Foodbanks: Essential to those in need

Local foodbanks are providing emergency food assistance to
record numbers of people in our city.

How can we help?

Birmingham Vineyard’s Foodbank - An Update

Thanks to the generosity of the church community, Foodbank gives away an average of 850 food & toiletry bags a year through our partner agencies. We recently heard from a staff at W.A.I.T.S, one of our partner agencies who work with women who have been victims of domestic violence:

IMG_0264.JPG
 
“I’m a single mum and am going through cancer treatment. My support worker dropped of a Foodbank bag from your church, and it means so much to me and my three children.”
— Foodbank recipient

During this coronavirus lockdown period, we are still working with our over 15 partner agencies, and we are endeavouring to support agencies and individuals with our remaining supplies. We’ve also noticed a shift in where the need lies for Foodbank support. While we are not physically meeting together as a church in centralised locations, we’d like to encourage you to continue to extend your generosity to your local foodbanks who are serving many desperate people during this time.

Your Local Foodbank

Foodbanks in the city are running short of food and volunteers, while the number of people desperate for food is soaring.

It is an amazing opportunity for our church to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our own local area, serving with the grassroots groups and local Foodbanks who have organised and are meeting needs of our own neighbours!

instant itmes.jpeg

Would you take some time to consider how you might get involved with a local foodbank or community group?


How To Help:

You can start with a simple Google search for foodbanks or groups in your area that are meeting needs during this time of crisis. Here are some groups that are actively looking for donations and volunteers:

In the coming months…

To be really clear, Birmingham Vineyard Foodbank remains open and serving our partner agencies. We anticipate that in the coming months, when the city re-opens, that our agencies will be busier than ever and we will be letting you know about the best ways to get involved with those needs.

In the meantime we encourage you to stay local, get involved with what’s happening on your street, in your area, and use this time to connect with your neighbours in need, offering the love and truth of Jesus.

If you have any questions about Birmingham Vineyard Foodbank, contact Helen at helenp@birminghamvineyard.com.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.”
— Proverbs 3

A letter from Andrew & Rosie

Dear church,

We are living in unprecedented times and we know that for many the uncertainty of what we are facing is very alarming. At this time we have an opportunity to trust in God as we deal with the reality of the Coronavirus and the knock on effect of significant economic disruption and social isolation. 

We've met as a team over the last 24 hours to consider our options for how we function as a church in the light of the Coronavirus. These are our decisions based on the latest information from the government. The Prime Minister issued his guidance on Monday evening "Now is the time for everyone to stop all non-essential contact with others. Avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such venues." 

We therefore believe it's the responsible decision to stop gathering publicly as a church and in small groups. 

This disruption to normal life could last for many months. We want to emerge from this time as a stronger community, having lived wisely, loved well and reached out in the Spirit and power of Christ. It will require creativity, courage and compassion to express our faith and values in a different way. 

We are a loving community where each member is valuable and we want to ensure that we navigate this well together.  

So what will we do?

Sundays - We will be live streaming each Sunday (including week 4 in the month) to enable us to worship and focus on God's word together. A small team will be facilitating this and the building won't be open to the public in any way, so we do encourage you to connect with us online. The broadcast will start at 10:30am each Sunday and it will be available to watch live or at a later time in the day. Simply go to our website: bvc.so/livestream to join. 

Small groups - We'll be providing resources for all small groups and church members in the weeks ahead.  We're looking at producing video resources and we have invited small groups to facilitate connection through social media or video calls. You can chat to your small group leader for more info. 

Daily prayer. We plan to lead The Lord's Prayer with a moment for personal prayer and reflection every day (Monday to Friday) at 1:00pm. This will be hosted on Facebook Live by one of the team. We will also be gathering again on the same platform at 6:00pm to read God's word and pray for 10-15 minutes. Maybe set an alarm on your phone to connect at those times! 

To join, simply go to www.facebook.com/vineyardbham/
If you aren't on Facebook these will be available shortly afterwards on www.bvc.so/livestream 

The church office - We'll remain open so we can receive calls and co-ordinate our responses to those in need and for the whole church. We're not open to drop-in appointments but we can coordinate compassionate responses by being present. The staff team will meet " virtually" every day with half of the team working from home. 

