How does God call us to serve?
The answer can come in so many different places, and at Sutton Vineyard we are blessed to have so many amazing people giving their time to serve our community and to bring Jesus’ message to the least, the lost, the near and the far off.
Senior Pastor Julian Arnold spoke to Stephen, who as well as being an active member of the Sutton Vineyard Church family also serves at Warm Welcome. They talked about hearing from God, extending the table and what it means for us:
Julian: Steve, you've been around church for a number of years serving in a variety of ways.
What are some of the things that emerged for you in 2023 around what the Lord was doing and what really surprised you?
Stephen: Well, some of you might know that I'm a Vineyard coach and that involves coaching pastors and leaders.
I was coaching one person and she was talking about her compassionate ministries and the challenge of the warm space that she was setting up. Suddenly I sense, because you're coaching online, that the Holy Spirit just jumped out of the screen and said “tell your leaders about this” you know? So I spoke to Hannah Miles, and I said “have you heard about this warm space?” And she says “yeah, we have actually”. I was telling her about it and she said, “Well, we're happy to support you if you're willing to lead.” And that's that. That's the way it goes in the church here, you know. That was not on my radar. I'm retired. I'm supposed to be taking things a bit easier, doing different things.
Julian: There's no retirement in the kingdom of God!
Stephen: No! It was completely left field because it's something that I wouldn't have thought about, dreamt about doing. I thought “Oh, I'll pray about this” as you should do. And then I spoke to my wife, actually she rephrased this, that after seeing Seeking God reluctantly on the matter and with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, actually it was her nagging you know!
Julian: You were doing so well when you said I've got the prophecy from my wife!
Stephen: So I actually said, you know, I couldn't take it any longer. I said yes, and I had no idea what I was committing myself for.
Originally we launched as a warm space, and now we've evolved into a Warm Welcome. Warm Welcome is simply a community coffee bar offering ball games and a place to connect on Monday mornings to the community.
From September to December 2023 we had over 200 visitors. That was quite amazing.
God has surprised me also in many different ways because there's interest in this. Sutton Council's community engagement team has been talking to us. The local councillors have dropped in to find out. Age UK have dropped in and given us some advice. It's been absolutely amazing that God has brought the people through the doors. it's amazing.
Stephen: It is incredible. And one of the things that we discovered last year was this phrase extending the table to the least, the lost, the near and the far off. And the more we spoke, the more we preach, the more we prayed together, the more we sought God, we realised that really sums up the mission of what we're here to do. That's the reason we exist. And so Community projects like Warm Welcome is an excellent way of achieving that.
Julian: Tell us about a time with Warm Welcome where you've seen someone come to the table and how it's been able to demonstrate God's love to them.
Stephen: So throughout last year, God has shown us that is meant by extending the table.
It's simply offering God's hospitality and his perfect presence to those who visit us on a monday morning.
It could be a simple smile, an act of kindness, a chat, just making connection, signposting. If they need some support somewhere or offering prayer.
It may seem a small thing, but one of our regulars hardly spoke or engaged with anyone during the previous sessions. On this day he brought along a chess set to play with and as I was out I noticed he was engaging freely in conversation. A small thing, but a mighty step for that person.
A member of the team shared another lovely story about a Portuguese lady who dropped in. She worked at a local hospital, she was struggling with the cost of living, was lonely and planning to go back to Portugal. Our team member listened, prayed with her and the lady was blessed by the word that she was given. Incredible, isn't it?
Julian: And just as you look out on this room, think about the variety of people in our church. Some are able to serve midweek, some are all working all sorts of hours, and we're sharing these different stories. What are some of the ways that you can encourage others to extend the table?
Stephen: I remember walking into a Warm Welcome on a cold, damp Monday morning, not knowing what the day would bring. I have to be quite honest, I had little to give and felt depleted of energy. And I remember praying to God and saying “how do you want me to serve today?” I sensed him saying just be present and I'll do the rest.
And sometimes it's your presence that God wants, His Holy Spirit will give you the strength you need to guide you through the day. Extending the table is to be present at it. Being with Jesus is the beginning of offering hospitality and his perfect presence to the least, the lost, the near and the far off.
Julian: What I love about that Steve as well, is that whether you look at some of the stuff that we do formally as a church or just in your own everyday lives, actually the key there really is allowing people into your world, isn't it? I think so often we think of sharing our faith as like big old school evangelistic crusades. But actually it's you being Jesus just in your everyday lives and saying, actually, I'm going to share that with others.
Thank you so much for sharing.