FOR JUST 50 PENCE A DAY

God is able to make all grace abound to you- 2 Cor 9:8

WE HAVE a tremendous opportunity at St John’s to take a significant step forward for the kingdom of God. There is a great deal of work to be done to get the good news of Jesus Christ out into the local community, and to build one another up in our faith. These things are the responsibility of every believer, but God helps us in this task by giving pastors and ministers to his church.

We have been praying since Tim Neale left (in August 2007) that God would send us someone to help in the work of ministry here, and we made some efforts to take soundings among the congregation - you may remember the post-it note poll.  

Confident that this was a matter on which there was considerable unity, the P.C.C. went ahead, and God led us to Michael Peach.

Those of you who heard him introduce himself in church on March 15th will have realized that he has a clear calling to Christian ministry, which others have recognized, and have shared in enabling him to prepare himself by spending three years studying at Oak Hill Theological College, London.

He and his wife Lizzy are making a big commitment to us as they believe God is calling them to work here, and we now need to make a commitment to support them prayerfully and financially.

Through the generosity of a good friend there is a house that we can rent for them at a below-the-market rate; but paying for that and giving them a modest income to live on, in addition to paying Michael’s expenses of office, is going to take at least £30,000 p.a. for the next three years.

We have some money put aside to launch the support of a new worker €“ which some have given specifically for this €“ but we now need the whole congregation to get behind the project .

The good news is that you can be involved in prayer and giving. Financial support could be achieved in 50p units.

If enough people give 50p a day, tax-effectively where possible, we shall achieve this goal.

• 50p is only the cost of the Daily Mail,
• a bag of McCoy's crisps,
• a pint of milk,
• a doughnut,
• two bread rolls,
• one Cadburys creme egg,
• two large eggs,
• a toilet roll,
• two bags of Haribo Tangfastics,
• or about a quarter of a cup takeaway coffee.

I am sure that many people will want to give more than this, and will be in a position to do so, but if we can achieve 120 units of 50p a day, we shall be able to reach our annual target.

I am not going to apologize for giving you this opportunity to give. Christian giving is a response to the generosity of God, and God loves a cheerful giver!

Have a look at chapter 7 of John Stott’s The Living Church,, and chapters 8 & 9 of 2 Corinthians to which it refers.

I do hope you can respond to the need to support this project through your prayers and by increasing your donations to St John’s Church PCC. If you would like more information about supporting the project financially, please contact me, the treasurer or a member of the finance team. Please indicate your desire to participate by sending an e-mail.

If you would like to discuss your level of giving, please contact the Church treasurer, e-mail him on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stephen Bowen