ENGAGE
Edition 18
M A G A Z I N E
May - July ‘17
COMMUNITY
CONNECT
CONNECT
MEN’S STUFF
GOD IS ON THE
MOVE
TIME FOR
MARRIAGE
CREDITS
MINISTERS
Mark Madavan
[email protected]
Tim Hancock
[email protected]
Jim Privett
[email protected]
LHFC OFFICE
[email protected]
EDITORIAL TEAM
Tina Grobler
[email protected]
Peter Jeffs
[email protected]
Pauline Griffiths
[email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHY istockphoto.com
CONTENTS
WE’VE ALL GOT A NOTE TO SING
LET THE PREPARATIONS BEGIN
PASTORAL CARE
PASTORS LETTER
4
BUILDING PROJECT
6
SMALL GROUPS
9
MEN’S STUFF COMMUNITY
10
GOD IS ON THE MOVE
CONNECT
12
TIME FOR MARRIAGE
CONNECT
14
ENCOUNTER
CONNECT
18
EDGE AND CENTRAL YOUTH
MISSION
THE PRIMARY YEARS
60 SECONDS WITH NATHAN &
19
CONNECT
21
COMMUNITY
24
CONNECT
26
HANNAH MOUNTNEY
 LOCKS-HEATH-FREE-CHURCH
 @LHFCHURCH
 www.lhfc.org.uk
We’ve all got a note
to sing, a part to play
I have always been surrounded by
music.
Before birth the sound of music would
have echoed all around me as I was
taken (no choice!) to church every
Sunday – and several days during the
week – listened to my dad playing
the piano at home and listening to Val
Doonican and Jim Reeves (my mum’s
favourites) on the record player – ‘an
apparatus for reproducing sound from
records, comprising a turntable that
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spins the record at a constant speed and
a stylus that slides along in the groove
and picks up the sound, together with
an amplifier and a loudspeaker.’ The
definition is included for anyone who
hasn’t got a clue what I am talking
about.
Then I developed my own ‘taste’
for music. Learning to play a brass
instrument from the age of 6, singing
in children’s choirs (no choice, my dad
was the conductor) and then from
teenage years, being enthralled by
Slade, Roy Wood and Wizzard, ELO,
ELP, Mike Oldfield, Focus, Queen and
the Flying Burrito Brothers (not really, I
just love the name!)
The amazing thing about music is that
it is all based on just 12 notes – C, C#,
D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B. And with
those 12 notes arranged in a different
order, different octaves, different
lengths, combinations and rhythms,
Bach, Beethoven, Burt Bacharach and
Beyoncé have all produced a variety of
memorable music.
With just 12 people, Jesus changed
the world! He didn’t need them but he
chose them. A variety that blended,
occasionally clashed but then resolved,
were out of tune at times but were
carefully and lovingly harmonised,
and who took the sound of the Good
News of Jesus to a world that was in
desperate need of hearing this new,
beautiful music. They each had a
different part to play, a different way
of playing it, connecting the Good
News sound with the many different
audiences. It was genius.
And today, we’ve all got a note to sing,
a part to play, we can all add to the vast
Choir that is the Church. It’s not a solo
performance, we are called to belong
to something bigger. So, whether you
feel like a C or a Bb, you are needed to
add your voice to the ever increasing
sound, to make it better than it has
been so that more and more people
hear the song we are invited to sing.
If you’ve ever watched Gareth Malone
and how he forms choirs –
Military Wives Choir, Workplace Choir,
Community Choirs, School Choirs – he
took people who lacked confidence,
didn’t feel they could sing, had been
told they couldn’t sing, actually
couldn’t sing, and he started a choir
that was better than the sum of its
individual parts.
I believe that is Church
at its very best.
Individuals who have something to
bring, coming together with others
to be even better. People with
different gifts, abilities, passions
and experiences who, when singing
together, can do amazing things.
