When you lose a friend - Keith Murphy

Well one week from now we will be doing our second ever funeral at MCC - The thing is, as we're not a run of the mill church, when we do a funeral its always someone very dear and close to us. Our dear friend Keith Murphy, who was dear to so many sadly took his own life on the 1st of October. It's been hard to grasp and still is. Hard to get my head around, and my thoughts have been racing ever since. We've been through all the whys, ifs and what-ifs and still I don't feel very far on with any answers. Only God knows why!! 

Keith came to us around 3 years ago and was homeless and on Methadone - I don't think he was still using then, he went to a drug and alcohol counsellor and we managed to find him a bedsit through the YMCA and week after week he came to IMPACT. Then when we bought the building last year in June he was one of the first ones to offer help. Since then we have built up a great relationship with Keith and got to know him really well - he was a very special person, he always had a smile and he was great encouragement to us all. He started to look after our dog when we went on holidays and he seemed to love that. He got stuck in on the building project and was a very skilled worker. We were also training him up to become a drug and alcohol counsellor via a distance learning course. Keith became a dear friend as we worked so closely with him - we managed to get him a nicer flat just out of town and we were in the process of helping him do it up. Keith was coming to church every Sunday and had many questions about the messages in church and said he felt drawn by God to come. He felt peace on a Sundays and started to pray. He even participated in a drama we did at church. In the last weeks of his life he had said that he felt depressed but he had Job Centre plus on his back trying to push him to do a course on Hotel Management, which he really didn't want to do, but was required to do to still get Job Seekers allowance. He didn't get a Community Care grant as they said he wasn't illegible even though we appealed and wrote to the IRS. Keith was known for his tricks and humour on the building project and once hid all Pauls tools as he accidentally left the door open, Paul thought they'd all been pinched and was panicking which Keith thought was very amusing. :) We loved Keith Irish charm and great accent. Oh to hear his voice again!! If only I could have one last conversation with him but it wasn't meant to be!!

Well we all miss him very much and he has left a big hole in all our of our lives - we continue to pray for all Keiths family, who didn't even see him in his last years, and are going through a heap of different emotions at this tragic time. We all continue to look to GOD who is the only one who understands in eternity. We do believe that Keith is with God now and in a much better place, no more pain, no more sadness or worry, only peace and joy!! We all loved Keith very much but we are not sure he knew how to receive that love but now he knows how much we all loved him as he too is in eternity. 

Love you and miss you Keith - I will try and post a picture of him on this blog when I can get it to work!!! We have him on camera too somewhere!! xxxx

Work ethics - how to help the unemployed!!

Did you know that the word WORK is mentioned 359 times in the Bible and some of the verses in Proverbs on this subject are spot on!!!
Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

I am thinking of maybe writing some things down in a leaflet that may lead to a seminar on motivating people into work - we hear so much at the moment about this course and that, that the Government are initiating to help people who are long term unemployed back into work - some people of course are not ready for it and some are, but are they coming at it from the right direction? and are they putting as much effort into creating new jobs!! Motivating people to think about working again that haven't work for a long time, for one reason or another, is a very difficult job. 

I think we have to look at what the Bible says about work too, as it does have a lot to say on this subject, but for now I just want to share some of my observations having work with a lot of unemployed people. The pro's and cons of working :-

The advantages to working and having a job are immense. Working gives people a purpose, something to get out of bed for. Work gives you a chance to develop and use your God given gifts and skills. It means you can earn a wage to live on. It also produces in people a sense of pride, good pride, a sense of achievement. It also means that you can give back into something that may be small but completes a bigger picture. Stacking shelves at ASDA may not be someone's live ambition or vocation in life, but without the shelves being stacked no-one would buy anything and ASDA would fall apart!! At West End Impact for example I put great value on anyone that does any cleaning because if the place was not clean and tidy it would not be the welcome place it is for the 250 that come in each week. It would therefore not attract so many visitors. We get rewarded and a good feeling when a job is well done. We try to make sure that each volunteer in very appreciated in all that they do and therefore it creates a great working atmosphere!!

