No.44 - One month in

Praise the Lord for he is gracious and kind!

Verse Of The Month

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Luke 10:20

This has been an extremely helpful verse over the last few weeks. Jesus told his disciples to focus their minds on their eternal future. Christ wanted them to get their joy not from their own abilities but from the fact that they were going to enjoy paradise with God for all eternity. Over the first few weeks in my new ministry role, there have been many times when it has been tempting to let my joy depend on my own abilities. This verse has been such a blessing in keeping my eyes on the glorious future we have in Christ. Praise the Lord!

A little update

From moving to London, to starting training at St Helens, to becoming an uncle and aunt, it has been a very eventful last few weeks. God has been extremely kind to us, and by his grace, things are going very well. Thank you all so much for keeping us in your prayers. Hopefully, this letter will give you an idea of the ministry work and training I am doing, along with some ways you can be praying for us.

An average week

Here is roughly what an average week looks like

Monday

• Practical set-up ministry events

• Cornhill prep

• Bible study prep

Tuesday

• Prayer meeting

• St H in-house training (Session)

• Lunch-time talk

• Staff meetings

• Bible study prep

Wednesday

• Cornhill Bible School

• Leader's bible study or babysitting

Thursday

• Prayer meeting

• Bible study prep

• Cornhill prep

• Session prep

• Practical set-up for bible study

• Leading Bible study

Friday

• Prayer meeting

• Session prep

• Practical set-up for Church

Saturday

• Rest

Sunday

• 10am Church

• 10am Church family social time

• Admin

• 6pm Church

Give thanks for

Praise the Lord, he has helped us to settle in really well, both into our new flat and our ministry roles. We have enjoyed starting to get to know our congregation and have been made to feel part of the family already.

God has also been very kind in providing the funds we need to undergo this year of ministry work and training. Thank you so much to all of you who were praying for us, and thank you to all of you who were able to support us financially.

We are also very thankful for the birth of our little nephew Johnathan. Praise God that both he and Krista (his mum) are happy and well. He is one very loved baby.

After 5/6 weeks of being a ministry associate, my training is very much underway, and I am having a great time! I have started the Cornhill training course, which has been a joy. We're just getting into the in-house bible training, which I know will do a wonderful job of helping me to understand how to dig deeper into God's word.

It's been very interesting to learn how St. Helen's works from a practical side. The associates and I have had great fun setting up and aligning hundreds of chairs and Bibles for the many different ministry meetings and events that happen each week.

It has also been a real joy to get to serve under the wonderful minister and trainee Christian worker at the 10am. I have already learned so much, and they are such a joy to work with.

Finally, one of the biggest highlights of the last few weeks has been starting to lead a bible study. This is the area I have been directing a lot of my attention towards, and it has been a real blessing. We are going through 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus this year, and we are currently three studies in. I don't think I have ever spent so much time in one book of the bible, getting to really dive into God's word has been extremely rewarding, challenging, but also wonderful.

On top of that, it has been a real privilege to start to get to know the people in our group. They have already been such an encouragement, and I can't wait to see how God uses our group throughout the year.

Pray for

Over the next few weeks, our congregation are preparing to move building (into the main St-Helens building) and move time (from 10am to 9:30am). We would love your prayers for wisdom for making the transition well. It would be great if this change could bring us closer together as a congregation and help us to grow in our commitment to God's word and loving people, especially as we start to get more people coming along.

We'd also love prayer for our bible study group. Please pray that I could be a faithful and loving leader, the group members would grow in love for God and each other, and that we would all get to see more of God's wonderful plan for the church.

Finally, we'd love your prayers that we could both be joyful servants of Christ and his church. Not getting caught up in the many things we are unable to do, but rejoice in the things God has enabled us to do. Specifically in my ministry work and training at St Helens, and with Luci as she seeks to support Krista, Adam and their new baby, Johnathan.

Thank you again for all your prayers. It is such a blessing to have your love and support. Please do let us know how we can be praying for you.

Much love in the Lord.

God bless,

Joshua & Luci.

P.S. - If you want to hear more about how I've been delighted by Christ over the last week, feel free to check out my podcast on Youtube

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/@helpmedelight

You can watch the latest episode below.