Since attending the Incarnate House Party Fred Rich has been called to Swarcliffe Baptist Church, Leeds as their associate minister. Fred is currently completing ministerial training at North Wales Baptist College, due to finish in June.

The specific focus of his new role will be to start something new up which is mostly aimed at those in their teens/twenties.

It is most likely that this will include many with alcohol, drug or other social problems. The position starts early September with a view to launching the new venture in January 2010. Fred will be leading alongside another couple of members from Swarcliffe and there will be others from the church helping. To begin with the venture will look and act like a drop in centre but with time will hopefully develop into ‘church’ in its own right.

The next 6 months or so will be an important time to try to make contacts with people and build up some initial relationships with those outside of the church. Fred is also trying to use the time available to read up on what other people are doing, not to copy them, but rather to avoid trying to re-invent the wheel where other people have already worked through some of the issues that may affect this kind of work.

Freds Prayer Points:

• To build up relationships with those from the church so that they can work well together as a team.
• To be able to build relationships with other Churches and Christian Organisations so that as a team they are in a better position to help individuals.
• Above all, that Fred, and the others involved in this work, really catch a glimpse of what God is already doing so that they can be a part of that great mission of God.