Where have the last 3 weeks gone?! So sorry that this is coming to you so late in the month. The year has started off with us moving into a new venue for our church and we have already seen the change turn into momentum in so many areas!
This week we have launched our Connect Groups across the city and I had the privilege of preaching this past Sunday to start the season off. The message starts with two testimonies that lead into my sermon. If you would like to go straight to me speaking you can forward to minute 14.
This is a short letter this month since February is right around the corner but I would appreciate your prayers for my health. Also, please pray for me as I lead our groups into having a heart for the lost this year. My desire is to see all of our groups reach others for Christ.
Lastly, prayer for finances as every year brings new challenges for many people and many people are unable to continue with their financial support. God is Faithful - ALWAYS so I am trusting that as He speaks to people, they will listen and also reap an incredible reward of reaching so many around the world!
Thank you so much!
Love
Traci
What an incredible year this has been. Even though it’s freezing outside, I am sitting here in the warm sun coming through my window, and all I can think of is how amazing God is.
The beginning of the year started with a huge financial blessing and me asking God what is He preparing me for? Little did I know that just a few weeks later I would receive the news that my stepdad had had a stroke (actually a spray of strokes) in the left part of his brain. That financial blessing covered last minute airfare, car rental and many other expenses!
The whole next month was covered in your prayers and support as I helped my parents through the beginning of the recovery process.
Two wonderful things came out of that time – First, you would never know that my stepdad has had a stroke! He has recovered so fast and so well! He’s still on a journey but he is truly a miracle.
The second thing, is that during that month, I started reading Christine Caine’s 'Unexpected' devotional on YouVersion (highly recommend the devotional and the book!) This devotional was God’s perfect timing for me and a phrase stuck out at me that I have carried for the rest of the year – God is not surprised, choose to feed faith or fear. I know it’s simple, but I can’t tell you how it impacted me in that moment.
I have come up against some hectic circumstances since the first day I read that sentence, and the peace of knowing that God was not surprised about any of it, has given me the strength to persevere.
It’s been an amazing year and I (and you) have had the privilege of being a part of so many things that have touched the lives of loads of people of every age group and from so many countries!
Last week, as I was reading my Bible another phrase gripped me – It’s from 2 Tim 2:9 “God’s word is not chained.” How powerful is that?!
I want to encourage you during these holidays and as you go into next year – God is not surprised at anything that may come your way and His word is not limited to your circumstances.
He can bring peace where there is none and He can bring breakthrough into impossible situations. I’m praying this for you and trusting that this holiday season will be filled with Joy and an abundance of blessings!
Thank you for a fantastic year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Lots of Love
Traci
I can’t believe a whole month has flown by since my last letter! Where did October go?
When I go back from Sweden at the end of September I literally hit the ground running and it’s only this week that I have come back to a normal routine of things.
The first week in October was Freshers week at Imperial College here in London and it’s where thousands of Freshman students descend onto the campus which is one of the top Universities in the world. We engaged with as many students as we could this week doing the God Test as well as many other activities to build new relationships with students. Here are 2 pictures from that week:
After that week, I spent the next few days catching up from being away in Sweden and then started getting ahead of things before my next trip to Timisoara, Romania!
I left for Timisoara on the 19 October for another Ten Days Mission. Here our team focused on 2 University campuses doing the God Test, building relationships and also having evening meetings to discuss identity and other relevant topics with the students we had connected with. We also connected these students with a local church who will be following them up and also hopefully starting a campus ministry to support students on campus.
Because of your faithfulness, 200 Gospel conversations were had, 3 people were saved, and over 20 students are interested in follow up discussions. If I we did not go, they would not have heard. Thank you for making this possible! Below are some pics from the Ten Days:
As soon as I landed back in London on 29 October I started preparing for our Freedom Day! On 3 November, we had 28 people from our 3 congregations come for a day retreat to experience teaching and ministry in Freedom from various areas in their lives. I love these days because people walk away as different people! Here’s a picture of me teaching:
The day after, I preached in 2 of our congregations on our Prodigal Love series specifically talking about the robe the father
gave his son. I love the word “Quick!” he uses. He left no room for doubt that his son was accepted. God’s grace does not put us on probation – His grace puts us in His Salvation.
To end the exciting nonstop month off, I had the incredible privilege of being on our London Student Weekend Away. After Freshers in October, we have had a wonderful time building relationships with new students as well as those who have been around for a while. This weekend was a special time of going deeper in their walk with God and each other.
It’s been an amazing month and I hope that you realise how many people you have had part in touching and how many countries and cities will be affected by it! Thank you so, so much for all of your love and support – this wouldn’t happen without you!
Lots of Love
Traci
