You may already have heard something about Healing on the Streets, or this may be an entirely new concept to you – writes Paul Towner. For several months now a group of church leaders from Hereford have been meeting together to see if this is a project for us, and if so, when should we start?
We believe this is right, and we believe the time is ….now! Healing on the Streets
Starting with the monthly church leaders fraternal in Hereford, and engaging with leaders from Churches Together in Hereford, Hope4Herefordshire, and from Churches Together in Herefordshire, we have grown in our sense that this is something that God wants us, as the body of Christ here, to offer to the City.
If you don’t know about how Healing On The Streets (HOTS) is being used to touch many lives across the UK, may we suggest that you look at the material on the web at www.out-there.org. This will show you how a simple and gracious offer of Christian healing prayer in the town or city centre is being welcomed by so many people, and is bringing a touch of God’s love into countless lives. Think of what a blessing such a project will be locally!
The attached flier (HOTSflier2010) is designed to give you some material to use in church notices, in your church magazine etc, and is an invitation to church members from across the region to meet together for an information and vision evening. This will take place on Monday 13th September 2010 at St Paul’s Church, Tupsley, starting at 7.30pm, and will include four team members from the Bath HOTS project talking about what they do, and how God is blessing the work – it promises to be an inspiring evening.
It may help you to get more positive about what is proposed – and indeed help your church members too – to watch a DVD about HOTS, and we can gladly supply you with one. Or we can provide someone involved in this project to come and speak on a Sunday morning (just for 5 mins or so) about what we are planning to do (see contact details below)
The names (arranged alphabetically!) at the foot of this letter show you that the Steering Group represents many local churches. We are meeting together on behalf of the wider church, and are acting as the group of church leaders holding this project in trust for the whole church and region.
If you have any questions about the project, or about the steering group, do please get in touch with us on 07771926651 or at hotshereford@gmail.com.
If you would like a copy of the DVD then please contact Helen on 01432 276320 or via spsjoffice.
HOTS Steering Group
Frank Cornthwaite (Hope4Herefordshire and Christian Life Centre); Martin Erwin (Challenge Community Church); Sue Gasston (New Life Church, Ross); Jonathan Rendall (formerly Schools Advisor, Hereford Diocese; St Peter’s and St James’ Churches); Barbara Stephens (St Peter’s and St James’ Churches); Paul Towner (Rural Dean of Hereford Deanery); Antony Wareham (Hereford Baptist Church); John Watson (St Paul’s Tupsley)