The staff team. We'll be focusing all of our energies, creativity, leadership and prayer on how to best serve the church and wider city in the coming weeks and months. We'll be keeping in close contact with Community Leaders so we are aware and responding to the most vulnerable in our church family. 

How to keep updated? Check our website, social media and your email for resources, requests and ways to connect. If you know people who are not on our mailing list, encourage them to get connected. 

Making a difference. In these uncertain times we all have the opportunity to look out for our neighbours, friends and colleagues. We have so many options to practically live out our faith, in how we respond and in how we serve others. 


How can we work together at this time?

  • If you are sick or self-isolating and you'd appreciate being added to a prayer list, please let us know at info@birminghamvineyard.com.

  • If you are aware of anyone who needs practical assistance then consider how you might respond and please talk to your small group or community leader who will let us know.

  • Finally, please join us in praying that God's Kingdom will come and His will be done through this time. 

We look forward to connecting with you in many different ways over the coming weeks and months and we're praying for God's strength and protection for each one of you. 


With much love,

Andrew & Rosie

Lent 2020 Resources

Lent is a time when millions of Christians around the world take time to draw closer to God and reflect on the sacrifice of jesus in the lead up to Easter.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday (26th Feb), the 40 days of Lent is when we remember the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and praying. It was during these 40 days that Jesus made the choice to work in God’s way, however hard that might be.

Lent is a season of fasting (giving stuff up) & repentance (recognising what we've done wrong), leading up to Easter,  as we celebrate what Jesus has done for us.

It's an encouragement to turn back to God once again, with renewed passion. We devote ourselves through prayer, fasting and giving.

If you'd like to join in this season, we thought we'd put together a few helpful resources to get you started!

Fasting

Fasting: Basic info & ideas

Check out this helpful intro on what fasting is, what it isn’t and some ideas on how to fast during Lent.

https://gravityleadership.com/how-to-fast-for-lent/

Generosity & Giving

Foodbank & Easter Egg Donations
Birmingham Vineyard

Each year we collect chocolate Easter eggs, donated by our church family, which we give to the agencies our Foodbank partners with. Last year, over 200 eggs were donated and distributed to children who come from difficult circumstances across Birmingham. We'd love to see if we could donate over 250 this year!

We are collecting Easter Eggs throughout March 2020, you can bring them to any Sunday service.

As well as our Easter collection, our regular Foodbank operates all year round, supported only by donations of the church. We're always in need of more donations, so please GRAB a bag from the back of church, FILL a bag with everything on the list and GIVE a bag this Easter. 

bvc.so/foodbank

elaine-casap-qgHGDbbSNm8-unsplash.jpg

Generosity Challenges
40 Acts

What if Lent could be about more than just giving stuff up? What if it could be a time of radical generosity as well as spiritual discipline? 40acts is the generosity challenge for Lent, created by UK Christian charity, Stewardship. They’ve got lots of resources on their website: 40acts.org.uk

40 Acts Daily Generosity Challenges: Sign up to receive the daily challenge in your email box!

40 Acts Family Wallchart: Download a family calendar with daily generosity challenges, for all ages.

Devotionals and Prayer Resources

carolyn-v-Uc6kiKdW2_g-unsplash.jpg

Video Reflections on Easter
24/7 Prayer

The most important week in world history explored in 7 short videos. Love Easter; forget bunny rabbits and chocolate eggs for a while and follow Jesus as he walks towards the pain and heartbreak of his execution, then celebrate the Sunday resurrection story with us! Love Easter, love Jesus, celebrate life.

https://www.24-7prayer.com/podcasts/category/loveeaster


Lent Devotional Guide “Amazing You”
Compassion International

Dreams are not a distraction. You were custom made by God to answer a unique calling. Amazing You Lent devotional offers uplifted two-minute devotions to remind you of your identity, potential, and value in God. Each day includes a Scripture, inspirational reading, moment of reflection, and prayer. 

https://www.compassionuk.org/lent/


Lent for Everyone: Daily Devotionals
N.T.Wright

NT Wright has written a series of devotionals, one for each day, over 53 days. Each day, there is a Bible reading, and a thought from NT Wright about how it relates to Easter.
https://www.bible.com/en-GB/reading-plans/83-lent-for-everyone



Dreaming the Impossible

What was your dream when you were in your teen years?

