Family Church Portsmouth

Nearly 30 years ago Pastors Andy & Gina Elmes following a calling from God to open a church. Family Church has now grown to a multi congregational Church across the South of UK, additionally in the Philippines. In 2025 Ps Andy & Gina felt God had a new calling upon their lives, Soul Winning across Europe & many other countries with a goal to reach a million souls. Ps Steve Carey introduces Ps Andrew White from Victory Gospel Church Southampton to bring The Word for the momentous occasion this afternoon. Before Ps Steu joined Family Church many years ago, Victory Gospel Church was his home church, so it was fitting for Ps Andrew to speak on the occasion of the formal induction of Pastors Steu & Carla Payne as Senior Leaders of the whole of family Church. Following the message given by Ps Andrew, Ps Andy Elmes speaks directly to Ps Steu & Carla imparting words of wisdom regarding leadership of a church community. He speaks very clearly about maintaining the truth of the Gospel, focusing on Jesus, keeping space for private prayer and the authority with which this position brings.As this formal induction of Ps Steu & Carla Payne closes, many invited guests also pray, laying hands on the now Senior Leaders of Family Church. The service ends with worship.

Today is Vision Sunday 2026 for the whole of Family Church. Here in the Portsmouth congregation, Ps Steu speaks about the Mission and Vision of the church and introduces the six Family Church Values which will be expounded during the following weeks...We Value PeopleWe Value New lifeWe Value Relationship with GodWe Value Church FamilyWe Value GatheringWe Value CommissioningEach of these is represented by a part of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) - a central Christian teaching on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. All other Family Church congregations heard a recorded version of this message and everyone received a booklet entitled Reach, Grow, Empower, explaining these values. Please refer to www.family.church for further details.

This week Ps Carla caries on the theme begun by Ps Steu last week. She begins speaking about Saul (who became Paul) and how he persecuted the Christians - Acts 8:3 (NLT) “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.” Later, scripture tells us - Acts 9:1 (NLT) “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. So he went to the high priest.”This continues in Acts 9, but then Saul has a life-changing encounter with Jesus! He had to let go of the “old” life in order to live in the new life that God had for him. As Paul, he wrote a huge part of the New Testament, teaching the early Christians about salvation by grace and the “New Creation”. Paul endured much hardship, but at the end of his life he was able to say this: “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT). Paul completed the race that God had given him. He was totally reliant on God as he ran his race. Two major things that can hinder us to run the race that God has set before us are self-reliance & pride. The race that God has called us to requires faithfulness and consistency.We must strip off the things that are unnecessary - sin, weights, offence, hurt, shame, self-reliance, pride, distractions etc. Ps Carla takes us through many scriptures illustrating these points and ends with the challenge that we must run into the presence of God and hold on to the hope that He brings to our lives.This hope is JESUS!

This week Ps Steu thanks Pastors Andy & Gina for the amazing foundation they created in Family Church, reflecting on last week which was a celebration of Ps Andy's & Ps Gina's ministry as they move towards their international soul saving calling.Ps Steu's keystone verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" There is a past work that has occurred in our lives, that in this present day causes us to stand before God as the new creations. That past work is the moment our faith was placed in Jesus Christ. An incredible Exchange of the Cross happened in our lives. The theme of this message is very much that with God all things can be made new. There is nothing that God cannot make new. Our lives have been redeemed, fully. We have been brought back through Jesus to God, but God is now in the process of restoring that which was brought back to him. Often, even when we were straight, we walked away from God. We all have to come to the point where we come to our senses and accept Jesus, returning to God. Ps Steu continues by recounting the story of Jairus daughter, after Jesus healed the woman who touched the hem of His garment. He speaks about the crowd that needs to be got out of the way on order for us to unblock the way to Jesus. Some of us need to clear a path, get rid of the crowd, the distraction, the opinions, the the stuff that is just blocking us getting to what Jesus wants to do in our lives. Let us have the faith to move away from the 'crowds' in our lives so we can focus on Jesus to know Him, obey Him, love Him. It's time to have faith in God in order He can do a new thing in the impossible situations in our lives.

Twenty Eight years ago Ps Andy Elmes began what was then called Abide in the Vine Family Church. This was in response to a definite calling from God which has seen a church grow from just a handful of people to a multi congregational soul saving ministry within and beyond the UK. Pastors Andy & Gina now face a new challenge, a new calling from God, equally daunting maybe but their faith in God keeps them aligned to His calling, to begin a Soul Saving activity to reach at least a million people worldwide. The ministry of Ps Andy & Gina can be reached at https://greatbiglife.co.uk/ and presently Ps Andy's book 'Soul Winner' is being translated into multiple languages to make the content accessible to many nations. As one chapter closes and another begins for Family Church, it was fitting on PS Andy's birthday to recount the history of his ministry and that of the church. Ps Steu introduces Ps Sarah Carter who interviews Andy & Gina Elmes "This is your Life" style. Many contributors and friends send messages of congratulation, encouragement and blessing. The evening ends with prayers and laying on of hands over Ps Andy & Gina for their next chapter in life with special prayers for their 'sending out in Jesus' name'. Ps Steu ends the evening with closing remarks. This was a once in a lifetime service......

In his last Sunday morning message to the Portsmouth congregation of Family Church, Ps Andy speaks about one of his original messages when he began the church nearly 30 years ago.Through the blood of Jesus we have Redemption - we are redeemed, and at the cross, the Divine Exchange took place where the sins of us all were taken by Jesus, the only sin free man ever. Andy illustrates this with a personal story about a model boat which was stolen then rescued from a charity shop.....it had to be bought back, at a price, indicating its value. This mirrors God's love for us and the sacrifice of Jesus.Listen with intent at this wonderful inspiring message!

