Author Archives: Maranatha Community

NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2014

Maranatha Bulletin

Maranatha Bulletin - Click here to read– MARANATHA TIMELINE –

At the beginning of this year we believe the Lord said to us
“Don’t plan anything, I will bring you invitations”.
So much has happened already this year!
This bulletin identifies the key points of our journey so far.

Click here to view / download the Maranatha Bulletin.

 

 

We would also like to draw your attention to the following: (click on each)

Please share your thoughts and comments here.

Voice 2014 – A Generational Perspective

This year four young people have been listening to God for three months on behalf of the Community to prayerfully consider these four questions:

  1. What is God saying to and about the world?
  2. What is God saying to and about our nation?
  3. What is God saying to and about the churches?
  4. What is God saying to and about the Maranatha Community?

After a period of 3 months, they met together on 8th March 2014 at The Ark to share with the Community what they believe God is saying. The notes from that time of sharing are available here.

Summary word – “Our generation needs to be equipped to use the Sword of the Spirit”.

 

Spotlight Issue 35 – news from around the community

Spotlight - News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups
Spotlight Issue 35 - click hereThe latest issue of Spotlight – News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups can be downloaded here.

In this issue:

  • Invitation to Yorkshire Regional Gathering – Sat 11th October
  • Information about our Quiet Days
  • Report from Rachel – Maranatha’s first Intern
  • News and prayer requests from Kenya
  • A Note of Encouragement from a recent visitor to Flixton Maranatha Group

Spotlight is the vehicle for news from individual Maranatha Members and Local Groups (as distinct from the Maranatha Newsletter which brings news of inititatives from the office in Flixton).

If you have been to any Maranatha Teaching Weekends or Retreats, we would like to hear your experiences. We would also welcome news from your local Maranatha Groups.

What opportunities is God opening up for you personally and for your local community? As a community with a desire for unity in the Body of Christ – with what groups, churches, organisations has God given you fellowship and opportunities for ministry and service?

If you have anything to report or contribute then please email Matthew. You can also give us your thoughts via the comments facility here.

GLOBAL PERSECUTION – The price of faith for Christians Worldwide

A major factual report giving hard evidence of the global persecution of Christians for their faith is released today. Researched by the Maranatha Community, a national movement of thousands of Christians of all denominations, it presents hundreds of cases, drawn from 170 sources, of persecution of Christians worldwide over the past 14 years. It has been placed before political and religious leaders worldwide, with a call to action.

Global Persecution - The price of faith for Chrisitians Worldwide

The document can be downloaded in full from
www.maranathacommunity.org.uk/download.aspx?file=Global-Persecution-Report-2014.pdf

WIPE OUT

  • Christians in many parts of the Middle East now face wipe-out and at this moment many are being given the option of converting to Islam, paying protection money or being killed.

SYSTEMATIC ASSAULT ON CHRISTIANS

  • There is now irrefutable evidence that Christians are the most persecuted group of people in the world.
  • Christians are being murdered, tortured, imprisoned and assaulted solely because of their faith.

A HUGE SCALE OF ABUSE

  • To an ever increasing extent Christians are being severely punished for their faith, facing intimidation, victimisation, harassment and worse.
  • Their churches and homes are being vandalised or destroyed.
  • False charges are being made against them and innocent believers are being imprisoned and punished for offences they have never committed.

PUNISHED FOR CHANGING THEIR RELIGION

  • Even though the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” The fact is that those who choose to change their religion may be beaten, imprisoned or killed.

A CALL TO WORLD LEADERS

  • The Maranatha document is this week being placed before world leaders including the Prime Minister and the General Secretary of the United Nations and political and religious leaders worldwide.

A WORLDWIDE CALL

The Maranatha document declares:

  • “We all have a moral responsibility to speak out against an intolerable situation.”
  • “We must all stand against everything which violates the integrity of the individual”.
  • “There can never ever be any justification of people being killed for their faith”.
  • “The strongest international pressure must now be brought to bear on those who continue to violate the dignity of innocent people”.

THERE IS MOUNTING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD’S POLITICAL AGENDA. IT MUST NOT BE IGNORED.

THE EVIDENCE IS BEYOND DISPUTE.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION.