The cons of not working on the other hand are immense. People lack enthusiasm for life and when they have things handed to them on a plate they get a sense that the world owes them everything. They don't know how to give out and expect a lot. They lose all sense of achievement, they start to get a low self esteem because they aren't giving anything back into society. They don't get that sense of 'Job well done!!' They don't feel that sense of reward when being paid for a job they have done to the best of their ability, and they don't develop their gifts and learn new skills. This, of course, leads to a sense of no purpose which leads to depression. They are not interacting with others in the work place so loneliness sets in. There is no sense of providing for themselves or their families. This all leads to a no hope mentality. There is no thoughts of being a small part of something bigger and their is no sense of maybe doing things better and learning new skills so that you can get a better job. It's not how we were made and therefore it leads to all sorts of problems - I am of course not suggesting that people who can't do a certain job push themselves into something unmanageable in their circumstances but what I am saying is everyone has a part to play in society. If you are mum, you are playing a massive part in society and you don't even get paid for the amazing job you do or a dad or a career!!! These are the people who deserve to be paid a £100 an hour and their work often doesn't even get recognised but instead gets taken for granted!! 

So how do we motivate people back into work, show them how important it is and show them the great advantages of working. Oh and make sure if you do work to get the work play balance right to. That's also very important but that's another subject!!!

How to survive a busy week!!

Well this week has just been crazy and its not quite finished yet!! If I would have known 10 years ago, when we started MCC and West End Impact, the diversity of what we are doing now it would have blown my mind. It probably would have been too much for me to cope with. When I look back I have learnt so much over the years and one thing I have had to learn is that 5 year business plans do not work. God's timing and our timing are two very different things - sometimes I get impatient and think why are things taking so long surely God wants things to move forward and be successful, and sometime I get scared because God seems to moving quite a few steps ahead of us. Even just this week at the beginning of the week I was frustrated as at the start of this new school year I had made a new start and was raring to go, and already things seem to have got on top of me. So many things to do the URGENT and the IMPORTANT!! So many meetings to attend and so many decisions to be made. So many people who need help and much to put in place until they do start to get the help they need!! Also this week it occurred to me that so many organisations suddenly want to work with us. I guess they have started to see the success of what is happening and have become very curious and very willing to work with us. Unfortunately this has become something that we need to be very careful about, as many organisations also see our kindness and willingness to work for nothing as something they can take advantage of. We obviously, as a church, want to be giving, but we don't want to be taken for granted and this is a very fine line. Some organisation want to work with us on a project that they are getting funding for but expect us to help them for free as we have done this many times in the past to build up our reputation and also to serve the community. I am not saying of course that we should stop serving and giving but we do have our bills to pay too!! In fact our overheads have more than double since we bought the adjacent building. So a lot to occupy my mind, but then today things all seemed to come together - decisions were made some very personal to us, and the place was buzzing with volunteers. We had an amazing team doing building work, and I was in a business meeting which lead to us getting some more funds for rent. We also were given a great coffee machine worth a few thousand and a blow up football pitch. So towards the end of the week a lot of my focus had changed and I was enthusiastic and trusting again that God does always bless us and knows everything that is going on in a crazy week and he wants to encourage. Although not everything is suddenly in place there is loads of encouragement and I know that God has sent the encouragement just so I know that in the business he is there working things out. He also wants us to be wise so next week I will try to take every opportunity to rest and re-focus and make sure I have a good day off and do some fun things!! I love what we do and the diversity of it, I get frustrated at the business sometimes and wonder where on earth the money is going to come from to live on and pay all the bills at MCC and West End Impact - but God never fails to turn up just not always in our timing!! Sometimes what seems to be too late and sometimes about 10 steps ahead of us!!! I need to learn to trust and rest more and more!!