Today was a momentous occasion in Family Church....Ps Andy & Gina Elmes passed the Family Church Baton of Leadership to Ps Steu & Carla Payne. The following words were written by Ps Andy & Gina...There are moments in life when you realise you are standing on holy ground - not because something is ending, but because something has been faithfully completed.After 28 years of founding, leading, pastoring, and building this church and ministry, the time has come for us to step aside and step forward. To release what has been entrusted to us, and to trust God for what He has entrusted to others.Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Seasons change, not because something has failed, but because God is faithful to finish what He starts - and bold enough to begin something new. When we first said 'yes' to God all those years ago, we had little more than obedience, faith, and a burning conviction that Jesus deserved a church alive with His presence and His power. We dreamed of a people who would love God deeply, love one another fiercely, and reach the lost relentlessly. What God has done since then has exceeded anything we could have planned or imagined.We have seen lives transformed, families restored, leaders raised, nations touched, and Jesus glorified. This house has been built on prayer, faith, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. It has been the honour of our lives to carry that responsibility. And while this chapter closes, let me say this clearly: our voice is not stopping - it is simply shifting. The message God has placed in us, the convictions we carry, and the call to equip, awaken, and send will continue. It will simply be expressed in new spaces, new contexts, and new assignments. For those who still want that voice in their lives, it will be there - faithful to the same Jesus, shaped by the same fire.This church was never built to rest on one person - it was built to run on mission and vision. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase.” I may have planted, others have watered, but it has always been God who makes things grow. And He is not finished - not even close.To those now stepping into leadership: you carry this house with heaven's backing. God trusts you. We trust you. Lead with courage. Guard the culture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Stay hungry for His presence and bold in your faith. The best chapters are not behind you - they are ahead. To every member, volunteer, giver, intercessor, and faithful servant: thank you. Thank you for believing, for standing, for serving, for loving, and for never giving up. You are the living stones of this house, and the future is strong because you are strong.As for us, we now step into the next adventure with the same heart that started this one - faith-filled, surrendered, and expectant. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but knowing who was leading him. That is enough.This is not goodbye as in separation - it is goodbye as in sending. And sending is always filled with hope.“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for the love.The story continues...Andy & Gina

This week, Ps Sean's message is about the 'Edge of the Unknown'. Matthew 5:6 (NIV) says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled". We are all made to be satisfied, but often we 'fill up' from the wrong tank of satisfaction! God is the true source of satisfaction. Many scriptures speak of this, Psalm 90:14 (NIV) says "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days". Psalm 107:9 (NIV) says "..for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things". We need filling up with God on a daily basis, otherwise we shall break down like a car without fuel. We need filling up with God, but God's satisfaction is not giving some settlement of comfort staying safe within familiar walls. God's infilling is designed to take us to the edge of the unknown and it's often an uncomfortable step. Ps Sean is telling us we need to live comfortably uncomfortable lives . He then takes some situations from the Scriptures to illustrate how God uses us when we are 'on the edge of our comfort zone'. When the Lord meets Gideon, nothing is the same thereafter - going to win a battle with only trumpets and lanterns is pretty amazing! In the story of David & Goliath, the army was learning how to fight physically, how to come up with the latest strategies. David was learning to fight lions and bears by faith in God, it took him over the edge of the unknown. We cannot allow ourselves to always understand in the natural, we have to trust God by faith and watch Him come through. The fruit of that spiritual satisfaction creates bonus, freedom, and faith. When we are filled with His Spirit, we shall have boldness walking in freedom, audacious faith, proclaiming the gospel. We need to be in His presence. We need to seek Him that we would be filled. Recall that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied, not for our own sakes, but for the sake of everyone around us.

Ps Paula speaks about the hungry who shall be filled.....She references Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled". Many people are getting tired of what the world has to offer because they're realising that it does not satisfy. Paula was reading this verse excitedly as the Bible says that we shall be filled - this is not just for us, but also for anyone who does not know Jesus yet. Often we hunger and thirst for something more than the world can offer.Ps Paula goes on to speak about Matthew 9:14-15 (NKJV) "Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast." Jesus was basically saying here, why should his disciples fast when God himself is right with them? There was no need to fast, but he explained that one day when Jesus goes, then his disciples will need to fast. And that one day has carried on ever since Jesus ascended to Heaven....This week we have a period of Prayer and Fasting in the church so these verses are relevant as Ps Paula carries on to explain how fasting with prayer is a spiritual discipline we can include in our lives to move ever closer to our Lord.Prayer & Fasting is a gift to us, when we seek God we find him, we are humbled before God. In God's presence we find freedom, breakthrough and release from oppression. This week we shall pray for a fresh commitment toseek the Lord afresh, humility & urgency to ask for His presence, wisdom, and power for this next seasonconsecration to examine our hearts before God returning to holiness & wholeheartednessbold living, to be courageous in our witness, bold in our faith, and unashamed of the Gospel to live lives that provoke questions that carry hope displaying God's kingdom

Following last week's message by Ps Andy (Rise up and Build), this week Ps Steu starts to lay detail by looking at the nature of our foundations - individually and as a whole church. Everything God builds is spectacular, strong and stands through the storms. We all have storms in our lives at times, but everything God builds has strong foundations to last for ever. Ps Steu explains how foundations need to be adequate for the shape of the building, the reach of the building, or the size of the building also, the height and longevity of the building. This is true in physical terms and also in spiritual terms for what God is to accomplish in our lives. If we are to build something significant, it starts with a strong foundation. As we step into the next season for Family Church, God is asking us to make sure the foundation is right for what He wants to do next. God wants our next to be significant, so it's important to take time to make sure the foundations are good - no shortcuts. In Matthew 16:18, He said to Peter who had an amazing revelation of who Jesus is - "I also say to you that you're Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail". Ps Steu continues to unpack revelation between the physical and spiritual, and asks key questions...What foundations need to be laid in our lives to correctly prepare for what God wants to buildIf we have ideas of what God wants to build in our lives, what foundations need to be laid in order to correctly prepare here Are our foundations going deep enough, are we aware that its possible that foundations laid so far are not deep enough, so more time is required to correct this When we do rise to a great height and God uses us in glorious ways, this has to be a sustainable position for the future....to reach out further, we must ensure foundations are deep enough We are all living stones in the work God is doing in the church. He is building every one of us. We all have a part to play in the building of God's house, to be filled with His presence, His Glory and Splendour.

Ps Andy has been hearing from the Lord for things in his and Ps Gina's lives for this new year, also things for other people, especially the rest of Family Church.Ps Andy takes as a key scripture the verses in Nehemiah 2, especially verses 17-20 (NKJV) "Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”Ps Andy emphasises that we all personally need to have an agenda of 'Rise up and Build' for the new year. We need to be servant hearted as was Nehemiah, not rest on our laurels, be thankful for the foundations well laid in our lives and those of Family Church itself, being prepared to get behind the leadership in building the future. Time for procrastination is over!Interestingly the story in the scripture above shows how having a word from God, having a servant heart and having determination in the face of opposition will bring success in short order. Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days!This a challenging message for 2026!

