CPM News 2003

Members have received a Prayer Diary and the Chairman's Fifth Member's Letter, in which he refers to the South African outreach and the encouragement of prayer support for CPM.

The purposes of the Training Courses for Prayer Ministers is described, as also found referred to on the Pages of Training Courses.

Residential Prayer Ministry Courses can provide for those who cannot get to a non-residential course, it has the advantage of time with space away from domestic and other responsibilities, and can serve those who live in remote areas.
Such courses are therefore not limited to residents in any particular Region, being open to all who wish to apply from wherever they live.

From the West Midlands Newsletter

Pat Pilling has joined the Regional Committee, representing the Staffordshire area, and is going to be the Course Applications Secretary.
Lesley Blythe is going to be the Courses Administrator.

A profile of the West Midlands Region has been issued, giving the history, geography, leadership and prayer needs of the Region.

From the South Midlands Newsletter

God has been seen at work in many deep, gentle and powerful ways in the past year, as reported on the News pages.

In this year Prayer Ministry is available in a non-residential form on two successive Saturdays and in a residential form over a weekend.

Days for an Introduction to Prayer Ministry are being arranged.

Prayer Support is regularly undergirding this ministry and keeping us open to what God is saying.

FEBRUARY 2003

A Prayer Ministry Course in Warwickshire.
Angela Corkhill

A non-residential opportunity for Prayer Ministry in COVENTRY began the CPM Year of such events over two Saturdays at the end of January and the beginning of February.
It was an occasion when the back-up position of those growing in this ministry proved very encouraging for those taking part, and as a good step forward in growing an on-going team by an apprenticeship path.
There was much appreciation of the ministry given and received in the prayer ministry time.
One mentioned a sense of peace.
Another commented on the relevant prayer.
After a deep and draining ministry one was nevertheless elated.
It was a time of the felt presence of God, wrote another.
The atmosphere and attitude in the ministry was described in words such as gentleness, a place of trust, time was not rushed.
The ministry in small groups (of three or four) away from the crowd was appreciated, with spot-on pictures and words of encouragement.
Typical reflections on the effect of the ministry included hope refreshed, faith strengthened, freedom and release from things that had bound one, and above all of course the love of Jesus.

Angela Corkhill was a valued prayer supporter for CPM and would often come to the Prayer Supporters evening at Leamington, contributing many insights.
She died suddenly on January 25th and there was a triumphant funeral service for her on February 5th at Knowle Parish Church, where she worshipped.
She saw her first grandchild just before Christmas
We will miss Angela, but rejoice that she is with the Lord and unhindered by the diabetes which she had for many years.

MARCH 2003

A residential course in Warwickshire.

A relaxed residential time near Leamington gave an opportunity for members and team to meet and to seek God,
including people from the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire and Gloucestershire.
The concerns about Irak and the start of hostilities were left in God's hands so that we could hear him.

Among the comments at the end were remarks of gratitude and a touch of God in people's lives at a meaningful level.
One mentioned the experience of acceptance and in spite of a history of men abandoning and rejecting her, God's love had now become real and he a Father to her.
Another mentioned the love of Jesus which took away fear. Others also mentioned a sense of the love of Jesus.
Peace, a new beginning and an accelerated move on the walk with God, said one.
Another felt blessing was poured by God into their life.
I feel a new creation wrote another.
A mother having difficulty in releasing her daughter into the care of Jesus found a very special blessing, helped by the 'co-incidence' of a wooden statue of mother and daughter in the prayer ministry room.
Then as a first in her experience on a time away, she woke next day feeling 'ready to go home', instead of needing further prayer to help her on her way.
Another had been unable to go to church for a couple of months after a hurtful experience, but now felt able to go back.
The 'prayer bullets' of words passed on from prayer supporters were awesomely accurate said another.

The space of being away over a couple of nights was appreciated.
The teaching in preparation for ministry was 'a feast' for at least one.

It was also an opportunity for some to experience the back-up position and continue to grow in this ministry.

This weekend was full, with a waiting list of those hoping to have an opportunity another time.