Each year Vineyard Churches put on Dreaming the Impossible - an annual Christian youth gathering for 12-18s from churches and youth organisations everywhere. DTI is about inspiring and equipping young people to love God, love others and change the world.

Birmingham Vineyard youth have been participating in DTI throughout the years, and are particularly excited about summer 2020 with thousands of young people expected to gather at Stafford showgrounds for a powerful time with Jesus and others! DTI is passionate about seeing young people meet Jesus and fearlessly follow Him, believing that nothing is impossible with God.

BV Youth often return from this event inspired and on fire for Jesus, eagerly desiring a closer relationship with Him and courage to be bold about their faith. For some youth, DTI is where they meet Jesus for the first time and commit to following Him.

Want to get involved?

You are invited to come alongside this young generation who are making a difference!

PRAY – Pray for the youth who are attending DTI Nano today, for powerful encounters with God! Pray for the young generation of Jesus lovers – for courage, wisdom and kindness as they partner with God to bring the Kingdom into their spheres of influence.

GET INVOLVED – If you are interested in serving with the youth team, or at DTI 2020 go to their website to express interest: DTI 2020

Healing Through Sozo Prayer

Our church has always been passionate about helping people on their journey towards wholeness.

We want people to have life-transforming experiences that help them know more of God’s love and enable them to live life to the full, in healthy relationship with God and with one another. 

As part of this vision we provide Sozo appointments and are affiliated with Bethel Sozo UK. 

WHAT IS SOZO?

“Sozo” is a Greek word that means saved, healed, delivered and it is used over a hundred times in the New Testament.

The Bethel Sozo ministry is a unique, gentle inner healing ministry, led by the Holy Spirit. It aims to quickly get to and deal with the root of things that are hindering your connection with Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

jon-tyson-YtYNavix3pw-unsplash (1).jpg
“I knew there were some deep roots of self protection that were hindering relationships and making me prickly when I felt vulnerable. I wanted help to deal with the source of that and since my Sozo I have indeed felt more free to run to Father God for protection and I’m more aware of when I feel threatened. It’s been a really good process again and helped deal with stuff I didn’t feel able to do on my own as it had actually stemmed back to being in the womb and deep feelings of not being safe.

”
— Sozo participant

We recently caught up with one of the Sozo team members, who shared about her journey of being trained for this style of prayer:

The long and short of it is…I needed to be convinced about Sozo ministry and joining the Sozo Team!

Realising I had some unresolved anger stuff and booking a Sozo appointment myself was a significant step. That experience was of a kind, supportive, confidential encounter. It was very reassuring that nothing seemed too shameful or shocking to bring into the light with the Sozo leaders and I heard God’s truth replace the lies that subconsciously I’d believed.

I was invited to think about doing the Sozo Basic training held at Birmingham Vineyard back in 2015, and while the training made sense at the time, each Sozo I sat in on to pray and support took a different direction and I began to think “Help, I’ll never get the hang of this.” When another Basic Training session was offered about a year later I signed up and a few more of the concepts sank in! We were told that it’s not until you start to lead out that the Holy Spirit steps in to help and guide, but I felt a long way from being able to do that still!

Some informal training with another team meant I observed some different styles and it slowly dawned on me that I needed to find what was comfortable in setting the scene and approaching each person in a way that was more natural to me. By the end of 2016, I was due to lead alongside someone with lots of experience as a support person and who I felt would flag up if I was way off beam spiritually! So it was a case of praying, trusting and stepping out and bit by bit my confidence in God helping me ask questions and lead in the prayers grew. There were training sessions too and we practised on one another as Sozo Team members and learned from one another. I was supported and felt part of a safe, secure, supportive team.

Each Sozo appointment is very different. Each person is precious and the whole ministry seeks to honour individuals and help them encounter God themselves. It is a great privilege to watch some of the intimate experiences people have with a person of the Godhead and to see people step into freedom.

I have since had several more Sozo appointments myself which have brought freedom from childhood wounds and accumulated hurts. It’s the sort of ministry that helps you go deeper and gives you tools to help process things that are revealed in your own heart. I’ve also been really encouraged to use some of those tools as I pray for others during ministry times. If you feel a nudge to try out Sozo ministry, chat to someone on the team. Think and pray about signing up for the Basic Training and learn more about the gently Ministry that is Sozo.

