Hockley Pentecostal Church

On the 22nd and 23rd January we hosted these remarkable children. Everyone was delighted by their infectious smiles, bubbling happiness,  joyous dancing and obvious musical ability.  We were also touched by their moving stories as all of them are orphans.

The Choir tours the world helping to publicise and finance the work of ‘Watoto’, a charity that works with orphans in Uganda.  Watoto have developed a pattern where groups of 8 children are placed in a newly built house with their ‘mother’. Houses are grouped into clusters of 9, and several clusters make a Watoto village.  Each village has a school and medical centre.  So far nearly 1700 children have been rescued from terrible situations and become part of the Watoto family. We fully support their work and would encourage you to help them spiritually and financially. For more information see their website.

Their performances are a riot of sound and colour with a distinct African flavour. It’s hard to get a clear photo because they’re constantly dancing, but you can see some of our best pictures below.  For a better idea of what it was like take a look at the video on youtube which will be available from later today.

Our next night of prayer will be held on Friday 1st February and begins at 9pm.  These powerful events are a great time to seek God for direction, and support others as you prayer.  The first part of the meeting finishes at 12pm but feel free to come and go at whatever times are most suitable for you.  The second part of the meeting runs from midnight to the early hours of the morning.

Many of us will also be fasting on that day. This is something the Bible teaches us about and it means to do without food for a period of time.  You can find some articles on fasting by following this link.

The Watoto Children’s Choir will be performing at our church at 7.30pm on both the 22nd and 23rd of January. We wanted to book them for a weekend but demand for this internationally recognised group is so great that we had to settle for the Tuesday and Wednesday.  The concerts are free but there will be an opportunity to make a donation towards the work of Watoto among the orphans of Uganda.

To find out more about Watoto visit their website.

We know that God is real and has a daily impact upon our lives.  One of the keys to experiencing the reality of God is prayer. Not that dreary old ‘eyes shut, hands together, fall asleep’ stuff.  I mean active, vibrant, exciting communication with the creator of the universe.  Last January we held a prayer conference to put this vital activity right at the front of our hearts and minds. It was such a success that we’re doing it again in 2008.  As well as fascinating and informative teaching on this important subject, there will be opportunity to receive prayer and pray with others.

The meetings are at 7.30pm on Friday 18th January and 10am-4pm on Saturday 19th January. The cost is £5 which includes lunch and refreshments. For further details contact the church or read this flyer - prayer-conference.pdf

So it’s 2008 and we’re all looking into this new year with a variety of emotions.  Many of us will have made resolutions about how we’re going to live life differently over the coming months (I wonder how long they’ll last this time?).  Most people begin a new year with a sense of optimism, of new beginnings and a clean slate. The old has gone and the new has come.  We may have endured problems and hardships in 2007 but now things are looking up and we’re feeling positive.

On the other hand you may still be in the middle of difficulties.  Health problems don’t disappear just because the number at the end of the date changes.  The Christmas period is sometimes a source of stress and can create tensions within the family.  Many people will have spent too much and begin 2008 with financial pressures.

Here at Hockley Pentecostal Church, Birmingham, we’re glad to welcome the new year with a sense of faith and purpose.  We know that whatever happens in the next twelve months we have the assurance of God’s love and help, as well as the support and friendship of the church.  If you want to know more about how God can make a differnece in your life then why not get in touch?

We wish all of you every blessing for the year ahead……and here’s a few photos from the last night of 2007.