The obvious appearance of peace and signs of healing after the ministry time showed that the Lord had been powerfully at work in ways nothing else and no-one else could give.

MAY 2003

Irene Puntis
Exeter Open Day

A successful Open Day welcomed many new faces, with others returning for more.
They were of course presented with the core of prayer ministry.
Audience participation allowed for clarification, and some who had experienced it testified to what it had meant for them.
Interest in receiving the blessing of a prayer ministry course led to the next Prayer Ministry Course quickly filling up.
These Courses continue to provide apprenticeship type learning opportunities following a first experience.

Irene Puntis died 11.30pm on Tuesday April 29th.

The funeral service is at Westergate Methodist church
on Thursday May 8th at 11.30am.

Jack and Irene were for many years active in prayer ministry and will be remembered by many for their loving care.

JUNE 2003

A Quiet Day in the South Midlands
News from the East Midlands
Introductory Day in Malvern
Regional Consultation in the West Midlands

A CPM Quiet Day was held in the attractive modern Church Room adjacent to the ancient Church at Inkberrow, Worcestershire, a vantage point with refreshing views over the local countryside.
We started with liquid refreshment served from the kitchen, repeated at lunch time and at the end of the afternoon.

Howard Heyburn led us on the theme: 'Restoring our Passion', our capacity to love rather than be in conflict, looking at the life of Jacob and Esau and the varied relationships around them and their successors.
We were given insight into how God can transform even the most unpromising people for good and change strained relationships in unpromising situations.
Dysfunctional we may be, but we can become impassioned in our relationship with God and in serving him, by his grace.

This focus enabled us to use the quiet with God with the four areas of prayer ministry in mind, not least in recalling any relationship needing our forgiveness and letting God deal with any bondages which we became aware of.
We enjoyed the grounds in excellent weather as we dispersed for the times of quiet, and concluded in small groups where we prayed for God's blessing for each one.

Afterwards we heard comments like:
"When I was on my own in the quietness, God revealed fresh things about my past."
"Something that was given for me in the blessing time was confirmed in personal prayer ministry in the following week."

From the East Midlands counties
A good number found it to be helpful to be at a Training Day in May led by John Bedford.

In August we are meeting at a bring and share lunch in Loughborough.

We have been invited to take an Introductory Day at a church in Loughborough later this year.

Our CPM Executive member is Stephen Burgess.

Following an Introductory Day at Malvern there are arrangements for a Two Saturday Course with Prayer Ministry early next year.

The Members of the West Midlands Region met to discuss how to promote the ministry in the region.
Ideas included the possibility of publicity, being open to non-Christians, courses spaced over a period of time rather than on consecutive days, teaching days, praying with one another.
These and others will be investigated further - watch this space!

AUGUST

A couple of weeks in South Africa

St Chad's, Table View, Cape Town.

St Chad's	It was lovely to meet up with people who are now 'old friends', some of whom were ministered to on past visits are now able to be number 2's with us.
	A team from the UK in August were given wonderfull hospitality by Des Roberts, Vicar of St Chad's, and Kathie his wife and their neighbours.
Table View	People also came from other local churches including Table View United Church, Table View Methodist, St John's Wynberg and St Nicholas Matroofsfontein.
Cape Town	Arriving in Cape Town on 12th August, the next two days were teaching in preparation for Prayer Ministry. After a day of Prayer Ministry for local number 2's there was a full day of Prayer Ministry for course members. After that, on the first Sunday the Team went in pairs to local churches.
Wortelgat Bush Camp	We then went to recover for a couple of days at a whale watching resort and saw the reason for the original name as the 'Cape of Storms'. It was a real wilderness, along at least three miles of sandy track, and a sand storm instead of whales. Bush Camp was Holy Ground, a place with a vision where people could come to find God - a place where city kids come to for adventure and learning about life and God.
A cataclysmic forty eight hours of stormy weather left a huge 32,000 ton container ship stranded on a near-by beach, said to contain 3,700 tons fuel oil, 33 containers of industrial chemicals and 50 tons of radioactive uranium ore. A local portly Afrikaaner wife said to her husband "Isn't it a pretty shade of blue?" Perception is a wonderful thing.
Before we left we had a 'Day with Jesus', a basic introductory course for more new comers.
	In the aftermath of the family and social disruption of Apartheid and the pain of the people and the place, our hope is that as we have ministered to some of their pain, they will be able to take this ministry forward under the Lord, and bring his healing to their countrymen.
It is now time for us to stand back and let them take this growing ministry forward themselves.

