I felt a bit jealous this week talking to a young man who came to see me. He recently encountered Jesus in a profound way that’s completely transformed his life. Before the encounter in July, he had some doubts about Christian faith, but now he can hardly wait to get baptised at our 5.30pm service on the 31st of August. I was so encouraged to see what God has done in his life, but also a little envious of the unspeakable joy and torrential flow of the Holy Spirit through his life. Jesus called this ‘first love’ in Revelation 2:1-7, that is evident in those who experience the incredible freedom and new life from adoption into God’s family. What a moment!

Jesus called the church in Ephesus to return to their first love, so that their light wouldn’t go out but shine even brighter. They had worked hard for the gospel and resisted false teaching, however, they lost the joy and love flowing from the grace that saved them. In our Encounter series, we have been hearing stories of people encountering Jesus, and this week’s theme is grace. For all of us who have known Jesus for a longer time, may we encounter the grace of God in fresh ways as if we are receiving it for the first time. This is what Jesus is calling his church back to. 

I have been listening to several reports of this remarkable new move of the Holy Spirit in our world. God is doing something new in the West, and we are seeing it at The Grove too, as more stories of encounters and awakenings start to stack up. I see this in young men who are returning hungry for God. These and all who are chasing after Jesus need mentors, prayer supporters and encouragers. When we see God moving, we need to respond and invest our lives deeply into it. It’s why we are here. 

On Tuesday I am looking forward to hanging out with fellas at 131 Men, at the special Man on Fire night. While the evening is mostly social, I am keen to share more about what Jesus is doing and how we can respond to it. I know there are many men who have been praying for years to see what’s unfolding. May we rise up to this occasion. Exciting times. 

On Saturday the 30th of August the ladies are gathering for a half day retreat. Pastor Mel is equally looking forward to the morning with expectation of how Jesus will encounter women in a special way. The name flourish is also a vision and promise of all God is going to do through women in The Grove. As we are seeing in men, women young and old are also returning to Jesus thirsty for living water.  

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit. 

Acts 2:18. God bless, Marty

For those who were able to make it, I hope you were encouraged and blessed by your time at the prayer stations this week. Thank you Fiona Mansfield for the inspired creativity, using earthen vessels to bring to life the Made for More theme.  

The fours stations focussed on how God forms us as his vessels to carry and release his life, love and blessing in the greater ways he made us for.  

1. Shaped for more: we place our lives in God’s hands like clay in the hands of a potter. 

2. Power through weakness: we trust God who specialises in doing his best work through jars of clay. Even redeeming our cracks, creating beauty through them. 

3. Created to do good works: the life of Jesus flows from us when we observe the beautiful vessel values of humility, integrity, availability and unity. 

4. Reaching more: we pray persistently for neighbours and neighbourhoods, and respond empowered to Jesus call to go and reach more. 

Was it worth the time and energy to pray for three days? Does prayer make a difference? While these are good questions, there are other questions we can ask about things that take our time and effort. 

Do you ever feel worried? Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do but doesn’t go anywhere. It simply robs today of energy not tomorrow of problems. 

Do you ever feel exhausted from striving? We carry so much stress when we carry it alone and live as if life is up to us. 

Do you ever feel afraid? The future is uncertain and it’s easy to default to an outlook of dread and gloom, especially if you have some disappointment in your life.

Do you ever feel confused about what to do, or foggy about life? There are so many decisions to make and too many options. It can feel overwhelming to choose. 

I could answer yes to those questions, and maybe you can too. Yet I prefer the earlier question about whether prayer makes a difference. Whenever we pause to pray, not only do we see God answer prayer, but how prayer pushes away things that use up our time and energy. That's because prayer expresses our trust that Jesus really is in control, and has authority over all things. The one who calmed the storm with a simple command. 

When we pray, life seems to become lighter and things seem clearer. When we pray, courage returns as fear is pushed out of the way. Worry is replaced by a peace that surpasses all understanding. We might wonder if prayer is too costly, but it’s good to remember that the cost of going it alone is far greater on our time and energy. 

3 days of prayer is over, but we are still praying every week. You might even like to 

DOWNLOAD the prayer guide and take some personal time to retreat in a place

you find peaceful. Let’s pray that Jesus calms storms for people this week. 

Marty

This week we are setting aside three days to fast and pray. It’s an opportunity to pause, seek God with intention, and to realign our hearts with His. Whether this kind of rhythm is familiar or something entirely new, there is space for everyone to lean in, as we pray for breakthrough and ask the Holy Spirit to open the way for the more he made us for.

In the lead-up to this time of prayer, there’s been something beautiful unfolding across our community. A quiet reminder of how God works through everyday faithfulness. Women from the Creative Crafters group have been busy creating puppets to support the Payne Road primary school chaplaincy program, sowing seeds of joy and creativity into young lives. Others have been donating food items to fill hampers, which are then given to families in need, through our local school chaplains. 

This kind of ministry often goes unnoticed but is deeply significant. It reminds us that ministry is not confined to Sundays or church roles. It’s happening every day in workplaces, schools, homes, and neighbourhoods. Ministry travels with us, woven into the way we listen, care, respond, and live. Wherever we are, the presence of Christ goes with us, and in many quiet, unseen ways, the church goes too.