Take some time during the summer
to listen to the songs people are
singing, their story of faith, how
Jesus invited them to follow and how
they responded to his death and
resurrection. Listen to the different
notes, pitch and cadence, hear the
resonance, richness and rhythm and
add yours to it. Enhance it and enrich
it with your story and together our
confidence will grow, our sound will get
louder and stronger and the world will
be captivated and compelled by the
music we sing. It’s Good News!
There are people waiting for you to join
in, there are people waiting to hear the
song we’re singing.
This is the local Church – the hope of
the world – this is us and we can sing!
~ Tim Hancock
5
Preparation, preparation, preparation…
It may look like little has changed since
the church officially voted to proceed
with the BUILD project - but I can
assure you that we have moved into a
completely new phase. The phase of a
thousand and one design meetings!
We are having meetings about
foundations, flooring, doors, ceilings,
heating, venting, fire curtains, noise
insulation, room layouts, locks, lights,
pipes, cable tracks, plug socket
positioning… you name it, we are having
a meeting about it. The reason for so
many meetings is because tweaking
plans on paper is far less expensive
than tweaking plans whilst the builder is
building – it is all about preparation.
The BUILD project timescale aims to
have detailed designs agreed by early
summer, a builder appointed by the end
of the summer and building started by
the end of this year (or possibly early
next year).
We will however see some building
work during May. It won’t be dramatic –
just the new entrance and a short main
drain connection – but it will be enough
to secure our planning permission.
Please continue to pray for wisdom and
creativity during this preparation phase.
Also continue to give, raise further
funds, sell cakes, complete sponsored
runs, cycle rides, etc. We still have
a £300k funding gap between what
we have already raised, pledged and
mortgaged and our £4.65m target. We
will also need to raise further funds
for the ‘fit-out’ - chairs, tables, PA,
projectors, etc.
Be courageous. It is going to happen.
~ Mark Madavan
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7
MIND THE GAP... AND FILL IT
Thank you to everyone who has helped
to close the gap with fund-raising,
giving, praying and planning new ways
to raise the money needed to see the
BUILD project gap close even more.
But…there is more to do to see it close
further and it needs everyone to get
involved to help close it.
Summer gives us all fresh energy and
ideas to do something to spread the
news and involve other people in fundraising activities. What could you plan
over the next three months? BBQ’s,
cream teas, tours of your garden, walks,
rides, swims, runs … the possibilities
are endless, so please get your diary
out and plan to do something and give
something.
We are going to be launching the
SMALL GROUP CHALLENGE again, so
start thinking with your group and let’s
see what crazy, innovative, creative
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idea will win the 2017 Challenge. Or, it
could be calm, sensible, and been done
before!
So, let’s all…
• Keep collecting CDs, DVDs,
mobiles, console games, milk
bottle tops and stamps
• Attend, invite others and help at
the events that are being planned
• Pray, plan and stretch our own
personal giving
• Donate your skills
• Use skills advertised in Life@LHFC
• Pray about the building plans and
the finances and respond to what
God is saying
God has led us this far so let’s keep
following His lead and fill that gap
together.
~ Tim Hancock
Pastoral Care in Small Groups
If you are part of a Small Group, doing
life together, I’m guessing that there is
a diverse mix of gifts within your group.
Take my group for example. 12 ladies.
We have great prayer warriors (Gilly);
great teaching (Rachel); great ideas,
especially for fundraising (Lisa); great
fundraisers (Tina); great cake bakers an indispensable role in our cake loving
group (Katy and Beccy); and the list goes
on.
But who gives the pastoral care, the
emotional and spiritual encouragement?
Well, although some of us have an
extra gifting for pastoral work within the
church, I consider myself so blessed
to see that within my group everyone
fulfills this role.
Over the many years that we have been
together, and all the difficult things that
life has thrown at us, the glue that has
bound us together is Christ’s loving care
for each one of us exemplified through
our love for each other.
