NEWS – January 19
UK Hub in wrexham wales
From 22nd-24th January RB leaders from across the United Kingdom gathered in North Wales for their National Hub meeting.
Nigel Lloyd and the members of Gateway Church, Wrexham, hosted this exciting event at Wrexham Glyndŵr University. Lesley Wales from New Life Church Biggin Hill reports…
We have just returned from an outstanding three days away with RB leaders from across the UK. There is a growing sense of expectancy for revival in our nation, and we have been stirred and challenged by what we have seen and heard at the Hub gathering.
Steve Oliver opened by encouraging us with reports of advances in 2018 and then challenged us to press in for more in 2019, being true people of the Spirit, longing to encounter and engage with God in a real and challenging way in our local church meetings, expecting God to do things that we had not previously planned – this is exactly what we have experienced in Wrexham!
Trevor Payne (Hope Church) challenged us to make disciples – apprentices – training more and more leaders to be equipped and sent out to plant new churches. Trevor, along with his wife Rachel, was also publicly recognised as being an apostle in our movement.
Ali Scott (Emmanuel Church, Chester-le-Street) preached magnificently on building relationally, sharing wonderful insights from the account of Jonathan’s friendship with David.
We were also privileged to hear Steve’s teaching on ‘new breed leaders’ and Ray Lowe sharing so helpfully on the authentic expression of New Testament Christianity and life in the Spirit.
There was an unforgettable moment as Jaz Potter (Croydon Jubilee Church) encouraged us to move into a new phase of releasing women in our churches into their full calling and potential; she cut the ties on helium balloons and our gaze was lifted as they were released!
Nigel and Cally Lloyd and the members of Gateway Church Wrexham hosted the conference and served us wonderfully well. There are only 30 members in the church, so when Trevor approached Nigel to ask him to host this event the task seemed quite daunting! Nigel says, “We applied faith and decided that we could serve and bless Regions Beyond, putting our own identity on the event. We didn’t just want to put on a conference, we wanted people to really love being in Wrexham.” I’m sure I speak for every delegate when I say that they certainly succeeded; their servant-hearted attitude was beautiful and we did love it!
Over 120 delegates were treated to a delicious meal on the first evening in the Tŷ Pawb centre in the town. Gateway Church have been intentional about building good relationships with local business people and organisations and have found favour with many, including staff and students on the university campus where they meet. Local restaurant owners prepared and served our food and the local choir, who happened to be rehearsing that evening, provided us with some live entertainment – it was a wonderful atmosphere of fun and fellowship.
Back at the conference, we were able to pray for the church, who had been so encouraged to see their venue filled with worshippers glorifying God together; it helped to raise their vision to see what their meetings could be like in the future. We prayed that they would experience growth and God’s blessings and favour in the months and years ahead.
8th to 12th april 2019
Marathon 2019 … a Miletus moment
Steve is encouraging us all to gather together in Marathon, Greece, for this special Regions Beyond celebration. This may be an ‘one-off’ opportunity as our movement is growing so fast that it will be unlikely we will be able to gather everyone in this way again. Steve sees it as a Miletus moment; the apostle Paul called leaders together to him on the beach at Miletus so that he could address them all: Acts 20:17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
This will be a significant time of shaping and apostolic advance; bookings are still open, so if you haven’t yet secured your place, please do so without delay – don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!