Ps Andy provides an encouraging message that provokes the listener to step out of an old year into a new year by faith. Both our leaving and arriving need to be bold steps of faith that see God behind and God ahead. Using the keys of thankfulness and faith we cross over in strength.

Ps Andy speaks ta the end of the Christmas service emphasising the difference between happiness and true joy. Joy comes from the Lord, happiness is a feeling....

Following from previous messages, Ps Sean carries the theme of speaking about Faith. This week, he concentrates on 'Faith to Wait'. Sean speaks about Simeon, (Luke 2, 25vv). Simeon had been waiting along time for a promise to be fulfilled, but having seen the Christ Child in the Temple, he was happy to be 'dismissed in peace' as his eyes had seen the salvation of all peoples. Another prophet Anna, also in the temple gave thanks to God over the child and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.These two people were quite elderly and had been waiting a long time on the promises they had been given. Their lives were a faith walk. We cannot rush God, His timing will never be our timing! Ps Sean points out that incredibly a promise made to Abraham thousands of years ago is still being outworked on the Earth today - Father of many nations right now!Ps Sean goes on to provide more examples of how our lives need to be a faith journey trusting in God, based on promises given to us.

Following form Ps Andy's previous messages about the classroom of faith, Ps Gina this week speaks about how God provides encouragement to us through His word. At times she sprinkles this message with personal anecdotes about how God has literally spoken to her through nature, through the Bible and even a message on a note left wedged in a table!Ps Gina also speaks what may be some of her last messages to the church as a whole as senior leadership changes take place early 2026. She is keen to impart a message to us "Be strong and courageous and trust God". The faith we have learnt about in the classroom of faith messages demands courage. In the early verses of the book of Joshua, God speaks to someone who is about to lead His people into the promised land... Joshua 1:6 & following (NIV) " Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”Ps Gina's message today builds on this text by talking about the courage that Faith demands.

Ps Andy continues speaking in his Classroom of Faith series but moves away from looking at Abraham & Sarah (even though he admits there are moany more lessons to be leant there). This week, he looks specifically at the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. Ps Andy takes us on a tour of the story of Joseph, his sons, his multi coloured coat and life full of dreams, Pit, Potiphar, accusation, prison, waiting, appointment then palace, more dreams and eventual fulfilment!Ps Andy then summarises the life of Joseph with ten learning lessons of faith.....Faith starts with a God given dreamFaith trusts God when people fail youFaith refuses to let circumstance define identityFaith stays faithful in unfair placesFaith chooses integrity over opportunityFaith trusts God in delays and silenceFaith serves others even while waiting on its own breakthroughFaith believes that God can change everything in a momentFaith recognises that promotion comes from god, not peopleFaith sees God's hand in every chapter – even the painful onesEvery point here which comes from the story of Joseph equally well reflects into our own lives!

Ps Andy carries on his series about Abraham's Classroom, this week looking at How to take hold of something by faith. He recaps last week - Abraham and Sarah stepping out in faith on a promise from God. If we are to take a faith Journey with God, its must start with a promise. Every time Abraham had a breakthrough, every time he met with God on the journey, he would take time to stop and worship, build an altar. Last week we crossed into Genesis 13 and we saw how Abraham separated from Lot & leant how we need to be ready to leave something old natural, in order to take on something new.How to take hold of something by faith? We have the promise, we are stepping out, we have a word for the situation but we are not yet holding the outcome. Ps Andy looks at how Abraham conducted himself here in his journey after being told he would be Father of many nations yet had no son. He made mistakes (Ishmael) and more. Ps Andy walks us through this story looking at how we can be frustrated at waiting for fulfilment of God's promises yet the last thing God needs is for us to step in and "help Him". God is Almighty, he needs no help from us! When God gives a promise, the Fulfilment of that promise is on Him, not on us. We need to walk in alignment with the promise but the fulfilling of the promise is based on Him which means He puts His character and His name on the line. We settle back not in apathy, but in simple Faith saying God I don't know how or when but if you promised I know you will. When we have a promise from God, we need to be speaking in alignment with that promise.This is an action packed message, Ps Andy concludes explaining the situation about Abraham and Isaac, where God appears to test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac after he had waited many years to get him. When God said, take the promised child, go to the region where Jesus was also crucified, sacrifice him as a burnt offering, it was a massive challenge of faith. When God gives something he promised then steps into our world saying can you trust me, we see the maturity of Abraham's faith. In Hebrews 11, Abraham takes Isaac, ready to sacrifice, but knows God will intervene. Abraham reasoned he would receive Isaac back from the dead. Abraham holds a child knowing he's in covenant with God. So God speaks to him telling him to offer his son just as Jesus would die many years later and rise. Abraham does not know God's plan here but does know his son will live. He was releasing God to do something that would save us. This is an amazing and challenging message!

Ps Andy speaks today on the first of a new short series titled 'Classroom of Faith'. His message focuses on the story of Abram becoming Abraham, going on a journey of faith as directed by God (book of Genesis), but also leaning very much on the words of Hebrews 11 that tells us without faith it is impossible to please God. As Pastor of Family Church, Andy implores us to be people having unshakable faith. We are not to place reason above faith. Let Faith be first in our lives. Before every miracle we read of in scripture, there's always an unreasonable request demanding people of unreasonable faith! Andy concentrates today on the story of Abraham found in Genesis 12 to 14. God told him to go from the country he knew to a place he did not, but that many promises would be his - the Father of many nations and more....Andy underlines the importance of stepping out not in our own strength, but on a promise from God as Abraham did, even if the full details are not known at that time. Foolishness and presumption have no place here. We need a word from Heaven to take a journey to somewhere called seemingly impossible - just as Ps Andy & Gina are taking on their own next steps of ministry. In Genesis 13:14 and following, scripture says (NIV) The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”We can liken Lot to people, relationships, activity, habits etc in our own lives today and realise that we cannot expect to step out in faith somewhere new until we leave behind what we have naturally known. Only then will God show us the stars of tomorrow and all the sand of unstoppable promises.

Today is Remembrance Sunday. After a service of remembrance, Ps Sean reflects not only on those who gave their lives sacrificially for our freedom during wars and conflicts; but also upon the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. Just as many did during military conflicts, we are called to lay our lives down for God's purpose. Ps Sean recalls John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". This is a picture of sacrifice, the offering of God giving His son was a gift, it cost God our Father - the nature of sacrifice. John 15:12-14 (NIV) says "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command". Ps Sean makes no apologies for telling us we cannot live a life ignoring Jesus' commands calling ourselves Christian & expecting the benefits!Ps Sean continues referring to Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship". He continues speaking about three key ingredients of sacrifice:Surrender SelflessnessSufferingJesus lived this kind of life, not because he needed to but because we needed him to do this for us.

