CHRISTMAS DAY

Leader of the South Ashford SA Community Church is pictured here with the Ashford Mayor, at The Salvation Army's Christmas Day Celebration which welcomed people from throughout the Ashford Borough. This included quite a number from our South Ashford District. The event was held at the East Stour School is South Willesborough, and was oversighted by the leaders of the Salvation Army in Ashford, including Captains Sue and Ian, Envoy Val, and Carl. The day included a carol service, refreshments, Christmas Dinner, Christmas Tea, Christmas Presents and Parcels, Entertainment and much more.

CHRISTMAS IN STANHOPE

As Christmas approached we took Christmas to Stanhope and opened the Parish Rooms providing free refreshments, face painting, nail painting, cake decoration, stalls and much more. Additionally Father Christmas was with us, and seen with Pastor Elsie walking around the community inviting people to come along and share with us. The Salvation Army Band also came and played carols, and we were pleased to see some people from the community sharing with us. It was a very successful event and we thank Envoy Val for arranging it, and the team that supported it.

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PRAYERS

Please remember the leader of the South Ashford Salvation Army Community Church /Outreach Project who was bereaved of her mum yesterday (Monday)

NEW HOME

Next Thursday will see the re-opening of THE WELCOME IN PROJECT in South Ashford, and its new location. This will be in Stanhope Square, and at the Parish Rooms, which is a bigger building from what we have used before, and in the heart of a community. For some weeks now Envoy Val has been working hard to get this project ready for its start, and we very much look forward to seeing the building up of this project over the next few weeks and months. Envoy Val would welcome anyone with a heart for this community to come and get involved, and also welcome anyone who would like to visit us every Thursday for refreshments, chat and more. Above all, we need your prayers and support as much as possible.

THE STEPPING STONE

Stepping Stones held us to reach out destination. Sometimes the way ahead is difficult, the stones un even, and sometime the territory is not safe. However once you have got over them all, you get there! The last few months have been just that for South Ashford. Continually taking steps with God to get to the place He wants us to be. Envoy Val, with Pastor Elsie and others, have worked so hard to ensure that all this is about God. For some weeks/months, the Welcome In Project has met at the Revival Centre. This has allowed the team to develop skills, build resources, and to prove to themselves that they can do it. However, opportunity has opened again for the next step to be taken, and discussions are now in place for the new venue which we hope to start using in September. So, for the next few weeks, the Welcome In Project will be in 'limbo' as in no home, but will be working towards reopening very soon - and if all works well, and according to where things are at the mo, in the very place that God called us to some months, if not years ago. Thank you to the many who have supported in recent weeks. We now look forward to the future.... watch this space for further news and information when we have it.

PRAYER WEEK FOR ASHFORD & SOUTH ASHFORD

As many people have headed off, or are heading off to the various summer camps, we recognise not everyone is able to do that, and so locally we hold our own! Although on a much smaller scale, we provide a days programme of activities and events, giving people opportunity to have time out, people opportunity to be lost and overwhelmed with God, and to give quaility time to The Word of God, and to being open to the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our theme and focus will be OVERWHELMED, and we do encourage everyone that is able to give sometime during the week, which we believe will be a signficiant time for the church we are part of, but also for anyone else that will join with us.

The programme for the week is as follows:-

Prayer and Share from 10.30am, time aside in peoples homes to look at the Word, to worship and to discuss, this will conclude about 12noon

Prayer Zones will fill our church centre, with lots of prayer activities, guides and more to engage in. There will also be some worship and teaching videos played, and a guide to going out prayer walking. This is from 1pm

Bible Study and Application around our theme for the week will be held from 4.30pm.
Family Meal is provided from 6pm

Evening Celebration from 7.30pm-9pm - worship and prayer ministry will be the main focus.

Transportation is available. Please do come and share with us, and if you need transport, then please let us know.

WHAT PEOPLE THINK!!!!

