Global network

"I pray also that those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me."

(John 17:20-21)

We believe that we are a global family at one with God through Jesus Christ

We have developed relationships with churches in Jamaica, Meadowbrook in Kingston, and Chinhoyi in Zimbabwe. Our minister, Richard Becher, has been to both and other members have close links with Meadowbrook who celebrate their 50th anniversary this year as we celebrate the 40th of the Elmwood building.

We have also supported projects in Kenya and India and feel that it is important to develop what are more relationships rather than partnerships. Below are reports from our friends in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe and at Meadowbrook in Jamaica:

LOMAGUNDI UNITING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CHINHOYI, ZIMBABWE

We are truly grateful to God for revealing Himself to us through the brothers and sisters at Elmwood. You have stood by us in our most trying and disturbing moments. You gave us your shoulder to lean on when we could not even stand up. You extended your hand to us when we were just about drowning. You are still right there with us when we moan and groan.

“For l was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me”. (Mathew 25 v 35-36) (NLT).

I believe Christ said this with you in mind. He is a gracious God, may He bless you for your generosity.

OUTREACH PROGRAMMES

Amidst the tumult of the country during these past few years, our congregation remained a bastion of stability and sanity despite the chaos and hopelessness that prevailed around us. We have attempted our best to keep the programmes we have on a even keel. We have managed to keep the tutorials programme and the clinic running. These two have become fountains of hope for desperate school children and sick people respectively. And we are grateful for the assistance you are giving to us. Most of the resources you have provided us have largely gone to assist these two outreach missions. Life has been tough and stressing in our country but by God’s grace we have been able to rekindle hope in many lives, young and aged. The clinic has become the flagship of the congregation and it has reached areas where we never would have dared. Here are a few highlights on the programme.

(i)                 Tutorials

We have an average of students who are receiving tutorials from Monday to Friday. Secondary school students attend lessons from 0800hrs to 1200hrs and primary school pupils come in the afternoon from 1400hrs to 1600hrs. We have eleven tutors serving at the tutorials programme. Ten of these tutors are members of our congregation. The programme has progressed from being an after-school club to almost being a school. We have been trying to register with the Ministry of Education but we have faced some glitches, some beaurucratic but mostly financial. At the moment we are struggling to give honoraria to the tutors and we struggle to buy the smallest items on stationery. Most times we have to make do with what we have.

(ii)               Clinic

As alluded to earlier on, the clinic has become the emblem/insignia of our congregation and l am delighted to be part of the whole euphoria. People have said all sorts of things but one thing we really know is that “the Lord doth dwelt in this place and we just did not know it”. We see an average of a 100-150 patients a day. Many of these are like people who have lost hope and it is often a wonder to see how God can easily transform a hopeless being into one that craves for life! Yea, we have had our shortcomings in many areas, but l write this with a clear conscience that someone, somebody out there has come to the serving knowledge of Christ after interacting with the staff at the clinic. During the cholera crisis last year and a better part of this year the clinic played a crucial role in an effort to arrest the spread of the affliction. The clinic also has been strained for resources but its not as bad as at the tutorial.

MEADOWBROOK CHURCH, KINGSTON, JAMAICA

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Meadowbrook is a welcoming, affirming community of Christians worshipping God with joy

We are fired up for Christ, touching and transforming lives

Under the leadership and empowerment of the Spirit we seek to live in faithful obedience to the Great Commission
To this end we have begun to explore ways to fulfill the demands of this vision. Our celebrations so far have included both our Christmas and Easter Cantatas. They each received rave reviews with many persons expressing the view that they were the best we have done so far.
In January we celebrated the vision that led to the establishment of our Church largely because of the selfless sacrifice of the Rev Marjorie Saunders, whose foresight and commitment led her to make a substantial contribution to acquire the property we now occupy. We were saddened when a few weeks later,after visiting us for the last time on Ash Wednesday February 24th, her 96th birthday, she passed on to be
with her Lord on March 1st.
The Easter cantata “My Life, My Sacrifice, was dedicated to her memory.
There are a number of other activities we will be celebrating to mark the 50th anniversary as the year continues including our Home coming week in September when we will host a number of events during the week culminating with our Anniversary Banquet on Friday, September 19, 2009.
One of the big events which will occur in 2010 is a Caribbean Cruise! We are proposing to host this cruise of the Northern Caribbean in May 2010. This is an event that we want to share with as many of our friends as possible including you.
We have launched our Community Development Fund which will seek by faith to raise US$ 500,000.00 for the mission of the Church in our community. We will begin, in 2010, to initiate a number of projects aimed at reaching our community in new ways with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Among these projects is the building of a multi purpose stadium for the use of our community soccer team, whose recent promotion to the premier League is something we are proud of. We will also be constructing and equipping a recording studio where we will train interested youth in the skill of studio management and music production.
We were proud of our junior dance ministry’s accomplishment in 2008 when they were crowned the best dance group at the World Championships of the Performing Arts in Hollywood, California, winning thirty two gold medals on their way!
Inspired by their achievements we will be building a multipurpose ‘state of the heart’ performing arts studio where we can continue to hone the talents of our youth to the greater glory of God.
This is an ambitious agenda for us to accomplish, but we are committed to accomplishing great things for the God whose faithfulness have blessed us over these fifty years. We hope that you our friends will continue to support us with you prayers and gifts as you have always done. Thank you!

Whats on @ elmwood..