Grace Extends in Grays

There is a backstory for every story told here this month. Here is an account of how grace is extending in Grays.

A couple of weeks back Bruce Massop sent me a prayer request. It simply read – ‘Please give the Lord thanks for the harmony in the fellowship we’ve been experiencing. Please pray that it will continue.’

Fairly routine – one might even argue pedestrian – as far as prayer requests go. Unless, that is, you know the backstory.

In the past the church at Grays was described by more than one knowledgeable observer as dysfunctional with longstanding issues in the leadership as well as the membership.

Then came an attempt at revitalisation. Everyone but a small handful left after the first week. A revitalisation became a replant overnight!

The Massops dug in and ploughed on. Things would improve – and grow.

There were still difficulties. Sometimes people disagreed over doctrine. Sometimes people would nod in agreement to the teaching but lead lives that were a massive contradiction to what they professed to believe.

Sometimes people would be, well, people – falling out over petty things.

But one thing remained constant. Bruce, Kate, and – until he moved to Sheffield for study – Micah Massop pressed on with hopeful optimism for the future. Their optimism was not unfounded nor has it gone unfulfilled.

People have professed faith through baptism, others have come via transfer, a fellow leader has been appointed.

Back to that prayer request. Do give thanks for the harmony in the fellowship at Grays these days. And, please, pray that it will continue.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15