Last year we suffered the sad loss of one
of our members. Claire (42 years old) had
been with us for about 18 months. She
had terminal breast cancer and through
her illness she re-found her faith. She
came to us at a time when she needed
support and she found acceptance
and love. She was an amazing woman;
beautiful, brave and caring. Often too
ill to come to group, she would text us
from her hospital bed. She wanted to
know how we were, how she could pray
for us. We still miss her but rejoice that
she is now pain free and at peace with
Her Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:13 says “And now these
three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love”.
If you aren’t part of a Small Group, can
I urge you to join one. Get connected
to others, flex your pastoral muscles. I
guarantee you will be blessed as you
bless others.
~ Jennie Hon
9
MEN’S STUFF
LHFC has a great collection of men (or a collection of
great men!). Sort them by age, job, how long they’ve
been a Christian (or how long they’ve been searching for
answers), things they love doing, or even beards, and you’ll
find a whole variety of men who love being part of what is
happening at the church. Here’s a taste of what goes on:
PINTS OF VIEW – on the first Thursday
of each month at the Sir Joseph Paxton,
Hunts Pond Road, from 8pm, you’ll find
a few blokes putting the world right and
building friendships.
LHFC GOLF – not just for men, but with
5 events a year, this is a great place
to spoil a good walk and enjoy the
company of others who think they can
play golf as well (or as badly) as you.
LHFC FOOTBALL TEAM – training on
Mondays, matches on Saturdays, if you
are keen, you can join.
LHFC MEN’S CHOIR – come and sing!
It’s good for your health and good for
the people who are listening (so we are
told!)
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But as well as these organised events
some men are meeting together to
serve others (Friends of the Homeless
Lunch), build stuff together, hold one
another accountable for life and faith,
praying together or just getting on a
bike. Just do it!
All you have to do is ask someone
to journey with you and take it from
there. We all need someone else and
someone else needs you.
Sunday 18th June 2017 is FATHERS’ DAY.
It’s a day some people find challenging
whilst others enjoy celebrating, but
whatever the emotions, it’s good to
pause and think about the impact that
good dads can have.
All men have the amazing potential
to be great fathers in an increasingly
fatherless society. Our society is
desperate for good male role models,
so if you are a dad, a granddad, an
uncle, a friend, you can play your part in
raising hope with the next generation.
You can encourage a dad who is
struggling, help influence a child who is
wandering, pray for all those who have
responsibility for children.
CVM (Christian Vision for Men) have
a book out, ‘Founding Fathers’, which
celebrates the importance of the role
of fathering at all stages of the journey
and offers thinking and help to dads, as
well as men with no children, who could
still be a key influence to a fatherless
generation.
www.cvm.org.uk/founding-fathers
And you can get along to LHFC on
18th June at 11am, and invite your dad or
another dad, and introduce them to the
biggest Dad of all!
If you want to get involved in anything
that’s already happening, have an idea
for something new that could happen
or just want to chat, please contact me,
[email protected]
No one needs to stand alone!
~ Tim Hancock
11
GOD IS ON THE MOVE
In his book, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, (the first
published of the seven books that form ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’)
C S Lewis introduces the Lion called Aslan (which is Turkish for “lion”).
Lewis often capitalises the word lion in reference to Aslan, since,
at least partially, he represents Jesus Christ. Aslan is depicted as a
talking lion, the King of Beasts, son of the Emperor-Over-the-Sea, the
king of Narnia; a wise, compassionate, mysterious and benevolent
guide to the human children who visit. Lewis described Aslan as an
alternative version of Christ – the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5).
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In the book he describes the effect
Aslan has on the children who walk
through the wardrobe and find
themselves in Narnia.
‘“They say Aslan is on the move perhaps he has already landed,” [said
Beaver]. And now a very curious thing
happened. None of the children knew
who Aslan was any more than you
do; but the moment the Beaver had
spoken these words everyone felt quite
different.... At the name of Aslan each
one of the children felt something jump
in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of
mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly
brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if
some delicious smell or some delightful
strain of music had just floated by her.
