What do you do when you feel God calling you to move but you have no idea to where? In 2021, Matthew Henry felt convicted to pioneer a new church and so put his faith in God to direct him.
‘Try Bradford,’ suggested his pastor at the Potter’s Church in Harrow. So, Matthew, his wife Liz, and their three children duly went there, but they felt no conviction. However, while driving into Wakefield, they felt God’s peace and found a vacant building in South Elmsall on the outskirts of the town, which they rented from Church Growth Trust.
The new church opened on 9th January 2022. From a tiny handful of people, the congregation has grown to around sixty people on Sunday mornings and around forty on Sunday evenings and at Wednesday Bible Study. South Elmsall was a mining village and many of the local families have lived there for generations. A lack of ambition, apathy and disaffection are common. Matthew addressed it head on.
‘I run men’s discipleship classes, explaining that all the men Jesus called were at work at the time. We have seen quite a few people come off benefits and begin to support themselves. One of our original members started her own business and she testified about her new ambition and success. What you celebrate, you cement.’
But it is taking the Gospel out on to the streets which has caused the congregation to grow so quickly and organically. On Saturdays, a group of church members pray then walk out with flyers and start conversations. Around 75% of the membership came to faith because of this evangelistic outreach.
‘Sometimes we go into the centre of Wakefield. We sing a worship song, then someone gives a testimony, then we sing again. People are fascinated and want to know more. We met a guy on the street last year who was a Freemason suffering with alcohol and drug abuse. He found Jesus, was healed and his life transformed.’
In the last three years, the street evangelism has brought in so many new followers of Jesus that the church is moving. They have very fond memories of their time at the former chapel. ‘It has been magnificent. If we could, we would extend it and stay here. It has served us very well.’
In just three years, the Potter’s House has amassed some truly inspirational stories. A woman who recently found Jesus told Matthew her experience.
‘You handed me a flyer for the concert just before the church opened. I stuck it in my kitchen drawer and forgot about it. Then we had the kitchen replaced and everything got thrown away. At the beginning of the year, I began to feel that I needed to repent and go to church. I tried three different churches but they were all closed. I remembered the flyer and prayed that I would find it, although I knew it had been discarded. I looked in the drawer and there it was, scrunched up with only the address left. I decided to attend the Wednesday Bible Study. I put the address in my satnav but ended up at a house. I knocked and the guy who answered put on his coat and shoes and took me to the church. We both found Jesus that night! Our lives have been transformed.’ As they move into a bigger building, Matthew has some good advice for churches who want to work on their evangelising.
‘Take the gospel outside your four walls. You will be surprised how many people are open to faith but do not know where to go.’
