First thought wow what a year! I have been involved in the Journey Into Wholeness project now for just 4 yrs. The whole initiative started out in Colchester Essex where encouraged by teaching and insight from Professor John Drane a group of like minded folk got together to place a Christian stall into the Mind Body Soul Exhibition in Colchester’s Charter Hall.  With two years of experience behind us we found that we were learning a new language to communicate the gospel message to spiritual seekers, and were making significant progress in developing a meaningful dialogue not just with the “punters” but also with the exhibition organisers and the other stall holders. Encouraged by this we felt that it was right to go ahead and plan a stall for the 2004 exhibition.

With plans for the 2004 stall underway, I was contacted by the Christian Viewpoint group from Southwell, Nottinghamshire to speak to them about the JIW initiative for they had seen advertisements for a Mind Body Spirit Fair in neighbouring Newark. This request was followed by an enquiry in Brighton for similar help and information; I also approached a group of sympathetic Christians in Cambridge with the idea of placing a stall into the exhibition at Linton Cambs. Each of these groups saw the need to learn to listen to today’s spiritual seekers and recognised the profit of entering into a dialogue with them and felt that placing a stall into the market place alongside other spiritualities was something that must be done. The result of all this was that 5 stalls were placed into MBS Exhibitions under the name Journey Into Wholeness in2004, 2 in Newark, 1 each in Colchester Brighton and Linton Cambridge.

To help with the planning and training I drew upon the expertise and experience of Rev. Steve Hollinghurst (Church Army).

The stalls were different yet similar in their approach, each area planning group taking on responsibility for design and content. All offered prayer and placed a priority on being available to talk to people.

The Newark Stall. A.  March 2004 (Newark Show Ground)

Newark produced an interactive stall using sand, mirrors, water and prayer leaves as tools to engage people creatively. They also commissioned a painting of a door which was full of symbolism and provided a good talking point. All of this was very effective though a little cluttered. The most effective tool was the Scripture mobile very attractive in blue and lilac it caught people’s eyes and we were able to engage folk in conversation by asking which scripture they felt drawn to.

The stall was staffed by people from a number of different churches each taking a 2 or 3 hour slot. The regular turnover of staff captured the attention of the organisers who were impressed by the number of folk involved and how time had been given for nothing, and lastly though not least by the love for one another that was apparent, the result was that a number of stallholders came asking for prayer.

Newark Stall B. Sept 2004.

Having gained in experience and with a few lessons learned the Newark group booked another stall for September, this stall was larger giving more room and space for selling a few well chosen books and CD’s . They also booked a seminar slot; this took the form of a lead meditation with a chance for people to ask questions. The response to this was good with 25+ people attending and several folk staying to talk afterwards.

Colchester Stall September 2004 (Charter Hall)

With the benefit of experience the Colchester group again concentrated on offering prayer but also offered some items for sale this included some attractive prints from Lindisfarne Scriptorium. The leaflets from the previous year had been revised and reviewed, and another added to back up the Life Mapping seminar led by Rose. I am still in touch with one lady who went through a Life mapping session with me it will be an ongoing relationship!

Experience showed and the people working on the Colchester stall confidently engaged with people and were happy to offer prayer and even to prophesy in some cases.

The seminar was a success with 20 people attending and two volunteering to take part in a life mapping exercise. Life mapping was also offered on the stall. Good contacts were made and a number of people are being followed up with a low key relational approach.

Brighton Stall October 2004 (Brighton Race Course)

Led by a group of churches in Brighton the stall was professionally presented (they had a shop front designer on the team). They had chosen to sell a variety of books, CD’s and craft items. The stall was busy over the 2 days with a number of contacts made and good conversations taking place. Again the stall was manned by people taking 2 hour shifts over the weekend.

Brighton also booked a seminar slot which I led. It was early in the morning and required a climb to the top of the Racecourse complex to get there. Eight people attended the session which again was a led meditation followed by a chance to talk. Although for no apparent reason this was a very difficult seminar to lead the presence of God was powerful in the room so much so that at times it was hard to speak. He stepped in and everyone there experienced his touch. One lady asked who and what she had experienced and received prayer, we are still in touch.

Linton Cambridge Stall October 2004 (Chilford Hall Vineyard)

The Linton group booked a small stall that was well and sensitively stocked. They also used scripture cards and laid them out in various patterns. These cards were to prove a very effective tool as people were asked which card they felt drawn to. Many folk would hold their hands over the cards until they felt one “calling” to them and then be happy to talk about the verse on the card, prayer was offered if appropriate and many were engaged in profitable conversations.

The stall was well staffed the impact of this being the 3^rd JIW stall with this particular organisation this year had a significant impact especially as once again roughly 20 volunteers manned the stall over the weekend doing 2 hour shifts.

Stories

Meeting Jesus whilst Astral travelling!!! (LINTON)

Chris picked up one of the scripture cards at Linton and was delighted with the words; “these are the Masters words, …you know Jesus” he said. We asked him how he knew the Masters words,

“I’ve been meeting him recently while I’ve been travelling” he said,

A conversation developed and we discovered that in his quest for peace and harmony Chris had been Astral Travelling and here is where he keeps meeting Jesus and talking with him. We asked him what the Master had said to him and he said that the Master had told him he needed to follow, and that he would be shown the way…

We are still in touch…

Words of Knowledge (COLCHESTER)

A number of us felt impressed by God to speak words of knowledge over the weekend, we adopted a sensitive approach by saying to folk I don’t know if this means anything to you but…

We saw God move powerfully in peoples live, this was truly a stepping out in faith, due to the sensitive nature no-one wanted us to share their story. (Yet)

Scripture Mobile (NEWARK)

The mobile proved so popular people were taking hands full of matching scripture cards so they could make a mobile to have at home. The result has been the Sarah from Newark is going to produce mobile kits for the next exhibition.

Hurts and Pains

Over the last year I have been struck by the number of people who have been hurt by the insensitive remarks and actions of ministers and church members. One lady in particular stands out, in a wheel chair from a terrible motorbike accident she had been told by her church that her own sin accounted for the lack of healing she had experienced, coupled with little help she left the church and found acceptance in the New Age Community, she still loves Jesus.

Lessons Learned.

Personally I feel I have grown as a person since starting out with the JIW venture, I would consider myself more spiritual than religious and even more so now. I see the profit of genuine dialogue and relational evangelism more than ever and have come to see God working in places I did not expect to find him, though that seems a crazy and naive statement to make now.

Where to?

A number of new JIW groups look set to take off in 2005 including groups in Peterborough and Kings Lynn. The JIW approach and style will also be used in several town carnivals and fairs where churches have traditionally offered prayer tents. In the words of George Lings (Encounters on the Edge) we are going out there to who knows where….