This Sunday is our Missions Sunday. During the service, the congregation listened to videos from all the missionaries we support across the world (audio of this omitted here). Ps Steu then spoke about why we do what we do and why this is important to us all. The only true complete and lasting answer to the needs of humanity is found in Christ Jesus. There is nothing and nobody else that can be bring true hope, true healing and restoration outside of Salvation found in Jesus Christ. God's desire is that every human being on the face of this planet would find salvation in Jesus. Ps Steu refers to the well known verse John 3:16....(NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".Salvation is something every person can receive. All we have to do is put our faith in Jesus, repent of our sins and come to Jesus. Ps Steu explains at great length with many other scripture references how this is the plan of God for all humanity, to have the opportunity to be saved. This was revealed to Peter in Acts chapters 10 and 11. We have all been given an incredible message by God to share with the people around our lives. We are Christ's ambassadors. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news!

Last week Ps Carla began a news series looking at 'Life is a Garden'. Following this, Ps Sean this week takes a look specifically at what we can sow with a focus on our finances. Amongst many scripture references, Sean looks at Luke 6:38 (NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The law of sowing and reaping is as relevant today as it was thousands of years back when the scripture was written. He follows this with Matthew 6:19..."“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Ps Sean points out that there are two fields we can sow into - the immediate field in front of us and the eternal field beyond our temporal lifespan. Which is worth more to sow into? The Bible tells us to set our minds on Heavenly things, not earthy things. Gaining the whole world but losing our soul is not wise..Ps Sean goes on to speak about the love of money and our love for the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money helps us achieve many things, the key here is our heart attitude. Are we doing something because of our love of a monetary reward (perhaps), or our love for our Lord?He ended with three key points on sowing with financesGet to give - not give to getLove is our motive - generosity, kindness, & love from the overflow of a grateful heartJoyful Obedience - have a merry spirit when givingThis is a challenging message!

Ps Carla begins a new series of messages entitled 'Life is a Garden'. The first message is subtitled 'Wilderness to Promised Land'. All through scripture from Genesis to the New Testament we find numerous references to gardens, agriculture, seed time and harvest (we reap what we sow). Today Carla speaks about how in Genesis 2:8, Our Father God planted a garden. NIV verses..."Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed". In verse 15, God told Adam to work the garden and care for it "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it".The Bible says God planted and Ps Carla envisages God crouching down putting seeds into the ground, perhaps with dirty hands. So the Bible is full of imagery around gardening, all this relating to our relationship with God, who is the planter & cultivator of both creation and of our hearts.Ps Carla explains how the story of the Israelites who eventually feed not from manna & quail, but planted crops is similar. No longer was God going to rain down provision but to do something different. He was saying now you need to work the land and care for it. The Israelites had come into a place where the principle of seed time and harvest were put in motion. Ps Carla leaves us with thoughts on three key seeds we have the ability to sow dailySpeech - how we speak really matters. Proverbs 19:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat of its fruits.Tears - Psalm 126:5 (NIV) says "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy". We may be moved to tears in our prayers of closeness to our Lord...Energy or money or capabilities - God loves a cheerful giver, all that we have is His anyway!

Ps Andy rounds off the series on a "Growing Church" by speaking about Communion and Prayer. During the service he then led the whole church into taking communion together. Acts 2:42 (NIV) says "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer". This has been the central theme for the series on growing the church. Every time we touch the bread, whether it's a cracker, a wafer or sourdough, whatever bread we're using, let it remind us that a body was broken for our freedom. When we take the cup, that Jesus Christ paid the price of his blood, so that we could be set free from religious experience and obligation and brought into a relationship with Him and His Father. Ps Andy explains the deeper spiritual meaning behind the taking of communion before speaking about prayer and the importance of prayer in our lives. He speaks about us being a house of prayer, not entertainment and how prayer should be ta the heart of our lives. Prayer and communion go hand in hand, together they are a crucial part of the fellowship of believers as described in Acts 2:42.

Within the context of our series on a Growing Church, today Pastors Andy & Gina Elmes made a significant announcement to all of Family Church held dear to their hearts. The following words accompany the message today from Pastors Andy & Gina.....After 28 years of pioneering and leading Family Church, on Sunday, 1st February 2026, we will be handing over the leadership of Family Church to Steuart & Carla Payne, who will step into the role of Senior Pastors. This transition comes after much prayer, preparation, and a clear sense that the assignment God gave us nearly three decades ago is now complete. We are confident that this next chapter will be filled with fresh vision, strength, and fruitfulness under Steuart & Carla's leadership. They are trusted, tested, and called by God to lead Family Church into its next chapter. We are excited about what God will continue to do in and through the church under Steuart & Carla's leadership. Please know that this transition is not an end, but a continuation of the faith journey God has us all on. Thank you for standing with us, for loving us, and for continuing to build God's house with faith and unity. With love and blessings, Andy & Gina.Ps Andy further explained how this indeed fits with the biblical pattern of change and transition seen in the New Testament church. Paul raised people, trusted them, pastored them, taught them, established churches and also moved on to new things as God called him. Whilst the news today does seem a huge change, it is a reflection of Ps Andy's willingness to be obedient to God's calling even when the future is uncertain. God is a God of movement, we all need to become open and able to hear His call upon our own lives.

Following in the series about a Growing Church, today Ps Connie speaks about being devoted to one another and walking in shared fellowship with God (as well as with each other). This is a deep spiritual connection. It is about us having a shared life, walking together in unity and in love with a community of people who love God. We must purpose to walk together in all seasons of life, be it in joy or in sorrow. At the end of this message Ps Sean speaks briefly about the vision the church has for provision of Connect Groups across our postal area, providing a means of outworking the building of relationships together and discipling individuals in their Christian walk.

