Critchell, Norman & Denise - UK
Critchell main pagePrayer Letter September 2007. (click
here for Acrobat pdf version)
Norman writes:
Someone once said to me that we cannot have a beginning without having an ending and this next period will have plenty of both, the major one being the closure of the Salem Project on the 31st December. We have chosen this day as the Project will have completed 13 full years on that day.
This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but with many more Asian Christians and Asian Leaders and Pastors, plus a vastly increased number of white English Christians reaching out with the Love of Christ to people of other faiths and cultures, it is time to move on. Also, having completed 23 years in cross-cultural ministry and for most of the time feeling like an overseas missionary, it’s time to ‘come home’ and focus on my own culture and people group. My studies of post-modernism at All Nations and my understanding which has followed makes me believe that this is one of the most exciting times for the Gospel for many a year and I want to be fully involved in this, which leads on to the first major beginning.
From the 1st January 2008 I will work as an itinerant evangelist basically sharing the Good News Of our Lord Jesus Christ with whomever and wherever I find myself. It’s too early to say whether this will involve any teaching about evangelism or helping with evangelistic campaigns, or even if I may have to ‘tent-make’ for 2 or 3 days a week to fund this. A lot of course will depend on the level of support coming from God’s people, but I am hoping that those who have so wonderfully supported the Salem Project will continue their support into this new ministry. This will be known as Norman Critchell Evangelist and will initially run out of the Vicarage in Lacey Green. It will need a lot of support both prayerfully and financially and I am hoping that as you have supported us in our work over the years you will feel able to continue to do this. I will enclose a separate response form which I hope you will feel able to complete and return so that I don’t continue to send you prayer letters etc which you no longer wish to receive. I will understand if you do’nt feel able to continue with us and I thank you with all my heart for the support you have been to us in the past.
There is also enclosed a letter from the Salem Management Group which encourages your continued support for my work, but also suggests some Projects in cross-cultural ministry that you could support if you are not able to continue with your support
The Lord has given to us and a number of Christians, scriptures which confirm very clearly that this is His will for me and for us, so I go into the future with great confidence in Him.
A further ending is that we will need to resign from Crosslinks with whom we have been both full Mission Partners and Associates since 1987. We have so appreciated being a part of this mission family and are grateful to God for making ministry amongst people of other faiths possible over the years, but this new ministry doesn’t fit with their ongoing mission focus.
Another part of the sadness at the closure of the Project is leaving so many Asian and white English friends in Slough and wider, some of whom we have known since 1988. Gilbert and Uzma David have agreed to take some of them under their wing for which we are grateful. The closure of the Project will of course mean the disbanding of the Management Group, all of whom have given so much into the Project and helped make it what it is. They have been a great personal support to me and an encouragement especially at this time of transition.
So, please pray for all those affected by the closure of Salem, especially those I have mentioned above and please give thanks for all that has been accomplished and that seeds planted would grow up and bear fruit a hundredfold in the weeks and months and years ahead. Also, please pray for Denise and I in this time of endings and beginnings as at times we are finding it emotionally and physically tiring. Thank you so much.
Before I hand over to Denise I want to mention one possible beginning, which is that I may transfer from Accredited Lay Ministry to Ordained. This is something Denise and I have felt that God is leading me into and others have over the past 2 years encouraged me to do this. As I have already been through a selection conference for ALW, I am being sent to a ‘Candidates Panel’ on the 23rd November with a couple of interviews with experienced ministers before that. They then make a recommendation to the Bishop and what happens after that I am not sure of. Please pray that if this is His Sovereign will the way would open up fully.
Now, over to Denise:
It’s been a fantastic year of refreshing from the Lord, with our time at All Nations and holidays and then finally our time at New Wine Conference. The first Bible lecture by Simon Ponsonby was all about our first love and the reasons why we do what we do. Is it for ministry reasons, or ourselves, or does it flow out of our first love for Him.
Well, after much refreshing we are both established again in that most important place. It’s important to always remember that we are all ‘a child of God’. I have found the expectations of others, versus my humanity, to be one of the most difficult balances to apply in leadership.If one gets upset, hurt, or tearful then it must be wrong – according to churchgoers. It was a great blessing to hear our old mentor Rev John Hughes say that he cried for two years after an anointing of the Holy Spirit at Vineyard many years ago.I have returned in joy and am going out in peace – I long for the hills to break forth in singing and value prayer for the Lord to open a door for us to preach the Gospel. Fruitfulness and harvest – more please Lord!
Please pray for continued recovery for my shoulders and smaller health issues that have gone on for a while and are probably stress related. Please pray that the Lord will bless those small toddlers who are beginning to walk but as yet can’t take surprises! That they may be built up in their most holy faith. Please pray for Melissa in the school, for Marge and David and the groups that meet at their home, for Lizzie and Hugh’s team as they lead forward new and exciting initiatives with the Youth, and a new Youth Service.
Also pray for the 82 from the Risborough team who will go to Spring Harvest next year, for Steve as he organises it. Pray for the healing ministry service at Risborough on the third Sunday evening where we experienced a real touch from the Lord recently.
Pray for yourselves to be restored to your overflowing gratefulness and love for Jesus and that all we all do will flow from a heart of LOVE. My love as always Denise xx
Norman and Denise Critchell.