The GOOD News
Awesome news in fact...
We believe God’s purpose in creating every person was and is for us to enjoy a personal relationship with him and to live for his glory - in this life and the next!
But when we live our lives our own way rather than his way, we reject his love and ruin that relationship. We might try all kinds of ways of making sense of our lives such as being a good person, doing good to others, following another faith or even going to church. But none of these things can get us back to what we were made for - a real relationship with God our maker.
What we were powerless to do for ourselves, God did by sending his Son to live the only sinless life ever lived on the earth. Then Jesus died on the cross to receive the punishment, for all our selfish, sinful acts, for all those times we‘ve rejected God’s love. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the gulf that separated us from God was bridged.
Jesus’ death shows us how much God loves us and wants to restore our relationship with him. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son that we might not die, but have eternal life” (John 3.16)
But Jesus didn’t stay dead! He rose from the dead, defeating death and clearing the way for all of us to receive forgiveness and freedom from the curse of sin, which leads to death and hell.
After he ascended to Heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to live our lives full of him and his power.
• Make a choice to repent (turn away from selfish and sinful ways) and turn towards Jesus Christ.
• Ask him to come into your life and lead and guide you in all you are, all you do.
If you do this in all sincerity, God will receive you as his child, and in that moment, you will enter into an eternal relationship with him!
This is a free gift - “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6.23)
But you also need to be aware that giving your life to Jesus Christ will require a major change in your way of life, your attitudes and your behaviour. As you allow him to, he will give you the power to change. He will also give your life purpose and meaning. Jesus said: “I came so that they may enjoy and experience life to the full.” (John 10.10)
God has plans for you in this life, and if you “run the race” (2 Timothy 4:7) in this life, you will be richly rewarded in the next.
But when we live our lives our own way rather than his way, we reject his love and ruin that relationship. We might try all kinds of ways of making sense of our lives such as being a good person, doing good to others, following another faith or even going to church. But none of these things can get us back to what we were made for - a real relationship with God our maker.
What we were powerless to do for ourselves, God did by sending his Son to live the only sinless life ever lived on the earth. Then Jesus died on the cross to receive the punishment, for all our selfish, sinful acts, for all those times we‘ve rejected God’s love. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the gulf that separated us from God was bridged.
Jesus’ death shows us how much God loves us and wants to restore our relationship with him. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son that we might not die, but have eternal life” (John 3.16)
But Jesus didn’t stay dead! He rose from the dead, defeating death and clearing the way for all of us to receive forgiveness and freedom from the curse of sin, which leads to death and hell.
After he ascended to Heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to live our lives full of him and his power.
- How can I receive this gift of forgiveness and everlasting life?
• Make a choice to repent (turn away from selfish and sinful ways) and turn towards Jesus Christ.
• Ask him to come into your life and lead and guide you in all you are, all you do.
If you do this in all sincerity, God will receive you as his child, and in that moment, you will enter into an eternal relationship with him!
This is a free gift - “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6.23)
But you also need to be aware that giving your life to Jesus Christ will require a major change in your way of life, your attitudes and your behaviour. As you allow him to, he will give you the power to change. He will also give your life purpose and meaning. Jesus said: “I came so that they may enjoy and experience life to the full.” (John 10.10)
God has plans for you in this life, and if you “run the race” (2 Timothy 4:7) in this life, you will be richly rewarded in the next.
A brief history of Streams of Life
Originally planted out as a congregation of a larger church, Streams of Life began to function independently in the 1990s. Grenville and Gill were founder members along with John & Eve, and Angus & Sally joined them soon afterwards.
God encouraged us greatly when we might have given up by sending Lee and Rachael to join us in the late 1990s, and we slowly began to grow in numbers and spiritual depth. He added many more Godly people with diverse gifts to the church over these years, including a very gifted array of musicians and singers, many trained at Nexus. He also added (and integrated with us) a fair number of people from the Asian community and some other nationalities too.
We met for some years at a small local primary school in Longford, first of all in a small upper room, and then as we began to grow we met in the newly built but small school hall. We had many wonderful times in the presence of God there until in 2006 we outgrew that hall. God then graciously provided us with the brand new Community Space at the Ricoh Arena, which, with a limit of 150, was another temporary staging post as we continued to grow.
With the facilities at the Ricoh becoming inadequate, especially for our growing children‘s ministry, we were provided, in March 2013, with a third brand new building to meet in at Alderman’s Green School, and an area to impact with God‘s love with initiatives such as MakeLunch and the Mum’s Big Night Out.
With good facilities for the children and lovely grounds to spread into when weather permits, we are very blessed with this provision, and the good relationship we have with the school, where Angus served as a governor for some years.
God spoke to us prophetically that a time of pruning would happen and this has taken place in recent times. Quite a number of people who had been a part of the church for many years but have for various reasons decided to move on. We appreciate all they have given to the life of the church and wish God’s best for them.
God has assured us that this pruning would lead to fruitfulness, and we are in faith that God is still at work amongst us.
With a God-given vision for multiple cell groups, we still have a long way to go!
God encouraged us greatly when we might have given up by sending Lee and Rachael to join us in the late 1990s, and we slowly began to grow in numbers and spiritual depth. He added many more Godly people with diverse gifts to the church over these years, including a very gifted array of musicians and singers, many trained at Nexus. He also added (and integrated with us) a fair number of people from the Asian community and some other nationalities too.
We met for some years at a small local primary school in Longford, first of all in a small upper room, and then as we began to grow we met in the newly built but small school hall. We had many wonderful times in the presence of God there until in 2006 we outgrew that hall. God then graciously provided us with the brand new Community Space at the Ricoh Arena, which, with a limit of 150, was another temporary staging post as we continued to grow.
With the facilities at the Ricoh becoming inadequate, especially for our growing children‘s ministry, we were provided, in March 2013, with a third brand new building to meet in at Alderman’s Green School, and an area to impact with God‘s love with initiatives such as MakeLunch and the Mum’s Big Night Out.
With good facilities for the children and lovely grounds to spread into when weather permits, we are very blessed with this provision, and the good relationship we have with the school, where Angus served as a governor for some years.
God spoke to us prophetically that a time of pruning would happen and this has taken place in recent times. Quite a number of people who had been a part of the church for many years but have for various reasons decided to move on. We appreciate all they have given to the life of the church and wish God’s best for them.
God has assured us that this pruning would lead to fruitfulness, and we are in faith that God is still at work amongst us.
With a God-given vision for multiple cell groups, we still have a long way to go!