Testimony: by Linda Webb

Street Outreach3

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y husband Dennis and I both came to Victory Outreach West London (VOWL) through our grandson Craig who had met Pastor Dave in Wormwood Scrubs Prison. Craig was due to attend another service Pastor Dave was conducting but was moved to a di!!erent "rison. So Craig "honed me and as#ed me to ma#e contact with Pastor Dave as he thought Pastor Dave wou$d have thought he was no $onger interested in church. %e as#ed me to give Pastor the reason !or his absence. I "honed Pastor Dave and e'"$ained the situation. %e immediate$y #new who Craig was and I was very im"ressed that Pastor remembered Craig and was very !riend$y. Craig had as#ed Dennis and I to attend VOWL in order to meet Pastor. We visited VOWL and !ound everyone we met was very !riend$y and we$coming( and we en)oyed the service. Listening to Craig every wee# over the te$e"hone( we heard how much he had changed and how much he was "raying and $oved *od. We decided to #ee" attending VOWL. It was de!inite$y the right decision( we+ve now been saved and *od has done so much in our $ives in such a short s"ace o! time, Pastor Dave as#ed the congregation i! anyone wanted to get ba"tised I was initia$$y a""rehensive because o! my !ear o! water. Pastor con!irmed Dennis and I were both ready to be ba"tised. So on the -. th o! /u$y -012 we got ba"tised a$ongside Vanessa Sa$gado and &iche$$a Di'on,

utreach continued in %ar$esden unti$ /u$y -012 and then we moved on to !ocus on She"herds 4ush *reen.

Shepherds Bush Green

*enera$$y "eo"$e are very res"onsive to *od+s Word. &any "eo"$e received "rayer. We+ve been ab$e to ma#e new connections( as we$$ as deve$o" and bui$d o$d ones. We have $itera$$y ta#en the Church to the streets where the needs are. 5he community on the green we$comes Pastor Dave as their Pastor. 5he 4ib$e says6 75he Lord+s "eo"$e wi$$ not be $i#e shee" without a she"herd.8 9umbers -: v1:. Feedback !rom the community3
I en)oyed $istening to the songs and they brought bac# good chi$dhood memories.
Michael, Shepherds Bush Green.

5he "resence o! the team is needed to he$" "eo"$e ma#e right choices and brea# out o! substance de"endency and negative $i!esty$es.
Kim, Shepherds Bush Green.

5he strategy you use to a""roach and minister to "eo"$e is commendab$e( with one "erson $eading the conversation and others assisting.
Chris, Harlesden.

Street Rally:

oy came to the streets o! She"herd+s 4ush evident in the g$ee!u$ "artici"ation !rom the "ub$ic ; even chi$dren and women o! the &us$im !aith. %ere is what VOWL+s church member ; <rse$$e and her 10 year o$d daughter &ercedes re"ort bac# in their interview with Ruth Abner. How did the rally go? 5he ra$$y was ama=ing, *od went be!ore us and so!tened the hearts o! the "eo"$e on the streets so that when the Word was s"o#en and the choir began to sing they were a$ready rece"tive to the Word o! *od. Did you learn anything new in the rally? I $earned that it does not matter how many "eo"$e are out on the streets sharing the $ove o! *od but it+s the honesty o! the individua$+s heart that matters when winning sou$s !or *od. How did you ind the worshi! at the station? 5he worshi" at the station was "ower!u$. Peo"$e were "assing by and sto""ing( chi$dren were a$so curious and wanting to $isten. Peo"$e were a$so recording us whi$e we sang. 5he S"irit o! *od came down as the worshi" went u". How did you ind the worshi! in the !ark? 5he worshi" in the "ar# )ust went on continuous$y. We had !un singing /.<.S.>.S( which is a !un and interactive song but a$so individua$s were moved by the "raise and worshi" this is the how *od touched their hearts. We stood there and $et our $ight shine bright$y in the midst o! dar#ness. How did you eel sharing your testimony? It was a "rivi$ege to share my testimony and how the Lord has b$essed me( how %e has ta#en me !rom a $i!e with no ho"e( no "ur"ose and em"tiness in my heart which no matter what I did or tried that em"tiness remained( but now %e "$aced my !eet on so$id roc#. I a$ways !ind it a b$essing to share my testimony to encourage others to $et them #now that there is ho"e( reassurance( "rotection( $ove and so much more when you give your $i!e to *od. What did you like the most?