Interested in being trained in Sozo prayer? Join us!

Basic Training Course.jpg

Sozo Basic Training
Birmingham Vineyard
{City Centre site}
174 Barford Street
Birmingham, B5 7EP

Friday, 13th March: 7pm - 9:30pm
Saturday, 14th March: 9:15am - 4:30pm

Booking is requested, click here to express your interest: bvc.so/events/2020/sozobasictraining

Interested in booking a Sozo prayer appointment? Click below:

Reflections from Vineyard NLC 2020

Last week 1,500 leaders from across the Vineyard movement gathered in Nottingham for three days of meeting with God, inspiring one another and inviting the Kingdom to come here on earth!

The main talks from NLC are available now, have a listen to the likes of John Mark Comer, John & Debby Wright and Taryn Freeland:

 
“The gift of leadership is it will expose the inner architecture of our hearts – our trust structures, our motivations, and our source of emotional energy.”
— John Mark Comer

30 leaders from Birmingham Vineyard were able to attend and here are some of their reflections:

80871492_10220134179325666_4985113852648620032_n.jpg

My last visit to a Vineyard NLC was well over 15yrs ago, somewhere on the south coast where the attendance was a few hundred.

What the Lord has done with this movement over the last 20yrs is nothing short of miraculous, with over fifteen hundred gathering for this years conference.  Had John Wimber lived to see this event, his credulity would have been stretched.  Here is living testimony to the power of that move of the Spirit many of us began to experience in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

It was an awesome privilege to catch up with so many of the young women and men who were sent out from the Birmingham Vineyard full of faith to plant churches and extend the Kingdom.

The priority of worship as our highest calling was beautifully affirmed, as was the expectation that God would presence Himself among us in word and deed.

There is expectation and excitement in the movement as the ‘Roaring of the Twenties’ this time around is seen as a new move of God in our nation and around the globe.

-Bill

I’d pulled my back on the Tuesday morning and it was causing me discomfort at the conference, particularly standing to worship. I was taking pain killers to help.

I responded to a prophetic word about eyes as I also had a returning eye infection. After I was prayed for, I realised that my back had been completely healed. (I realised this when it dawned on me that the pain killers I took in the morning should have run out but I had no pain) My eye infection didn’t get any worse and cleared up without antibiotics by the end of the week.

Sometimes God does the unexpected! 

-Jo

God was obviously at work across the movement and from the very first session you could sense there was a hunger for God and more of the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit.

I saw Jo’s back healed - once again God is cool!

Sessions on Unlocking Entrepreneurship in the Kingdom and How to Raise up a Culturally Diverse Leadership Team were two of my most challenging seminars - I’m trying to listen to how God wants me to respond to both talks, which has really challenged me to pray differently and to be more expectant for change

Obviously the key speakers and main sessions were powerful times where God moved significantly, my favourite main sessions were the legacy video and Andrew’s intercession for the nations!

I came away excited about what God has for us, as a movement and also challenged to pray into what my part will be.

-Cap


 
Cap & Jo small1.png
PHOTO-2019-10-24-15-44-33.jpg
 

During NLC the things that had the biggest impact for me were the interview with Carol Wimber, which gave me a new love for the Vineyard movement and an excitement for the future, and the marriage seminar done by Andrew and Rosie, which provided very helpful tools for growing closer together in the midst of everyday life.

There are also some things which I heard and need to spend some more time thinking about what they mean for me, particularly John Wright's message about just giving what gifts I have over to God and leaving responsibility for what happens next with Him, but trusting that He is in the business of multiplication.  Also the John Mark Comer talk about not operating out of our shadow side but in full surrender to God was very significant - I think I will need to listen to that again though to seek to apply it in my life.

-Tony

Foodbank & Growbaby Generosity

An update on Foodbank & Growbaby

December and January have brought many donations through our doors, from generous people across Birmingham!

Foodbank

Over 450 bags of food and toiletries were donated through the Reverse Advent Calendar scheme in 2019!

Schools, businesses, individuals and families got involved; thank you to everyone who donated items and did acts of kindness over Advent. A special thanks to Lordswood School, Bartley Green School, DWP, The Developer Group, Mott McDonald and HSBC for their donations. 