And Lucy got the feeling you have when
you wake up in the morning and realise
that it is the beginning of the holidays or
the beginning of summer.’
Recently at LHFC we have felt that God
is on the move. We have seen and we
have heard about lives that are being
transformed as they encounter Jesus
here. Changed priorities, changed
direction, changed futures. God is on the
move. We prayed in 2016, as a response
to the picture of the locked door and
the key which had ‘PRAYER’ written on
it, for God to release His blessing, and
we believe that we are beginning to see
that blessing through lives changed.
At the Youth Retreat in February - it was
fantastic to see young people encounter
God, new lives being made, lives
being transformed and the Holy Spirit
ministering to so many of the young
people.
At Discovery in April - nine girls and
a student, helping out as part of their
placement from Barton Peveril College,
made first time commitments to follow
Jesus, in response to the Easter story
being shared.
And on Easter Day we witnessed five
people being baptised and heard five
amazing testimonies of God on the
move.
Emily, Emma, Rachel, Abby and Issy all
spoke about the transforming power of
love that God demonstrated through
Jesus and how He had set them free
from the past to run into the future God
has planned for them.
They spoke about being healed, being
set free, having burdens lifted, having
new confidence in their faith and a
new desire to grow more like Jesus
every day. Their act of obedience was a
powerful witness to the packed church,
their words allowed God to do even
more. And after that service four people
made commitments to follow Jesus!
God is on the move.
And that is just a glimpse of what God is
doing. Every Sunday after the services,
people are being prayed for, by the
Prayer Team or with people sat near
them. God is answering prayers. God is
on the move. What is He doing in your
life right now? Let us know, we’d love
to be able to tell even more stories and
together celebrate the transforming
power of Jesus. If you have a story to
tell, send it to me, [email protected]
~ Tim Hancock
13
Time for Marriage weekend
- the best weekend of our year
We’ve been married for nearly ten years, so we aren’t quite spring
chickens in the marriage department (but not older and wiser either!).
We have a young family and when the opportunity arose to invest in our
marriage and have a child-free weekend, we jumped at the chance!
What is a Time for Marriage weekend?
A Time for Marriage weekend is focused
time with your spouse investing in your
relationship. We travelled to a beautiful
retreat in the Welsh countryside where
we experienced the most amazing
food and hospitality. It felt like being on
honeymoon! If you like your marriage
and like mini-breaks, we couldn’t
recommend a Time for Marriage
weekend more!
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The weekend gave us time and space
with each other and God. There were a
series of teaching sessions focusing on
various aspects of marriage, after which
there were opportunities to discuss and
reflect on each topic as a couple. The
contents are unashamedly God-focused
so there is time for prayer and worship
too. You are never asked to share
anything personal, and it’s a very relaxed
environment. However, a fantastic team
of leaders were also available to provide
support and prayer if required.
We were amazed to find on arrival that
there had been people praying for us as
a couple in preparation for the weekend,
so it felt like a very special, personalised
experience.
Highlights of the weekend?
To put it simply – time! Time to chat,
pray, think, eat (not in that order!) and be
romantic. Like most people at church we
have busy lives, so making time to go on
the weekend reminded each other that
we were prioritising our marriage and
were prepared to work to make it better.
How is this different to the Marriage
Course?
The Marriage Course provides a
fantastic opportunity for couples in
smaller bite-size chunks over a period of
weeks (and we would fully recommend
this to anyone), whereas a Time for
Marriage weekend is more focused
as it’s just over a few days. We found
that this was really helpful, as rather
than discussing a topic briefly and
then getting back to daily life, we had
the time to reflect on what we were
discussing. For us, it was a great way
to build on our experience with the
Marriage Course, but it would also be
a fantastic idea if the concept is new to
you.
But everything’s fine - why should I go
on a Time for Marriage weekend?