Last Week, Ps Andy gave an introduction to the new series "A Growing Church", and explained how this also fits within our overall theme of Magnify and Multiply. This week, Ps Paula begins the series in earnest by speaking about being 'Devoted to the Word'. The key scripture here is Acts 2:42 (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer".In Acts 2, we read that Peter, a disciple, had just preached the gospel to a crowd. In verse 41, it lets us know that the ones who devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching were those who received Jesus' words, were baptised and added to the church - 3000 souls! Those who gave their lives to Jesus became devoted to His words. What we see in the book of Acts is the word of God come alive to people who were willing to be devoted and were willing to change their lives.The whole of Paula's message is about how our lives become shaped by reading and being devoted to the word of God. Without this, our lives drift, according to our feelings at times and certainly not in alignment with God's plans for us. We must read and apply Gods word if we want to grow.2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) says "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right". We need the bible and Christian friends to feed us truths not pander to our emotions!

This year, Family Church has had a them of Magnify & Multiply in its messages. Ps Andy recaps on these and moves to look at how this theme also applies to the church at large, providing an introduction to a new series entitled "A Growing Church". After defining what 'church' really is, Ps Andy looks at the cardinal way a church might grow, seeking always to base his thoughts on Biblical principles and patterns. The early church managed to grow exponentially without social media, internet etc but purely as described in Acts 2, verses 42 onwards (NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved".Ps Andy dwelt on the key tenets of these verses, serving as an introduction to the forthcoming messages in the next few weeks.

Ps Gina picks a selection of biblical characters and explains how they show us real people living through real situations and struggles witnessing the overwhelming grace and power of God. These people got through their journey of life and can help us in our journey of life as well. The Bible is a grace gift from God which we all need to delve into and fill our minds with the scriptural truths associated with Kingdom living; the world would have us believe differently if we are not careful! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) says "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work".Ps Gina speaks about Gideon (from the weakest Clan in Manassa). Here God is showing His strength in the midst of Gideon's weakness. Daniel was taken Exile by the evil Babylonians. He grew up in a culture where he knew he was the child of God but they stole it out of that culture, put him in the Babylonian culture, which is a god-hating, Bible hating culture. He was told to eat from the king's table, to eat things that were against the law of Moses which is what Daniel lived. But he ate just vegetables and water, not the king's food, and ended up the strongest man there, his Godly defiance and prayer is something for us all to take on our journey of life.PS Gina also talks about Hannah and Anna, linked by name and a thousand year gap in the Biblical history. Both these women get to come on her journey because they were amazing, understanding what it's like to labour and pray, when not seeing anything for years and years and years. Then they experience God, He comes through. They understood what it is to go to God in the worst times of their lives so they didnt get bitter and twisted. They understood that God had purposes and plans.Her message is clear - the Bible is not religion, it is the word of God gifted by grace to us to show us how to live and to give us hope, peace and strength in the ups and downs of daily life.

On the back of this year's Youth Summer Camp, Nathan speaks this morning about a theme that has been on his mind before, during and after the camp time. His words are not only aimed at the youth of our church but the whole congregation!Nathan's key verse is from Luke 6:46-49 (NIV) "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."Illustrating his message with many other scriptures, he presents three cardinal points about the House of the Lord...Point number one - the house that stands, stands together Point number two - the house that stands, stands whatever the weatherPoint number three - the house that stands, stands foreverNathan expands on each of these points and presents a challenging message pointing to the fact that the house that God is building in our lives will stand forever if we build it on Him and remain faithful to Him.

Pastor Andy preaches on one of his all time favourite scriptures in our Signature series of messages. He begins in the book of John, chapter 15, all about abiding in the vine. Jesus is talking to his disciples and looks at them and says, I am the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, He prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. The only time God prunes is when he's got more fruit in mind. He says abide in me and I in you. A branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My father is glorified by this but you bear much fruit. And so prove to be my disciples, just as the father has loved me. I have also loved you, abide in my love. These are such powerful truths, covering the fruitfulness of a believer's life.Ps Andy spends considerable time reflecting on the fact that once we have given our lives to Christ we now have Him abiding in us, we are joined to the vine, we are able to do many things we previously could not (all things are possible with Christ Jesus), and that our lives reflect the glory of God in the fruit we produce which is good fruit, not that which we once created when we were born in sin. This is a powerful message, listen, be amazed!

Ps Sean speaks in the second of our 'Signature' series this week (messages close to the hearts of the speakers), with specific focus on the storms of our lives and how to act and react when a storm hits us. He begins with the scripture Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus calms the storm amidst petrified disciples who thought they were going to drown. Sean has three props he describes which define powerful attributes to our Christian walk, often navigating storms in our lives.First is a compass to provide direction. Without direction in our lives we become lost, we end up being places we didn't want to be, often doing things we didn't want to be doing. Ps 119:105 (NIV) says "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path". When we are illuminated by God's love and His word, our path has a sense of direction and purpose that we didn't see before. But if we don't know his word, we run without a compass, at a loss when it comes to the storms of life. Second is an old school metronome to keep us in God's Rhythm. When a storm break out, the rhythm changes, we panic, stress sets in. But was Jesus stressed, no He was resting in the boat when the storm came. English cultures tend to be stressful, we need to change this, reverse it and become more calm and relaxed in the way we do life. God's rhythm is one of gentleness and calmness.Thirdly, Sean had a ruler, not easily bendable reminding him of the need to be flexible & adaptable. The reality is, we cannot be rigid in our faith if we are to have a Christian walk with God. Being adaptable to what God is saying is very key to living through the storm. Being able to bend to what He's saying, living to His rhythm, walking in His direction requires us to be like Romans 12:2 (NIV) says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."Ps Sean ends with thoughts about storms that occur inside our heads, thoughts, anxieties, jealousies, fear, psychotic behaviours.... Let us understand that with Jesus in our lives, we are forgiven, accepted, redeemed, saved and given new life. He ended with prayers rebuking negative thoughts in our heads, praying for the peace of God to invade our hearts and minds this day and for ever Amen!

Ps Steu returns to Portsmouth this week for a special message entitled 'Come to Me' - the words that Jesus says to each of us every day. Ps Steu talks about a young man trapped in a bird cage, a place of pain and fear and uses this picture to formulate his message. Some of us are still in a cage, trapped by the things of life. Maybe we are not fully free as a bird when the cage door opens. But Jesus came to set us free! We are set free the second we accept Jesus as our saviour - this is salvation. In John 10:9-10, Jesus says, 'I am the gate, those who come through me will be saved, they will come and go freely and find good pastures'. Psalm 23 also refers, our shepherd leads us into green pastures & gives us rest. Nothing else in this world can possibly satisfy our lives but Jesus. The key to living in the freedom that Christ has given us is to walk closely with Jesus, there is no other way! Matthew 11:28-30 says 'come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls'. Ps Steu describes a three step process...Coming to HimWalking with HimLearning from HimThen we find true rest, true freedom, and our burdens become light. Ps Steu brings many other scriptural pictures together which describe the grace of our Lord in our lives and how we are discipled by abiding in his word. We fly out of the bird cage and rest under his eagles wings....the freedom of God's Kingdom.