With so many donations coming in, we had a cracking team of small groups come to sort the food into bags for distribution. In just over an hour, 36 volunteers sorted 187 bags of food and toiletries!

The bags are now being distributed to our partner agencies including Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, South and City College, Ravenhurst Cottages, Adavu, West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network, Aspire, Homeless Patient Pathway at City and Sandwell Hospitals. 

Some donations reached families in time for Christmas. One mum, who had nothing for her kids for Christmas, was overjoyed at receiving Foodbank bags and some selection boxes. The women helped by W.A.I.T.S. (Women Acting In Today’s Society) were in tears as they received food and toiletries because they had nothing and were so grateful. 

Thank you for your donations which bless so many!

Growbaby

The Growbaby programme is in its 4th year and have helped over 1100 families with thousands of donations from people across Birmingham.

Believing that no child under 5 should go without, Growbaby supplies free equipment, toys and nearly new clothing to families in need, and also offers a Stay and Play group which provides community amongst families each week.

In December and January we saw a huge amount of donations coming in from people around Birmingham, and also a large number of agency workers calling in need of baby supplies for their clients as the holiday season can be so difficult.

Growbaby volunteers serve a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, some who have come from extremely difficult circumstances.

A Growbaby story…

An Iranian couple were two of the first visitors to Growbaby. The mum was 8 months pregnant and had just travelled through 9 countries - including a long stay in the Calais ‘jungle’ - to get to safety. They had very little English and were staying in emergency accommodation with nothing for their new baby. At Growbaby we were able to equip them with everything they needed to welcome this little one to the world. We continued to see them, and 2 years later they had another little girl. Over time they collected items from Growbaby that they needed. On one occasion they were gifted a brand-new double buggy still in its box from a friend. Instead of keeping the new buggy, they gave it to Growbaby and kept their old buggy! They dearly wanted someone in their position to have something new. Their journey has been a rocky one, but throughout they have never once complained and have always taken opportunities to give thanks with overflowing and generous hearts.

If you would like to get involved in the Foodbank or Growbaby programmes, or would like more information on how to engage your work or school groups with giving donations, please contact us at info@birminghamvineyard.com

Thank you for your generosity in 2019!

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

Prayer poster 2021_Page_1.jpg

You’re invited to join with other Vineyard churches across the UK and Ireland in intentionally praying and fasting during January.

For 21 days, beginning 6th Jan, we’ll be praying together for God’s will to be done here on earth as in heaven.

Here are some prayer points for you to use, as a suggested guide for our times of prayer as a movement:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:6-7

Disciple Course

New teaching series launching in January -
The Disciple Course!

At Birmingham Vineyard we want to equip people to live life to the full, with purpose, freedom and friends. Our new teaching series is all about this.

‘Disciple’ is a 10-week course designed to aid people in taking hold of their freedom found in Jesus, understand their identity, resolve spiritual issues and see personal transformation. Disciple’s content applies to everyone - whether you have had faith for a long time, or have recently started on the journey.

 
IMG_4928.jpg
 

Disciple & Small Groups

We will be preaching through the course on Sundays, but the very best place to dig deeper and get the most out of the series will be within your small group where conversations will be continued with plenty of space for discussion and prayer.

If you’re not in a small group yet and are interested in getting involved, simply go to the Welcome Area during a Sunday services and our team will help you find one that is a good fit for you.

Further Disciple Resources

 
disciple-app.png
 

There is also a participant’s guide for the course, which is designed as a journal, with plenty of space for notes, key teaching points for each session, and Chat and Reflect questions. Our small groups will be using this guide during discussions. If you’d like a copy of the guide, simply go to your favourite book distributor and search “Disciple Participants Guide”.

If regular reminders and short devotionals would be helpful to you, then check out the Disciple app! It contains daily devotionals for free, plus access to each week’s starter film and daily content related to the course. More information on the app can be found at http://www.ficm.org.uk/disciple-app


 
Participants Guide.jpg

Foodbank Reverse Advent

YOUR GENEROSITY WITH FOODBANK DONATIONS MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY!

Reverse Advent is happening throughout December, a time for you and your family to spread joy to some of the most vulnerable in Birmingham. We’re collecting Foodbank donations through the Reverse Advent calendar which you can pick up at any of our Sunday services and you’re welcome to participate.