I $oved the !act that we remained as a team and wor#ed together to bring *$ory to the ?ingdom o! *od. Tell us o your ":" witnessing# I did not do much 131 witnessing because I remained with the worshi" team but a man !rom the country which I origina$$y come !rom( Dominica( was introduced to me and he said that he cou$d see the $ove and heard the "ower o! *od through me when I shared my testimony. %e said that everything I said in my testimony touched him and he was ever so grate!u$. %e has "romised to visit us at West London. How did $ercedes ind the e%!erience? &ercedes $oved it very much. She did an ama=ing )ob giving out !$yers. I am so "roud o! her. @s a mother it touched my heart and I "ray that the Lord wi$$ continue to teach me dai$y how to raise her in %is way and to be an e'am"$e to her. 5he 4ib$e says( 75rain u" a chi$d in the way he shou$d go and when he grows o$d he wi$$ not de"art !rom it.8 (Proverbs --v A). It wi$$ give her a strong !oundation to bui$d on as she grows o$der. $ercedes###Tell us what you en&oyed the most# I en)oyed meeting new "eo"$e and hearing my mum ta$#ing about *od. Did anyone commit to 'hrist during the rally? @ young $ady gave her $i!e to *od and I was ha""y about that because when one sou$ re"ents and turns to the Lord %eaven re)oices, Thank you (rselle and $ercedes)

Erselle (on right !ith Katie ("ar le"t and #icole

*rison $inistry Testimony:

In November 2012 I was arrested for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Sitting in the cells felt like the end. I could see no future for me. Surely I was looking at a sentence of more than ten years for this I thought to myself. The last two years had been hell for me and my family. I had been

change had failed me countless times in the past. I thought maybe the Church can help. The next Sunday visitors came in and led the worship. Listening to the songs and the preaching and the testimonies I felt a burden lift from me and I began to cry silently. I then felt really good and I thought "WOW, Church ain't boring no more it's making me so happy." I gathered as many booklets and testimonies as I could about Jesus and how he has transformed people's lives. People that had been in even worse situations than I was. The booklet said that all you had to do was accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and you would be forgiven from all the bad things you had ever done and your life would be transformed. I knew

taking cocaine, weed, alcohol and sleeping tablets constantly to fill a deep emptiness which I felt inside. I had no hope any more, I was
on self destruct mode and intent on ruining my life and as many other people's lives as possible. There could only be two outcomes to the life I was living; Jail or Death. Thank God I got jail but I would have preferred death at the time. So from the Police station I was taken to a London prison. I was scared, lonely and hopeless. I felt I had nothing left to give.

then that if I was determined to change only this Jesus could do it. I wanted to give my life to Christ there and
then but I still wanted more clarification. In the midweek Bible study I attended, I met Pastor Dave who shared what Christ had done for him and how his life had been transformed by God's love.

I felt an urge to go to Church the following Sunday. Well it is at least some time out of the cell I thought to myself. Church seemed very boring and I wasn't getting much out of it but I did get a sense of peace which was comforting. My mind was still crying out for the drugs that nearly destroyed me but somehow I had a stronger urge to fight the cravings than before. I went to Court and was moved to another London prison. I started to go to Church there too on a Sunday. I got myself a Bible and started to read it. It came alive I couldn't put it down. Every time I felt sad, worried

or craved drugs I would pick up my Bible and it helped me escape from

these demons. I still didn't understand the good news about Jesus at the time, but it did provide me with a way out of the darkness. My family often came to visit me and even though I had no hope they still did, so it got me thinking that if they still had hope then maybe I could change and make them proud. My own efforts to

We prayed and spoke more and I told him about my past and he told me more about God's saving power. Meeting Pastor Dave and hearing first hand what God had done in his life touched me so much. I went back to my cell and I just knew deep down inside that Jesus could do the same for me. I got the booklets out and read the prayer on there and I gave my life to Christ. Now I had Christ in my life I could not wait to get back to Church. I began reading the Bible more and I fell in love with God's word. It came alive! It says in the Bible those that are in Christ are a new creation. Well that was true with me. The drug cravings went, the anger went, the jealousy went and the bitterness went. That emptiness was completely filled with God's love. I had a trial coming up for burglary and I was lying to myself and to the Police about it as my

plea was Not Guilty but something had changed in me. How could I lie? I was completely convinced that I had to tell the truth. I couldn't believe the change in myself as I used to be a compulsive liar and had got away with so many things but something was telling me I needed to own up to it. On Wednesday Bible study came around and I spoke to Pastor Dave and told him I was feeling that I shouldn't lie any more. We chatted and I made up my mind that I was going to hold my hands up and plead guilty. Since I made up my mind

not to lie my relationship with Christ took on a whole new level.