Following the previous week's messages on Miracles, Ps Andy takes a 'Selah Sunday' to summarise the key points from all the previous messages and further emphasise the common themes across the whole of scripture where miracles are described.Multiplication of provision, be it loaves and fish, oil in a jar, grain and oil to make a loaf of bread are all a result of people experiencing God increase things in their lives. Ps Andy then goes on to speak about the common denominators in these miracles (and many more miracles all across the whole of scripture). Miracles, always followed unusual, unreasonable, often unfathomable quite crazy requests coming directly from God or a prophet. When a person dared to do what they were being told to do in obedience, suddenly what God had promised them or intended for them came into being! But for them to come into the promised experience, they had to step out by faith, usually defying their own reasoning to do what God had told them to do.Stepping out by faith and walking by faith causes us to enter into the promised things that God has for us. God has promised things for us all in situations we face daily, sometimes that look hopeless. Have we got the faith and the courage, sometimes along with with wise council, to step into that which God is asking us to do?We should, because we have already experienced the greatest miracle ever likely to happen in our lives when we gave our life to Christ!

Ps Andy carries on the series about Miracles within our overall theme of Magnify and Multiply. After a recap of theprevious weeks' messages he focuses this week on the miracle of the flour & oil that did not run out. Miracles follow obedience to God with faith. God always multiplies what we surrender, whether its a little boy's picnic, a fishing boat of fishermen or a jar of oil. The story of Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath is found in 1 Kings 17:7-16 (NIV) " Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of he Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.'” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.It's interesting that God picks a widow to supply food to the prophet Elijah. Scarcity meets obedience in the lives of the two characters here. God in heaven sees us in the time of famine, He sees us in the time of need and He has a plan for us in that time of need. But sometimes the way to get what He's got for us is to do something He's asking us to do that's unusual or we'd prefer not to. So God sees us and cares for us in famine Seasons!

Ps Andy continues the series on Miracles withinour overall theme of Magnify and Multiply. God's heart is one of multiplication for us, through miracles. Luke 5:1-11 and John 21:1-14 are the key bible verses for Ps Andy's message today where Jesus instructs Simon Peter to put down his nets the other side of the boat after an unproductive evening of fishing. The second passage refers to side of the boat after an unproductive evening of fishing. The second passage refers to a similar instruction, this time after Jesus' resurrection. Ps Andy continues his explanation here that the miracle occured again after the fishermen were asked by Jesus to undertake a seemingly embarressing and unusual request. Experienced fishermen had been up all night and caught nothing, yet here was a carpenter telling them what to do. This was a challenge of obedience for them. In this moment there was a revelation of who Jesus was for Peter because Jesus had been preaching earlier and Peter had been on the shore listening, but the penny had'nt dropped. This was not just a man, this was the son of God and suddenly Peter sees his miracle knowing it was a miracle because he was a fisherman and he said, "this doesn't happen, I've been doing this since I was a kid, this doesn't happen.....". But it did!!After this, Jesus tells Peter to leave his boat, leave everything, join Him and He would make him a fisher of men. This was a miracle that positioned him In what God had designed for him to be - not just provision but intention. Sometimes we eat the fish, move on and forget to stop and say, "God, what are you doing in this moment that concerns me and my future. Miracles reveal the hand of God, but often they also reveal his intentions.Are we positioned to listen to God in the moment and be obedient to seemingly extraordinary requests from God? a similar instruction, this time after Jesus' resurrection. Ps Andy continues his explanation here that the miracle occured again after the fishermen were asked by Jesus to undertake a seemingly embarressing and unusual request. Experienced fishermen had been up all night and caught nothing, yet here was a carpenter telling them what to do. This was a challenge of obedience for them. In this moment there was a revelation of who Jesus was for Peter because Jesus had been preaching earlier and Peter had been on the shore listening, but the penny had'nt dropped. This was not just a man, this was the son of God and suddenly Peter sees his miracle knowing it was a miracle because he was a fisherman and he said, "this doesn't happen, I've been doing this since I was a kid, this doesn't happen.....". But it did!!After this, Jesus tells Peter to leave his boat, leave everything, join Him and He would make him a fisher of men. This was a miracle that positioned him In what God had designed for him to be - not just provision but intention. Sometimes we eat the fish, move on and forget to stop and say, "God, what are you doing in this moment that concerns me and my future. Miracles reveal the hand of God, but often they also reveal his intentions.Are we positioned to listen to God in the moment and be obedient to seemingly extraordinary requests from God?

Ps Andy continues the series about miracles that Ps Sean began last week. A common thought in this series is how unusual requests made by God can result in supernatural multiplication in our lives? This is something consistently seen throughout teaching in both New & Old Testaments. Crazy things can happen but are normally always followed God asking someone to do something that seemed unusual, even unreasonable. Are we able to hear God ask us to do something unusual? This is a real challenge...placing a demand of faith on us. PS Andy today speaks about the miracle found in 2 Kings 4, 1-7. The wife of a man cries out to Elisha because her husband is dead and creditors are coming to take her boys as slaves. After a conversation, Elisha tells the woman to collect containers and pour the small amount of oil she has into them. Miraculously, oil flows until the last container is filled. Now she can sell oil to pay her debts. The amount she received wasn't a provision issue, it was a capacity issue. She could only receive according to what she made room for. God's provision met current needs and her future security. Do we need a miracle?, are we listening for God's unusual request? Is God trying to highlight something in our lives? If the widow's actions (ie her faith) had not been commensurate with the instructions received from Elisha, her needs would not have been met, the miracle of supernatural provision would not have occured!

