JamesDuce.com

new starts feb focus

?Our firm decision is to work from this focused centre: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.?

Well the New Year for me has certainly started with that theme in mind. I?ve had the privilege of speaking at the launch of 4 alpha courses and speaking each week at 2 of them. It?s great to meet new people and introduce them to Jesus. I love seeing how over even just a single evening, people can have some of the stereotypical perceptions of Christians stripped away. And then, even more so, as we journey together over the next ten weeks. Its amazing seeing God at work in the questions, situations and circumstances that people find themselves in.

One guy said ? I?m simply here to find myself and my place in the world?. So many people I meet are looking for meaning and purpose. Another said, ? I need to change, maybe God can help me make those important changes.?

It?s refreshing being around the honest open conversations that Alpha generates. So we are hoping and praying that new life, bursts in on these fellow seekers.

What else? - Street Pastors here in Aberdeen has expanded. We?ve added another 25 volunteers to the team. This gives us a team of 50, which means that Saturday nights are all go. We commissioned these new team members a couple weekends ago, in one of the largest night clubs in Aberdeen.

For so long, our city centre church buildings have become nightclubs, but last weekend, for a couple of hours, we turned the tide! A club became church - we had a great time! 150 people came; and the club staff really enjoyed the service. As a church we?ve simply got to connect. We?ve got to get out and stay out where those that don?t know Jesus are. It felt a bit like what I imagine it was like at Matthew?s house when he invited Jesus round for a party. This is what its all about, we reach our cities one step at a time. I believe this was a big step, a prophetic statement to the night time community that we genuinely care for them and we are here not to judge, but to love.

So What's happening in Feb!!!

·    Dundee University Evangelism training
·    Street Pastors - out both Friday and Saturday nights between 9.30pm and 4am.
·    Callander Kirk
·    Alpha Talks
·    Weekend away ( West hill Episcopal )
·    Sri Lanka 2 week ministry trip

Please pray for me, that God uses me for his purposes when I speak to people, also pray for safety and blessing on the Street Pastors as they strive to demonstrate God?s kindness. Please pray for safety and that God will demonstrate the power of His peace during the trip to Sri Lanka, and finally, please pray for us as a family, that while we are apart for a while, God will bless us and keep us in his heart as well as each others. The children have been particularly clingy since the Christmas holidays, please pray that God helps Tori to deal with any insecurities that the girls may feel while I am away.  We thank God for those of you who support us in prayer, without your faithfulness and encouragement, our own prayers would seem so small before God, I think the more people bending God?s ear on our behalf, the better, so thank you.
 
Every blessing

J