Family Update – Autumn ’21

Happy turn of the season to you wherever you find yourself!! You might be seeing the green go brown or the other way around, but whichever it is, we hope you are having a great time.

These past three months have been really good. We have learnt so much being part of this community and we are always humbled by the incredible people that God places in our lives.

The kids are back in school after a 2 month Summer vacation. Students are returning to Uni and regular church rhythms are resuming. We are looking forward to a new year filled with exciting challenges and growth.

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Above – We were involved in a very special South-Africa day held in Newtownards, a small town about 9 miles outside of Belfast. Global Cafe had a stall selling proper South African boerewors. We had a great day with LEKKER music, people and smell of “home” in the air. Apart from the money that we raised selling boerewors going towards what we do at Global Cafe, we had the opportunity to connect with a bunch of people who just moved over to NI. We could pray for them, encourage them, but mostly just love on them.

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We were able to start up our Global Cafe culture nights again last week for the first time since Lockdown. This night we celebrated the smells and sounds of Iran. We have an ever growing Iranian community coming into Belfast, and one of the most important things that these precious people need is community.

At these evenings, our Iranian friends cook some of the tastiest food you’ll ever eat, they make a playlist of great music and then we invite whoever wants to come and just celebrate together. This week specifically we were able to spend time with some people who live in a hostel in Springfield Road here in Belfast. Some of these people have been alone here in Belfast for a long time, away from their countries and families.

These evenings are not just about food and music, meeting the physical needs. It’s also about being the hands and feet of Jesus. Listening to people, talking to people who are lonely and just being “family”. Relationship is the way that we build bridges.

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We are doing well as a family. As I mentioned, we had some time over the Summer to explore some of this beautiful country. And I have to say, we are in awe of the natural beauty. But honestly, there is a beauty in the people here that is deep and genuine. God is rooting us here deeply and supernaturally.

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Back at school our kids are settling well. They both started a new academic year. Zoë in P2 and Noah in P4.

Zoë started with Gymnastics today (Pictured above). It will be such a good fit for her as I really think she spends more than 50% of her day on her head. She’d eat like that if she could. Noah has been going to football practise for a month now and is really loving it. He is also the first “child of the week” for the new academic year (Pictured above with note from his teacher).

At EN Belfast, things have been going really well. God has been leading us so beautifully through the Word. We came out of a series called “Immersed” where we talked about our Identity in Christ and we are now in a series called “Unleashed” where God is really challenging us to live in the freedom that Christ has purchased for us. This opens up such a space for people to operate in their gifts and also to be encouraged to step out in faith in their workplaces as well. God hasn’t called us to live quiet inward focussed lives, but to live boldly to the outside with love, grace and kindness.

The team here is incredible. We get to work with amazing people who love Jesus with all their hearts. We are truly learning from, and growing with, people who have great ministry experience and live it out with humility. We are thankful.

We are also thankful for each and every one of you that is praying for us and rooting for us. Without that, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this. So, from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

If you would like to know how you could pray for us in the coming months, here is a list of things that we are trusting God for:

• That God will continue to give us favour as a church. That we will continue to operate in a spirit of love and unity in a city that is sorely divided.
• That our kids will have a fruitful year in their new grades.
• That Danica will have favour with the Global Cafe as they go into a time of dreaming and strategising about the future.
• That God will continue to strengthen my relationships with the other Worship Pastors in the UK and Europe.
• I am also starting to assist with coaching at Noah’s football academy. This is strategic to get to know some people outside of church and get a foot in the door in our local community.
• We are starting to plan our visit back to SA next year. Please pray for the finances and timing to work out.

Thank you all so much for your continued generosity!

Please send us a mail with how we can pray for you at this time.

Love and miss you all,

Brian, Danica, Noah and Zoë