Our dear TICCN brother Revd. Michael showing the love of God to precious poor people. Loving people as Jesus does!
The video above, by the BBC, features Revd. Michael as he helps families struggling financially at the same time as bereavement.
A newspaper report from Wigan Observer tells how worshippers have come together to help the less fortunate. The article says:
Bishop Steven Evans, who runs the Living Faith Church in Orrell, has spoken of the way congregations in the network he leads have stepped up to support people in the pandemic.
Bishop Evans. who is also a councillor in the Wigan chamber, is presiding bishop of The International Christian Churches Network (TICCN), made up of around 2,000 churches in 30 countries.
Worshippers and their leaders have provided a variety of services and help to those who have been affected by the massive upheaval the novel coronavirus has caused.
The network also hit the headlines spectacularly when the amazing story of drug dealer turned minister Pastor Mick Fleming in Burnley, who trained under Bishop Evans in Wigan, was featured on national news and generated a huge public response.
Bishop Evans ordained Pastor Mick and spoke of his pride at the huge effort he is putting in to support people in often-desperate circumstances in the east Lancashire town.
Bishop Evans said: “It is thrilling for me to see what he is doing in Burnley. He has such a genuine love for people and his story is a compelling one.
“I think the way he has translated that into a love for other people is at the heart of the gospels. I have been brought to tears by his personal testimony, it is very moving and harrowing in places.
“There’s now a real momentum around the work that he is doing.”
The public, touched by the story of Pastor Mick’s road to redemption, have now donated a six-figure sum for his work helping those on the breadline.
Across the network churches in TICCN have delivered more than 250,000 meals to people who needed them during the pandemic.
In Orrell hampers have been distributed to older residents and a foodbank has been facilitated.
Bishop Evans, who is also a Conservative councillor for Orrell ward, and his volunteers have also been running a telephone support service for those worried by the pandemic or just in need of speaking to someone.
He said: “I have been humbled and amazed at what the network has been able to do. We’ve brought people together and inspired them during this time, we’ve delivered PPE equipment, we’ve delivered food in different countries, we’ve given uplifting messages and love.”
For 2021 Bishop Evans is hoping to preside over increases in the network’s reach, with more pastors being trained and churches in more countries coming on board.
Having been unable to welcome people from across the world to Orrell for a 2020 conference due to Covid, he is also hoping that will be able to take place in October.
The network has learned a great deal about how to serve people’s needs this year and he hopes churches will learn from each other, so ideas that have worked in one community can be tried out in others.
And sadly, it is unlikely the social problems TICCN’s churches tried to help tackle in 2020 will be solved any time soon.
Bishop Evans said: “It’s traumatic to see people on the streets without anything. If you miss three appointments you are no longer able to see a doctor.
“For many people there is no-one there to look after or care for them. We have to step into that gap and provide something. We feel compelled to do that.
“We’ve done some short-term things, like setting up night shelters in Burnley, but going forward we are looking for long-term answers.
“We’d like to help meet needs in Wigan in areas like homelessness and mental health. We take services in nursing homes and we’ve been looking after vulnerable and elderly people. We think we’ve had a real impact and can make a difference.”
https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigan-church-leader-humbled-response-covid-19-3102394
Pastor Michael Fleming has been hitting the newspaper headlines, with the BBC and The Guardian running stories on his work helping the homeless, poor, and low-income families in the town of Burnley.
Michael’s charity Church on the Street continues to distribute food parcels and hot meals during the coronavirus pandemic helping those most vulnerable and in need.
“We take food parcels to people, but what’s the point if they can’t cook the food because there’s no gas or electric? So now we provide hot, cooked meals as well.”
Michael’s work featured in a BBC video and the response from the public has been phenomenal, with donations reaching six figures in a matter of days.
Bishop Steven Lyn Evans has spoken of his pride at the huge effort Michael has put in to support people in often-desperate circumstances in the east Lancashire town. He told Wigan Observer “It is thrilling for me to see what he is doing in Burnley. He has such a genuine love for people and his story is a compelling one”.
To read the full articles click on the links below:
This year TICCN ministers have been busier than ever. Around the world our devoted ministers and church members alike have contributed in sacrificial giving to the poor and needy. We have heard some amazing stories of sacrificial love and devotion for those in need. We estimate that since March this year TICCN ministers have given over 250,000 meals to the poor in addition PPE equipment and medical aid to some of the poorest people in our communities.
We feature here the work of TICCN minister Revd. Michael Fleming who has been at the forefront of work amongst the Covid-19 impacted and poor in Burnley. Revd. Michael spoke to Bishop Steven about recent events and the way in which they have been able to offer strategic resources to those most vulnerable and in need. He was also quoted in a BBC interview describing the dramatic scene of ‘Children ripping bags open for food’ during the pandemic.
BBC analysis shows the death rate from all causes between April and June this year in the most deprived areas was nearly double that of deaths in the least deprived parts of England. The majority of the top 10 cities and towns with the highest death rates were in the north of England.
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-55133081)
Bishop Steven has confirmed that TICCN will continue to offer support and guidance to all our ministers during this unprecedented time. He also thanked the people who have responded in a remarkable way to the CoTs charity appeals. Currently the Go Fund Me page has received almost £100,000 in just over a week. Bishop Steven concluded by saying that “During these times of great needs TICCN is setting an example of walking in love and service whenever and wherever we can.”
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Cots-Ministries-supporting-the-poor
First of all, on behalf of 3J2 Bible Center Anglican Church of Iligan City, Philippines, allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY has blessed us by providing us with our needs, something that we have desired since the Lockdown started on March 15, 2020 because of COVID 19.
When my dear wife Sonia checked our bank account and have found that the blessings sent where already deposited into our bank account she didn’t withdraw it right away, but instead, she informed me that it is already there, we prayed together and planned again on what we are going to do with the money.
I contacted a Pastor who is a friend of mine, and he said, yes, to my request and let me borrow his Navarra Pick-up, and we used it to buy the stuff, like, rice, eggs, coffee, chocolate drinks, bath soaps, and canned goods.
May 13 – Wednesday, we went to the grocery store and the market to buy what we needed for the distribution, thanks and praise to the LORD for using that Pastor’s friend, for allowing us to borrow his Navarra Pick-up.
When we arrived home, my dear wife Sonia started re-packing, each pack has 5 kilos of rice, (actually, the original plan was 10 kilos for each family, but since we wanted to benefit more families, for each food pack, Sonia put 5 Kilos. This meant that instead of 25 families only, we can help 80 families), 15 eggs, 5 packs of coffee, 5 chocolate drinks, 5 small canned sardines, and one big Safeguard bath soap. Please know that even at this time no alcohol is available at the stores.
May 14 – Sonia continued re-packing. It was during this day that we contacted the members of the Church, so that on the next day, Friday they could come to our house and pick-up their share of the blessings. We also contacted some mothers at the Dumpsite to choose 50 families including them, and then, emphasized to them Social Distancing and Pre-cautionary measures to be safe.
May 15 – the members of the 3J2BCAC family came and picked-up their share, there were about 30 families who came.
May 16 – GOD provided us a vehicle, after lunch that day, when everything was already set, at 2:30 in the afternoon, we went to the Dumpsite, with all the food packs. When we arrived in the area, there were already a lot of people waiting for us, since we had already contacted and instructed a few mothers to choose 50 families. They observed Social Distancing, they were wearing face masks, and applying alcohol to their hands, we had a short program, then we started the distribution of the food packs. There are about 2,500 families in the village, the former Iligan City Dumpsite. After the distribution, people were asking why only a few were selected, and if there is another one coming, well, I just told them to pray for another wave of blessings to come.
All those who have received the food packs were so happy and so blessed, they were so grateful to the LORD for the blessings.
Again, thank you so much for your generosity and the generosity of the TICCN family, I hope and pray that GOD will continue to bless much and much more and the whole TICCN family.
Anyway, we have started praying in the family that there will be another wave of blessings, and that, we can serve more families.
May the LORD bless you richly and keep you real good.
Agape,
Bishop Stephen and Sonia Villaester
TICCN Churches in Pakistan have responded to the Coronavirus emergency by distributing food among various communities. Muslim, Catholic and Presbyterian people alike have praised the kind work of TICCN through His Grace Church Network. Our volunteers spread the love of the Gospel in the practical distribution of food supplies and advising people in coping with these very difficult circumstances. Bishop Nadeem invited people to support the provision of food further and he can be contacted directly via bishopnadeem@gmail.com
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