Brianna McClean

LCM - Prayer Letter.

16/9/17

London City Mission

London City Mission has been bringing the good news of Jesus to the least-reached of London
for 180 years. The least-reached are those people who are least likely to step foot in a church or
have a Christian friend. There is an astounding correspondence between that demographic and
the poorest, most vulnerable people. The homeless, the culturally isolated, the abused, the hungry
and the refugee - these are the people which LCM has been serving since the days of Charles
Dickens.

LCM is passionate about urban mission and aims to equip the local church to spread the
Kingdom into the deepest and darkest corners of London.

The Story So Far

My first two weeks in London have been and gone in a whirlwind of new-ness. New experiences,
new places and new people.

The Mission have provided housing for me; a beautiful old building on Tower Bridge Road. All the
new missionaries are housed there, which makes it a fun household to be in - we come from
Australia, the U.S, the U.K and even Lithuania! The house is in a phenomenal spot. One hundred
metres to Tower Bridge, a few hundred metres to Borough Market and an easy walk (or bike ride!)
to anywhere else. This has been a real blessing over the past few weeks; being able to go for
walks to begin and end each day.

As you know, I am working for London City Mission, as a full time missionary to vulnerable
women. At the moment, this is in two capacities.

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays I am serving at Vauxhall Christian Centre. This is a drop-
in centre which runs activities to connect to the local community in order to build relationships
which see the Gospel spread. Foodbanks, lunch clubs, childrens after-school care groups,
mothers groups, soccer clubs - Vauxhall is a busy place. Vauxhall is a historically diverse and
dicult place. Bombed out in the Blitz, it was re-built as a council estate after the War. With a
thriving LGBT community and high rates of unemployment, homelessness and domestic violence
- the sanctuary provided by LCM is much needed. I am assisting the team at Vauxhall to begin
new ministries directly targeting vulnerable women. This is an exciting opportunity for me to work
with a team filled with passionate, skilled people.

On Fridays and on evenings throughout the week, I work at Hopetown Womens Hostel. This is a
government run safety shelter for women which provides emergency accommodation. It is poorly
run and overcrowded, with 180 women - some of whom have been there for years. I am working
alongside two very experienced missionaries from LCM - Lynne and Jackie. Most of the women in
the hostel were or are involved in Prostitution. Many have been illegally tracked. Some are there
because of domestic violence or simply poverty. There are also a number of older Muslim
women, which reflects the demographic of the area Hopetown Hostel is situated in. There are
significant issues with drug and alcohol abuse amongst many of the women. LCM tries to get
alongside these women and build trusting relationships with them. We run craft mornings,
outings, mentorship activities and bible studies - all in order to tell the women of Hopetown about
the real hope they can have in their Creator and Saviour, Jesus. Over the years, there have been
quite a number of women initiated into local churches and last year there were six baptisms! The
work that the Lord is doing in this dark place is astounding.

On Thursdays, I have lectures. These are a wonderful opportunity to be fed and grow in my
ministry skills. They range from cross-cultural mission techniques to basic biblical theology
classes. It is also a wonderful time of encouragement as I meet with other LCM missionaries
doing great work for LCM. The organisation is a wonderful place to work. The gifts, talents and
dedication of the sta is notable from the moment you walk in the door. Despite the sometimes
draining nature of the work, a room full of LCM sta is a room full of joy. It is easy to see why - the
joy comes from the privilege of spending each day telling the life-saving news of Christ to the city
of London.

I have found a church to attend - praise God for his provision of this. The Globe Church is a
independent Evangelical church, located ten minutes walk from my house. Most of my
housemates attend this church too. The church family has been welcoming and warm - it is a real
blessing to be encouraged and taught there twice a week.

Praise Points

That I have found real friendship and community within LCM, particularly within the house. My
room-mate Meighan is a wonderful support as we both venture into this new season of life.

Globe Church - praise God for this church and its welcoming sense of community.

Thank the Lord for the continual faithfulness of LCM. Thank him for the gifts of the sta; please
pray in particular for Kevin (my manager at Vauxhall) and for Lynne (my manager at Hopetown).

Thank the Lord for London - it is a beautiful city, filled with culture, history and diversity. Praise
him for the obvious visibility of his Church here.

Praise God for the relationships I have built with the people I am ministering to already. Thank
him for their lives and for the opportunity to open the Bible with them.

Opening hearts

*Names have been changed

Please pray for Diane, a woman who came into Vauxhall last week for the first time. She is
escaping domestic violence and has been housed in unsuitable accommodation. She is very
isolated and lonely. She is currently unemployed. She is interested in a continuing friendship.
Thank God for bringing her in to Vauxhall and for her willingness to be open. Please pray that
when I meet with her next-week, our bond will be quickly strengthened. Pray that the Gospel will
be at the centre of our conversation.

Pray for Kayla from Hopetown Hostel. Kayla is without work due to a back injury and has issues
with alcohol. She is in a volatile relationship with a much older man. Please pray that she would
find work. She is curious about the spirituality and always willing to engage in conversation.
Pray for a softened heart and open mind and for opportunities for me to share my faith.

Pray for Bailey. Bailey is a very young woman who has been in prostitution for a few years. She
is currently pregnant for the third time, having lost the other two children to the state. She has a
crack cocaine addiction and is at serious risk of losing this child. Bailey is also considering
abortion. She is mentally ill and has come very close to suicide recently. She is isolated and is
dicult to engage with. In an immediate sense, please pray for her physical health and safety -
and for that of her unborn child. Pray that we can connect with her in meaningful ways and point
her towards her need for Christ.

Please pray for Kim. Kim has escaped domestic abuse and homelessness and is in Hopetown
Hostel. She has a major issue with alcohol addiction and is in denial about the seriousness of
this issue. We are trying to assist her in completing the Twelve Steps program. She has a sense
 of Gods presence in her life but does not realise his true nature. Please pray for him to reveal
himself to her.

Prayer Points

Please pray for me as I continue to settle into a new home and city. Please pray for physical
safety and wellbeing as well as flourishing relationships in the house. Pray for patience as I live
in a house full of young people in which the kitchen is never clean!

Pray that I would stay centred on the Lord and his plans for me. My time here is largely self-
driven. Pray for a growing love for him and reliance on him for my everyday life.

Pray that I would be wise but bold in my proclamation of Jesus.

Pray that I would be a light into the darkness of Hopetown Hostel and Vauxhall - pray that my
character reflects Jesus not just at work, but at home too.

Please pray for my finances/food. I know that the Lord will provide. Please pray that he does so.

1 Corinthians 1:22

for Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling
block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are saved, both Jews and Gentiles,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Psalms 100:3

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the
sheep of his pasture.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. I thank God for you.

If you would like to support me and my ministry in London, the details are below.

Account Name: Brianna McClean

Bank: Bankwest

BSB: 302966

Account: 0118489