FREE RESOURCES – starting to appear

In our March Newsletter we promised that we would make many of our written resources available for free here on this website. We’re in the process of working on this and the first few are now available including

  • A Matter of Life or Death
  • Mindfulness – Brieing document on this Buddhist meditation technique
  • Islam – An Appraisal
  • Global Persecution – The price of faith for Christians Worldwide.
  • Secular Humanism – report from the Spearhead Group [COMING SOON]

These are available on our website at:
www.maranathacommunity.org.uk/resources.aspx

 

Spotlight Issue 34 – news from around the community

Spotlight - News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups
Spotlight Issue 34 - click hereThe latest issue of Spotlight – News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups can be downloaded here.

In this issue:

  • A prayer written at the weekend Rising up as Eagles
  • Praying for our towns and cities – the example from Nottingham
  • Power in the name of Jesus
  • One person’s testimony as to why they keep coming to Maranatha
  • Prayers of Blessing

Spotlight is the vehicle for news from individual Maranatha Members and Local Groups (as distinct from the Maranatha Newsletter which brings news of inititatives from the office in Flixton).

If you have been to any Maranatha Teaching Weekends or Retreats, we would like to hear your experiences. We would also welcome news from your local Maranatha Groups.

What opportunities is God opening up for you personally and for your local community? From the strength of the Community’s Fellowship, teaching insights and leadership – what have you been challenged to do or take up?

As a community with a desire for unity in the Body of Christ – with what groups, churches, organisations has God given you fellowship and opportunities for ministry and service?

This would enable us to celebrate what is being done in the name of Jesus – and get a bigger picture of HIS Project.

If you have anything to report or contribute then please email Matthew. You can also give us your thoughts via the comments facility here.

FREE Resources – coming soon

In our March Newsletter we promised that we would make many of our written resources available for free here on this website. We’re in the process of working on this and hope to have the first batch available very soon.

We’re also finalising the Briefing Documents and Spearhead Group reports advertised in the Newsletter and these will shortly be available here for free download. These include

  • Mindfulness – Brieing document on this Buddhist meditation technique
  • Islam – An Appraisal
  • Secular Humanism – report from the Spearhead Group

Watch this space.

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014

Maranatha Newsletter

LIFE OR DEATH?

Maranatha Newsletter - click here readThe good news of Jesus is all about LIFE. As followers of Jesus we are called to be LIFE-GIVERS. How do we proclaim a Gospel of LIFE when we are immersed in a culture of death? The truth is we are filled with the same Spirit that empowered Ezekiel to speak LIFE into the dry bones; the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from death is alive in us! We are to call forth LIFE out of dead places and dead people.

The March edition of the Maranatha Community Newsletter which is available for you to read on-screen (or print for your convenience) expands this theme of LIFE OR DEATH. There is also news of community initiatives and activity, and information about our Weekends and Retreats for 2014.

We would also like to draw your attention to the following: (click on each)

Please share your thoughts and comments here.

Spotlight Issue 33 – news from around the community

Spotlight - News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups
Spotlight Issue 33 - click hereThe latest issue of Spotlight – News and Views for Local Groups, by Local Groups can be downloaded here.

In this issue:

  • Breaking New Grounds – action being taken by local groups
  • Fannin the Flame – am.i.film
  • Development of Taunton regional group
  • Reminder of our Weekends and Retreats

Spotlight is the vehicle for news from individual Maranatha Members and Local Groups (as distinct from the Maranatha Newsletter which brings news of inititatives from the office in Flixton) so if you have anything to report or contribute then please email Matthew. You can also give us your thoughts via the comments facility here.

Fine Art Prints and Cards

Christine Garwood. Fine Art & Textiles

Christine GarwoodMaranatha member Christine Garwood is the artist who produced all the images for our book From Darkness into Light and for some of our recent booklets and publicity for local gatherings. She has more than 30 years experience in the art world as a freelance professional artist and art tutor, and a gift at expressing her worship of Christ through painting and other visual art forms, often incorporating biblical ideas relating to our human experience and to the elements around us – earth, air, fire and water.

Christine is now selling prints of many of her paintings, and cards, on her website www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk and will give 25% of each sale to Maranatha. A4 laminated prints are £12.00 (including P&P) and cards are £2.75 (including P&P).

Christian Themed Prints - examples only - for full range see www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk

Christian Themed Cards - examples only - for full range see www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk

CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHRISTINE’S WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE LINKS ON THE LEFT UNDER “BROWSE CATEGORIES”