This is both a sacred invitation and a humbling responsibility. There’s a moment in Exodus 4:2 where God asks Moses, “What is that in your hand?”. It’s a simple question that opened the door to miraculous purpose. Moses held only a staff, yet God used it powerfully. The same question is being asked of each of us: What has been placed in our hands? It might be a skill, a vocation, a relationship, a gift, or even a quiet burden for someone or something. Whatever has been entrusted to us, it can be used to reveal God’s love and hope in the world.

Ultimately, the mission of the church has never been about buildings or events, it’s always been about people. It’s about becoming a living, breathing testament to the relational, hopeful, and transforming power of Jesus. It takes shape in shared conversations, acts of kindness and lives quietly laid down in service to others.

It’s so important that we keep telling the stories of grace unfolding in the ordinary. Of moments when God’s presence is glimpsed in a conversation, a decision, a quiet act of courage or compassion. These stories remind us that God is always at work, sometimes visibly, often quietly and that we are part of a much bigger story than we often realise.

As we enter this new week, I pray this would be a time to listen, reflect on what

has been placed in our hands, notice where God is already at work around us, 

and to ask how we might faithfully join in.

May the journey ahead be shaped by learning, prayer, and a deep awareness

that we are the church, wherever we go, and wherever God leads.

God bless, Mel

On Wednesday night I felt so encouraged watching episode 1 of the Encounter video at church. Hearing stories of God encountering people in different ways, and how their lives changed for the better as a result. Then in our discussion group, the stories continued as we shared around our personal experiences. I remember feeling a little weary before I went along, but was full of energy and joy driving home. Thankful! 

We get so busy in life, and even feel quite isolated at times. Yet Wednesdays’ Open Connect night reminded me why a simple ninety minutes of supper, inspiring stories and connecting with others, can be so encouraging and motivating in our life and faith. 

The writer to the Hebrews explains it well in Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

These verses clearly teach us that it requires meeting together to encourage others and spur them on in faith. People come on a Sunday, and gather for a variety of reasons during the week. In every case, whether attending or serving, it’s likely some feel discouraged or are running out of steam. Yet it’s not our absence that can make the difference, rather the habit of being present with others is how we impart love, encouragement and build people up. 

Let us wrote the Hebrews author. This week let us consider some of these practical examples that break a habit of absence and encourage and spur others on.

• Text someone to let them know you’re praying for them. Or send a bible verse. 

• Look for an opportunity to encourage someone for their love and service to others, and how you have been blessed by them. 

• Plan to come regularly to church to encourage others and share the love of God with everyone Jesus leads you to. People can encounter God through you.

• Consider inviting someone for a catchup to take a special interest in their life and to pray for them. Or give them a call. 

• If you are part of a ministry team or in a Connect group, encourage your leader and the group with coming regularly and using words that build up faith, hope and love.  

• Consider joining a team that helps us welcome and encourage all who come on Sundays, or ask how you can lighten the load of someone working hard.  

There could be many more examples, but let us consider how we can 

spur on and encourage others this week. God bless, Marty

It's Commitment Sunday this weekend, and we gather as a church to commit our lives and resources to God for a new financial year. Our Made for More vision is compelling, as we witness the grace of God reaching people of all ages and seeing lives turned around. 

2 Corinthians 4:15 captures the essence of our vision and the results God’s power at work among us. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

Last Sunday at our 5.30pm service I overheard one freshly baptised young adult excitedly say to another freshly baptised young adult, “how much of the bible did you read this week?!” It was a moment that captured the beauty of Jesus work among so many lives, and in these cases, both have encountered Jesus in life altering and deeply transforming ways. 

There are so many more stories of a deep hunger for the things of God. Within The Grove are an increasing number of people who have become followers of Jesus in the last five years. They are young in faith but displaying a passionate love for Jesus that’s infectious to be around. For many of us who grew up in the church, and have known the Lord many years, we get a picture of what Jesus meant when he called his church to return to their first love (Rev 2:4-5). To be captivated by the grace of God, the power of the cross and the joy of forgiveness after being rescued out of darkness into light. 

We are surrounded by neighbourhoods and nations desperately in need of the grace of God. While on one hand reports reveal a significant turnaround of people coming to church, and a quiet revival in Gen Z where in the UK young men returning to church has quintupled in six years. There is also a rise in counterfeit offers to find love and purpose. An example is the rise of AI companionship and its impact on the mental health crisis. It’s real and accelerating as an alternative to imperfect relationships with broken people. 

We are in a cultural moment when people are searching spiritually and looking for companionship, love and purpose. As someone brand new to faith in Jesus said to me this week, “why doesn’t everyone know about this?”. Why indeed? Instead of turning to a soulless AI invention, false religion or temporary solutions, we are called to introduce people to Jesus, the all loving and everlasting Lord and Saviour of the world. 

May we commit our lives and invest our finances as a church for this urgent call. 

As we begin our Encounter series, may we and many others encounter the glory 

and grace of God in a way that explodes in the joy of first love in our hearts, 

and through our lives. 

May God bless you today, Marty