It’s a longish time ago now but does make one reminisce about Roffey days on mission in teams. In one church we got so fed up with people falling over before they heard the word we replaced ‘catchers’ with ‘standeruppers’ - once they’d heard whatever word we had we’d let them fall. The important thing to reminisce is that we were working sort of apostolically, part of an apostolic band…or the closest I’ve seen to that. It was more than evangelistic, or prophetic, or teachery. But there was a redefining of what is ‘normal’. What became normal was hearing from God & a heightened sense of faith…along with eating whatever food was provided, sharing bedrooms in a range of households, long days out on the streets then evening meetings…but greater sense of reaping what we were sowing.
I didn’t have a great deal to do with Pete but ‘twas good to read that he designed the interiors to the coaches. Nothing naff. High quality furnishings, the art work was provocative and arresting, good conversation starters. Upstairs for a cup of coffee & a chat. I got used to a ratio of faith. 100 conversations would yield 10 that would lead to some form of receiving from God and 1 would be salvation. So in a typical week long mission I’d see a few come to Christ. Had greatest ‘success’ with nominal Anglicans/ Catholics but not exclusively.
We didn’t carry tracts but believed that God would open up those He wanted to us. Sometimes through good quality sketches/mimes/songs performed on the street.
My faith went from half a mustard seed to not quite African standards. More that could be said but that faith is latent in all of us…I’m realising more and more now that it’s not as simple as differentiating between MY faith and Christ’s but His faith is my faith.
Pete Goddard's Blogpage on the Kings Coach Dr Bob Gordon
Excerpt. Many more pics and details on Pete's page , plus his life story
Excerpt. Many more pics and details on Pete's page , plus his life story
Dr. Bob Gordon was a Scottish internationally evangelist, Bible teacher and ordained minister in the United Reformed Church. Kerygma Trust, the charity under which he operated, was dedicated to spreading the Word of God in the Holy Spirit power. He was a graduate of Bible Study School in Manchester University, and had a Postgraduate degree in Theology and Religious Education. Before becoming director of Old Testament studies in London Bible College, he was chaplain in Durham University for nine years. He wrote a number of books, including an extensive study on discipleship. A great man of faith, he was at heart a Revivalist Preacher, whose encounter with the Holy Spirit and the Charismatic Revival dramatically changed the course of his ministry. Believing that God could provide every need, he had a particular gift of faith for finance, frequently seeing miraculous and often large financial provision as a result of prayer, (but often at the last minute!) Those who joined him on his ‘team’ were expected to exercise the same faith for their own provision. In 1986 he was the Director of Roffey Place Christian Training Centre, and was extremely charismatic, both in his faith and his personality. The college had been bought for £600,000, the finance for which had been provided without fundraising or advertising, but through answer to prayer by both Bob and his ministerial colleague, Colin Urquhart. His passion and enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God, along with a superb ability to communicate Bible teaching was very infectious. His vision of ‘taking the Gospel to the heart of the nation’ would involve the conversion of five double decker buses, each with a team of evangelists that would tour the country with the aim of not just explaining the gospel, but praying for people in the streets and seeing miraculous results. Here is Bob speaking in 1988 (unscripted!) about his vision for the buses. I made this video on a VHS tape with extremely limited editing facilities. Sadly it was never really used, due to lack of funds. (No surprise!)
