Voice in the City were part of "Hope in Wigan"; an exciting week of activities from the 5th - 11th May 2008. Hope in Wigan was and is a partnership between the local churches of Wigan with the aim to bring hope to the people of Wigan by sharing the good news of Jesus!
Report by Suzette Hattingh
Hope for Wigan
This has been the largest and the most remarkable "City Taking" outreach that we in Voice in the City have ever done. Truly, this was the beginning of the new dimensions the Lord has promised us! Thank you so much for praying for us, you are part of all we do!
Open Heaven
This was true in more than one sense of the Word. I woke up on Monday 5th May and the first thing I did was run to the window to look at the weather! It was the first day of the outreach and we were having our "Family Fun Day" in the park. It was cloudy, but except for one little shower, the weather cleared up with blue skies for the rest of the week. But that was also true spiritually, it was as if the spiritual dark clouds over the city disappeared and the Light of God was shining on that city. Wigan was called "Wicked Wigan" but Jesus soon turned it into "Joyful Wigan"!
The Rose Christians
Every afternoon after the morning evangelism training the people went out on the streets for personal evangelism each equipped with some Christian material and a bunch of roses in their hand. Soon it became the talk of the town, Christians that showed the love of God in such a vivid way. 5,200 roses were given out during the week and each one proclaimed the love of God through God's people fulfilling the "great commission".
Decision cards soon flowed in, 400 first time decisions and hundreds more that prayed with us to rededicate their lives to Jesus. Of course, not all gave their names and addresses to us, but heaven kept count and that's what counts.
Our First Stadium Meeting in Europe!
So many of you prayed with us over the years for this promise God gave us, now it has happened. We were in the JJB stadium for one night! We took one section and what a meeting that was!
Every Generation Reached
We preached and sang with the older generation, we danced and hopped with the teenagers and we ate with and addressed the City Council. I can truly say that in one week we reached all walks of life in Wigan. We laughed and cried as 148 young people stepped forward in one single meeting to give their lives to Jesus.
Denominations worked together in a way that has never happened in Wigan before and pastors kept saying "our town has changed, we have an open heaven".
So much happened in one week, parallel prayer took place, led by Heike (our Prayer Coordinator) and Gayle preached the morning seminars and one of the night meetings. The team were in full action, helping and evangelising on the streets, yes, the Voice in the City team were part of "the Voice of God" in Wigan that week.
Family Fun Day
Tea Dance and Hymn Meeting
Roses on the Streets
Meetings
Gayle's Meeting
JJB Stadium
Youth Meeting
Event Program
Monday 5th May
Bank Holiday Fun Day: 11am - 5pm
- at the Old Cricket Ground, Parson's Walk, Wigan
Come and enjoy a day of fun and entertainment for all the family, there's lots going on including:
Free Children's Rides (under 11s)
Adult rides
bungee Fun
Rodeo Bull
Coconut Shy
Hook a Duck
Archery
Puppet Shows
Various Displays
Face Painting
Ice Cream
Stalls
Side Shows
PLUS MANY MORE ATTRACTIONS
It's a day not to be missed! The fun starts at 11am and continues throughout the day.
We will be using the Robin Park Sports Centre to house our ‘covered’ activities (puppet show, trip down memory lane, dance workshops and much, much more).
At 4pm – We herald 'The Grand Finale'. There will be a brass band march and procession, which will conclude at the Robin Park Sports Centre where Suzette Hattingh and Voice in the City Ministries will give a gospel and healing presentation to the town.
Tuesday 6th May
Training and Teaching Seminar: 10am - 12pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
Suzette Hattingh and her team will teach and minister to the assembled churches and visitors on aspects of faith. Hope in Wigan is more than one week of events; it is the further equipping of the town-wide church to be an essential part of the Wigan community for many years. ‘Equipping the Saints’ will run each morning – 10am to 12midday until Friday 9th.
Tea and 'Live Jive’ Dance: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
Dance and have fun, whatever your age. You can either take a trip down memory lane and dance the afternoon away to some of your favourite numbers or you can jive to some contemporary tunes. People of all ages will enjoy this afternoon. This is ideal whether you are a beginner or advanced. Dance instruction available for modern jive from local dance teacher Eddie Marshall.
Hope Helps: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
A further opportunity to give out a thousand roses and evening invitations in another part of town. Perhaps you need divine intervention? Why not drop into one of our prayer stations and perhaps you can experience the power of God in Wigan?
