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AUGUST 2004
The Great South Run
 Chris Wells is a former pupil of Downton Primary and Burgate School. He is at present just about to go into his final year studying BSc Diagnostic Radiography at Portsmouth University.
Chris is undertaking the "Great South Run" ( 10 miles) on October 10th 2004 to help raise funds for Morning Star (Salisbury)
Chris says "Although this for me is a challenge, it does not compare to the challenge that faces those living on the streets. Supporting Morning Star makes the race worthwhile knowing what I'm doing is making a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Sponsorship is beginning to come in now for the Great South Run. If you feel you would like to sponsor Chris please email us on dave@morningstarsalisbury.org or go to the picture of the piggy bank on the support page. This will take you to “Paypal” where you may use a credit card to pay your sponsorship money to Morning Star. Please remember to say on the note that the money is for The Great South Run.
All funds raised will go towards putting together forty Christmas hampers for poor and disadvantaged families in Salisbury, also to provide food, warm socks, gloves, hats & scarves for people who are hungry and/or living on the streets this winter in Salisbury.
Amazing Love how sweet the sound……….
I never ceased to be amazed by the power of the Gospel to change the hearts and lives of men and women. There is power in the gospel….
“ I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes” Romans Ch 1 v 16
Isn’t it fantastic, the gospel is for everyone who believes, its so simple. In the last few weeks two more people have believed. A lass called Sharon, who has recently moved to Salisbury, met Eric “the chef”. Eric shared with her the miracles God had been doing in his life..
One day we visited Sharon, we shared the gospel with her, and told her that the Lord loved her and that He could set her free, from her alcohol problem, and give her a brand new start. Sharon listened intently, not wanting to miss a word. We asked her if she would like to give her life to Jesus and start a fresh new life, she said yes and said that Eric had been talking to her about the Lord also. We led her in a simple prayer asking Jesus to come into her life and change her, forgiving her for her sin, and asking him to give her new life. There were tears of joy running down Sharon’s face, Eric who was also present prayed for Sharon as well. A precious time, the presence of the Lord was so strong and there was such a peace, nobody wanted to move.
Another guy called Mickey also a friend of Eric also gave his heart to the Lord. There has been a marked change already in the lives of both these people. When we prayed for these people, there were no flashing lights, no bolts of thunder, but The Lord God almighty saw their heart and heard their prayer, and came to each of them and has started to do something supernatural in their lives, and all it took was for a person to believe on Him.
“ I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes” Romans Ch 1 v 16
Many of our friends, whom we serve on the streets, have very little hope in their lives, for many of them, their hope is centred around their next pay day, or their next fix. It is hard for them to see any other hope, because despair and hopelessness are all around them. They mix with others who are also full of despair, carrying around so much hurt and pain, and yet never have we seen a group of people who are so receptive to the gospel, maybe because it is a gospel of hope. Our heart is to see the Lord setting these people completely free in an instant of all their drug and alcohol issues, setting those free who are bound up with mental health problems.
The last few weeks the numbers attending the Banquet run seem to have risen, it has become quite common place, for there to be anything up to 24 people coming for food.
Many come to us to have a chat. One day a local hostel took all their residents out for a midday meal. Many of these people usually come to us for food. We thought that we wouldn’t see many people as most of them had their free meal out, but come 3.30p.m we had as many people as we usually do, and those who had just finished their meal out about an hour before, still came to the Poultry Cross, just to have a cup of tea with us and a chat. They come because something different is available at the Poultry Cross, they may not be aware of it, but God is there and they can feel His love and presence and a peace that can’t be explained.
The Banquet Run has never been just about giving out food, but sharing the love of God with people, bringing the gospel of hope to those who have no hope, loving those who feel unloved, caring for those who need to be cared for.
We have continued to concentrate on spending quality time with one or two people on their own, away from the crowds. As we don’t have a base to take people to we have used the warm weather to our advantage, taking people out for picnics to the New Forest. A day away from the pressures of life, really help people to look at things in a different perspective. For us it is another way of loving these people, treating them, caring for them, having fun together. Showing them we value them as friends, and building up their self esteem.
Dave, Bev, Eric and Sharon picnicking in the New Forest.
Lives are Being Changed
Recently we spent some time with Eric , Sharon and Mickey, we were talking how the Lord changes us into new people, and how old habits, attitudes etc slowly change and fade away. Before we left we said lets pray together, and encouraged everyone to pray. As we were leaving Sharon said “ He really is changing me, I can feel it” Hallelujah God is doing Great things, we only have to believe…..
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