Well, Teddy and I made it back to the states safe and sound. I want to post a bunch of pictures in this post and say a little bit about them. But I also want to give you some insight into the work there in the Rugby area of England, or as they say the ‘Midlands’.

Aaron and Diane along with their sons Reece and Fin have been in England for 25 years now, working alongside churches and para-church organizations to show the love of Christ to the people there.

Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand a mission work where there is not a new church planted or a new building being built. In England, it’s all about building relationships with people. The people there have seen the church there as something of an institution, cold, unapproachable and uncaring rather than a warm living body. So the idea of building relationships is something that appeals to the people. That is the ministry of Aaron and Diane.

Aaron and Diane have worked closely with the church there, BEC. Diane has even done some preaching for them. She along with others plan for Messy Church once a month in the Cawston neighborhood where they live right outside of Rugby

Aaron’s ministry is one where he is out and about. He is involved with CAP, Christians’ Against Poverty. This group works with people who are in debt and want to change that. CAP doesn’t give money to people but rather works with them on debt consolidation and better money management. Again, it’s building a relationship with people. They also work together with the authorities so it’s a well-known organization that has a good reputation in the community.

He is also on the board for the public Community center in Cawston. They plan activities for the community throughout the year that are held at the center.  Another ministry Aaron is involved with is Street Pastors a nationally known and highly regarded ministry.

And then in his free time, he goes on organized runs and rides bikes rides, all the time making relationships with people and showing them the love of God without necessarily preaching the gospel. Not so much preaching the Gospel with words as much as with actions.  

The first two pictures are of Messy Church, held in the Cawston Community center.

The next two are when we went out with the Street Pastors. Building relationships.

The next two are from Sunday morning. BEC has two services and they run around 300 on any given Sunday.

The next two are from the prayer meeting we had on Tuesday morning. Can't have a meeting in England without TEA and those tea kettles were pretty big.

The last two are one with Diane and Aaron and then one with me and Teddy.