‘We are cancelling all your bookings for this venue.’ Not an auspicious start for Emmanuel Church Canterbury three days before its inaugural service in October 2009.
But God provided, and the church has met consecutively in four different schools over its first five years. Could such wander-ings soon cease?
The opening Sundays saw fewer than 30 people present: today the number approaches 100. Canterbury reputedly has the highest proportion of students to residents in Europe and students play a vibrant part in church life. Harry became a Christian while reading a Bible he had been given just before coming to Canterbury to study history. ‘As a new Christian, at Emmanuel there is solid teaching to build my faith’, Harry enthuses, ‘and I enjoy interaction in a church family with the whole age-range’.
Brought by a fellow-student, Jasbir came regularly on Sunday mornings, also to Christianity Explored and to weekly student Bible studies. With in-depth guidance drawn especially from Romans, he turned to the Lord, was baptised and is now part of a rural independent church fellowship in Berkshire. Several Chinese students have become Christians, returned to China, and keep in touch. One newcomer, a mum who brings her two children, shares: ‘Basically, I’ve found what I need in the Bible’.
Some leave for ministry elsewhere. One family went to Japan with OMF International in the summer, intending to serve long-term in church planting. A young man completed Cornhill training and is now assistant pastor at Gunnersbury Baptist Church.
While giving thanks for all God has enabled so far, the forward vision is for a permanent base in the city’s Northgate area. Richard Hagan, minister of Emmanuel, explains: ‘It’s the most deprived area, with 40% of children officially living in poverty. The many immigrants are reflected in new Romanian, Russian and Chinese supermarkets. All these communities are hardly being reached’.
The vision for proclaiming the gospel and for practical service includes providing for mothers and toddlers, English for immigrants, a lunch club for elderly people, debt advice, and form-filling for those with limited writing skills.
Building on the market
Unexpectedly, a building offering a permanent base has become available right in the Northgate area. A former Primitive Methodist chapel goes to auction on 6 February. With a likely guide price of £250,000-£300,000 the church plans, following prayer, to bid up to the funds available. Friends of Emmanuel Church have been urged to pray and to contribute as the Lord enables.
Richard emphasises: ‘If we don’t get it, we will trust that our Father knows our need better than we do. But in all this we want him to be given the glory and honour he deserves among the people of this city’.
