August 2009 Report

the taste of maturity

As August 09 drew to a close I found myself preparing for a full Sunday of ministry at New Wine Church, Woolwich. The pre-event arrangements had been handled meticulously by the church staff and I had a strong sense of anticipation.

I was not disappointed. I had a great day and received the warmest possible welcome.

What made this day so special for me was that New Wine is a church that I was involved with at its beginning sixteen years ago. In fact I spoke at its first anniversary.

It’s a real joy to see long-term relationships taking on fresh meaning now that I am free to minister further afield more frequently. God’s faithfulness is always an encouragement.

It may be hard for me to believe that New Wine Church is now sixteen years old but the reality of that made me face up to a few other milestones reached this summer.

This summer marked 44 years since I started as an Anglican youth group leader and 39 years since I started my university campus ministry. It’s 35 years since Marion and I planted our first church and 25 years since I worked with the Luis Palau team on Mission to London. Even with Billy Graham’s last major mission to the UK which I worked on, 20 years have passed.

Hugh speaking from Billy Graham's pulpit
June 1989

I looked a lot younger 20 years ago. I am really grateful, though, for all that God has done in the intervening years. I am now looking to the future and believing for a yet greater fulfillment of all that God has put on my heart. Please stand in faith with me for this.

Surely the events mentioned earlier herald an even bigger Kingdom breakthrough that God wants to bring to the nations of the world. We need to see nations reached through the power of the Gospel and divided people-groups brought together through the power of prayer and the impact of God’s Word.

Please pray for the Fresh Focus conference mentioned in my monthly email letter. It is an up-to-the-moment example of what God has placed on my heart.