Walthamstow
Our third date finds the team making our way by bus, tube and car to Emmanuel Christian Centre, Joel’s home church! Situated in the recently renovated Walthamstow Academy, the church facilities are spotless, with an open-air floor plan and colourful turquoise decor. We arrive to a warm welcome, greeted by Pastor Doug and organiser Chantelle. Doug’s children are just as eager to help, piping up that they will escort us to the refreshment room at our every whim!
Combining two Sunday morning services into one, the atmosphere at ECC is bursting with activity. Slightly different than our evening events, the morning kick-starts with a time of worship. With around 400 voices filling the auditorium, our team is in awe at God moving in this place and the stage is set for Joel’s challenge at our culture’s need for spiritual and social transformation. Joel immediately engages the audience who are both receptive and responsive. During the Q&A there’s an energy circulating the room and while we need to draw things to a close due to time constraints, the conversations continue well into the church foyer.
One woman informs Joel that she walked into the building adamant she would not buy a book and resolute that she would not listen to one more talk on ‘change.’ But, as Joel clearly outlines in his book, our God is a God of miracles! Something inside this woman resonated with his words during the course of the morning and despite her previous obstinacy, she left the church with a copy of Joel’s book in hand!
As the crowds dwindle and the team begins packing up we happily discover that all 38 Sharpies are accounted for! However, one poor soldier has mysteriously lost his cap! Let’s see if he can hang in there for 27 more brick-writing battles. Outside, the rain hammers down but inside we’re treated to cranberry juice and chocolates as Carol, Joels’ wife, and other women from the church kind-heartedly walk around with a boost for each team member. And we hardly worry about getting soaked as we load the car thanks to one team member’s oversized ‘Rihanna’ umbrella.
A huge thank you to Doug and Anthony for a wonderful lunch at Harvester Pub, for your genuine care and support and for transporting more than half of our team to the nearest tube station!
We leave feeling encouraged and ready for what our trek to the Midlands will bring next week.
