Mind Body and soul/ spirit Exhibition Outreach...

There have been a lot of posts recently about MBS outreach, .

Ben Edson  and the Moot team along with Jonny Baker are all putting on a big effort for the London exhibition this week...

.. on one level I think this is great because it is where I believe churches must go, we must put ourselves into the spiritual supermarket alongside all the other spiritualities on offer. On another level I think that big and well resourced projects like this can make  smaller less well off groups feel that this is something though interesting , that they simply cannot do.

Think again ....MBS exhibitions are popping up all over the place, they range from big and expensive to spiritual car boot sales, and it is worth going. I work with a net-work of small groups right across the UK to put stalls into these exhibitions, each group has specific gifts and talents, creative thinking and boldness are needed and prayer is our greatest tool and resource...

Here are some stories from 2004

The

Newark

Stall. A.  March 2004

Newark

produced an interactive stall using sand, mirrors, water and prayer leaves as tools to engage people creatively. They also commissioned a painting of a door which was full of symbolism and provided a good talking point. All of this was very effective though a little cluttered. The most effective tool was the Scripture mobile very attractive in blue and lilac it caught people’s eyes and we were able to engage folk in conversation by asking which scripture they felt drawn to.

The stall was staffed by people from a number of different churches each taking a 2 or 3 hour slot. The regular turnover of staff captured the attention of the organisers who were impressed by the number of folk involved and how time had been given for nothing, and lastly though not least by the love for one another that was apparent, the result was that a number of stallholders came asking for prayer.

Newark

Stall B. Sept 2004.

Having gained in experience and with a few lessons learned the Newark group booked another stall for September, this stall was larger giving more room and space for selling a few well chosen books and CD’s . They also booked a seminar slot; this took the form of a lead meditation with a chance for people to ask questions. The response to this was good with 25+ people attending and several folk staying to talk afterwards.

Colchester

Stall September 2004

With the benefit of experience the Colchester group again concentrated on offering prayer but also offered some items for sale this included some attractive prints from Lindisfarne Scriptorium. The leaflets from the previous year had been revised and reviewed, and another added to back up the Life Mapping seminar designed and led by Rose. The seminar was a success with 20 people attending and two volunteering to take part in a life mapping exercise. Life mapping was also offered on the stall. Good contacts were made and a number of people are being followed up with a low key relational approach, through providing a Labyrinth experience and a continuation of the Storytelling parties

Brighton Stall October 2004

Led by a group of churches in

Brighton

the stall was professionally presented (they had a shop front designer on the team). They had chosen to sell a variety of books, CD’s and craft items. The stall was busy over the 2 days with a number of contacts made and good conversations taking place. Again the stall was manned by people taking 2 hour shifts over the weekend.

Brighton

also booked a seminar slot which Sally led. It was early in the morning and required a

climb to the top of the Racecourse complex to get there. Eight people attended the session which again was a led meditation followed by a chance to talk. Although for no apparent reason this was a very difficult seminar to lead the presence of God was powerful in the room so much so that at times it was hard to speak. He stepped in and everyone there experienced his touch. One lady asked who and what she had experienced and received prayer, we are still in touch.

Linton

Cambridge

Stall October 2004

The Linton group booked a small stall that was well and sensitively stocked. They also used scripture cards and laid them out in various patterns. These cards were to prove a very effective tool as people were asked which card they felt drawn to. Many folk would hold their hands over the cards until they felt one “calling” to them and then be happy to talk about the verse on the card, prayer was offered if appropriate and many were engaged in profitable conversations.

The stall was well staffed the impact of this being the 3^rd JIW stall with this particular organisation this year had a significant impact especially as once again roughly 20 volunteers manned the stall over the weekend doing 2 hour shifts.

Prayer

Prayer played a significant and vital part to the organisation and set up of each of these groups, indeed it was vital. Each one appointed a prayer co-ordinator who kept everyone in touch with what was going on in their area and organised and facilitated prayer meetings, prayer was the key, provided the vision and encouragement as each group sought to walk in the Lords way.

Stories

Meeting Jesus whilst Astral travelling!!!

Chris picked up one of the scripture cards at Linton and was delighted with the words; “these are the Masters words …you know Jesus” he said. We asked him how he knew the Masters words,

“I’ve been meeting him recently while I’ve been travelling” he said,

A conversation developed and we discovered that in his quest for peace and harmony Chris had been Astral Travelling and here is where he keeps meeting Jesus and talking with him. We asked him what the Master had said to him and he said that the Master had told him he needed to follow, and that he would be shown the way…

We are still in touch…

Words of Knowledge

A number of us felt impressed by God to speak words of knowledge over the weekend, we adopted a sensitive approach by saying to folk I don’t know if this means anything to you but…

We saw God move powerfully in peoples live, this was truly a stepping out in faith.

Scripture

Mobile

The mobile proved so popular people were taking hands full of matching scripture cards so they could make a mobile to have at home. The result has been the Sarah from

Newark

is going to produce mobile kits for the next exhibition.

Hurts and Pains

Over the last year we have been struck by the number of people who have been hurt by the insensitive remarks and actions of ministers and church members. One lady in particular stands out, in a wheel chair from a terrible motorbike accident she had been told by her church that her own sin accounted for the lack of healing she had experienced, coupled with little help she left the church and found acceptance in the New Age Community, she still loves Jesus.

From 2005

Kings Lynn May 2005

A quiet day for all the stall holders, we sold nothing but concentrated on talking to people and offering prayer for healing, many people came for prayer and took away information... it was worth going , we are still in touch with a number of these people...

Peterborough October 2005

A small exhibition and a small team, we decided to use both the scripture cards and also the Jesus deck to give free readings, also a seminar slot on Grace and freedom in the Spirit which I led. The Jesus deck imitates Tarot, but contains gospel images from all four gospels, it is like having the Bilble in picture form to speak from... people were genuinely touched by the words spoken and many recieved prayer as a result. The seminar was well attended and many people stayed afterwards to talk and recieve prayer.

In 2006 there are plans for a futher 3 stalls bringing the total up to 9 groups operating on a small scale around the country, rooted in local churches, the main qualification the group leaders have is a willingness to learn and a love for the spiritual seekers they are wanting to connect with... I tell this story for nothing is impossible with God. I am passionaetely concerned that this type of outreach should not be carried out by small groups of experts...my job (yes this is my work as a White-Fields Evangelist ) is to help to equip and facilitate these groups. We take Acts 17 as our pattern listening to the culture and as Paul did using it as a springboard for the gospel message, we go boldly and sensitevely, with grace and compassion but we do go...

And our fellow stall holders, they are plaesed to see us there .... we often pray for them at the end of the day! They happily recieve our prayers.