Meet the Christian Ministers

July 27, 2009 at 2:46 pm (Meet The Ministers)

                                    john & Veronica McKale

                  Rev. John and Veronica McKale

 

We have been married for 35 years and have two children, Sarah who is 33 and married to Rob and our son Jonathan is 30 and married to Laura.  We have just become grandparents to twin girls Charlotte and Emily aged 7 months.

We were both converted to Christ through the ministry of Bethshan Church, Newcastle upon Tyne.  In fact we both were saved listening to open air meetings in the now famous Bigg Market where street meetings were held every Sunday night after the gospel meeting in church. I was saved in 1961 and Veronica in 1966.

We grew up under the wonderful ministry of Herbert Harrison who was a very good pastor and father in Christ.  We were part of that church until 1998

I worked as a chef for twenty seven years in the large hotels in the North of England and also in London, before going full time into the ministry.

My last job before going full time was at South Tyneside College as a lecturer were I worked for eight years.

In 1989 I became one of the pastors at my home church Bethshan Christian Community Centre in Newcastle where I continued to work for aboutten years. After that we were called to North Shields to take on the pastorate and we were there for seven years.

I retired from the responsibility of leading the North Shields church three years ago to care for Veronica who has health problems.

After that I became involved with the Morpeth, New Life Christian Centre when they were experiencing some difficulties.  Since then they have appointed a pastor, but

I continue to be on the leadership team and help the church as a father figure to the leaders and to the members.

I also have a great love for the Gypsy people and have visited the camp sites over the years. I have just published two books on Romany life and culture, also what God is doing among the British Gypsies.

I preach around the churches and my passion is to see people come to Christ and also to support struggling fellowships.

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Knowing the Truth

July 27, 2009 at 2:41 pm (Knowing the Truth)

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                                  Rev. A. Hocking

SINCERE IS NOT ENOUGH!

 

Many years ago when I was a young man I was in the Royal Air Force and based at Hereford.  I had a motor bike and when we had a 48 hour pass, I would set off for my home in Manchester.  One day, I came to a junction where there was no signpost.  I had to choose which way I went.  I decided to turn left and drove for about an hour without seeing any signs as to where I was.  Suddenly I came to a village with a very welsh name and realised that instead of heading towards Manchester, I was actually going in the opposite direction and had finished up in mid Wales. 

Now when I chose that particular road I thought I was right.  I was convinced I was going home.  I was very sincere in my choice, but unfortunately I was sincerely wrong!

Many people seem to think these days that all that is necessary in religion is that you are sincere. As long as you are sincere in what you believe, that’s ok.  But you know, it isn’t.  Like me, you can be sincerely wrong! The cook who sincerely believes that he is cooking a delicious meal when the meat is actually bad, will still end up making his customers ill.  Sincerity is not enough.  We need to know that we are trusting in the right way.

Jesus once said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father except by me”.  Now that is pretty definite.  There is no other way to God except through Jesus.   You may be sincere in believing there is some other way, but Jesus said, it will not work.  Just as I was sincere in believing I was on my way home, when in fact I was going further away.

If you are putting your trust in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ to get you to Heaven, then I have to tell you that you are wrong.  No matter how sincere, you will never get to Heaven that way.

Put your trust in Jesus Christ today.  Invite Him into your life.  Ask Him to forgive your sin and lead you to Everlasting Life.  Then notice the difference He makes.  When I turned round all those years ago, I was relieved that I was now on the right road.  You too will feel the joy and release that trusting in Jesus brings.

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Healing Testimonies

July 27, 2009 at 2:37 pm (Healing Testimonies)

                                       Amy Burton

                                       Amy Burton

HEALED OF A SCAR

 

A Rape Victim who used to cut herself has told how a ten-year-old scar disappeared as she worshipped at a Christian Conference. 

Amy Burton had repeatedly written the word ‘worthless’ on the top of her leg with a razor blade as a teenager following the horrific attack.

She also developed an eating disorder, struggled to make friends and suffered from depression.

But years of lies and torment were taken away, when Amy, 26 attended a Christian Conference this year.

She said: “I have hundred of scars from when I  used to self-harm but they don’t bother me. But this one particular scar saying the word ‘worthless’ did bother me

“At the Conference, Brian Houston (conference leader) was speaking about what was is stamped on our lives. As he did I was reminded of the ‘worthless’ scar on my leg.

“On the last night there was a worship session and I struggle to put into words what it felt like, but God was there.

“I suddenly felt a burning pain right where the scar was, but didn’t think anything about it. Then someone came to me and said they felt the scar had gone, so I ran to the toilet and checked it and sure enough, it had gone! It replaced by perfect skin.

“When I realised it had gone it blew my mind. I thought I was free from what happened to me when I was younger but since the scar has gone it’s been like I’ve gone to a whole new level of freedom”.

Amy began to develop a stronger relationship with god over the last few years, but hd still remained discouraged about the scar.

She added: “I used to self-harm for eight years and over the years had gone over the word ‘worthless’ several times with a razor. I never felt good enough when I was growing up and my whole life seemed to be controlled by this eating disorder or the self-harming.

“I first asked Jesus into my life when I was 11 but never did anything about it”.

Amy, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, says, she hopes she can use her experience to help others.

Amy’s pastor, Glyn Barrett, of Audacious City church said, “It’s remarkable. It’s an incredible testimony to the healing power of God and we rejoice with Amy with what has happened”.

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