Malc                                             Penny                                  

Our  "Calling"

 

Our calling from God seems to have two clear strands - youth and prayer. 

It developed from several years of regular prayer in the town centre and notably a drawing towards the young people in the Forbury Gardens. It now expresses itself most obviously in Fostering and detached youth work as you will see below. 

We need wisdom to know the way ahead, we both have a real heart for this work. 

Premises in the town centre would be wonderful.  (Oh Lord, I remember praying that 5 years ago and here we are again!)

We are sincerely committed to seeing the Church in Reading reaching out and transforming the town.

 

Fostering

Fostering is now our single largest income source. From December of 2000 to Jan 2004 we fostered several young men through "CARE remand Fostering". Each experience was very different. It was demanding, in that from 3.30 of an afternoon ‘he’ was at home till he went to bed. But the rewards of being able to offer even temporary accommodation to teenagers who were well on their way to self-destruct were enormous. What an opportunity to have these, mainly "fatherless" lads, in a Christian home. Some of the changes we saw were quite remarkable.

 

Now we are fostering for "Foster Care Associates". To date ( April 2005 ) we have had two teenage girls.

Weekends were similarly difficult but then we have Kristy anyway which prevents the two of us going off to do anything together. There are times when that feels very intrusive and one would like to have just an odd evening in alone! But it is good to be able to do something so worthwhile and be paid for it!   

By the way if you are thinking of fostering do get in touch. 

Not only can we advise you from personal experience, but if we recommend you to FCA we get a little back from that.

 

 

First Steps

Penny’s part-time work as Project Manager of “First Steps in the Community” in Whitley Wood came to an end in 2005. As ever it was financial shortage that hit the project. They are endeavouring to continue without separate administrative input. To some extent Penny had put stuff into place which once done didn't need doing again. However, this is very much front-line work. Do pray for finance for the project itself, for the volunteers, the attitude of insularity which pervades Whitley and for wisdom for the Executive Committee.  The enemy really does object to anyone trying to bring salt and light in to Whitley.

 

Impact Reading

Also pray into the development of co-operation between the various agencies working in the area — such as FAITH / CIRDIC / CCA / Women's Centre. There is need to expand into all sorts of other areas of help for the local people. This is such valuable work and really needs God to be powerfully in it. Certainly Malc puts some time into this on behalf of FAITH

 

 

 

 

 

It may not be quite so well known that I am a Trustee of F.A.I.T.H. Although my committee commitment only amounts to once every other month, I quite regularly go out on a Sunday afternoon with the team. This is an important ’earthing’ to Reading which validates and under-girds my prayer and other efforts in the town.

Most of my involvement has been in creating documentation, policies, safety handbooks and the like. During 2005 we have been working with a number of other agencies to create a work on the Oxford Road amongst the women who work the streets. 

 

The name RAHAB will be self explanatory to Christians. This is a new ministry which is taking time and prayer to set up and launch.

 

 

 

I regularly ask my small team of 'pray-ers' whether it is time to stop. This is always greeted by a knowing look that says it all. 

I had seriously questioned whether the Boiler Room was the next phase for the Cross in Town. However events have proved that wrong. For the uninitiated, we have been taking the cross to the town centre since 1998. Back in February 1999 Martin Scott prophesied some significant stuff over me part of which was that I was to “keep taking the cross to the town centre”. 

If you were around that week you will have heard Martin speak of taking and holding the “Centre Ground”. The team and I have always seen “The Cross in Town” and prayer-walking, especially the Forbury, as part at least of that process. 

 

 

Subsequent prophetic words and pictures have spoken of or shown the Cross over the River and under the Abbey Gateway.

 

 

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Until November 2004 we were both on the management team of the Boiler Room. ( see link to Boiler Room page )

Many people will be aware of the "legend" that was Reading Boiler Room - known locally by it's old pub name of "The Vaults"

On Saturdays we were seeing anything up to 150 unchurched young people - mainly "Goth" in style and 20 - 30 skaters.

With the closure of the Vaults back in 2003 the kids reverted to the Forbury Gardens 

Then with the closure of the Gardens for renovation in 2004 they dispersed over a wide area. 

Most made their way to King's Meadow, into town to the station or down by the Kennet etc.

It has been tragic to see a gradual increase in, regression to, the use of drugs and interest in the occult since the Boiler Room closed.

We are committed to fighting the spirit of self-harm and suicide that many are prone to, summed up in Kurt Cobain's famous words printed on the back of one young person's hoodie.

 

                               

 

We need real wisdom to know the way ahead, we both have a real heart for this work.

Premises in the town centre would be wonderful. The new B R in Caversham isn't appropriate.

A team of Christians with a heart for these youngsters is vital. 

            

                                     

As another aspect of 24-7 prayer we were part of a small team who went on to the Reading Festival site in 2001 with a prayer tent.

We hope to be there again some year, but would need serious manpower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Malc was Logistics Manager for "TheCall" Prayer Event at the Madejski Stadium.

It was a truly amazing day - or so we are told!

The reality is that Malc and Penny were so busy the whole day that neither of them saw much of the event.

Malc did get to cross the pitch on many occasions and therefore felt the atmosphere and in particular the presence of the Holy Spirit.

He still gets people commenting to him about the day years later.

 

Malc's observations

It was an incredible thing to have pulled off and respect goes to Julie Anderson and the Prayer for the Nations guys, especially Jane and Jamie that they dared to attempt something so big with so little experience.  Few people who attended could possibly know the enormous amount of work that such an event entails, nor the level of stress it places on those organising it.  Much did not go to plan but you'd hardly have noticed, such was the commitment and ability of those involved.  Mistakes were made, things could have been different/'better', but God is good.  It is a day I will never forget and perhaps perversely would love to do again. I would admit though to thriving on the challenge of sorting out chaos!

 

It was perhaps the finest example of God bringing together a number of my giftings.

A heart for prayer; An understanding of the mysterious world and language of intercessors; Administrative skills and experience of the technical (sound, light etc.) issues of such an event.

 

Above all it was a day in which God showed immense grace towards us, not only in overlooking our shortcomings, but in hearing us and covering us.

Pictures by myself and Paul Howerd