Today Ps Sean starts a new series about Miracles, still within the overall framework of our theme of Multiplication. He begins by speaking about 'lack' and the varying forms of lack we can experience in our lives. Sometimes this is through comparing ourselves to others around us, sometimes through genuine lack of resources, food, shelter, clothing etc. The story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17 is well known.....he asks her to make him a small peice of food from the remains of her flour which she was going to use just before she and her son died of hunger. But, this never happened, the jar of oil and the flour never ran out, just as the Lord had spoken thtough Elijah. In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds over 5000 people with fives loaves and two fish. But, he had given thanks to God before the miracle began. From a position seeming to be of lack, a supernatural God turned a natural situation into a miracle of supernatural provision and abundance. Ps Sean makes the point that this can be the case in each of our lives, but we need to surrender our lives, posture oursleves into submission before God, and act with obedience and thanksgiving. Leaning on our own understanding will never work (Proverbs 3:5-6). We are to acknowledge Him, then He'll make straight our paths. This means our relationships need to acknowledge Him, living God's way. Our finances have to live God's way. My eyes must honour Him, my ears must honour Him. My language must honour Him, every part of who I am acknowledges you to be, God, of all creator of the Heaven and the Earth. Therefore my body honours you, my desires honour you, my thoughts and intent honour you.... every aspect of every part of my life honours you. When we do this, we start to get more than enough breaking out of the depletion, the lack, around us. This is when we start to get Mana falling down from heaven into our lives, where we start to see supernatural provision in dry places.Surender, Submit, Give Thanks to God....then Miracles come......

Today is Global Sunday in Family Church, a day when we celebrate all the nations and nationalities represented in our fellowship. It is also Pentecost Sunday - Pentecost being the day the Holy Spirit flowed into the collected peoples in the first church as described in Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them".Today, Ps Sean speaks about this and how in Joel 2:28-29 scripture states "that I will pour out my spirit on all Flesh". This is a very inclusive statement and relates today to our multi-lingual, multi-racial congregation!Ps Sean further speaks about how Jesus told His disciples that His Father would give them another helper if they kept His commandments (John 14:15-17). Jesus said that they would receive power when His Spirit came to rest upon them that they might witness to His name in all Judea, Sumeria...The challenge of this message is to ensure we all realise we are heirs to God and that His spirit will come down upon all of us in order for us to live power filled Kingdom lives.

Today is My Church Sunday, a service specially designed for those who are not fully familiar with the Christian Faith or Kingdom Living. Pastors Sean and Paula Finch interview three congregational members who have totally differing life stories - Vanessa, Hector & Sarah. Each of them show similarities in their search for somthing meaningful in their lives (resulting in their giving their lives to Christ), but from completely differing backgrounds.Their stories challenge each of us to check our relationship with Jesus, dismissing religion and ritual.

We are called to represent God in a fallen world, we carry his salt and light, and it's our duty to put on the new self daily.

Following on from last week's message, Ps Andy continues to speak about growing God's family. This week, the focus is 'Reaching all of our World for Him'. Ps Andy's starting point is that we are not looking at arena events, more that every believer says "let me take responsibility for one soul". Referencing Mark 16 and Matthew 28, it is clear that Jesus is saying to each and every one of us "Don't sit there in silence regarding your salvation, be a person with go in your heart". When it comes to reaching others, we need to get uncomfortable. One day when we are all dead and in heaven worshipping, Jesus is going to ask us who we brought with us!We all have a local 'Jerusalem' - the circle of people we are in contact with regularly. Ps Andy speaks at length about how we must initiate conversations with people who are in our circle of influence. Jesus wants us to be witnesses of what has happened in our lives. We all need to take on the challenge of identifying people in our circle, praying for them and asking the Lord to intiate times for us to speak them. The time has passed for undercover Christianity. We must begin to talk about Jesus, because of who He is and also what He means to us.

Ps Andy continues the series about God wanting a big family, this week speaking directly about how we are all responsible not just for our Judea and Sameria but those of our own family too. He shows us many scriptures where in the early church it was commonplace for people who had just heard about Jesus to go fetch all their household to tell them and also to baptise them immediately aftwerwards too!A famous verse is John 1, 41-42. Andrew meets Jesus, he encounters Jesus. The first thing he did was to go and find his brother Simon. So really this is not just about ourselves as individuals but also our whole family, our hosuehold too. Andy challenges us to pray for the salvation of our whole family network, then to be 'inviters'...bringing them to church and also to purpose to live Godly lives to demonstrate the love of God in our daily walk.

Ps Paula begins a new series this week talking about how God wants a big family. She speaks about growing God's household, God's desire for multiplication in terms of people coming to Christ.If God wants a big family, the first thing we need to get a hold of is God's heart. The most well known verse is John 3:16, personally describing the Father's heart for the world - where it says God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. Hence God's heart for the lost is first, that no one should perish. Paula retails a story about herself seemingly being lost yet she did not know this, many people worried....when she was much younger. There are so many people on the world who live happily yet are lost without realising. God is a Father who desires for all of His children to know Him. Yet, in order to grow God's household, we need to know His heart for humanity. The church is His family and His household. We are a spiritual family, each of us are ambassadors for Jesus and are to grow together and invite others to be part of the family.We all must take up the role of ambassador. God wants us to understand his heart and be the people who go and bring others to him. So in order to grow God's household, we need to get a hold of God's Heart, and take up our role as ambassadors. Also, we need to reach out. Paula challenges us all to reachout to one more person - the power of "one" is amazing. This is a powerful and challenging message at the start of this new series!

Ps Sean rounds off this series of messages on Multiply with a message about The Power of the Cross. Specifically, Sean speaks about empowering our lives to live out of the power of the Cross. We may have an understanding of the Cross as good Christians, but there's more to it than to just understand. We we need to walk in the power of the cross. We need to have an outworking of the power of the Cross.Understanding the message of the Gospel brings truth, freedom, deliverance and everything we but there is no power until we unveil the message. The message is what we carry, the message of the power of the Cross brings multiplication everywhere we go. We don't walk in our own ways, we walk in His ways - the very life of Jesus. We walk in the same way Jesus did, the power of deliverance. The power of the Cross is that we no longer live, but Christ now lives in us, and we no longer have to live according to the flesh but according to the power of the Spirit. This is why (in Romans) Paul emphasises that we no longer live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The spirit is the Harvest of the Cross, it's what we've received through the dying of Jesus, we've received new life, freedom and wholeness.Sean goes on to mention three main hurdles to living in the power of the cross:We need to get over our ability. Our inability & inadequacies are no problem for God, but often they become a barrier for usWe need to get over our knowledge. This is a tough one because as human beings, we think we know what is best all the time.....sometimes God's not asking us to understand, but just to be obedientHis Spirit over our flesh. When we do everything according to o ur flesh we're going to deny three times (as Peter did). We are negative - no multiplication! It's the opposite. But when we live according to the spirit it's plus three thousand every day!To see multiplication, we must come into the Lord, through the power of the Cross. Love has must be the motivation in everything we do. It gives us the grace, allows us to walk in forgiveness and is unconditional everywhere we go. If we are not walking by love, then we cannot do this.

