Overview: This period was characterized by ministering to Meryl’s aged mother, Beryl. We have had ongoing financial challenges, especially being able to pay for our health insurance monthly premiums. We had moderate success in fund raising efforts for Alpha for the Military (A4M). We have been incredibly busy in five main areas of military ministry outreach (A4M in the USA and Bulgaria, organizing that part of Interaction taking place in Hampton Roads in early Nov 05, Freedom Fest 2006, the FCMM/Naaman Initiative, local A4M ministry at NAS Oceana, leading the Alpha course in our home church). Finally, we rejoice that we are to become grandparents in late Sep 06, God willing.
Beryl: Beryl seems to have aged rapidly during the last 6 months. She has spent much of the time in hospital, some of the stays on an emergency basis. She is not enjoying this part of her life. Meryl rushed back to England in early November for 2 weeks, expecting not to see he mother on arrival. She did! Beryl was close to dying on 23 Dec 05 but got better in a miraculous way that enabled the family to move her to a full care home 150 miles away from where she had lived since late 1995. Although Beryl asked to move back nearer to her original roots it has not been an easy thing for her or anyone else. However, it has clearly been the right decision. She was in hospital from late Jan to early Mar 06 and is now back at Aston Court, the care home. As I write she does not sound at all strong or happy and we all take each day as it comes.
Ministry – ACCTS in USA: With the sterling help of Maj Sam Tate USAF (Ret), an OCF Stalwart in our area, we organized a very successful Interaction visit for one group to the Hampton Roads region for 3 days in early Nov 05. They visited and were challenged by and about the plethora of military ministry taking place at Langley AFB, Fort Monroe and the Norfolk Naval Base (Operation Iraqi Freedom and local shore based ministry),
Ministry – A4M in USA: The number of Alpha courses in the US military continues to grow but it is difficult to know how many are running at any one time. Chaplains and leaders do not give us feedback in spite of agreeing to do so. Many courses run only once or twice, tending to go with the chaplain when he or she is re-assigned. We believe that about 40 courses have been run in 2004 and 2005. I am asked to give advice and help by phone and email, sometimes by personal visit, about 3 or 4 times every week. Often the advice does not come to fruition as new courses starting, or they start between 9 and 24 months later. The very successful Marriage Course has been run by a number of chaplains. My team of regional A4M Advisors did not grow in 2005. It includes Frank Cole, ACCTS staff. Time and other employment often precludes the Advisors doing more. As has been said elsewhere, the Alpha course is frequently hugely discouraging but also hugely encouraging, often at almost the same time! I am currently leading a 9 week follow on Alpha course called A Life Worth Living at NAS Oceana, which is being well received and people’s lives are being changed for the good. Meryl and I are also involved leading the Alpha course in our church. The current course could be described as an A4M course! All the other leaders and helpers, in addition to us, are active duty US Navy and Coast Guard members and their wives. God and not man put this together!
Ministry – A4M in Bulgaria and Elsewhere: Following on my 2 week visit to Bulgaria in August 2005, the pastor of the church which hosted me started an Alpha course in the church in October 2005. His aim was to train several of his members to be leaders on future courses. These folk were mostly retired military, as is he. The course was a great blessing to the church, cementing relationships and helping to birth a vision for meeting in small groups. The pastor’s hope is that a special Alpha course can be arranged for the Bulgarian military as a vacation activity in summer 2006. However, due to the pressure of much other ministry and too few people to help, it looks like this course may not happen. A similar situation exists in Ukraine, where Vasily Khimich, the leader of their MCF, OXBY, has indicated it is unlikely that an A4M course can start there within the next 3 years. It is not likely that an A4M course will happen in Albania in the near future for similar reasons. Huge steps of learning still need to happen in these former Communist countries to build trust, delegate and show willingness to give others partial control, whilst retaining accountability and supervision.
Ministry – Freedom Fest 2006: I am the promotion coordinator for this seeker friendly event taking place in Hampton Roads on 29 Apr 06. This is the largest ever evangelistic outreach to the men and women of the US armed forces in this region. I got involved somewhat unwillingly a year ago, even though I felt the Lord calling me to do so. The follow up aspect of the festival has significant possibilities for using the Alpha course at local chapels and churches.
Finances: For the whole period we have struggled with too little income. My British Army retirement covers about 30% of our total ministry and living requirements. Donation support covers about a further 30%, leaving about 40% that we trust the Lord to supply each and every month. Wonderfully, in the reporting period, our monthly health insurance premiums have been covered by donations from two individuals (a month each) not associated with ACCTS or military ministry in any way, by one church (one month) and from two chapel designated offerings to A4M (month each). We were able to cover one month ourselves. This month the situation is reversed and the health premiums are paid but we are short by about $600 to pay all our other bills mainly utilities. We continue to pray the Lord will provide, and so far He has, even though we almost decided to retire in August 2005.
Fund Raising: As mentioned, ACCTS and Alpha for the Military have received one designated offering each for the A4M ministry. Last November, we held a dinner to generate support. The enthusiasm of those attending endorsed that we are in the right place, doing the ministry the Lord has for us. However, the income did not cover the cost of the dinner. This was in spite of a huge amount of hard work to carefully select and invite the guests. Many guests did not answer the RSVP (even after being personally reminded) until after the deadline for payment of the meals, but on the night there were more guests than we dared hope for. Organizing the dinner alone was very challenging and, at times, extremely frustrating and dispiriting.