I couldn't stop praying and reading the Word. I was always telling my Nan and Granddad how much I was enjoying Church and I think they could see a huge change in the way I spoke and acted. I don't think they could quite believe the huge change in me and how quickly I had changed from being so angry and on drugs to somebody who constantly talked about God, the Bible and Church. The change in me inspired them to go to Church themselves. I told Pastor Dave that they really wanted to go to Church and he told me to tell them to go along to Victory Outreach West London which eventually they did. Within a very short time they gave themselves to Christ too. That news just blew me away. I began to thank and praise God. I was in awe of what his love was doing. He had come and transformed me and now my family too! By this time I had been moved to another prison and my sentencing was coming up. I wasn't fazed by this as I spent time in the word and prayed. I just wanted to get my sentence and get on with it. My case was adjourned three or four times until finally the big day arrived. I was in the holding cell in Court down on my knees crying out to God saying "Please Lord no more than 7 years." I went up for sentencing and I was given 7 years! The result was good, bearing in mind my Barrister had warned me I was looking at a double figure sentence. Soon I was given the news I was to be moved again, this time to one of the most violent prisons in the system. I wasn't happy but I realised that if it was not God's will for me to go there then I wouldn't be going. Once there I quickly attended Bible studies but something strange happened. I began to feel

closed in and I thought I wanted to give up on this walk of Faith. I felt very angry and upset and was ready to storm out of the Bible class. Then I felt an urge to stay and confide in the Pastor at the end. I explained my feelings to him and had tears in my eyes. He called the elders over from Churches outside the prison and they laid hands on me and prayed. I heard a strange language coming from one of them and a presence descended upon me and I began to weep uncontrollably. I then felt as though I wanted to scream and shout with joy. Afterwards I felt brand new. I was alive. I could hardly walk back to my cell I was so drunk with the Holy Ghost. The next day I was in my cell I began to pray and very soon I began to speak in a language which sounded the same as I had heard the day before.

I couldn't stop praying in this new language. I later learned this to be tongues. Since my baptism in the Holy Ghost, God has blessed me in so many ways unimaginably. He uses me to share his love where so much darkness abides. I hold Bible studies every morning for a small group of guys who are growing in the Lord. The Lord has done so much for me and he is doing great things in my family's life too. I have been a Christian for just over 6 months now and in that time I have been totally transformed. If anyone out there feels there is no hope, trust me there is hope, in Jesus. I am

physically behind bars but I am as free as a bird because Jesus has set me free! If you want to be set
free, if you want to be loved by somebody unconditionally, if you want to be transformed and renewed just ask Jesus Christ into your life and you will have these things and more in abundance! Prayer for salvation: $ord %esus please "orgi&e all m' sins. Come into m' li"e and be m' $ord and Sa&iour. Amen.

*rayer Outreach Warriors)

he team met !or training( "rayer and $unch. Ch$oe O$adime)i re"orts3 75he POW meeting went rea$$y we$$( it was rea$$y good $earning about how much "rayer can he$" "eo"$e and how the %o$y S"irit can $ead us in "rayer and "ut us on the right "ath. We shou$d a$ways ma#e time to "ray giving time to *od so he can do mirac$es in our $ives and $ives o! others. @$so that "rayer can be a time o! worshi" and giving than#s. In POW meetings we get trained in the way o! the Lord and are given direction !rom those that the Lord has made $eaders over us( as we deve$o" more we need to remember that we must stay !aith!u$( avai$ab$e and teachab$e( and must be good ro$e mode$s !or the young Christians.8 5he POW team continues to go !rom strength to strength. @nge$iBue now has res"onsibi$ity !or POW. We aim to connect to "ray every day o! the wee#( by "hone( s#y"e( te't or !ace to !ace.

*rison Re!ort:

5han# *od !or the "ower!u$ way %e is moving in the "risons and "ray !or men recent$y re$eased or due to be re$eased soon3 that they wi$$ continue to wa$# with *od and not go bac# to their o$d way o! $i!e( and that *od wi$$ meet a$$ their needs C !or wor#( housing and churches. 5han# *od !or sou$s recent$y saved and as# that *od wou$d add more to %is harvest in West London. We are be$ieving !or reviva$ in this city, 5here is too much vio$ence on the streets o! London. Pray that *od wou$d touch #ey gang members and turn their $ives around. @s# *od !or an end to vio$ence in this city. P$ease stand with us as we continue to be$ieve *od !or our Decovery homes. P$ease $i!t u" Pastor David and Sister /anet as they continue to bui$d and $ead the church.

astor David continues to wor# as community cha"$ain at Wormwood Scrubs Prison. *od is continuing to move( with Pastor David e'"eriencing many o""ortunities to minister *od+s $ove to the "risoners and sta!!. %e is a$so ta#ing a $eading ro$e in recruiting and training mentors !or the "risoners !rom the $oca$ community. Pastor David and Sister /anet were recent$y ab$e to minister at %o$$oway Prison( a women+s "rison in 9orth London( and many $adies were touched by the Lord. 5he church continues to su""ort the ministry in "rayer. 5he wider church networ# across 9orth and West London is becoming more aware o! the need !or "rison ministry than#s to regu$ar ce$ebration services and events !or the wor# o! the "rison ministry. *od is at wor#,

Victory Outreach West London Community Service news$etter is "ut together by3 ?atie Lee( Linda Webb E Duth @bner. For more in!ormation about the church visit3 www.vowest$ondon.com or !ind us on Faceboo#.

*ray with us: