Absolute Safety

Sunday, February 9^th 2025 (week 98)

Jeremiah 29:11

I had this message all worked out but in the last few minutes, just before I’m due to post to the website and publish it to the whole world something has happened to change my mind!

There have been times in my life when I haven`t felt particularly safe. Driving home from southern Spain through the Basque region about thirty-five years ago was one of them. At that time the region was still occupied by ETA, an armed Basque nationalist and far-left separatist organisation with the goal of independence for their homeland. As I drove through the desolate countryside with my wife and our two young boys with one window of the car roughly patched up with sellotaped plastic having been smashed out by car thieves in Marbella I recall distinctly feeling a degree of fear.

A good friend of mine has recently gone through a similar time of worry about where his life was leading him along with his own family. Having completed his Curacy in what can only be described as a tough area to minister he has gone through a series of interviews for his next role. Travelling to places far and wide in his search for where he might be headed none of his efforts led to a successful outcome. In a short while he and his family will vacate the home they occupy which is provided by the diocese in which he works and they will have nowhere to live.

Throughout the last twelve months or so I have met with my friend to chat and pray about his future, and I know that there have been times when he has seriously considered whether or not his future lies in ministry and doubt has crept in.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.” Similarly, the book of Psalms is full of reassurance when we are fearful. Psalm 16, “Protect me O God: I trust in you for safety……you Lord are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands……I praise the Lord because he guides me………You will show me the path that leads to life”.

I know that my friend placed himself in God’s hands and was secure in God’s absolute knowledge and care. We both knew that because God has already said, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for” Jeremiah 29:11.

Within the last half hour, my friend messaged me from the church where he has been speaking this morning, the same church he has gone back to speak in two or three times already. Following his message to them, the whole church voted on whether or not he should be their next Pastor. 100% of the congregation have voted unanimously that they want him.

God has spoken again, and He deserves all our thanks and praise.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness and that we can rely on you through testing times.

Neil has been a Christian for nearly thirty years and prior to joining Gatehouse Church spent all his Christian life at Christ Church with All Saints Blackpool, where amongst other things he was a leader in their Campaigner Ministries children and youth work.

Neil is an award-winning and widely published writer. Over twenty-five years he has written for a range of mainstream media including The Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Financial Mail on Sunday as well as Reuters and numerous magazines. How To Books published his first non-fiction title 100 Ways to Make Your Business a Success and he has recently added The Great British Property Scam.

He has also taught Creative Writing extensively for Blackpool and the Fylde College, The WEA, and Lancaster University and launched www.seasiderswrite.com a community-based creative writing project funded by Arts Council England. Writing as C.J.Neill he is also a published novelist.

You can find out more at www.neilbromage.com or drop him an email at neil@neilbromage.com

Neil Bromage, 09/02/2025

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 10am, before the service begins. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10:30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our band. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

new to church

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Créche - from approx. 6 months to 5 years (decided on a child by child basis)
Limitless Kids (4/5 - 11/12 years)
Limitless Youth (school years 7-11)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for two worship songs and the “Kids slot” and then go to créche or Limitless Kids. Limitless Youth may go out at the same time as the children but sometimes stay in the service to take communion before going to their class. Children can be picked up by parents after the service ends (but not before 12pm).

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our Connect groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Connect Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Rev Neville Walker		Kay Walker
Pastor		Families & Community Worker


Liz Hall		Ihechiluru Anozie
Elder / Finance Officer / Open Doors Leader		Elder / Safeguarding Lead


Patrick Fleming
Elder / Buildings Team Leader

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel part of the church family.

Best Wishes
Gatehouse Leadership Team