A Wonder Team

Last night we had our first new team meeting and it was great!!! I look forward to see what God is going to do in and through this new team as we work together, and although I know it is going to be a challenge I am very excited about it!! We have come to a point at Morecambe Community Church where we needed to widen the team to stop us as a leadership from burning out. Up to now, in the last 10 years Michl and I and Emma and Neil have been the leadership team, with Val being with us for a time. Neil has not always been available due to work commitments so an awful lot has fallen on just the 3 of us!! As things are growing rapidly now something had to change, so over the Summer we have been giving this much thought and prayer. We don't believe that a leadership or any kind of team, should be elected with a democratic vote and we are always on the look out for potential leaders. We look for people who are committed to serve God, who have character, and whether there is some chemistry between us and them. These are essential elements to make a good team and I am so pleased to say that we have 11 people who fit the bill. The hope is that the load will be spread amongst this amazing talented team, and we will be able to encourage and spur each other on to our full potential, find our God given gifts. That we will envision each other and make things possible together that weren't possible with just the 3 of us taking responsibility. Of course there are others in our church who do take responsibility, many who work tirelessly in the background, but they weren't invited to the team as they were happy just staying in the background and don't see their role as moving things forward. Some people are happy in that position and that is also just fine!! It was great to do some team building exercises together last night and I am looking forward to really getting to know each other a lot better!! Very excited for this new venture although already last night it felt like we were being attacked - we will need to pray lots for each other as we serve God at Morecambe Community Church and West End Impact. Together we are an unstoppable force a WONDER TEAM!! and all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us!!

Greenbelt 2012

Just came back from a really great time at Greenbelt 2012 at Cheltenham Racecourse. The weather was terrible but it didn't spoil it - thank you God that our tent didn't leak!! There is just such a variety at Greenbelt each year and loads of stuff most ages to do. It's very diverse and very open minded. Not typically Christian and definitely not twee. Some of my highlights this year were seeing Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, The Proclaimers, Frank Skinner, Guvna B, Harry Baker, Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies, Rend Collective, Andy Flannagan and Weapons of Sound. The creative bits around the site were great too and so much was always going on around the Village green. It was just amazing to go somewhere with no responsibilities and even our teenager could just go off without us. The food was pretty good too at the two food courts, although we spent a fortune. I had an amazing time and feel totally relaxed. It was so good to be outside for four days too no tv computer and no WIFI connection :) Looking forward to reading the new book I bought The Red Letter Christian even if Tony Campolo did totally insult me at his book signing he he :) Well I think the Kohl's have to make this a yearly tradition as it was a great rest that every church leader needs!!!!

Asking the Lord of the Harvest.......

It was so good yesterday (Sunday) to see the church filling our building - it won't be long before we will be needing to move MCC from West End Impacts building, in fact if everyone came to the Sunday service at the same time there wouldn't be enough room for them all. Good job Gordon found some more chairs! So soon we will either have to have 2 services or move buildings. The thing is though that as from the end of August another church (Home Church) are using the building for a service at 4pm mmmmmmmm... going to have to think that one through!!!