Ps Andy delivers an awesome message today about the divine exchange upon the cross. Jesus paid for all our sins by his death, but we also died with Him and are resurrected to new life though Him. Ps Andy calls this a moment of co-crucifixion. Each of us who believes in what Jesus has did on the cross, would enter in to His death, His burial and also resurrection to newness of life. By faith, we embrace what He did on the cross and His death becomes our death. His burial of the old man becomes our burial and His resurrection to newness of life becomes our new experience.We don't embrace this by our doing religion, we embrace it all by faith. We believe that He said He did it for us and did it, He did. Ps Andy explains how this is the true meaning of identification, we're living in a society that's warped with the wrong ideologies, the power of identification finds its strength in the work of the cross. God doesn't want you to crucify yourself because you haven't got enough hands! You can't do it yourself! He wants you to identify with the death he provided so that death can be yours and with the burial and resurrection. So when we identify with Christ, what we're saying is, you were on the cross my saviour, but you also took not just my sin, but all sin so that I could be free from sin and become a new creation. Ps Andy tells us he wants us all leaving the service today knowing that our old man is dead in Christ and that we've been risen to newness of life. Now we've just gotta get some grave clothes off so we can begin to live in the good of what God isn't going to do because He's already do it!

Ps Gina speak about how Gods plan in the beginning was always for multiplication.

The word 'selah' occurs 74 times in the Old Testament and is generally accepted to mean a 'pause' for reflection or thought. This week Pastors Sean and Paula take a break from the norm by reflecting on the previous week's messages which have focused on The Word. Via some pre-recorded video interviews, thoughts from a number of members of the congregation regarding the differing aspects of the series were shared with us all. Following this, Sean & Paula held a conversation to discuss aspects they felt had been cardinal in the series on The Word, illustrating their thoughts with commentaries from their own lives. We were all challenged as key thoughts on obedience, daily infilling from God's Word, the state of the soil in our hearts and our ability to forgive others (and more) were brought to our attention. Sean and Paula wrapped up the session by looking at practical ways each of us could be involved in order to become partakers not spectators!

Ps Andy continues the series on Magnify & Multiply, this week with part 2 of "The Authority of God's Word". After summarizing the messages from previous weeks Ps Andy quotes Ecclesiastes 8:4 (AKJV) "Where the word of a king is, there is power". There is final authority in the word of King Jesus! When we speak the words of King Jesus, things begin to shift. We need to walk in the authority that Jesus has given us. Andy mentions three key things here:Our belief in who He says He is. Our faith in who He is will determine some of our experiences. Our faith doesn't change Him, it accesses Him!Our submission to His lordship in His word - it is possible to believe in him but not submit to himObedience to HimPs Andy quotes many examples from scripture where these three ingredients caused great things to happen (the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 is not a disciple, but his faith, his submission to the authority of Jesus and the spoken word of Jesus healed the servant)...Andy explains how often we need to lay aside our own natural experiences, our thinking, our rebellion to the worldly thinking and submit to God. When God speaks something into our situations and it doesn't make sense, let it be. Let it be according to your word, may it be so.This week, let's hear what God says to us, submit to it, walk in accordance to it and see the power contained within it released into our lives and of others.

Ps Gina speaks on the Authority of the Word of God - the Bible says that God has all authority over heaven and Earth! God is the author, the originator, the creator. Page one, chapter one, verse one of the Bible is meant to colour the rest of the whole entire Bible. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. This frames every other scripture, every other account. God's word needs to be the final Authority for our lives. When we pray and in times of attack in our lives, in times of temptation, for all the spheres of our lives, for our money, our relationships, our family life, our children, our jobs. The most effective prayer is when we use The Word. When Satan tempted Jesus, he was rebuked by The Word of God being quoted. If this works for Jesus, it will for us!The world throws all sorts of lies and untruths to us daily, the best defence and offence is God Word. Ephesians 6:14-17 (NIV) "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God".Daily we need God's Armour and His Word to fight the battles we are up against.

Continuing the series on Magnify & Multiply, Ps Andy refers this week to John 12:32 (NIV) " And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself". There is a principle - when He is lifted, there's a drawing that begins to take place. His word is like a seed that has the ability to cause multiplication in our lives. Every word of God is a powerful seed. Ps Andy talks about approaching the word of God as seed. Then when we look at our hearts and our lives, we understand that this represents the soil. PS Andy goes on to teach about the relationship between seed and soil using the parable of the sower as an illustration. There is a simple relationship between healthy seed and good soil. His word was and will always be eternally relevant. Ps Andy goes on to challenge us to examine our own lives and check out the condition of the soil in our hearts, are we chocked by thorns or barren as hard land or have we good healthy hearts ready for his word to flourish in our lives. There are five areas we can look at to gain healthier soil in our hearts....Keep freshly ploughed ground - keep worshipping, intimacy with Jesus keeps our hearts in a condition ready to receive seedHave faith, we cannot please God without faith!Humility makes good soil because God resists the proud and give Christ to the humbleObedience to God takes our lives from be a barren land to a fruitful forestHeart health "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).

Ps Andy continues the series on the word of God, this week speaking about the fact that The Word is Truth. Many other life philosophies and ideologies present themselves in the modern world but few remain constant and only God's Word is real or true Truth as Ps Andy explains.Andy revisits John 12:32 (NIV) "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself". This verse is prominent in this years' Family Church Vision statement. There's a principle here. When Jesus is lifted up, he causes multiplication and increase. It says "when I Am is lifted from the earth...". The Bible refers to God as the I am in the old and in the new testaments. Today we celebrate The Great I Am, which is Jesus Christ, when we choose to magnify His Word in our lives, the Word of God Bible scripture. We're causing multiplications when when we choose to magnify His word in our lives, things break out, breakthroughs occur. When we turn to God's word, it's the kind of truth that can transform us and set us free. Ps Andy speaks about how we need to abide in The Word, not use Jesus as breakdown service,,,, we need to purpose to be sold out for Jesus and Him alone. Mixing up ideologies in our lives will only cause chaos.This is a challenging message!