ruth Savage will be on hand to lead the sessions and offer practical advice. The course also boasts the feature of providing access to CAP’s debt counselling services for those with acute financial needs.

We’re thrilled to be able to launch CAP Money here in South Woodford. With the recent widespread job losses and drop in interest rates, there has never been a more important time for people to learn the principals of excellent budgeting.

Through the course we aim to bring hope to those in financial difficulty in the local community. Whilst many in the UK are reeling from the growing credit crisis, we are convinced that, with the launch of CAP Money, many will be saved from slipping further into debt, whilst picking up excellent financial skills that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

Those wanting to attend the CAP Money course can contact us by emailing capmoney@woodfordbaptistchurch.co.uk to confirm details or to reserve a place. Places are limited, so if you’re planning to come along please do let us know.

For more information visit www.capmoney.org