St Matthew's Asian Congregation, Walsall - Report 2006/2007

We give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord for the provision of St Matthew's Church Centre. Now we are meeting for our regular Sunday services and for other special events in the Church Centre. Our Service timings are now 5pm and we observe 1st and 3rd Sundays as Communion Sundays. Full record of Sunday attendance, offering, baptism, all other events and membership is being maintained regularly.

Regular Features

*Three children's group meeting on every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

*Pastoral house visitation 

*House to house Christmas carolling across Midlands

*Participation in Caldmore Green Christmas Carols

*Confirmation of six people in Lichfield Cathedral on January 2006

*One member attending Bishop's Certificate Course.

*Lent Prayer Team on the Asian and English doorposts between 5 to 6 am   

*Radio Broadcast Christmas and Easter Special in Asian Language.

*Three youth playing Archdeacon's Cricket Team.

*Participation in other Asian Congregations events across the diocese

*Monthly Taste-n-See cooking and devotionals.

*Bimonthly Advance Christian Group

Special Events

*Children Special Events on 26 March 2006

*Send off service to Samuel Sharif & Family and Revd Mark and Gill Ireland on 26 November 2007

*BBC filming 28 May 2006

*Mehfil-e-Mosiqi (Asian semi classical singing in traditional way) on 12 August 2006

Recent Initiatives

*Taste-n-see ladies cookery and devotional club from 14.1 1.2007

*A11 age Advance Christian Group for studying Bible and other topics from 16.2.2007

*Children's boat journey during summer holidays

Guest Speakers

*St Matthew's Clergy during my holidays

*Pastor S.M. Daniel from India

*Pastor Aaron Javaid from Pakistan

*Prayer team from California USA

Challenges  

With the emergence of one independent and another Seventh Day Adventists Asian group to maintain the growth of our congregation is a big challenge.

Conclusion and General Thanks Big and great thanks to:-

* The Rector, Clergy, Prayer Ministry Team, DCC, Church Office and the Members of Main Congregation for their encouragement, support and prayers.

*The St Matthew's Centre Management Committee for their support and vital role to make this Centre available for our use.

Luther Fiaz Samuel April 2007