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40 days of Purpose
Three elements:
• Every church member is encouraged to read one chapter of the book each day
for forty days
• Small groups look at each week's material. People who don’t normally
attend a small group are encouraged to join one during the course of the
programme
• The Sunday preaching reflects the theme of the week's reading. Beyond the
preaching the complete service reflects the Purpose that we are studying.
Highlights include : The launch event, Ministry fair and the Celebration
Sunday.
Hounslow Pentecostal Church has just concluded it's second ‘Forty days
Journey’ Read some of the testimonies from these exciting times..
My Story……
I would like to thank Pastor Mark for doing the 40 Days of Purpose. I have
been very blessed with the services of studies and also the word which
reminded me of my purpose in witnessing to non-Christians in the Day Centre
which I visit three days a week or anyone who visits my home. I usually have
the opportunity to speak to people who are not Christians , since 1979 I
committed my life to the Lord, was baptised in 1980 in Dominica. I would
like to thank God for the opportunity that he gave me so that I was able to
attend this ministry. I pray that God’s spirit will move through you so
effectively that we your members will be fully equipped to carry out the
work which Jesus has commanded each of us to do. ‘When we are weak, we are
strong in Christ Jesus.’ Phil 4v13
Ralief Joseph
While reading day 5&6 in the Purpose driven life
book I learnt about life being a test, a trust and a temporary assignment. I
wrote in my notes the name of my friend who I felt that God had trusted me
to witness to. I have been friends with this girl for about 5 years and she
has always argued with me about God and told me she will never believe in
Him. A few days after reading about life being a trust I met up with my
friend and to my complete surprise and joy she spent the entire evening
asking me questions about God and telling me she can’t stop thinking there
must be more to life than what she knows. She even asked ‘What on earth am I
here for?’ The purpose driven life book has helped me to answer her and now
she is contemplating becoming a Christian which is so amazing! I thank God
that he trusted her to me and that he helped me have the answers to her
questions. I continue to pray for her! E.P.
40 Days of Purpose has been an excellent time in my life. The purpose driven
life book has been so helpful. I have been going to Church all my life but
never really considered what my purpose was. This book has helped me to see
things from God’s perspective and has encouraged me to look at my reasons
for doing everything that I do. It has made my life a lot easier as I now
know what I am on earth for and can get on with living the way God intended
me to. Erin
I have found the Sunday messages very helpful. They
reinforce everything I have read in the book and everything I have learnt in
my small group. I normally listen to the tapes of the messages as I drive to
work and I have found them to be really useful with making every thing I’ve
learnt stay fresh in my mind. I have learnt so much over the 40 days of
purpose and can now say I know what the purpose of my life is! E.A.P.
The 40 Days of Purpose has taught me and given me the power to be more
focussed on the Lord. It has helped me to remember that God knows my every
move before it even happens and that he has a reason and purpose for the way
my life is right now, for all that has happened and what is to come. He is
in control of my life, my everything.
Hilda Klassen
I found day two in the book very helpful. There
have always been things about my looks and personality that I longed to
change. Deep down I knew God made me this way for a reason but I still
refused to be happy with the way I was. Reading day two ‘You are not an
accident’ opened my eyes. It made me realise I need to accept the way God
made me and appreciate the way God made me and stop criticizing God’s
masterpiece! I work with the youth in Church and I have used this chapter of
the book to help a lot of them too. E.A.
In June 2002 I brought the entire bible on cassette tape whilst on holiday
in Northern Ireland. The speaker had a nice, interesting voice and I find I
can easily listen to God’s word whereas reading I have always found
difficult. This resulted in me growing much stronger and having a better
understanding of the Lord. The blessings seemed to go on and on and months
later I was still rejoicing having new access to God’s word. I was happy to
spend my evenings alone so long as I had my tapes, and I would go to church
on Sunday and Tuesdays if I had time.