People are often quick to share what they think about people, and all too often its negative. Gary Chittenden a member of the ashford salvation army christian centre, and a great support of south ashford community church, has written a verse about two vital parts of South Ashford!

ENVOY VAL
Envoy val is full of sprit,a vision she does have.To beam the light of jesus christ,now south ashford has.Val really cares a lot,for the comunity where she lives.Just pop into cade rd church,a welcome val will give.There,s people there who care for you,go along and see.The freindly team will greet you,with chat and cup of tea.Val is one of many,that meet up every week.Its 10-30am thursdays you,ll make new freinds you greet.The cake we had today,was lovely and so moist.The love of jesus christ,is something to rejoice.The comunity is so blessed,to have our envoy val.val we all love you,our sally army gal.x

PASTOR ELSIE
There was our mum elsie,praying in the hall.Elsie works really hard,to cook and serve us all.A servant to our lord,in so many ways.Elsie even does the shopping,and puts it all away.Nothings eny trouble,this you can be sure.The food is always good,she asks if we want more.

Thank you Jesus for both these people

TENTERDEN MISSION DAY

Some years ago the Salvation Army ceased having a building and worshipping community in the town, but Ashford Salvation Army has sought to have some form of link, and this mainly is through weekly outreach with the War Cry. Once a year we seek to do some mission outreach, and Saturday gave us this opportunity again. We were blessed with good weather, despite an awful week, and a good number of support from ashford salvation army. Music played, sales were made on the stall, contact made, refreshments served, collectors collected (over £700) and our prayer team ministered. It was a great time and we are so thankful to God for this opportunity.

GOD IS GREAT

There is much to rejoice in what is happening here in South Ashford. Since the weekly cafe church opened we have seen three converts and we are now full. We are in discussions and much prayer about seeking the way forward for having to more on and find new premises, maybe, probably - God knows. Additionally there is so much continual potential - for childrens ministry, for older people support, in fact for every generation. There is opening for links with schools. There is a great team of people coming together to work towards the fulfilment of this project - and we could not do a lot of this also without the support and backing of our divisional headquarters. Please keep praying about the future - and especially for Envoy Val and District Pastor Elsie in these exciting days.

At last the vision for south Ashford has been realised, and God is using this time so gloriously a kingdom is being built right here on our own doorstep, God has laid on the hearts of so many people the need in this area for a meeting place where there is love, caring and sharing. Although other venues were viewed and discussed the revival centre felt like home. A home already prepared with christian love, the warmth in which we were received could never be experienced unless it was filled by God centred people.
The number of people wanting to join together in fellowship varies between 23 -30 weekly, mostly to chat and share with each other, it is also a place that a church should be, a refuge from the rubbish that surrounds their lives, a place of protection against condemnation, a place where the hurt are healed the unloved are loved, and the loved, love each other. Many christians are damaged by non-christian, christians. Some of these damaged and hurt are coming to the South Ashford and finding the love that is rightfully theirs through their inheritance in the kingdom. These are the people God is pulling out and setting up ready to receive the broken and rejected it is already becoming a home from home for many as they are coming back on a weekly basis. Its a time when so many ask to stay together after the meeting is over just to pray for each other and God honours that time in a amazing ways. One young lady who is struggling after losing here child turned to the church for refuge was so badly damaged by the church, it has taken months of tender nurtering to prevent another lost to the kingdom. At South ashford Cathy has found true christian love and asked to be prayed for after the meeting last week, she was baptised in the spirit and is rejoicing in a great way. Many are lost to the kingdom through the one part of the body God gave to us for fellowship, instead the tongue has become a toy for satan to play with, when we say unjust unheathy things about people even in some kind of jovial way the (bitter sweet tongue) it affects the minds of all who listen and you have stamped a black mark on a fellow christian even though very often the tongue is then used to sweeten the heart of the person you have set out to hurt. I say this because there are many Cathy`s. My prayer for South Ashford is that will remain in Gods hands as it is today and remain under the umberella of the love in which it is received. I pray nothing will seep slowly and deceitfully into that meeting and the pure joy of each others love and fellowship will remain for ever. amen

BLESS YOU MY CHILD

Members and friends of the Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre and the South Ashford Salvation Army Community Church have just returned from a weeks holiday to Bournemouth. One of the highlights was the animal fair, and evening of fun and laughter. Everyone was encouraged to dress as animals, and Envoy Val, pictured to the right, with district pastor Lyn, dressed as Holy Penguins!

