Hope Church Thetford becomes a Church...it's official!
Hope Church Thetford becomes a Church...it's official!
Its always exciting to hear what God is doing amongst our family of churches. Last Sunday was a very exciting day in the life of one of our church plants, as Hope Church, Thetford officially became a church! Nigel Worth (Lead Elder of Hope Church) shares a summary of the occasion below.
What an Afternoon!
An afternoon of high celebration took place at Hope Church Thetford in the UK on Sunday 15 January. On the surface there didn’t seem much to make a fuss about – the church plant was simply losing the word “plant” in its title.
But the releasing of the governance of this church onto the shoulders of the new eldership team, Nigel Worth and Ian Field, represented a massive landmark in the journey of a church which started life 7 years ago as two couples meeting in a little room. Since then people have gathered and salvation and healing have been witnessed as the church plant grew in size and strength.
So about 100 of us gathered in the Carnegie Rooms in Thetford to mark the occasion, including plenty of guests from afar. Thanks were given to all involved in the journey to this point – but it’s Jesus who builds his church and thanks to Him erupted in the form of celebratory, passionate worship with our in-house band supplemented by Steve and John from Hope Church, Wymondham, UK.
Of course the appointment of the two elders by the laying on of hands by Maurice Nightingale and Grantley Watkins was a solemn moment. Then the prophecies started to flow – as the church steps out into God’s grace, so the streets of Thetford will run with mercy and power. The elders are to lead with boldness and courage knowing that, as we lead our flock from the front, so the Lord is actually in front of us. The water has risen and the gates to the lock are now open – now navigate through and rescue the lost gathered on the canal banks. In all of this we are to proclaim the whole counsel of God and not simply tickle the ears of our town. And the “joy of the Lord will be our strength”.
We worshipped further – then, as the meeting closed, time for food, drink and fellowship with friends from both near and far.
What an afternoon!