God's Squad

Howie Pickering is a full time God's Squad worker. This is his current news.

For some time now we have been trying to work out what we as a ministry should be doing as regards creating a space where the guys we come into contact with when we are out and about on the town can sit down over a beer and talk about the stuff of life.

We wanted to create a place which would be unashamedly up front about our faith in Christ, but where people would feel able to talk about all those things that they have either felt too stupid, too embarrassed or just too mad to talk about in a 'normal' church setting. A place where whatever people brought they would feel loved and accepted. A place which would be 'safe'.

A place in essence where you didn't have to put a mask on and where you could be real. A place where people who would never consider going to church would be able to come and feel loved and accepted, and would want to come back to! I had some thoughts about how best to proceed with this idea, some completely off the wall, some rather grandiose. I think it is fair to say that a lot of pro-crastinating was occuring.

One Sunday David Hughes was speaking and I was challenged by something he said, 'God isn't interested in what you can't do, but in what you can do'. He went on to elaborate that often we can make excuses for not doing things i.e. there isn't the money, no none will come, it will make look stupid etc etc. David went on to exp,lain how God meets us in our imperfection and works through it for His purpose and His glory.

So in response I got off my backside and started what we call 'The Tuesday night beer, pizza and bible study' (well we couldn't think of anything slick or catchy...anyone got any ideas?) Basically it is what is says it is. We meet in my garage, sitting on chairs, amongst a variety of tools, motorcycles, bike magazines and other rubbish. We have a few beers and eat pizza (providing I don't burn them I had a 75% failure rate one night!), this puts people at their ease and helps create relationships and build trust. From here we naturally move into a time of bible study (currently we are looking at the Beatitudes and jesus sermon on the mount). Our times last as long as they last, which can be into the wee small hours of the morning, but basically if its meeting peoples needs and people are getting something from it then it carries on.

Since we started we have been meeting fortnightly and one guy has made a committment to Christ and seeing the change in him is astonishing. The guy used to be a bouncer and has spent a large part of his life feelign quite angry and has generally expressed these feelings via violence. The other day he was remarking that his life used to be full of anger, bitterness and hatred, but now when those feelings come along he feels like someone is physically reaching in and taking the feelings away and replacing them with feelings of love and forgiveness. When I asked him what he reckoned was going on he was straight to the point and answered 'its because I have God in my heart and there's no room for the crap anymore'.

Right from the outset we have felt it important to keep Christ central to the group, to be open, honest abnd accountable to each toher and to have prayer as a mainstay. We feel that God is interested in the problems we encounter along the way and is prepared to meet us at our point of deepest need. Through praying with each other we have seen God meeting each others needs and this in itself has been a huge faith building experience.

Time is going on and the group is getting stronger. I think its fair to say that there is a real sense of community growing within the group and it is looking to include more people in it, and become more outward looking too. The aim is to enable people to enter into relationship with Christ fior themselves and to work through the stuff of life that they encounter in the process. People are talking about stuff which previously they would never have thought of talking about and as such are experiencing a lot of forgiveness, inner healing, love and acceptance. I think its fair to say that the people who are getting involved are a mixture of those who have never set foot in a church, and those who have to date had negative experiences of church. I think it is also fair to say that we are all very honest about our failings, but in this there is a real sense of hope as faith suddenly is not some distant concept and in the middle of it all we have a real sense of God being with us.

All this from listening to David Hughes sermon and acting on it! I would encourage anyone who feels that God may be leading them to start something to just get on and do it. Don't worry about it not being perfect, or being messy. God meets us in our failings and we have found that something of real worth comes out of it as we listen and learn from our mistakes and contiinue to follow His leading. We have found that as we go along God is making the next step for us clearer and I am sure he will for anyone in a similar position to us.

If you know of anyone who might benefit from coming along to us then give us a ring on 07739188001 or email me at howie@godssquad.org. Beer and pizza is optional, engaging with people and with the gospel of grace is not.