Radiate

Well, already I would say I have learned more about God and people and community and church and myself in the last two weeks than I ever have in my life. I can't even explain. I apologize for my lack of communication over the past few days, this is my first week of having a set schedule so hopefully that will make things easier to work out. Ok so what can I say? Well let me first start by saying that I have posted pictures on my Facebook account under JP Theriault because it is the best way for me to post bulk amounts of photographs... so please add me as your friend if you are not already one (or... go on another persons account to check it...). If that is not possible for you than I will somewhat explain the way I feel about this town. When I first got here, or rather, on the plane as I was flying over, I started to read 'the man who was thursday' by G.K. Chesterton. In his opening words he describes his character as his character enters into a town, this is how he describes the town. "The suburb of Saffron Park lay on the sunset side of London, as red and ragged as a cloud of sunset. It was built of a bright brick throughout; its sky-line was fantastic, and even its ground plan was wild. It had been the outburst of a speculative builder, faintly tinged with art, who called its architecture sometimes Elizabethan and sometimes Queen Anne, apparently under the impression that the two sovereigns were identical. It was described with some justice as an artistic colony, though it never in any definable way produced any art. But although its pretensions to be an intellectual centre were a little vague, its pretensions to be a pleasant place were quite indisputable. The stranger who looked for the first time at the quaint red houses could only think how very oddly shaped the people must be who could fit in to them. Nor when he met the people was he disappointed in this respect. The place was not only pleasant, but perfect, if once he could regard it not as a deception but rather as a dream. Even if the people were not "artists," the whole was nevertheless artistic. That young man with the long, auburn hair and the impudent face -- that young man was not really a poet; but surely he was a poem. That old gentleman with the wild, white beard and the wild, white hat -- that venerable humbug was not really a philosopher; but at least he was the cause of philosophy in others. That scientific gentleman with the bald, egg-like head and the bare, bird-like neck had no real right to the airs of science that he assumed. He had not discovered anything new in biology; but what biological creature could he have discovered more singular than himself? Thus, and thus only, the whole place had properly to be regarded; it had to be considered not so much as a workshop for artists, but as a frail but finished work of art. A man who stepped into its social atmosphere felt as if he had stepped into a written comedy." ... haha and that's what it's like. It's unreal and poetic and so very beautiful, and as a place, both physical and cultural, I love it. So... I'm sorry about how long that was but I needed to share it. In the heart of this place lies the church office where I work and plan. I am involved quite a lot in the ministries of the church, which are VERY different from the ministries of West London Alliance but in no way is either superior or inferior to the other, God works in both. I do street evangelism on Friday afternoons, which is a crazy and bold ministry but it works very well. Then on Sunday mornings I've, myself, started a new ministry called Radiate (after the radiators which are everywhere here) it's for 11-14 year olds who prior to now have not had any teaching or church. I plan each Sunday for that and speak and lead the volunteers. I'm also running a small group of about 8 15-16 year olds, which takes place on Tuesday nights, I'm in charge of that as well. I have my own small group on Thursday nights, and our home (where there's 6 guys living) does a small group/worship night together on Monday nights. Mondays are my day off and hopefully the day to check this blog for updates. I've organized myself completely and I've put time in on Mondays for communication and updates. Our post here is on strike so I can't send letters yet and if you've sent me letters that's why I haven't gotten them yet. Please continue to pray for me, my world has been turned upside down in the last two weeks and I'm trying to gather my thoughts and sort through some of the new experiences while at the same time trying to be effective in ministry and doing God's work. Please pray for the ministries which I am a part of and involved in that they'd be effective to God's will and kingdom. Also for me myself as I am trying to learn and explore a lot of different things. Thanks for the support back home, know that West London Alliance and my family and supporters are all in my prayers. If you have any questions please email me or facebook me (I love how that is now a verb), I'd love to hear from you. God bless and cheers!