Anyway the thing that's really blessing me at the moment is that GOD is sending more workers!!! YEAH!! For the last 10 years I have been asking the Lord of the Harvest for more workers as the Harvest is plenty but the workers are few!! In other words 20% of the people at MCC do 80% of the work!! This has been a problem, and over the years - lets call a spade a spade - we have been worn out to point of almost giving up on several occasions. We accept that there are always going to onlookers in every church and there are always going to be the ones who feel inadequate and feel they have nothing to give, but we have made it a priority in our church to practice the 'priesthood of all believers'. We have used the Network course as a tool as regularly as possible to help people find their gifts and given as many opportunities as possible for people to get involved and use their gifts. We have also been very open for people to get stuck in and if they don't feel gifted in a particular area they can try something else. In fact at our yearly volunteers appreciation meal it is very obvious that most people in our church are involved in a little way at least. The problem has been though that few are souldering responsibility!! Also with the nature of the people we are getting there are few who can shoulder responsibility, not many are unwilling. We have many people who struggle with mental health and low self esteem. I am very encouraged presently though, as God is doing amazing things and I can see that our core team is widening!! I was reminded yesterday that God promised us at our Commissioning in 2003 that He was going to do something special with young people and I can now see that an amazing youth team is evolving. God said through Steve Bland that we were not to see the young people as the church of tomorrow but we were to see them as part of what God is doing at MCC now that God will use the young people just as much as any adult!! (probably more) It's exciting times and although I really want to go on holiday next week as I am tired I am also frightened of missing something whilst we're away :) a very good position to be in!! Leadership training is going to have to be high priority in September and I am very much looking forward to our THINK TANK vision casting session in the Summer!! Exciting times!!

West End Impact

West End Impact is Morecambe Community Churches charity which we set up 10 years ago now, in response to the regeneration of Morecambe. Unfortunately not much of the regeneration that was being promised 10 years ago in Morecambe has been done. Morecambe is still a very beautiful place though - the Bay is one of the best views in the world!! :) There is such desperation in Morecambe though and we as a church and organisation really want to see 'More for Morecambe'!! Just today at our drop-in I was talking at length to a guy, who had given up all hope - he told me his life story and what a sad life he had led so far. There are so many people who have lost HOPE and any motivation to see that they have a future. There is so much family breakup, so many people with depression and mental health problems, people with addictions and hundreds of people who are just lonely. People are looking at all their issues and problems and feeling totally overwhelmed!! As a Christian organisation and church we want show people that the Church feels responsible to help, in a practical way. Of course we would love that everyone would see that God can set them free that the whole reason God sent his son Jesus Christ was to set them free from all their burdens, and past and guilt and fear etc etc. but God commanded that we just help!! It's no use saying to someone God bless you if they are riddle with debt, and don't know how to fill in their benefit form properly. We, as Christians, need to help in practical ways with no other motive than just to do what Jesus Christ did. We want to show people their worth and show them they CAN!! So many people are being told they can't, they can't learn a new skill, they are no use at doing this that and the other. It's all rubbish!! There is so much potential in every person we meet at Morecambe Community Church and at West End IMPACT  and it is our job to show what they can do. Everyone needs a purpose and ultimately our purpose is in God. I could write loads of what is going on on a weekly basis, but today it just struck me afresh the number of people in Morecambe, not just the financially poor and needy,who have lost all sense of HOPE.

The Dream (Morecambe Community Church)

A dream of a church where hurting, confused, searching, questioning, ordinary people can come as they are and be accepted and welcomed. Where they're not afraid to have questions and where they can find the answers and a revelation from God.

A dream of a church that shares and presents the Good News of Jesus in a simple, relevant, up-to-date way that can be applied to peoples lives. A dream of a church that shares Jesus' love, forgiveness and acceptance with 100's and even thousands of people in the Morecambe and Lancaster area and even further a field.

A dream of a church where believers are built up and encouraged in their faith through small groups, seminars, Bible study, prayer, training, worship and service and can reach their full potential in Christ.

A dream of a church where people can laugh together, cry together, pray together, forgive each other, have fun together, encourage each other, but don't talk about each other behind their back.

A dream of a church where everyone is encouraged to find their purpose within the church and the reason why they are here on earth, by finding their God given gifts and talents and being free and encouraged to use them. Where people are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them and are allowed to change direction and try new things when necessary.

