MISSION  MORECAMBE  2010

A Mission of friendships, good memories, and the Joy of the Lord.

After months of outreach, preparation and training, the weekend of the Tent Mission arrived complete with glorious weather and happy crowds on the promenade. The Blues Festival at the Station on the Saturday and the Kite Festival on the sands by the Midland Hotel on the Sunday, all helped to bring the people to the Front. The tents and the tent site looked just right, so well placed and visible, and really welcoming.

This year, to make the most of the time available, six different meetings were arranged for the weekend. The first on the Friday was the Youth Evening, appropriately named ‘Ig: nite’. The main tent was suitably prepared with balloons, soft juice bar, chill out area, and an exciting evangelistic youth band from Kings Community Church, Lancaster. At the altar call by Davey Falcus, many young people came forward for ministry, receiving Jesus as their Saviour, and then responding by coming into the ministry/aftercare tent.

Saturday came with more sunshine and people on the promenade, tent and team getting into gear. With the happy welcoming atmosphere, the people came in, responding to the excellent music group and great songs. Davey made the altar call again, and as he did so, an older gentleman sitting near the front, stood up and began pacing up and down the central aisle without the aid of his walking stick. He had come into the tent barely able to walk. People now came flocking forward full of expectancy, and were lined up in rows at the front, all receiving a touch from the Lord, with many making life changing decisions.

The evening meeting was soon upon us, and Bobby Ball was welcomed, introduced to team members, joined together in prayer, and the evening began. Another music group led the worship, John Gaughan sang introductory songs, and Bobby spoke about his life and how he had come to Jesus. The funny stories and quips interspersed with more serious teaching prepared people for the call. Soon, once again, people were packed at the front of the tent receiving ministry from Bobby, Davey and the ministry team, passing from them into the ministry/aftercare tent. What a great day, so full of people, music, ministry, and joyful faces.

Sunday began with ‘ The Church on the Prom’ led by Kings Community Church, Lancaster. So exciting for the church to move to the promenade for their morning worship, and hosting visitors walking along the front. Brian Shutt, a national speaker, spoke wonderfully about the ‘in spite of, the nevertheless of God’. The afternoon meeting was led by yet another music group, this time from Brookhouse Methodist Church. Dougie March spoke powerfully about how he had been enslaved by drugs, and had been delivered on receiving Jesus into his heart.

The evening meeting was begun by the Lancaster University Pentecostal Choir, which was amazing. Morecambe Bay Fellowship music group led the worship, and John Gaughan gave his testimony with songs, which included hits from his time with the sixties group ‘Herman’s Hermits’. Hilson Carter, the Mission Leader, thanked the many who had helped the mission, introduced the blowing of the two Shofars, Jewish rams horns, which had been obtained from Israel especially for the occasion, to signify the calling of the churches. Once again people flocked to the front of the tent, receiving ministry, healing, and giving their lives to Christ. Truly a mission of friendships and good memories, but also, the Wonders of the Lord.

Every blessing in Jesus. Jonathan Stewart.