Going on a Time for Marriage weekend
allowed us to invest in something most
of us would say is a top priority: our
husband or wife. To quote Rob Parsons,
‘‘No-one ever gets to their death bed
and thinks ‘I wish I’d spent more time at
work.’’ If we truly value something, we
will invest in it. This may come at a cost,
but is well worth it!
This really was the best weekend of
our year. For us it was a sacrifice to get
there, but it was such a treat and an
amazing opportunity for us personally
and as a couple.
~ Aron and Natalie Truss
www.timeformarriage.org.uk
15
Time for Marriage Weekend
Time for Marriage is running a weekend exclusively
for couples from
Locks Heath Free Church
on 17-19 November 2017.
The venue is the 4* Warbrook Hall Hotel in Surrey.
Although you will be with other couples from LHFC and
share most meals together, there is no group sharing
during the sessions so your time together as a couple
will be completely private. How about taking some time
out to look at God’s plan for your marriage and make it
the best it could be?
For more information contact Andy and Fi Banes:
[email protected]
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Encounter Sundays are all
about creating space for our
Church family to spend more
time worshipping, praying
and waiting on God.
It’s been fantastic to see how much
the Church has engaged with the new
style service and to see the Holy Spirit
touching the lives of so many of those
that have come along to them.
To see people encounter the living God
through reflection, quiet, the loudness of
worship, the power of Communion and
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having the space to ‘have a go’ and seek
God in new and courageous ways has
meant a real refreshing of faith for lots of
people.
Encounter will continue to be a space
where we can learn new things together
as a Church. We have some ideas
that will involve looking at prophecy,
healing and more and as we engage
with these characteristics of God we can
confidently expect Him to meet us, to
transform our thinking, to transform our
spiritual gifts, to transform our lives and
our Church.
~ Jim Privett
EDGE @ LHFC
Edge is our
Friday night
open youth
group for
11-14’s and
it’s a great
opportunity for
us as a Church
to engage with
young people
in our local
community.
We are heading towards 11 years of
Edge at Locks Heath Free Church and
over that time it’s served up some
incredible moments of salvation, deep
conversation, transformed relationships
and has for many been the starting place
of faith and serving.
We regularly have had and continue to
have theme nights that include, food
nights, karaoke nights, inflatable nights,
Easter egg hunts, café nights, silent
disco’s and more. It’s amazing to see and
continue to see young people engage
with Edge in the numbers that they do.
Most recently Eleanor Bristowe, our
Church youth intern, has been heading
up Edge and helping oversee all the
volunteer leaders. Edge also highlights
and raises awareness to some crucial
issues through our regular ‘Talk Times’,
including talks on the ‘4 L’s of life’ (love,
lies, language and lifestyle) and more
recently the ‘Selfiesteem’ series which
enabled us to talk about self-esteem,
confidence and more. We attempt to
pick up on the culture of the times
and talk to the young people through
the filter of a Christian’s response,
this always leads to interesting
conversations!
We are continually grateful for the
amount of young people, leaders and
blessings we have from God and we
look forward to the next 11 years!
~ Jim Privett
[email protected]
19
CENTRAL @ LHFC
Central is our Friday night
older programme for year
10’s+ and it’s great!
It’s only been around for a couple of
years and was born out of the necessity
to take relationships with our young
people to a more worthwhile depth.
Although it was fun running older Edge
every week, we didn’t feel as if we
were really able to impact the young
people in terms of sharing faith and the
Gospel. So Central was born. It’s a very
relaxed and very relational ministry, it
gives older teenagers a chance to come
together, play some structured games,
eat whatever themed food we have out
for them, chill out together and discuss
some crucial topics.
Unlike Edge,
the talk
times are
replaced with
discussion
groups.
We’ve found
that these
discussion
style groups
are a lot more
engaging and
received well
with the older
youth. During
this time we
also eat a lot
of cakes and
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crisps…. obviously! Although it seems
very relaxed, the discussion times are
intentional and we dot leaders amongst
the groups to sit with the young people
to help facilitate the conversations in a
real way….. even if that means massive
tangents!