SEPTEMBER

Flowing in the Spirit in Worcestershire

In Worcestershire
It was in the middle of the countryside, the Church Hall at Inkberrow, that a room full of all ages from this and neighbouring counties met with an interest in 'Flowing in the Spirit'.
It was a 'What - How to - and Do it' day.

The teaching by John Bedford in a well presented talk was much appreciated, with plenty of illustrations from his vast experience of how it might work out, concluding with a welcome 'Question & Answer' session.
Eventually we stopped for a break for lunch enjoying the sunny landscape, chatting and eating.

After an introduction to how to listen to God speaking in Prophecy and Visions we had an opportunity for doing it which many found encouraging.

It was clear that God had spoken, and some recognised it's value as a preparation for a pending prayer Ministry Appointment.

OCTOBER

  Prayer ministry using two Saturdays in Warwickshire
  CPM AGM gathering
  Introduction Day at Catshill, Warwickshire

Rugby in Warwickshire
One Saturday preparing and the next Saturday for Prayer Ministry enabled about two dozen to hear about this ministry,
then 16 of them had their own private time of ministry,
a gathering of 45 including the team with a number of 'apprentices'.

Held at St Matthew's Church Rooms in Rugby and using a nearby car-park made available by a local firm, we enjoyed a lovely meal prepared for us, as well as the joys of ministry.

One said: God showed me he can be trusted with ALL areas of my life.

Another: I felt very secure during the ministry time.

In future I will be seeing me as God sees me, not as I believed he saw me, said one.

I was impressed by the quality of the ministry, commented another.

It was a very powerful, gentle and loving ministry, was another comment.

Christian Prayer Ministries
Annual General Meeting.

Gathering at the Cirencester Agricultural College, over forty members met from as far afield as Lincoln, Cornwall and East London, with Hugh Baker in the chair.
The list of apologies revealed the extent to which this date had clashed with other things on this occasion.

After a time of worship we had a lively computerised financial report by Glenn Pennington, encouraging us to use the Gift Aid forms.

Although held in the college lecture theatre we had no lectures.
We did have reports showing the progress on Training Courses, Accreditation, Documentation, and guidelines for teaching and ministry.
We heard of the expanding ministry in South Africa under the name of Transformed living in Christ, and their taking responsibility for moving forward, with our support. Janice Aston spoke of the power of prayer and feeling fresh after many hours of ministry over a couple of days.

There was a keynote speech from John Bedford, in which we were encouraged to go out as Jesus sent out his followers, and let people know where to get healing.
We need to seize every opportunity to pray with people.

June Meek has agreed to take on the task of presenting the CPM ministry in areas where the regions were not functioning.
Her own apprenticeship into this roving role had been varied, including a course held in a 5 bedroom house and an introductory evening in the kitchen of a working farm.
She reminded us that we need to be willing to go to people who want to know about this ministry.

We prayed in small groups, which centred on the growth of this ministry across the land. We were encouraged by the pictures and words we received. Let us catch the vision for this precious ministry of the Lord to be shared and deposited in churches in strategic cities across our country and beyond.

We did the business, we were challenged and we went home with an appetite for more time of fellowship when we next meet.

Catshill Baptist Church near Bromsgrove welcomed people from three churches with ample drinks and biscuits in a warm and welcoming setting for learning about the 'Four Areas'. This appeared to be well received
A time of prayer provided an opportunity for each person to share and see how the four areas arise while waiting on the Holy Spirit in Prayer Ministry.

The possibilities of a 'Two Saturday' course or a residential week-end seemed to be of interest to many in moving forward.
Some may be looking at this Web Site to find out more!

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