Foodbank Advent calendar.jpg
“In October we had a woman arrive to our Safe House. It was her first time in Birmingham and she arrived with no money and very little belongings. She had been a victim of domestic abuse and forced marriage, experiencing abuse on a daily basis. She was referred to settle into temporary accommodation, and we were able to provide her with a food and toiletry bag from your Foodbank. She shared with us: “When the support worker handed the food parcels and toiletries donations, I could not stop crying. I gave a big hug to the worker. Thank you so much.
”
— WAITS (Women Acting In Today’s Society)
“We would like to thank the congregation at Birmingham Vineyard for your incredibly generous donations of toiletry and Foodbank bags to our project. Your bags are contributing to our SafePlace project. They are given to male survivors of human trafficking, modern slavery and exploitation when they are first identified and taken to a safe place to recover. For many of our service users they will arrive with very few personal items and often only the clothes on their back, so being able to give them these items is an invaluable gesture of kindness.”
— West Midlands Anti Slavery Network
 
IMG_3264.JPG

For more information or to arrange workplace/large group donations, contact us at info@birminghamvineyard.com

Big Church November 2019

What a fun Big Church celebration we had on Sunday!

THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME, AND ESPECIALLY TO ALL THE AMAZING VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN.

We heard some incredible God stories about people being emotionally or physically healed over the last few months, and got to celebrate four people being baptised!. There was a great talk by Andrew McNeil, powerful ministry time and worship, and great community time over pizza after the service.

See you at the next Big Church on Sunday, 29th March!

Christmas Services @ BV

We have loads of different events happening this Christmas period for you to get involved in.

We'd love to celebrate the festive season with you! 

All services happen at the following locations and times (unless otherwise specified):

SOUTH SITE

University of Birmingham School
12 Weoley Park Road
Selly Oak
B29 6QU

11:00 Service

CITY CENTRE SITE

Network House
174 Barford Street
Digbeth
B5 7EP

10:30 & 17:30 Services

2019 12 Advent.jpg

5th Annual Big Quiz

What a great time was had by all at the Big Quiz 2019!

For the first time ever, the Quiz was at two locations and everyone enjoyed fish & chips, playing games and taking a shot at tough questions.

Thanks to all who came out, and for the awesome team that put it all together. See you again next year!

No City Centre AM Service 13th October - Birmingham Half Marathon

This Sunday, 13th October is the Birmingham Half Marathon and due to all roads surrounding the City Centre site being blocked off, we are unable to hold the 10:30am service.

You are welcome to join us for an informal time of cheering on the runners from 10:15am, or feel free to join one of our other Sunday services:

11:00 South Site (B29 6QU)

17:30 City Centre (B5 7EP)

For more information about road closures, go to https://www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run/event-info or see map below.

2019 - Half Marathon route.jpg

Kingdom Impact 2019 Recap

God’s presence was powerfully touching lives at the Kingdom Impact conference!

It was so great to have guests from across the country join us at Kingdom Impact this weekend for Spirit-filled worship, prayer and teaching.

“I had 2 health conditions coming into the conference; eye cataracts and prostate enlargement. I received prayer at the conference and the people praying for me stopped three times to check in to see if there was any improvement. Each time there was gradual change in my eyesight. I don’t know about my prostate yet, but what I can say is that my eye cataract is healed! I wanted to testify to what has happened and what God has done.
Thank you God!”
— Kingdom Impact attendee
“I’ve been going to church since I can remember. Recently I’ve really struggled with my faith and particularly the Holy Spirit, particularly during ministry. Since becoming a Christian I’ve only ever gone up for ministry 2 times - despite the lord prompting me at other times. I tended to have run away or disengaged, mainly out of fear - this became super clear to me at the last KI conference but Ieft it at that and still avoided ministry. Throughout the weekend hearing so many amazing stories and seeing God move in such an incredible way, I felt my heart pounding so frequently. During the last session Blaine mentioned different groups of people he felt God wanted to bless. I really resonated to all of these and yet stayed in my seat. Then I took a gamble and went up. I have never ever felt the Holy Spirit like I did that evening when being prayed for. God spoke so clearly and I am still shaken up. Even this morning my heart is still pounding. I know there’s a lot more to come and I can’t wait!!
Thank you for all the work that went into this conference. The space provided has really helped me to grow deeper in my faith and hear from God so powerfully.”
— Kingdom Impact attendee

If you’d like to share how God touched your life through the weekend, head to bvc.so/kistories and tell us all about it!

