Transformation Thurrock : We Dream of a Church

We dream of a church...

Roy Edworthy (right, getting his feet anointed at St Peter's Chapel, Bradwell) of the church-in-the-house, which gathers in various homes around Thurrock, found this and was inspired by it. It's written by Steve Prince of the Brookside Church in Reading.

We Dream of a Church
Where people are truly loved, valued and accepted.
Where there is safety and security for people to try,
Where lives are rescued, restored and given hope.
Where God’s presence flourishes in the simple and non-religious.
Where fun and laughter are mixed with tears and mourning, expressed with sensitivity,
Where genuine priesthood and participation are nurtured and applauded,

Where God’s Kingdom is present in the lives of everyone and people
are equipped to demonstrate it wherever they are and go.
Where performance is replaced by reality and truth,
Where true community is experienced - all of the time.
Where judgement is left to God who is fair, just and true
And our place is to build, encourage, comfort and exhort with an attitude of grace.

Where lost and aimless people want to be, even if they are not sure why.
Where the place of leaders is to recognise what God is doing and saying
And to help provide an environment for everyone to respond and succeed.
Where it is acknowledged that victory can be overcoming trials and difficulties, whatever the outcome.
Where all are genuinely respected and treated as equal, celebrating our incredible status in God.
Where boundaries between streams and denominations blur to the extent that in every town and city there is only one church.
We dream of a church where Jesus of the bible truly reigns as King.
And His followers are dedicated to making Him the centre of their lives, hopes and dreams
Because
Jesus is our Hope, and the Anchor for our souls. He is our security and the firm base for
Our lives to be built. . . Together.

We Dream of a Church… background
Back in 2001 we ran regular all night praise, prayer and worship events called “Sacrifice of Praise.” It was during the early hours on a Saturday morning during July that Steve Prince wrote down some words that he felt God was giving him. “We Dream of a Church” is what was written down and has formed the essence of who we believe God has called us to be at Brookside. http://www.brooksidechurch.org.uk/

Roy Edworthy is a member of the Besom team and facilitates a weekly men's meeting at the Grays Community Prayer House (The Old Tennis Court). His son Paul is moving to Scunthorpe to plant a church under the umbrella of Ground Level (Lincoln). Roy came to faith on the 7th of the 7th, 77.

Roy Edworthy, 30/03/2011