Songs of Praise and Suzette Hattingh: 7:30pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
You are invited to an evening of song and praise which will cover a spectrum of favourite hymns and choruses – right up to and including a selection by contemporary songwriters.
Inclusive of the evening, will be an exciting gospel and healing miracle time, with Suzette Hattingh and the ‘Voice in the City’ team. Suzette has a proven worldwide ministry and chose Wigan – turning down hundreds of others all over the world. On her pre-engagement visit to Wigan, Suzette said: ‘that she was more excited about coming to Wigan than any of her other engagements; and that this is the one appointment of 2008 that she should not miss’.
We are as excited as Suzette is about her visit to Wigan and would advise that you are too.
Why not Come and see for yourself?
Wednesday 7th May
Training and Teaching Seminar: 10am - 12pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
Suzette Hattingh and Gayle Claxton continue their teaching and ministry on how the church can become an even more effective part of our community.
Hope Helps: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
Volunteers are again assembled to serve the people of Wigan through community projects and share the good news of Jesus across our town.
An Evening of Gospel and Healing with Gayle Claxton: 7:30pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
As those who have attended ‘Equipping the Saints’ will by now know, Gayle is a very powerful communicator. Like Suzette, Gayle is used to speaking to thousands of people around the world. Gayle also believes that God will touch the lives of thousands of people in Wigan by His presence: Not one to miss!
Thursday 8th May
Training and Teaching Seminar: 10am - 12pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
Suzette Hattingh and Gayle Claxton continue to teach the theme of the previous days by pursuing a higher instruction that is guaranteed to ‘Equip the Saints’ for more productive work in Wigan.
Hope Helps: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
A further opportunity to give out a thousand roses and evening invitations in another part of town. Perhaps you need divine intervention? Why not drop into one of our prayer stations and perhaps you can experience the power of God in Wigan?
The BIG ONE: 7:30PM onwards
- at the JJB Stadium, Wigan
A massive evening of celebration and gospel outreach – open to Wigan and all other regions.
Included in the evening are a massed choir from local churches and the message band ‘BLUSHUK’
The gospel message will be brought once again by Suzette Hattingh and the ‘Voice in the City’ team. This will be followed by a time of miracles and healing.
We are anticipating an awesome time in God’s presence – if you want to experience the power of God as a reality – then come to the JJB on Thursday the 8th.
Friday 9th May
Training and Teaching Seminar: 10am - 12pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
The last of the teaching mornings by Suzette Hattingh and Gayle Claxton for this week. Suzette and Gayle will conclude with an 'anointing session' that will empower church leaders for the future.
Hope Helps: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Elim Christian Centre, Greenough Street, Wigan
A further opportunity to give out a thousand roses and evening invitations in another part of town. Perhaps you need divine intervention? Why not drop into one of our prayer stations and perhaps you can experience the power of God in Wigan?
Infusion: Strictly for Youth: 7pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
A massive 'live band fest' for young people with the Message bands; LZ7, BLUSHUK AND GENETIK REVOLUTION. Also featuring cutting-edge drama from 'In Yer Face'.
This concert will follow a week of schools awareness, when the bands will visit various high schools in the Wigan area to give a taste of what is ahead. From past experience thousands of young people are in for an awesome time. While there will be a gospel emphasis, the night will appeal to all young people.
Saturday 10th May
Kidz Alive: 2pm – 4pm
- at the Old Cricket Ground, Parson's Walk, Wigan
Lots of fun and games for the kids. There’s face painting, games, a Kiddies disco, a puppet show and more. Mums and Dads – bring your kids for a Saturday afternoon of fun in Wigan. Refreshments will be available.
Do You Believe in Miracles?: 7:30pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
An opportunity to meet with Suzette Hattingh and the Voice in the City team for an evening full of God’s healing and miracle power.
This is not one to miss. Suzette has proven throughout her worldwide ministry that God still miraculously heals disease and disability today.
Come along and experience God’s miracle working power for yourself!
Sunday 11th May
Hope for the Future: 3pm
- at the Robin Park Sports Centre, Loire Drive, Newtown, Wigan
Hope in Wigan ends the week with a time of 'Pentecost Celebration'.
This will be a time for the whole church family to come together and celebrate.
This will be a time to reflect on what has been achieved over the week, as well as to look to the future. Hope in Wigan is about building a better future for our town.
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