The rest of the evening is free time, from
silent discos, to chilling out in The PYT
playing pool or just chatting to mates on
the sofas, the mix seems to be spot on.
We also try and occasionally get outside
and meet as a group in a new setting. In
the past we have had BBQ’s on the field
and beach trips…. with chips….. obviously!
~ Jim Privett
[email protected]
MISSION
[email protected]
Living in Greece is no holiday
When considering what it would be like
to live in Greece, many people have
images of warm, sunny beaches with
clean, sparkling water and never-ending
island hopping adventures. With the
economic crisis hitting Greece harder
and harder each day, living there is no
holiday for locals.
If you are able to legally work in Greece
you would be aware that the Greek
salary differs greatly from the rest of
the EU countries. Some figures have
the Greek average monthly salary at
around 700 euros per month. If you
found somewhere that actually pays
this, you are lucky. It is not unheard of
for people to work full-time and make
as little as 450 to 580 euros per month.
Furthermore, with the financial crisis
taking its toll, many companies expect
their employees to work on their days
off with no pay. If you don’t like it, they
remind you that you can always quit.
to undocumented people who are
unemployed), and even higher for youth
at over 50%, you would probably find
yourself compromising your minimal
salary requirements much more willingly
that you would expect.
PRAYER
• Pray for the financial meltdown to
drive people to Jesus for lasting
peace and security.
• Pray for a clear presentation of the
Gospel to reach a nation where very
few have heard the Truth.
~ Peter McNulty
Mission Team Leader
With unemployment for 2016
documented at around 25% (and
suspected to be even higher due
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Catherine Clarkson
volunteers with
Hands at Work in
Africa
I love to read. Apparently, I always have
done. I’m not, however, one of those
people who loves to read ‘anything and
everything’; I have a particular interest
in certain types of written word, and feel
strangely uncomfortable and uneasy
with others. For example, I’m usually
not a fiction reader at all. Rather, I’m
someone who loves to understand
more about the world and how things
and people work. I’ve also developed a
deep love and appreciation for books on
Christian living and studies on the Bible.
I’m most happy, though, sitting with a
newspaper – with a large cup of coffee
to boot.
But with this kind of interest in current
affairs and what’s going on around our
world, I realise I am subject to both the
amazing wonders that are displayed
every day, and the deep terrors that
seem to unfold at an ever-alarming rate.
Do you ever feel that sense of deep fear
and even depression when watching or
reading the news?
It was a few weeks ago that I read an
article about girls in Malawi who were
being denied an education because of
the cultural norm of them being married
off by their families at young ages –
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some as young as 11 or 12. The article
shared several stories of young girls
who had been married to older men
three times their age because their poor
families simply had no other option than
to sell them, the money used to buy
food in a season of desperate drought. I
read this article and then looked out the
airplane window as I flew over the maize
fields of Malawi at the beginning of a six
week trip. I wondered to myself whether
it was purely coincidence that I had
picked up that article on that particular
day.
My time recently in Malawi was a bit
like the news stories I read every day: I
heard stories of hope and courage, and
stories of trauma and despair – usually
a mixture of both every single day. As
I walked with our Hands at Work team
in Malawi, we celebrated together
the successes we had seen over the
recent months: the rain which has finally
produced a harvest for a country which
relies heavily on agriculture, hundreds
of children who have been identified
and are being holistically cared for as
part of local community programs, new
schools which have been built, and
new Malawian leaders who have been
trained, amongst many other things.
But I also felt deeply challenged by
the enormity of the task still before us
in bringing hope and saving lives in
exceptionally tough situations – stories
just like those I had read in that article.
On one particular day, I met a girl who
was 14 and pregnant with her second
child. She had been married since the
age of 12 to a man nearing 70 years old.