Then slowly, after a long time, I found that I
started to feel lonely and frustrated and tapes were not enough on their
own. You can’t talk to a tape or have a relationship with one! At this time
we started the 40 Days of Purpose programme at church which I immediately
felt drawn to and excited about. I watched the two big screen video sermons
and when it got to the bit about fellowship, I knew this was the area that
was missing in my life. I realised loneliness and boredom in the evenings
was due to me having no real fellowship. The man on the video said we should
love our brothers and sisters with the same love that Christ has for us -
i.e. enough to die for them! I felt really challenged by this because he
showed a scripture text which backed this up by saying the same thing. He
also said we should be intimate with our brothers and sisters so that we can
share personal problems with one another. As a result of this when Bency
asked me if I was in a home group and I said no, I did not resist any longer
when he asked me to come along to his! (he had to be persistent to see that
I came, mind you!)
I had found my home group so exciting and such a warm atmosphere, where I am
accepted and I feel I belong, and I know this is where God wants me to be.
It is so nice to have that missing part of my life filled and it is a whole
new adventure, a whole new dimension of church life for me, a whole new
world! JPR
My journey through Rick Warren’s book has impacted
my heart, having now understood my own purpose, I’m amazed at how ignorant I
have been in the past. This book is changing my life and opening my eyes to
my obedience to Christ. I may be struggling in many areas, but I believe
Jesus will strengthen me daily. I am so grateful that Jesus loves me so
much. I put my life into His capable hands and believe He will do a complete
work in my life right to the end, or when Jesus returns. Patricia Hanman
Last year I started to read the Purpose Driven Life but never finished it.
This year it was a challenge for me to get to the end. I was more focussed
this year and got more from the book than I did the first time. A section of
the book was about spending time with others to evangelise. I realised I had
to spend more time with my friends in order to help them get saved.
During the 40 Days of Purpose campaign there was an
opportunity for me to get baptised. This was a very scary time for me as I
didn’t know what to expect, but at the same time I was quite excited about
it. There’s no words to explain how I felt that day, if I could do it
everyday I would because it was a public commitment to show that I am
willing to run the race to the finish line. It was important for me that my
friends and family were there because I wanted them to see how much God
meant to me and how much I was committed to him. I look forward to doing the
next 40 days campaign to see what God will do in my life. We should invite
all our friends and families as this is something we should not keep to
ourselves. I pray that more and more people will come to know God through
this campaign. Patricia Kyakuhaire
I have learnt to rely patiently on God’s promises during time of spiritual
dryness and not on my emotions. If my friendship is based on emotions then
it is very shallow. In my troubled times I know that God’s grace is still in
full force. He is for me even if I don’t feel like it. I have also learnt to
respect others for who they are because we are God’s family. My desire also
is to do to others as I would have them do to me not as they have done to
me, I must learn to love and forgive. LS
Earlier this year when our pastor informed the
Church that the Purpose Driven life campaign would start again, I thought to
myself—not again!! Since I don’t particularly like reading a book twice, but
this is no ordinary book, and after all to obey is better than sacrifice.
I cannot express the joy and blessing I received when at the small group we
followed through each session after watching the video presentations.
Everyone, without exception, took part in the discussions - people were
hungry for more. It was interesting to see the very shy and quiet people
getting involved as the Holy Spirit ministered. Two of our members made the
decision to be baptised. The impact that this study has made on my life is
how much I need to surrender my whole being to God, that I may be used for
his righteous purposes. Thank you Lord. T.A.M.
I felt compelled to start the 40 Days of Purpose
programme with the El-Jireh group (for the elderly) on Tuesdays. I wasn’t
sure whether they would be keen to watch a video and have a discussion
afterwards. To my surprise everyone was very keen. Even those who come on
Thursdays (Feed the Hungry Heart) wanted to attend. The first session we had
2 people give their lives to God, both in their 70’s. All the sessions were
well attended and well enjoyed. People were very happy to participate in the
discussions having taken notes. On the third session 2 more people gave
their lives to God. I personally felt the presence of God. This course is
appropriate for any age, the length of the video is great, just enough, not
too long. I thoroughly recommend this course.
Gurnam Singh – project coordinator.
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