Organised Chaos @ MCC/WEI

Sometimes I feel like things are spiralling out of control in our church and organisation, but I think that is a good thing. The more I feel out of control the more we have to depend on God. We are working in a very deprived area of Morecambe with so many issues even just in that area its overwhelming. Having set up 10 years ago now we have seen some real cases come through the doors. We have homeless people, people with mental health problems, unemployed people, people just lacking motivation, lonely people, people with additions, people who have been mentally and physically abused, people who have just got crazy ideas about their Christian faith, people with very low self-esteem who have just lost direction. We get all kinds of people and usually about 150-200 of them a week including youth and children and babies. We have got to the stage now where other agencies have seen our reputations over the years and they want to come alongside and work with us. The YMCA work with us and Lancaster Homeless Action. Help Direct and CVS. The local councillors and Police and PCSO's. They all want to work with us and set up surgery with us so they have a face in the community - this is all great but I am just wondering how its all going to go. We as a church obviously want to work in the community and show people in the community that the church also has a voice and we also want to see agencies all working together coordinating properly so that the people in the community get the best service possible. There are so many gaps at the moment with funding cuts left right and centre and so many services just aren't out there. So its good that one or two new agencies are setting up and working together with us at West End Impact. I thought to myself this morning though, that we need to remain focussed on the fact that ultimately people will not be free and fulfilled and in a better place until they get to know their maker and start a relationship with God and grow into the person He intended them to be. He is their creator and has a plan for each persons life and wants to see them whole and fully functional as a fulfilled human people with a purpose in this world. No other agency can help in that way and although, of course, we would help anyone whether they are a Christian or not and we would never try and push them to God we have to show that that option is readily available to each one. So as my mind is racing today and I can see that God is in the centre of all that is happening, I must always remain focus on the aim that we long to see people discover God and be transformed by him.

Praying for the Scholes family

It's the funeral and memorial service of Daniel 'Scooby' Scholes today and of course I have been thinking of them and praying for them loads. As I have tried to read Esthers' blog as much as possible to keep up with what has been happening it has touched me so much. The great faith that this family have is an example to us all, and the way that they have clung on to every ounce of hope, and trusted so much in God through all their suffering is astounding. Of course the whole situation has brought mixed feelings to us all and I am sure there have been times of bewilderment for the Scholes family too, but they have been very strong in their faith and God is continuing to uphold them in their grief. We caught a glimpse of this 11 and a half years ago when we lost our dear daughter Lisa. Of course we never really got to know Lisa as she was stillborn, which is why I say we only caught a glimpse of what the Scholes family are going through, but from our experience you enter another realm in these circumstances. It's almost like you are in another mode of life where you are dealing with death. God brings you into a realm where yes, you are suffering terribly, and you see the fragility of life, but you also start to look at the bigger picture. There is an overwhelming sense of peace in this realm, which was so evident in our situation that the midwives felt the peace themselves and commented on it. I had a strong sense that although I could see Lisa's body that it was not Lisa, she had gone to a far better place far superior to anything we had experienced and I was thankful that Lisa had never had to suffer. I knew that one day I would see her again and would get to know her and that was something to look forward to. Scooby on the other hand did have to suffer and so his loving parents suffered much with him, and I am sure they are relieved now that they don't have to see their son suffering any more, a small consolation for their loss but still a relief. My prayer for the Scholes family today is that they will remain in that realm where there is much peace and comfort in their grief until it is time for them to come gradually out of that realm. My prayer is that people around them will be completely sensitive to them, giving them all the time they need to go on this journey of dealing with the death of their precious son, and God will send to them the right people to say the right things at the right time. So dear Scholes family may God surround you with a blanket of HIS love, peace and strength today and for the months and years to come until you have done all your grieving. Daniel will always be with you and a part of you and I pray that the experience of his life and death will strengthen you and never destroy anything that you can ever become. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Friends

