.png)
Please visit this page regularly to get the latest news about events at Bradfield and Rougham Baptist Church.
News sheets in PDF format 
(Click picture below to view.)
 01-Jan-2012 |
 08-Jan-2012 |
 15-Jan-2012 |
 22-Jan-2012 |
 29-Jan-2012 |
 05-Feb-2012 |
 « Archive » |
Debbie updates us on her first few months at Crag House Farm - the home of 'Caring for Life' (CFL)
Leeds here we come...
A year full of changes...ups and downs, highs and lows, but throughout it all Our Heavenly Father has remained faithful and true, the same yesterday, today and forever...this has been our confidence.
Who'd have thought that since writing the last article about my voluntary visit to CFL a few years back I'd be writing as an employee!! God really does work in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. There have been a lot of changes in one year for the Stannard family. How faithful our God has been in every situation. We give thanks to God for all His goodness to us, even though at times I’ve wanted to run ahead of His will, being the impatient person that I am!
As for the move to Caring for Life in September, stepping out of that boat into unknown waters terrified me at times as I thought about leaving the comfort and security of what I’ve known, the wonderful friends I’ve had around me for years, my job, the church family and ministry that has changed my heart and taken me to a place of full surrender which was to break me in the process, but was so needful for my growth as a Christian. I've come to believe that as Christians it's so easy to say with our lips one thing but deny it by our very lives. "Yes Lord I will surrender all and follow you..."..."Well GO DEB!"..."But Lord, my family are here, I love my church and am getting the ministry I need...etc!"...Oh the excuses went on.
Then it was so clear one morning as I opened my Bible in John; "If you love me (Deb) you will do what I command".....I knew there was only one response. "I will Go, because I love you Lord". God spoke to Nigel too, and the process began of making plans to move to Leeds.
Do not fear for I am with you always...
So, what has it been like since moving to Leeds the end of August... a bit of an emotional roller coaster if I’m honest, the first two weeks were emotionally draining and physically challenging as I dealt with leaving everything I knew and many who I loved deeply, and all the goodbyes hit me hard... I was overwhelmed, and needed to be alone, I cried and prayed and just asked God to hold me tight as I needed to feel that... and a phone call from my Mum just at the right time with her wonderful motherly heart was just what I needed as she reassured and comforted me rather than giving me a "Well tough, you’ve just got to get on with it” sort of comment. Oh I knew I had to get on with it... but for those first two weeks especially I felt very exposed and vulnerable, and I was given space by Nigel just to come round in my own time, and just be left alone when I needed to be, and have a hug when I needed too.
How wonderful that God is able to do more than we can ever think or imagine, that when you long to be near your children, with Josh alone after all his family moved out after 23 years with them, and especially when Meg was first in London, what a privilege to leave it with God, He knew my needs and my children’s needs and He supplied them all. There were times when the house didn't appear to be selling as quickly as I would have liked, but God's timing is perfect. We were able to live with my cousin Elspeth for two months and her three boys, what a complete blessing she has been to me, her life as a wife, mother, friend, has blown me away, her godly ways, her beauty inside and out that radiates from her relationship with her Saviour was so special to see, and I wanted more of that thank you very much. Nigel and I felt that as there seemed nothing happening on the house front that we should look for a short term rent. We found one that just suited us and as of next week we will move out after two months, back to my cousins just for a short while before we move into our new home early January 2012, God willing. Yes, that’s right, at last we have found a house.
The house we both wanted originally was bought by someone else, to say I was gutted was an understatement, but I just gave it over to the Lord and accepted that this was not meant to be, and asked for peace in a situation where I was hurting a little. Then another house we both liked came up, more than we could afford but I went with an offer in my mind - I did not think it would be accepted, but it was. The lady was desperate to move having been let down before. This house is nearer Caring for Life and near to the train which we felt was a real plus.
So as I write I'm in full flow of my Santa duties, parcels and presents galore are being delivered to the most desperate homes, vulnerable people, lonely folk, who will have no one on at Christmas to visit or invite over.... what a privilege to show Jesus' love in these situations, to care, to give, invite for Christmas Day on the farm, or a party this week. I have been humbled as I’ve been getting to know these people over the past three months, shared their heartache, seen their pain, laughed and cried with them - and yes, been frustrated at times to the point of tears, even anger....
The ‘Being There’ team has been wonderful with me, the new kid on the block, their patience amazing as I ask a thousand questions about the job... it is very challenging, and I need wisdom and discernment every day, but above all, Christ’s love and compassion , I see my own pride and selfishness surface so often and I just fall to my knees and cry "Father forgive me". I am being changed; I need to be changed so much more, I see my faults ever so clearly as I am brought into situations where it is so easy to judge. Yes, some folk have brought it on themselves to a degree, others have had a really bad start in life from abuse, not their fault at all... but I am called to reach out and touch these, smelly, dirty, broken, sad people for whom Christ gave His life... I must lay mine down too, love them as Christ would, touch them when no one else would, and pray that God would fill their hearts with His love so that they may be open to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. What a privilege, what a responsibility. I value and need your prayers so much.
Financially this year it’s tough for CFL as a lot of government funding is being stopped, then I think of the little boy with the five loaves and two fishes and the sceptical disciple "what’s that among so many?"...And the rest is history as they say... 5,000 were fed. We serve a great God; He can do ANYTHING...can I encourage you to give what little you may feel you have to offer, saturate your life with prayer and watch what God can do... and expect the miracle. All God wants is YOU! He will do the rest.
God bless,
Debbie
For I know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love Him.
Romans 8 v28
Wait on the Lord, be patient and trust that He knows best, He sees the end from the beginning... we only see the now.
He loves us like no other.
David and Shirley Romberger join BRBC
For a couple of years BRBC has been searching for a person, ideally a couple, to come and work alongside Pastor Kenny. Trusting this as the right direction to move we searched - while the Church prayed. Time and time again we seemed to find no-one to fit this role in the way that we needed; and to be honest we had just about run out of options and pretty much given up. Then the Lord brought David and Shirley across our path; everything about them ticked the items on our list (which was not short).
We now get to see the fulfilment of that search as David is installed as Pastoral Co-Worker at BRBC. We thank our God for His goodness to us, we thank David and Shirley for their willingness to leave home and travel thousands of miles to serve with us. May God richly bless them as they seek to serve others in this place. God is good.