Electronic Bulletin of the London Inreach Project	Summer/Autumn 1997

A BIRTH!

Members of the new Covent Garden Evangelical Church

After a rather long labour, we are pleased to notify you of a new arrival in Covent Garden. Not only was the Father present, but others of His children also were there to witness the birth! It was on Sunday 11th May, that Covent Garden Evangelical Church came into being, a day of joy and thanksgiving.

Actually, it would be possible to say that those present witnessed not only a birth, but also a marriage and a death! A new church was born when 8 baptised believers joined together (one other has since been added). A marriage took place when we solemnly covenanted together to serve God in Covent Garden. And, to agree to the above meant inevitably a death to self, as we promised to outwork church life in the heady atmosphere of London's West End.

Peter Jermyn the L.I.P treasurer led the service in a packed Age Concern Centre. God's praises were sang, prayers of thanksgiving offered, and a relevant word preached by Paul Pease (formerly at West Kilburn, now at Hook).

THE FUTURE

OPEN AIR Our open-air work in Covent Garden Market continues to be as exciting, stomach-churning and unpredictable as ever, and we continually thank God for the privilege of making the glories of Christ known in such a unique spot where literally thousands of new faces flow past hourly. Many are surprised (some horrified) when presented with eternal things in the midst of the often Carnival-like atmosphere. A young lady from mainland China has been attending our Sunday morning services regularly after being given a Gospel of John (3months previously!) during an open-air session. Please pray for Mina, who we feel is still unconverted. Many excellent conversations have taken place. Whilst the majority of people don't want to know, there are always those who do. Good literature is supplied, and those who show special interest are given a gospel or a book for seekers. If we know of a sound church near to where they live, information is given. Having a team working increases effectiveness dramatically, and Allan and myself are always thankful when folk turn up to accompany us. We were joined by Edwin Baker (Open-Air Mission) recently who entered into conversation with a young Italian man who stopped to listen to him preaching. This man showed real signs of conviction as he saw his life in the light of God's word. He was raised by parents who had beaten him, then put into a home where he received the same treatment. Now, as an adult, he finds the awful cycle continuing as he now beats his girl-friend, depite abhorring his own actions. After what seemed a genuine prayer of repentance and a desire to receive Christ, he hugged us when he realised that God is able to break the vicious circle and transform his life. Please pray for a deep and ongoing work of God's Spirit in his life, and that God would provide fellowship for him wherever he finds himself. Contact with a well-known Night Club owner continues - in the same unusual, unplanned way! Whilst preaching one Saturday afternoon, who should breeze past (with regulatory young girl glued to his arm) but this man. He stopped for 10 minutes or so chatting before strolling off (not without first pushing some notes through my tract box on the floor which he must have mistaken for a collection box!) A number of people around the country are praying for this 'unlikely'. "Who then can be saved?" asked Jesus' disciples. Jesus looked at them and said, "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."	CHURCH IN THE MARKET PLACE
	Covent Garden Evangelical Church Members Linda Linda Allan James Mike Gwen Vicki Rebecca Elsie Associate Members Andy Derek Rachel (Hook Evangelical Church)
	Once a month we follow our morning service with a fellowship lunch, after which we then move en bloc to Covent Garden Market for open-air evangelism. It has been a real encouragement to note that after eating and relaxing together, we can then go on automatically to serve 'in the heat of the battle' together. For some, it has been a first-time experience, but God (as he has promised) has supplied all neccessary grace and courage. THE YO-YO SYNDROME The last item on the average person's list in Britain is repentance. We live in a proud, self-loving, self-sufficient age when the words guilt and sin are being erased from our dictionaries. Tragically, a reluctance to face up to these inescapable realities is keeping multitudes outside of the kingdom of heaven. During our time here, we have been involved with a number of people who, for one reason or another were brought low, and in their desperation seemed to be earnestly seeking salvation. Sadly, they turned out to be those who appear to repent, yet, as one has wryly said are, "like sailors who throw their goods overboard in a storm, and wish for them again in a calm." Sometimes the process is repeated a number of times and they 'yo-yo' in and out of our lives, still reluctant to let go of all. In the meantime, we seek to show love, compassion, and patience, whilst like the Father in the parable wait for the prodigal to return truly repentant. How we grieve over a society that is geared to inoculate people from such a vital experience. How much God grieves over such. "You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint." Isaiah 57:10
The Great Escape This was the name given to a Summers day outing to the coast. In a mini-bus kindly loaned to us from Stanmore Chapel, members of the fellowship escaped the heat and bustle of the city and breathed in the fresh air of Frinton-on-Sea. Even the rain couldn't dampen our spirits!
WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN The following are words written by J.O. Fraser, pioneer missionary to the Lisu of south-west China at the beginning of this century, yet they could not be more relevant to cultured, pagan Covent Garden at the close of the century. "Although I have been now ten years in China and have considerable experience with both Chinese and Lisu, I find myself able to do little or nothing apart from God's going before me and working among men. Without this I feel like a man who has his boat grounded in shallow water. Pull or push as he may, he will not be able to make his boat move more than a few inches. But let the tide come in and lift his boat off the bottom- then he will be able to move it as far as he pleases, quite easily and without friction. It is indeed neccessary for me to go around among our Lisu, preaching, teaching, exhorting, rebuking, but the amount of progress made thereby depends almost entirely on the state of the Spiritual Tide in the village - a condition which you can control upon your knees as well as I can." From Behind the Ranges,the biography of J.O.Fraser. How we so desperately need an outpouring of God's Spirit which will flood this desert-like area. Please pray with us for this. THE NIGHT COMETH Allan Clare writes about his visits to Jessie and Ray: "I first met Jessie over a year ago, and from then on visited her regularly. She had suffered a stroke in her mid-fifties and spent much of her time drinking strong lager and watching television. She was looked after by an old friend called Ray who lived in the same block of flats. We had some spiritual conversations - she always trusted the fact that she was a Roman Catholic by birth-and on one visit I knew I really had to share the gospel. That is, to tell her that if she was not born again and trusting in Christ alone, then she would die in her sins, and inevitably go to hell. She became furious and threw me out of her house, however I was able to visit her twice after this and explain that if I saw her crossing the road whilst a truck was coming towards her, I would surely have to cry out in order to save her. In the same way I had to tell her of her need of Jesus Christ as her Saviour. She seemed to understand this, and we parted on good terms, which I'm glad about, as she was quickly rushed into hospital and subsequently, died of a heart attack. This was in February, and since then I have been visiting her friend, Ray who is finding it very difficult to get over Jessie's death. Ray has been drinking very heavily at times, yet regards me as a friend and is willing to listen. Please that Ray might keep his promise and come and hear the gospel preached, and that he may see his need of Christ - whilst there is time. "As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work." John 9:4	FAMILIES There is little regard for the estimated 6,000 residents in Covent Garden - the focus is all upon those who will visit the area for the shops, theatres, clubs, restaurants etc. Consequently, raising a family in this far from ideal area is not easy. Reaching families in this unique and splintered community also is not without it's problems. However we have been greatly encouraged of late. Tiny Tots At the start of this year we were down to just two mums, and wondered if it was worthwhile continuing, then suddenly there was an influx, and we are now at maximum with a roomful of mums, babies and toddlers. Most importantly, this seems to be the most responsive group we have had. Please pray as we look to the 'next step' with them, seeking that they may hear a clear presentation of the gospel. We long to see families saved! New 'Girls Club' Feeling frustrated by our inability to hold any childrens clubs because of lack of suitable premises, we decided to hire the Age Concern Centre (our Sunday meeting place) for an evening. Although space would be limited, we thought that we should be able to cope with girls (the more boisterous boys will have to wait!) so went for a Two week Taster. We felt greatly encouraged with 8 girls the first week, and 10 the second. The enthusiasm of not just the girls, but the parents also was all the confirmation that we needed. Please pray for this Club, which has now been running weekly since September. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT My wife and I are very much into grand-children! We have welcomed two more in the last twelve months, and who knows how many more there might be! It is exciting and a cause for wonder, and like all other grand-parents, we rejoice to see and to hold the little bundle of new life. But, of course, we rejoice that grand-children grow up and develop, and that too is a cause for joy and wonder. To learn that our granddaughter has just discovered the delights of reading, and to hear her finding much pleasure in the worlds that books open up is cause for our pleasure too. In the same way, we have rejoiced to see the new church in Covent Garden being formed in recent months, and we shall note that event and give thanks for it. New birth and new life of the Spirit in Covent Garden must be a cause for great thanksgiving and joy. But then the next concern must be the development and growth of that new life, and Mike finds himself responsible now, not only for birth, but also for this next important stage in the infant church in Covent Garden. I hope you will pray earnestly for the growth and development and then the usefulness of the life of this child! May God grant it. James Wood Chairman