"Chuck" the chicken

We came home the other day and to our surprise, a chicken in our back yard! "Chuck" the chicken, I just made up that name, came from the "over the fence".  Looking for . . . not so . . . greener pastures I suppose! We lost him again as he jumped over into another neighbor's yard with some other chickens.

Easter European Appeal

Hello everyone.    

Well, we are headed to Hungary today with 22 tubs of items collected for missionaries from the UK and US (see pictures below - pictures taken by Sophia except for the one she is in!). Please pray for strength as we transport the tubs as some weigh up to 32kg. and safety as we travel. We travel tonight at 7:00pm (GMT) and arrive into Budapest at 10:30pm. (GMT) then we travel down to Vajta Hungary.

Many blessings,

Mike and Calvary Chapel Harrogate.

We bring over clothing, food items from local stores in the area such as Costco in Leeds, Clarks, Lush, ASDA, WH Smith, Boots, various items from personal givers and people in our church, another local church in Harrogate who wanted to help and a local airline that helps with the luggage. Thanks to everyone who has given!!!!!

Sophia showing an item we bring over. 

A little sweater. 

 

April Flowers. 

Baby Dedication

This was the baby dedication for Lucas Gregory Michael Cordery. It is Justin and Moriah’s heart to serve the Lord and be in ministry someday. Justin is one of the understudy interns at the church and is currently studying for his Bachelors degree in Theology at Liberty 
University.

Moriah set up the dedication in advance hoping that her mother, who flew in to be there for the birth of the baby, would also be able to partake in the dedication. It was neat that the baby came at the perfect time.   

Mike plays music at National Prayer Luncheon 

Mike was invited to provide some of the music for the National Prayer Luncheon where the special speaker was POW Capt. Guy Gruters. One of the things we seek to do in the local Harrogate area, is reach out to the military.

This year the Installation Chaplain informed Mike that he has been elected as one of the civilian contingency “chaplains” in case the chaplains and staff are called to war. It is such an honor to help minister to those who give their lives for our country and our freedom.

  

The Installation Chaplain is being deployed for 7 months and Mike was asked to guest speak. It is such an honor to help minister to those who give their lives for our country and our freedom.

This years prayer luncheon brought POW Captain Guy Gruters to the base as the guest speaker. Capt. Gruters is a former F-100 Fighter Pilot who spent five years and three months as a POW in a North Vietnamese Communist Prison Camp well known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Prisoners were tortured 24/7 and six out of seven men in Guy’s situation were tortured to death or killed in one way or another during those years (guygruters.net).

Guy shared about being thankful no matter what your situation or circumstance may be.

The Women’s Retreat - Over 200 ladies attended the event. 

Janie Alfred taught the Calvary UK women's retreat. She is one of the most sought after teachers in the UK and has been on the cover of christianity Today (www.janiealfred.com). 

200 Ladies attended the event and the Lord placed His blessing upon everything. We thank you for your prayers. Janie’s theme Scripture was “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength” from Neh 8:10.

Janie is mother of five girls, one of whom tragically lost her life at 19 years of age. The Lord did a work in the hearts of the ladies through the Scriptures and her testimony of how God can bring people through hard times. 

Theresa gave opportunity this year for all the churches to help out. Three churches helped at the registration tables, seven churches hand made favors for all the ladies and all the churches baked for the event which made everything really nice and allowed everyone to use their gifts. Our church did a lot of the work as well. Theresa did administration. Petra (from C Harrogate) did the worship with Calvary York. We hosted tables, offered a workshop for the first time, set up, did the sound and technical logistics, and recorded and sent out all the cds with the sermons on them out to every church.      

The Lord blessed the event and all went smoothly. The Lord answered each prayer. Our church did well. God also blessed the relationships we have developed with the staff at the facility we used. The Sr. Events Manager has been attending our church for 2 years now. Please pray for him to grow strong in his faith.

The Lord opened up doors with the staff and people at the Hotel to share the Gospel with them. One door in particular was with a Captain with a major UK airline who was staying at the Hotel. On the last day, as Theresa was in the dining room, he leaned over and told her that he almost came into our meeting because he heard the beautiful singing. He told Theresa that he didn’t have faith and he wished he had. This was the beginning of an hour long conversation. We exchanged addresses and are sending him some books to read. Theresa also invited him to the Creation Fest since he has layovers down there. 

Our family drove Janie to London for the Southern retreat where Janie spoke to 80 ladies the next week. We were blessed to get to know her better and she was able to meet our family.

The day retreat down South that Joanie Dingman planed went very well. It was a great time of fellowship. This was the first time we took the speaker from the North to the South. The biggest blessing is the kindred spirit and friendship God blessed us with Janie. We did not expect that but are thankful that it happened.