We support a number of families and individuals serving God in other cultures. They are all part of our mission family, let us introduce you…
Philip and Anna live and work in Skopje, Macedonia with their 2 children. They moved in 2009 to serve and support Glasnost, a vibrant Boiler Room community which seeks to be a ‘Voice in the urban desert’ through serving those around them including; the poor and marginalised, young families, arts communities, refugees, and religiously disillusioned population of Skopje. Anna works as a teacher at an international school and Philip is an entrepreneur exporting Macedonian food. Through the workplace, they love to serve and be a witness to their colleagues and do business in an ethical way. In their spare time, they love cooking and sharing food with others, running, and exploring all the beautiful nature that Macedonia has to offer.
What to pray for:
After six years with Emmaus Rd, David & Joy James now live in East London, serving marginalised people in a predominantly Bengali Muslim population. Their neighbourhood has high levels of unemployment & child poverty, alongside high incidences of mental illness, social exclusion, religious extremism and drug & alcohol abuse.
As members of a prayer-focused, mission order, their team’s goal is to: make disciples of Jesus, bridge cultural and generational gaps, and work for lasting neighbourhood transformation, for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
What to pray for:
Frances moved from Guildford, Surrey, Canada to Guildford, Surrey, UK in September 2007 to find out who the 24-7 Prayer Movement were, to take part in their discipleship course, “Transit”, and to find out what God was doing in Europe.
With a love of travel and history, and a heart to see God’s purposes released and encouraged in the nations, she remained based in Guildford as part of the Guildford Boiler Room (which became the Emmaus Rd Community), until being released in September 2016 to join the 24-7 Prayer, Polylux Community in Neubrandenburg, Germany.
Polylux e.V. is a small community of friends living on a low income housing estate in the historically East German city of Neubrandenburg. Their heart and purpose is to remind people who feel forgotten and worthless, that they are beautiful, loved and can play an active role in their own lives, dreams and destinies. Through simple community support initiatives (youth club, community meals, an open choir) and by living lives of faith, hope and love alongside people, they hope to bring hope, and to open up new perspectives for people whereby they may discover bridges to themselves, their neighbours and to God.
What to pray for:
Ian Nicholson was one of the founding leaders of Guildford Boiler Room, which became Emmaus Rd. Ian became a Christian at school in Guildford, was a Bible smuggling missionary in Europe and then returned to lead a church in the town and also pioneer The Matrix Trust. Ian has been involved with 24-7 since it was launched and currently serves as the European and Middle East Coordinator – working with new connections, overseeing mission teams and helping support the growing Boiler Rooms in mainland Europe. With his other ‘ hat ‘ Ian has been the Chaplain of Woking Football Club since 2008. This involves being a pastoral link for players, staff and supporters as well as connecting the club with the community and local churches. Nationally Ian also helps support and develop chaplains in lower league football clubs and, since 2014 has been a Director of Woking FC, representing the supporters on the Club Board.
What to pray for:
Rachel has been a part of the Emmaus Rd family for nearly four years. After seeing and hearing about the refugee crisis on the news she travelled to Athens to see first hand what the situation was like.
The local churches and people expressed their great need for healthcare teaching amongst the refugees, women trapped in exploitation and with local churches. I witnessed stories of isolation, hopelessness and people trapped by fear. Many have not met Jesus yet.
In September 2019 Rachel will be going out to Athens, initially for two years with OM (Operation Mobilisation) to work alongside the local ministries, using her nursing skills to see the current needs and give relevant teachings for the refugees and exploited woman.
What to pray for:
Lilli, originally from Germany, moved to Guildford and joined Emmaus Rd in 2013 to do the Vision Course with 24-7 Prayer. She is married to Dan and together they have a little boy and soon a baby girl.
Having worked with students in Germany and in Guildford she began to work with Friends International in 2017, a UK based charity that is working with the local church to welcome and serve international students from all over the world and share with them the love of Jesus so that they themselves then take the gospel back home to their families and countries. Lilli heads up the team that is based here in Guildford. She is also an International Christian Chaplain at the University of Surrey.
Guildford – with it’s different educational institutions – attracts over 6000 international students from over 140 different nations. Many come from countries where Christians are being persecuted and often would have never heard about Jesus and his transformational love. Working with them is mission to the nations on our doorstep.
What to pray for:
• God’s guidance for the team
• Wisdom for working together with the chaplaincy as well as local churches
• For the local churches to embrace and reflect the different nations in our town better
• Financial provision for the family