Praise Community Church, Kettering (9 November 1986)
I rediscovered a video recently, when clearing out the loft! In it I’m leading worship one Sunday morning in Kettering, three years after planting the church there. It was a weekend that had seen Bryn Haworth delivering a superb concert at the same venue the previous night, and this morning Gary Strong, pastor of King’s Church, Harare, Zimbabwe was visiting us.
It was raw. Just two guitars, an OHP (overhead projector - remember them?), and too many mullet hair styles. A homemade banner read, “Praise Community Church - the reality of Jesus for the people of today.” A mainly young congregation, predominantly made up of students, apprentices, factory workers and those unemployed, had somehow managed to purchase and renovate a derelict church building in Alexandra Street. For a number of months, gatherings had taken place under a leaking roof and on a rough concrete floor but, in this video, we were enjoying the benefits of a recently acquired carpet. A handful of second hand chairs hugged the edges of the room for the few who really needed them, but virtually everybody stood for worship, and sat on the carpet for everything else that happened.
The filming is a bit shaky, and the sound is not helped by my primitive tie clip mic picking up my non too melodious voice for the entirety of the songs, thus drowning out the far more talented Tom, Pamela and John from being heard.
But feel the energy. Sense the vibrant love for God. I had planned to crack open this particular gathering with the singing of just one simple song, before introducing Gary to the church. But I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. Wave after wave of prayer, praise and worship rose up from grateful hearts.
Note
It was raw. Just two guitars, an OHP (overhead projector - remember them?), and too many mullet hair styles. A homemade banner read, “Praise Community Church - the reality of Jesus for the people of today.” A mainly young congregation, predominantly made up of students, apprentices, factory workers and those unemployed, had somehow managed to purchase and renovate a derelict church building in Alexandra Street. For a number of months, gatherings had taken place under a leaking roof and on a rough concrete floor but, in this video, we were enjoying the benefits of a recently acquired carpet. A handful of second hand chairs hugged the edges of the room for the few who really needed them, but virtually everybody stood for worship, and sat on the carpet for everything else that happened.
The filming is a bit shaky, and the sound is not helped by my primitive tie clip mic picking up my non too melodious voice for the entirety of the songs, thus drowning out the far more talented Tom, Pamela and John from being heard.
But feel the energy. Sense the vibrant love for God. I had planned to crack open this particular gathering with the singing of just one simple song, before introducing Gary to the church. But I couldn’t get a word in edgeways. Wave after wave of prayer, praise and worship rose up from grateful hearts.
Note
- The assumption that there would inevitably be first time visitors to the church.
- That about half those present had become Christians in the last five years.
- The total engagement and involvement of a congregation made up of people simply wanting to love and worship the Lord.
- The determination to give the Holy Spirit complete liberty to bring about the Lordship of Christ in our lives, through song, raised hands, in English and in tongues, with simple use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- The simple explanations given as to what was going on and why, e.g. what ‘words of knowledge’ are all about.
|
|
Part One (9 minutes). We give thanks/praise/love to you O Lord, we give thanks. We give thanks (praise, love) to you, O Lord, We give thanks. We give thanks to you, O Lord, We give thanks. For your name is near; Your wondrous works men declare-- We give thanks to you O Lord, We give thanks. From Bryn Haworth’s 1984 album “Wings of the Morning”. |
|
Part Two (8 minutes). You are the rock of my salvation. You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord to you will I cry. I believe in you, believe in you. For your faithful love to me. You have been my help in time of need. Lord to you will I cleave. Composer unknown |
|
|
|
Part Three (6 minutes). I just want to praise you. I just want to praise you, Lift my hands and say I love you. You are everything to me, And I exalt your holy name of high. Composer unknown |
|
Part Four (5 minutes). Gary has some encouraging things to say about Praise Community Church and Bryn Haworth. |
|
Christian City Church, Sydney, Australia (2 August 1987)
We spent a month living with and learning from the leaders and members of Christian City and Hillsong Churches in Sydney, Australia. Here my family and I are being introduced to Christian City Church by their Pastor Phil Pringle.