All
This morning the 7th Wigan Company Boys' Brigade held its first enrolment
service at the Methodist Chapel, Aspull, Wigan. It was the culmination of
years of toil and heartache on the part of my wife and her fellow officers.
In the chapel were most of the boys of the Company along with parents and
other relatives, probably the first time some of them had seen the inside of
a church building in a long time. Others would have come from the company's
original home - an Anglican (Episcopalian) congregation with advanced rigor
mortis. The major problem was that we had to keep bringing extra chairs and
the hymn books ran out.
The Company's new flag, made by one of the helpers, was consecrated as the
Company's new colours. You should see the loving toil which has gone into
that flag. It was an emotional service for a number of reasons. The Company
was welcomed by the minister who made it crystal clear that the boys were a
valued part of the church congregation. The colours are to go on prominent
display along with a plaque which announces that the Chapel is home to the
the 7th Wigan Company Boys' Brigade.
But, more importantly, God was present and His Gospel was preached simply by
the minister who is aware of the Church's need to reach out to youth; who
actually stated that the young people are as much the Church of today as the
adults. The service was geared to the occasion (we had to repeat "The wise
man built his house upon the rock" because our "whooshes" were not hearty
enough : ). It is not the way of the Methodists to make altar calls but the
minister made it abundantly plain that everyone needs to know Jesus for
themselves. I had a witness in my spirit that God was talking to specific
individuals in the message and I await the harvest from the seed which was
planted.
Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us. Please do not give up
the battle still wages but some of God's strategy was, I believe, revealed
today. If my wife had not started at the Anglican congregation first then
all of the boys who are associated with it would not have been at today's
service. The powers of darkness are experiencing cracks in their stronghold.
There is a long way to go but with God's grace, pull down those strongholds
we will. Like the children sitting in the market place I ask you to rejoice
with me.
BoW.
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