Went for lunch with some lovely people today - why do the lovely ones have to be moving away!! Richard is obviously a theologian at heart, so conversations are always interesting and Trish is just a bubbly, interesting, lovely lady. She's slightly quirky and I would have loved to have had time to get to know her better, but I guess these relationships, you just have to make the most of as they come along. I have had a long line of friends like that who have come into my life for a short, treasured time and then have moved away - you just have to make the most of it whilst it lasts. I never get used to it happening but for some reason it has been one of the things that has been constantly happening in my life from an early age. I guess I am fortunate enough to know lots of people from all over the world, especially during the time at I lived and worked at Capernwray Hall Bible school and holiday centre. Each year around 200 students would attend from around 30 different countries in the world, I would get to know them for 6-9 months and then they were gone. It gave great visiting opportunities, to Switzerland, Canada, Bulgaria and then Austria, which is where I ended up living when Michl and I first got married. We recently had a visit from the Pastors of the church where we worked in Austria which was a very special surprise, we spent a few hours with them and it was as if we had seen each other just yesterday. It's funny how some relationships are like that, you can pick them up again just where you left off and there is still a bond between you. One thing I find really quite hard though, is that as leaders and founders of a church and charity, its hard to build close strong relationships that are of mutual understanding and respect. We are yet to find another relationship with someone that we can trust and share in depth some of the struggles and challenges we face, someone who has walked a similar path and can empathise with our situation. I guess it will be hard to find, as our situation is so unique and 'out of the box' that who can possibly fathom or understand it in full. I guess not even we do at times, it is so organic and changing all the time. I can not imagine doing anything else with my life though and I am still passionate about the things we do. It's far from easy though and we need all the support and friendships and relationships we can grasp hold of, what ever level of friendship that is. I do need to seek a few more friends out though who are not solely dependant on me for spiritual guidance, and I am determined to make that my aim for the next year!! Although I am not sure you can aim to make friends I think they more just come along when you're least expecting them!! :)

A day in the life of MCC: A Day in the life of MCC

A day in the life of MCC: A Day in the life of MCC: I do fancy myself as a bit of a writer, so what better way to get started than to write a blog!! I am a creative inventive person who likes ...

A Day in the life of MCC

I do fancy myself as a bit of a writer, so what better way to get started than to write a blog!! I am a creative inventive person who likes to talk a lot, but do always express myself much better when writing. I guess I don't see myself as being incredibly interesting but there just maybe some people out there on the big worldwide web who find some comfort in reading about some of my life. It's not an average life by any means, in fact its pretty radical at times, no two days are ever the same. So here goes!! I called this blog 'A day in the life of MCC' as Morecambe Community Church and West End Impact are the two organisations that my husband and I founded almost 10 years ago now. MCC is no average church, and we started with just 6 people in our living room. After working in various 'normal' churches over the years we decided it was time to have a go ourselves. It didn't happen that easily, of course, and as with most things in my life there is a long story behind it. I am pretty sure at some point I will cover it with more detail, but as this is just an introduction to my first ever BLOG I will keep it brief for now. :) It would be great if people felt comfortable to ask me questions too, about me about my faith and about work that we do in our community, it would be a privilege to talk to you but please do know I don't have all the answers, although, at times I may give the impression I do. By the way I have a husband, who I love very much, and he's from Graz Austria, (another long story)!! I have two lovely children, although I must admit, having a teenager has been challenging :) Amy is 14 and was born in Austria which she is very proud of, and Matthias is 10 and never fails to make me laugh!! They are both very different characters but are both very big personalities in their own way. My family mean the world to me and are a massive part of my life, I really do not know what I would do without them, they are the foundation on which I can build everything else that I can do, well them and God of course. God is my rock and the cornerstone which the foundations are built around and is the being that I worked out all my life's philosophy around!!! Although it is more than a philosophy and its not a religion as I can go to the football match religiously - it's faith and you can't really fully explain that one on a blog!! Anyway I hope that some people somewhere can relate to this blog, I am a down to earth person so there will be nothing here too hard to understand and hopefully I will even mange to make some people laugh :) and since today is my day off I going to stop right there.......www.mcc.uk.com