Our Stories of Steps Taken
In July 2020 we launched the ‘Take a Step’ course to help and encourage everyone in our family of churches to ‘take a step’ in being a witness.
Rhonda from Cornerstone City Church shares and encourages about the steps people and our churches have taken so far…
In the New Testament there is this pattern of the disciples coming back to Jesus rejoicing in what God did through them (Mark 6:30 – ‘The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught’ ) and then we see it again in the Acts account – Acts 15:4 ‘When they (Barnabas and Paul) came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them’.
There was this beautiful spirit of rejoicing and celebration as they heard story after story of the MARVELLOUS DOINGS of God.
As a family of churches we want to do the same thing and make it a pattern of going out into the mission field of our lives and coming back with songs of praise and thanksgiving at the things God did in us and through us. Here are a few stories of what God has done so far through the TAKE A STEP INITIATIVE.
OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST BEING THE FOUNDATION FOR SHARING OUR FAITH:
Karen shared how she had been struggling for years to believe that God had a plan for her life and that he would complete the good work he had already started in her. During this session she took hold of Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." As she meditated on this verse over and over again, God broke in and reassured her powerfully that he WILL do exactly what he promised, finish the good work he began in her. The matter was finally settled. The joy in her voice as she shared it with her small group and the change in her countenance was remarkable.
THE POWER OF A SMILE:
Rose and her friend were out for coffee one morning when they met a lovely lady in their local coffee shop, it all started with a smile then a wonderful conversation took place where the lady started to share her heart, as the conversation continued they shared about the local church they were a part of and the lady gasped!!!! Their church was on the same road she had grown up on 30 years ago and she started sharing some wonderful memories of having been taken to the Sunday school there and how that building and those people brought a lot of joy into her life at that age. A special connection was built and they are planning to meet her at the church and show her around the building and invite her to their church service online.
EARLY OFFER OF PRAYER:
One young man got talking with an older gentlemen in his local high St and found out that he had been beaten up the night before. He offered to pray for him, the man was so touched that someone would do that and happily received the prayer that was offered.
An AMAZING lady who was undergoing Chemotherapy at her local hospital offered to pray for a man that she met there, later that day she shared her testimony and the gospel with another man. HOW AMAZING is that!!! That she could even begin to think of others in that situation.
Another lady shared this hilarious story – ‘I had been praying for my dentist as I walked past during lockdown. Since he opened I thought I would go in and chat but I kept forgetting – and maybe it wasn’t practical. But a piece of my tooth broke off and I found myself sitting in his chair. God’s sense of humor. After he sorted my tooth, I explained about praying for him, his colleagues and the business during all these challenges. He was appreciative.’
WHAT’S MY STORY:
There have been a few stories of people feeling more confident sharing their testimony using the 6 word testimony model. One lady shared how she usually feels overwhelmed at the thought of sharing her testimony and when she does she ‘takes the scenic route’ and doesn’t then quite know when to end it. Doing this helped her considerably, this is what she managed to bring it down to: ‘’THERE WAS A TIME in my life when I did not love me, was lonely and empty. BUT then God gave me Jesus and showed me how to love and what was missing from my life. NOW I am loved, love others, am never alone and full joy’. She still can’t believe she was able to say all that in 1 sentence.
Frank was overjoyed that he was able to do the same thing – THERE WAS A TIME in my life when I was full of desperation and anger BUT then Jesus forgave me and gave me peace, NOW I have hope and purpose.
Have you got a testimony or story? then we would love to hear from you.
The full Take a Step course is now available.
Many of our churches have started walking their small groups through the course and have found it incredibly powerful.
Can I encourage you whether you are an individual or leading a congregation to check out the course and learn to ‘take a step’ in sharing the best news ever?
“I just wanted to provide some feedback on this material working really well in our Lifegroup sessions on Wednesday nights. The videos are short and concise and for this week the PDF for our IDENTITY IN CHRIST was FANTASTIC to go through. We had each person read a scripture in turn and then we reflected on which ones stood out, gave us the most reason to pause and which we struggled with. GREAT START GUYS.”