The first service of Emmanuel Church Marlborough (ECM) was held on 19 April.
Behind Marlborough’s lovely exterior is a needy area in many ways, especially the need to hear about Jesus. Emmanuel Church Marlborough is a group of Christians who live in and around the town but until now have travelled to evangelical churches in other towns. The new church is not planned to be a cosy clique, nor one that competes with others, but to reach out to the community with the Bible’s message of God’s love in Christ.
With the help of the FIEC and collaboration with evangelical churches in the wider region (Calne Free Church, Freshbrook Church Swindon and Emmanuel Church Chippenham), the vision to reach out is being established. Reuben Mann, pastor, grew up on the mission field and worked as a water engineer, then trained at St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford and at Oak Hill College. Reuben, Hannah and their family will be moving from Chippenham, where Reuben has been assistant pastor of Emmanuel Church Chippenham.
Starting with a monthly service at 4pm followed by tea each time, with a plan to become weekly in September, the time and place of meeting has been chosen to meet the community most easily. A good number of local people came to the first service. There are many needs, not least financial. But most of all, as Jesus said, ECM will: ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field’.