Foodbank Bags Bring Hope

Your generosity with Foodbank donations makes a difference in our city!

It’s Harvest Sunday this weekend, a time to thank God for what He’s given us and to extend generosity to others. We’re collecting Foodbank donations at all our Sunday services and you’re welcome to participate.

IMG_3264.JPG

Here’s recent story of hope from a Foodbank bag recipient:

“Mary” was referred to a charity which supports victims of trafficking and abuse. She has two young children and no recourse to public funds. Mary had met her ex-boyfriend in the UK eight years ago and when Mary was with him, he forced her into prostitution to give him money. She suffered from physical, emotional and financial abuse inflicted by him. She was hospitalised for one month once as a result. She didn’t report him because she was scared she would be sent back to her home country. When she found herself pregnant, he said he didn’t want the baby and left her when the child was one month old. 

Mary speaks only very basic English and has no family support in this country. Mary and her two children are currently staying in a small place with no kitchen. The family only gets £50 per week and they are struggling and relying on food banks for mere survival. 

The regular food parcel & the toiletries donations from Vineyard Church have made a big difference to her family. These are things she cannot afford to buy. They are thankful and feel someone cares. Sometimes Mary feels embarrassed to access the local food banks due to the language barrier. Her support worker from an agency that Vineyard partners with, can collect the food parcels from Vineyard Church and Mary can receive them directly from her support worker when she attends programmes at the agency.

Mary is not a Christian but she has started going to a local church because she believes it must be God who arranged the Vineyard Church to help her family.

Harvest.jpg

Every Foodbank bag you donate is given to agency workers who tirelessly work to support and encourage individuals and families like Mary.

Join us this Sunday for Harvest and bring your Foodbank donations to a service.

For a list of Foodbank items that we are collecting, click here:

Vision: A Fresh Call

Birmingham Vineyard exists to help people follow Jesus, live life to the full and make a difference. Our vision is to start groups, communities and congregations, where people can encounter God.

A few words from Andrew and Rosie, our Senior Pastors:

Dear friends,

Welcome back to a new term, we hope you’ve had a refreshing summer! This Autumn we’re upgrading the way we talk about our vision as a church. Clear vision helps people know why we do what we do. It puts both the significant and the small acts of sacrifice in context. It helps to unite, mobilise and engage every person.

This is not about us coming up with a new vision. This is the same vision but with new clarity. It’s who we’re called to be and what we’re called to do as Birmingham Vineyard.

This term we want every person in Birmingham Vineyard to understand the vision: to get it, know it and live it.

Get it

Do you know why we do what we do?

Know it

Do you know it well enough to be able to communicate it to a friend?

Live it

Are you living out the vision in our city?

Many blessings,

Andrew and Rosie

There are a set of icons designed specifically for this process. They are clear, visual and memorable, to help the vision stick. You can find our clarified vision and these icons by clicking here.

Job Vacancy - Senior Pastors Executive Assistant

Please Note: Applications for this post have now closed

We believe that administration is a crucial part of building God's Kingdom through the church and enabling the wider community to do the things God is calling us into.

If you have a head for admin and a heart for serving, you may be interested in this paid Senior Pastors Executive Assistant role!

As Executive Assistant you will provide the essential administration to support the Senior Pastors. This is a diverse role involving the coordination and management of the diary, representing the Senior Pastors in all forms of communication with people in Birmingham Vineyard, Vineyard Churches UK and I and the global Vineyard family of Churches. This role carries a genuine occupational requirement for a post holder who fully supports our Christian faith, values and ethos statement because of the centrality of the role in the organisation and the need to represent well the Senior Pastors and the church.

Download the full job description here

Email your complete applications (more detail on job description above) or any questions to: rosie@birminghamvineyard.com

Salary: Dependent on experience £20,000 - £26,000 (full time equivalent)
Length: 9-12 months fixed term contract.
Closing date: Tuesday, 13th August 2019