As 2015 comes to a close and I prepare to head to Dagenham in just 3 short weeks, I wanted to share a little more about how I got here! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!

Exactly seven years ago God began opening my eyes to the broken and hurting world around me that only He can redeem.  As I felt my heart breaking for people I had never met and places I had never seen, I also began to feel the tug to be a part of God’s plan. In 2008 God lead me to East London, South Africa where I was able to be a part of His work at First City Church, then in 2012 God allowed me to be a part of the amazing acts He is doing in Cochabamba Bolivia through the Casa De Amor orphanage. Since then I have been actively pursuing God here in Mckinney and seeking what He would have for me next and after much prayer and counsel, God has called me to Dagenham, England. 

Dagenham is a working class community in east London that, in the past, has had an average population of aging residents who found their way to Dagenham after the destruction of London at the end of WWII. However, over the past decade Dagenham has seen a huge influx of younger immigrant families from all over the world. This increase in families has boosted the population in Dagenham up to 180,000 residents. Bethel Christian Centre makes it a goal to visit 1500 homes throughout the course of the year to try and reach these families with the love of Christ. The changing demographic in the Dagenham area presents new obstacles to reaching the community. Over the years the area has become a somewhat impoverished area which has led to lower levels of education for the children, who in most cases don’t continue on into college and University, and as a result teen pregnancy, hopelessness and domestic violence are on the rise in this once thriving area.

It is undeniable that darkness and despair have covered the landscape of Dagenham.   However, the Lord has begun to move powerfully in this region.  Bethel Christian Centre, through London City Mission, is working to share the hope of life found in Christ by offering children’s, teen and family programming in the community center weekly.

            I believe God has uniquely prepared me to join Bethel and London City Mission and I want to invite you to go with me on this journey. Even though this might feel like a calling specific to me, I would never be able to do it without the prayer and support of fellow believers who want to see the fire of Christ's salvation spread to all nations and to all people. Your prayers for me and for the people of Dagenham as I begin this journey are the heartbeat of this entire mission and your financial gift will become the feet that make this mission possible! I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with me financially at $25, $50 or $100 a month. You can make your tax deductible donations at https://secure-q.net/Donations/gemissionorg/9241 . You can also find my blog at http://thebeautyandwonderwithin.blogspot.com , I’d love for you to follow me as I work with LCM and Bethel over the next year.

Saved to serve,

Jenn