But when I think of the news, and when
I think of my work in Africa, I realise that
my effectiveness has got a lot to do with
my attitude to what I see and hear every
day. There’s a time and even a necessity
to feel broken and bruised by what I see
and hear every day; this helps me to
understand more and be able to stand
in solidarity with those who are hurting.
But there also comes a time when I have
a choice to either wallow in the despair,
or be propelled into action. It’s not easy!
Not at all. But I do think it’s possible.
In the first 4 months of 2017, I’ve spent
a lot of time in South Africa, Swaziland,
Malawi and Zambia and have been
witness to hardships that some people
might not even quite believe. But I’ve
also been reminded, again and again,
that God has placed me here for a
unique purpose, in the midst of the
brokenness, to make a difference - to
a world so desperately in need of a
Saviour. And what better time than these
post-Easter days when we remember
that the resurrected Christ came for
the least, the last and the lost, for the
forgiveness of all sin, for the redemption
of a broken world, and to bring light that
overcomes even the darkest places.
What an amazing privilege it is to be
a bearer of that hope in Africa and to
witness to Christ’s healing, redemptive,
restorative, selfless, unending, allencompassing love and hope.
~ Catherine Clarkson
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THE PRIMARY YEARS
We know that being a parent can be
both rewarding and challenging. Care
for the Family and Positive Parenting’s
courses are here to support you and
to help you build a strong and secure
relationship with your child, whatever
their age.
Focussing on children from 5 to 11 years,
The Primary Years helps parents look at
how to support their child as they start
to find out how the world works, learn
how to manage their feelings, find out
what they’re good at and experience the
consequences of keeping or breaking
the rules.
How does it work?
Sharing ideas with other parents and
carers is an important part of the course.
Each of the six 2-hour sessions includes
space to plan any changes you want to
make in your parenting and, from week
2, you will have an opportunity to discuss
how you’re getting on with trying these
at home.
SESSION TITLES
• What being a parent is really
like
• Children’s needs
• Feelings and listening
• Boundaries and parenting
styles
• Keeping safe
• Building strong families
Group discussions and practical tasks
help you build on your strengths and
24
give you time and space to think about
any changes you want to make.
Why not come along and help guide
your children through the next stage
of childhood and build stronger family
relationships as they journey through the
rollercoaster of life.
Please chat with Sarah Sawyers or
Emma Boorn for more information or to
book a space on the next course.
~ Sarah Sawyers
Family Life Team Leader
25
60 SECONDS WITH:
NATHAN AND HANNAH MOUNTNEY
Nathan was born in Farnborough in Kent
but was subsequently brought up with his
two brothers in Dorset. Nathan obtained a
law degree (LLB) at Reading University. It
was there when he became friends with
Chris Buckeridge (son of LHFC members
Phil and Maria). Chris introduced Nathan to
the Christian faith and on returning home to
Dorset, Nathan attended St John’s Church
in Wimborne for seven years where he
made his commitment and was baptised.
Nathan has very fond memories of his
growth in faith and enjoyment of fellowship
over those years. Nathan started serving
in children’s work as St John’s greatest
need was helpers in this area. Nathan has
continued to serve in this way in whatever
church he has attended and is part of the
Big KFJ Plus team here at LHFC. Nathan
says “I enjoy the responsibility and privilege
of leading children in faith at LHFC because
I am challenged and inspired in equal
measure!”
A year after completing his solicitors
training contract, Nathan felt prompted by
God to explore Christian ministry. To that
end he took up a two-year course through
the Proclamation Trusts Cornhill Ministry
Training Scheme whilst based at All Saints
Church, Loose in Kent. The course enabled
him to develop an understanding of the
life of a minister and obtain training in the
26
necessary skills and qualities associated
with the role whilst serving in all aspects of
the weekly life of the church. For Nathan,
the greatest outcome of these two years is
that he was ‘taught how to enjoy the Bible
and teach scripture.’
