Dear Family and Friends
I made it through September! It’s been such a busy month. In July, the couple who were leading our Kids and Youth felt like God was calling them to move to another city in in England. The transition of them moving happened very quickly so over the last 2 months I have been working hard to make sure our Kids and Youth Teams have volunteer leaders who are trained and prepared to carry the load of each ministry. We have some amazing volunteers in our Slough congregation, and we are trusting that even though this transition has been fast, that this new season will produce growth in all areas of our Kids and Youth ministry.
I’ve also been working to get new Connect Group leaders trained and up and running in this new term. This past month has been especially busy because from mid-October I will only be working remotely for our Slough Congregation, so I have been trying to get things running smoothly before I leave.
A few months back, I mentioned in my newsletter that I have started working more and more with our Every Nation Churches in Europe. I have been doing this throughout my time here in the UK but this year, it has become a significant part of my role. I am working with our European Missions Team that will be organising different types of missions throughout the year. I will be helping to plan as well as attending some of these missions. I will also occasionally be travelling to some of our church plants to consult, mentor and encourage the team and church.
On 16 October, I will be flying to Utrecht, Netherlands for a weeklong mission with our church plant there, doing evangelism on the University campuses. Here is a picture of part of the team on a training call for the mission.
We have people joining from our EN churches in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Norway for the mission.
I will have a short holiday when I return from Utrecht and then I will be going back to Cyprus on 4 November.
You will remember that in July I went to Cyprus to assess and support our church plant there. After much prayer with the pastors who planted the church three years ago, we determined that it was time for them to return to their home country and to fulfil their hearts desire to adopt a child. We have been helping them in this transition process and whilst we wait for new pastors to fill their position, I will be going to Cyprus to be the interim pastor over November and December. I have been mentoring different leaders there for a few years now and have met with their church online through the pandemic. This has given me a head start on building relationships with everyone but I would really appreciate your prayers as I step into this role. I have an excitement for what God is going to do during my time there!
Please also continue to pray with me for my health and financial support. God is faithful!
You are amazing and such a blessing!! Thank you again for all that you do! You are reaching the nations with me!
Loads of Love
Traci
Dear Family and Friends
I hope you have had a wonderful Summer, and that as we go into September, you are excited about what God has done in the first part of this year and you are expectant and excited about what He is going to do in this next season!
August means Youth Camps for us here at Every Nation. I love going to these camps because even though they are still here in the UK, they are still like going on a mission trip. We had 70 teens and 40 leaders across two camps. We have teens who come not only from our churches but from other organisations. Some of the teens are in the social care system and come from hectic environments and some have learning and behavioural difficulties. Every single teen who comes on camp has an opportunity to experience the unconditional love of God through others on our camp, to hear the Gospel and take one step closer into a relationship with God. This camp did not disappoint! I had one particular girl in my group who especially experienced God’s love not only through her teammates but also in our main sessions. I wish I could tell you details but unfortunately, I can’t – but just know that your prayers and support touched so many during this week!
Here's a picture of my girls and a highlight video of the week. Due to child protection for some of our teens we have blurred some of their faces.
Last month I had two special prayer requests for my health and for my support team.
I shared that I had recently started having asthma and had been put on 2 inhalers to try to control it as well as having chest x-rays to see if there was anything else going on. Thank you so much for your prayers! The x-rays showed nothing wrong, and I have been able to use both inhalers less. I am trusting that in the coming months I will be able to be inhaler free!
I am also so thankful that I have had a new monthly donation added to my support. Could I please ask you to continue to pray for more people to join our team? God is faithful and I am trusting for an increase to help with the rising cost of living.
Finally, the month of September has a lot coming up for me and I would appreciate your prayers.
- 10 September all day training for our Utrecht (Netherlands) mission in October
- 11 September I am preaching in Slough
- 18 September I am teaching Follow One in Slough
- 19 September I start 4 weeks of Engage training for Utrecht
- 24 September is our Discipleship Day in Slough that I am organising
All of this does not include the weekly discipleship meetings I have here in the UK and Europe as well as other Slough pastoral responsibilities.
You are amazing and such a blessing!! Thank you again for all that you do!
Loads of Love
Traci
Dear Family and Friends
Thank you so much for praying for my time in Cyprus. It was a full-on trip! It was great to finally meet Mags and Maradee who I have been walking with for the past year in person. They are part of the core leadership of the church plant team. Here is a pic of my first night there with them (two on the left) and the pastors.
During the week, I was able to speak to their Life-Groups, Youth Group, preach on Sunday and do Discipleship training, as well as some one-on-one time with different people in the church.
What’s amazing about this church plant, is that they have already connected with nationals who are attending different areas of ministry depending on where they are with their walk with God. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in Cyprus through this team.
This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to preach in Slough as part of our Lord, Teach us to Pray series. We have been going through the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 and my verse to cover was "Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who have debts against us." You can listen HERE.
Next week I will be heading off to our annual Youth Camp. Prayers appreciated!
I would also really value your prayer for 2 more things:
Please pray for my health. Three months ago when I was on the mission to Lisbon, I came down with a chest infection. My breathing has not been the same since and I actually really struggled in Cyprus. I have gone to the doctor and after never having asthma in my life – I have now been given 2 inhalers to try to get things under control and to go away. I have also gone for a chest X-Ray today. Please agree with me that these inhalers will do the job and my breathing will be perfect and I will no longer need inhalers or anything else in the future. Also that the X-Ray will be normal.
Also, please pray for my financial support. For more people to join our team in reaching the nations in Europe! I know that the whole world is dealing with prices going up everywhere – including here in Slough. God is faithful and I am trusting for an increase to help with the rising cost of living.
You are such a blessing!! Thank you again for all that you do!
Loads of Love
Traci