Centre provides safe haven for families under pressure

Providing a safe place where families under stress can be reconciled is the aim of a new Christian centre in Norwich writes John Breeze.
Families House in Ber Street, was officially blessed on July 14 by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James.
“It’s a desire to make clear that God is present in all areas of life,” said the bishop. He went on to explain the centre’s work of providing a safe environment for children of estranged families to meet with parents and maintain and build relationships in difficult times. He also spoke of the tremendous work already done by the St Faith’s Trust, and the dedication and sacrifice of many volunteers.
Rosemary English, chairman of the trustees, told guests how the building now used by Families’ House was formerly the Jolly Butchers public house. The charity, formed in 1995 as St Faith’s Trust, moved to Ber Street in December 1999 and was providing a much needed service for the people of Norwich. The charity also runs Norwich Family Friends, a befriending scheme in the community, and offers a post adoption helpline.

The Bishop of Norwich joins Adrienne Hunt, acting director;
Rosemary English, chairman of trustees and Alan Marsh
in he Monica Marsh contact suite.

After the blessing the Bishop visited each of the three contact suites, designed to offer a homely situation where children and parents can feel comfortable, relaxed and confident. Rosemary explained that there are several more rooms, particularly on the top floor where much work needs to be done and for which money needs to be raised.

“I feel comfortable about being here in this historic building,” said trustee Martin Lee. “We are very excited about this development and confident of offering a vital service to families under stress in Greater Norwich.”
Families’ House needs volunteers and the next training course starts on September 26. Donations are very welcome and anyone interested in helping is invited to contact them on 01603 621702.

Pioneering course set to equip church

Jill Gower in Castle Medow, Norwich.

Eden Ministries is helping Norwich Christians to embrace God’s heart for church unity, prayer and prophetic teaching in a bid to see revival. Sandie Ridgley reports.

Two years ago Jill Gower was moved to “bless and build up the churches” through John McKay’s in-depth Bible teaching, The Way of the Spirit.
She studied the course with regular homework and Bible school attendance, noting that “God was speaking directly to his people which provided life rather than just head knowledge”.
God was grooming Jill for an ‘up front’ local ministry but as a divorced woman, who did not come from Norfolk, she remembers feeling ill-equipped: “In hindsight I know that if God can use me he can use anyone.”

Now she spearheads a pioneering ministry nourished by the gifting of five other team members. It continues to expand and bear fruit with a total of 15 Norfolk groups. The ministry is a valuable tool for helping churches establish and run the courses themselves, using study books.
It has grown beyond Jill’s wildest concepts. “It has been a struggle at times and although God shows the next step he does not show everything, so it is a walk of faith,” says Jill.
“We want to see people in their own churches moving in the things of God so that everyone is released into ministry. The anointing on the course helps people take hold of their inheritance in Christ as they appropriate Scriptural truth for themselves. It is designed to restore the relationship that mankind enjoyed with the Lord in the Garden of Eden before the fall.
“Prayer has become a vital part as we believe it is only as we come to God’s throne, that all things will flow out of that relationship. Prayer should be exciting and where it all happens,” says Jill.
Her team now seek God for an hour before meetings. “There is a greater sense of God’s presence and it becomes a ‘key’ to the meeting as the Lord indicates the pattern it will take,” says Jill. As prayer co-ordinators at Living Water, they followed God’s prayer pointers and recognised breakthroughs. “It was a real privilege to see God working in such an extraordinary way,” explains Jill.
The ministry is involved with other city prayer groups and weekly fasting and prayer walks.

“We pray that God will give a prayer revelation to church leaders and some are beginning to get a new prayer focus. We are not going to see Norwich transformed unless we really seek the face of God and cry out for our city,” says Jill who runs intercessionary prayer and teaching at St Luke’s Church, Aylsham Road.
“Our heart is to see the dividing walls come down between the churches so that we may all work together for the greater good of the Kingdom. God promises where there is unity He will command blessing,” she explains.
Jill has seen God provide many times, including in South Africa when she was locked in a desperate marriage with two young children. “It was horrendous and I lived in fear. I would take the children with me and bolt the bedroom door at night to keep my husband out. One day I could take no more and raising my hand in prayer asked Jesus to take me out of this hell.”.
Her only asset was a half-finished, isolated house that estate agents deemed unsaleable but two days later it sold. Shortly afterwards Jill and her youngsters flew back to England. “God was so sovereign and mighty - he safeguarded us which increased my love for him. I arrived with three suitcases and £300 but in a short space of time God put a home around us,” she recalls.
Jill saw deliverance in South Africa and now she heads a godly deliverance campaign for Norwich. “Through continuous prayer, prophetic teaching and coming together by repentance and faith we will build an altar for the Lord to send down his fire of revival,” says Jill.
Contact Jill Gower, Eden Ministries, 62 Westfield Road, Brundall, Norwich NR13 5LF 01603 716103.

Choir from fast growing church set to visit Norwich

Romanian church with links to Norwich is celebrating increasing its congregation from 100 to 1400 in just ten years and in October will be sending a 40-strong choir to the city writes Anne Forbes.
In early August Don Wilson, a deacon at Surrey Chapel, and his wife June, went to share in the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Arad Baptist church, Romania, founded after the revolution of 1989. They saw 33 people, aged 18-70, being baptised.
Its senior pastor, Doru Popa, has earned so much respect in the town that he was elected mayor earlier this year - a remarkable event in a country so recently Communist.
The church has pioneered a work among the many orphans and homeless children of the town, setting up orphanages and camps as well as operating a medical clinic.
By law, young people have to leave the orphanages once

they are 18 unless they have a job or are in further education.
Another member of the Surrey Chapel congregation, Richard Myott, is currently helping with the transformation of an old barn into a flatlet for one 18-year-old and the church is also gathering new, knitted garments to send as individual Christmas gifts to the children in the orphanages.
In October, 40 members of the Arad Baptist Choir, Maranata, will be in Norwich. The Lord Mayor of Norwich will welcome them to our city and they will be performing in Castle Mall on Saturday, October 7 at 10.30am and again on Sunday, 8th at 2pm. They will also be singing in Surrey Chapel on the Saturday evening at 7.30pm and on the Sunday at 10.45am and at Meadow Way chapel at 7pm.
On previous visits to England the choir has been greatly encouraged by the warmth of their reception and the support of the churches..

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