Despite his best efforts the right ministry
position didn’t surface and so Nathan
accepted an offer to work with
Chris Buckeridge in his landscaping
business in Gosport. This enabled Nathan
to lodge with Hannah’s parents, whom he
had met online through a Christian dating
website.
After a year of landscaping, and some
short-term jobs, Nathan took up a
permanent position with Portsmouth City
Council in their Legal Services department
which led to his present employment as
their Prosecution Lawyer.
Nathan and Hannah were married at
St Mary’s Church, Alverstoke in 2013 and
have settled in Gosport.
Hannah was born in London, the eldest of
three sisters, and went to Kings School in
West End, Southampton after the family
had moved to Southampton following
her parents’ opportunities to lead a small
group and get involved in prayer ministry at
Central Hall.
In 2008 Hannah obtained an honours
degree at Southampton Solent University in
psychology and also obtained experience
in Early Years and residential education/
care support to teenagers on the autistic
spectrum through the Hampshire Autistic
Society. After setting up and working as
Deputy Manager/SENCo at a Pre-School
based at St Anthony’s School, Titchfield
Common, Hannah acquired experience
in infant schools as a Learning Support
Assistant and then achieved Primary PGCE
through The University of Southampton.
After completing her teacher training
Hannah taught first at Elson Junior School
then at Rownhams Primary School and
is currently employed as a Higher Level
Teaching Assistant at Locks Heath Junior
School, enjoying the shorter working day.
Hannah remembers as a child that her
parents considered a “spiritual education
had the same importance as a school
education” and so Hannah and her sisters
were taught how to pray, were encouraged
to debate moral dilemmas and given
space to question and challenge issues
from a Christian perspective in order to
deepen their faith and application of it.
Importantly she recalls the emphasis
her parents gave to ensuring they had a
fully informed choice when it came to a
personal commitment to Christ. Hannah
gave her life to Christ at the age of six years
in Sunday School. Subsequently Hannah
was discipled by her parents and church
youth leaders and eventually baptised at 13
years of age.
Hannah has served from a young age
in many ways (refreshments, displaying
acetates -before PowerPoint(!)), but
when her church minister encouraged
her to lead and organise a youth worship
band, Hannah discovered a new way to
express her passion for Jesus. Feedback
she received from the church family
confirmed her gifting. Since becoming a
member of LHFC it seemed natural for
her to serve in the church worship group.
Hannah regularly plays, sings and leads
the church congregation in sung worship
on Sunday mornings... and absolutely
loves it! She says, “At first, I was so nervous
about singing and talking in front of a large
congregation, but as soon as I committed
to regularly serving initially as a Backing
Vocalist, I instantly found ‘community’;
band members share my passion for sung/
played public worship. They have also
mentored me, prayerfully supported me
and helped me develop my confidence
and competence in using my spiritual gift
for God. I’m so grateful for them.”
Nathan and Hannah made a joint decision
to move to LHFC after they attended an
Alpha course here and found our ‘lively
active’ church to be very welcoming. Now
they say it is ‘their great delight’ to host
and lead a Small Group of eight who share
the breadth and depth of their Christian
experiences. Their favourite holiday destination
Lake District in the UK. Would love to visit
Italy.
Their ways to relax:
Nathan – Watch movies, cook food,
gardening.
Hannah – Play the piano, take afternoon tea
with friends.
Their favourite TV programmes:
Nathan – Anything to do with nature
(Gardener’s World, Springwatch).
Hannah – Downton Abbey, Call The
Midwife.
Their favourite foods:
Both – Lasagne.
Their favourite films
Nathan – Wayne’s World.
Hannah – The Help.
Their irritating habits:
Nathan – Bites his nails.
Hannah – Tries to mother Nathan.
27
LHFC Motto Text 2017
Locks Heath Free Church
255 Hunts Pond Road
Titchfield Common
Fareham
PO14 4PG
01489 579669
[email protected]