This does reflect, though, that reality that God has blessed South Ashford with Godly People, and God has called and ordained Envoy Val to an important and authentic ministry among us. Thank You Jesus!

Seventeen People met together for an evening on ASCENSION DAY in South Ashford, and we celebrated the meaning of the day and saw God touch the lives and hearts of many people. Envoy Val received her into her home, and we were so pleased to be there. A real mixed age group valued this time which included some songs of worship, and other ministry in the Holy Spirit

THE BLESSINGS CONTINUE

When you are where God wants you to be there are so many blessings known, and this week again we are seeing others people grapsing the vision to reach out to the people of South Ashford and see lives changed. Note the tables now have table cloths donated by a member of our church - and watch out next week - new banners and also a tea urn - God, thank you from the bottom of our hearts

ITS CONTINUES

The Welcome In continues every Thursday morning from 10.30am-12noon at the Revival Centre, Kingsnorth Road, South Ashford. Refreshments are available free of charge, and there are always lots of people to enjoy the company of. Additionally there are people available to pray with you and for you, and people to chat to if you so wish. For further information please email us at southashford@fsmail.net, or pop along to the centre on a Thursday morning.

VISIT TO FARROW COURT

As part of The Ashford Salvation Armys commitment to community church, once a month we go out and share with the people of this town away from our own church building (we do it at other times too though). Today we visited Farrow Court in Stanhope and enjoyed a couple of hours with the residents there. We started with a film show from the Ashford Camcorder society, and then enjoyed a tea together. Concluding then we shared in songs of praise and worship and testimony and prayer. Over thirty people were part of this event, and this picture shows some of our members talking to a resident. We are grateful to Envoy Val and District Pastor Elsie for their leadership and ministry today.

MORE PICTURES

We share with you some more pictures taken at the Welcome In on Thursday. To see larger images, then please click on the pictures and they will appear larger.

The South Ashford Salvation Army Community Church takes The Salvation Army back to its foundations in Ashford, for it was in South Ashford that the army was launched in the late 1800's. Things have changed a lot since then, but the passion of reaching out to this world with the Light of Jesus, continues to be the heart of those who form The Salvation Army in this town. The vision to return to South Ashford in some form, was discussed at leadership team meetings back in 2004, and late 2005 Envoy Valerie Barkley was appointed by The Salvation Army to look for ways for the army to find a relevant and effective mission and outreach within this area. Earlier this year, Elsie Willis was approached about forming the team with the envoy as the district pastor. The foundations in recent years have been to build relationships with people, to represent South Ashford on forums and among the churches, and to find the way forward that God has wanted. Envoy Val has trood very carefully with this, and the amazing thing is that this is seeing the fulfilment of a vision the Envoy had many many years ago. God called the Envoy back to The Salvation Army after some years out, and again stirred up that Vision for this part of Ashford. We invite you to pray with us for South Ashford, but also to be involved in whatever ways you can. Maybe moving to South Ashford needs to be what you need to do?

ITS HAPPENING!

The Welcome In is the next stage in The Salvation Army's mission and ministry to and in South Ashford. Today - Thursday 26th April - we held our first session, attended by over thirty people. This project headed by Envoy Valerie Barkley and assisted by District Pastor Elsie Willis, is also supported by other Christians in the town and the church which we use - The Revival Centre in Kingsnorth Road. You will find a very warm welcome every Thursday from 10.30am - 12noon.