Prayer Points February 2014
1. 2014 Programme. We are planning the year ahead and need to make decisions about subjects and dates.
Please pray for wisdom as we think about this.We ask particular prayer for the visit of Roy Godwin and the
team from Ffald y Brenin between the 11th to the 13th July 2014. We need to decide very soon how many to
plan for as this will determine the logistics and needs. Roy and his team are praying with us re this.
2. The Storehouse Fund. We have successfully negotiated a £20,000 overdraft facility for the Storehouse Fund
so that we can balance out the payback dates for the loans with the monthly income. This is not a loan but an
overdraft facility. The loans will be largely paid off by May 2015 which is great. However, because we are still at
about 50 people giving £10 pm and we need 200 to clear the loans, we have to use our general monthly income
to make up the difference. This puts our monthly operating costs under pressure, including paying Alan to be our
host on site. Please pray for God to release more of His people to donate £10 pm to the Storehouse.
3. Different funds to give to. Please also pray for God’s resources to be released for the general building fund.
Just to be clear people can give specifically to the Storehouse Fund which is a 100% giving away fund. Initially all
the money will be given to those who generously gave us interest free loans to buy Sannox. Once they are paid
the Storehouse Fund will be used to support people and situations in the churches and communities as God
directs. All Storehouse money will be given away to bless others. For those who want to give generally, or
specifically to a part of the building work, this is done through the general and building accounts. Please pray that
resources would be released at the right time and in the right way.
4. Building programme. The refurbishment of Dundarroch is progressing. It was such a pleasure to see people
staying in Dundarroch. We have two new en suite bedrooms and a new “temporary” kitchen. Between now and
Easter we want to refurbish the lounge, complete with insulation and a wood burning stove, refurbish the upstairs
toilet and shower room and paint the three remaining bedrooms, the dining room and the upstairs toilet. We need
volunteers for this so please get in contact! The cost to do the lounge is £4,500 inc VAT and another £5,000
for the rest of the works. If we can do this before Easter we will be up and running and ready to receive guests that would be so good! Please pray for this to happen. I have attached a breakdown of costs for the lounge for
your information to allow people to give towards specific items.
5. The church roof. We also need the church up and running and that means the roof refurbished and sealed.
We have been preparing an application for the Heritage Lottery Fund for this. They give grants for the
refurbishment of places of worship. The initial application goes in next week to cover costs such as professional
fees, scaffolding, etc so that we can prepare a major application in 3 months time for the roof. Please pray for
God’s guidance in this.
6. Lastly please pray for those involved with the building of Sannox, both spiritually and physically. Fiona and I
were at the Bield last weekend with Robin and Marianne and had such a blessed time. Their counsel and support
is so appreciated and it was good to be there again - what a place! One thing that Robin said I feel I should
mention as I felt it was very significant for us. As we talked about Sannox and complained that the building work
is slow Robin observed that the relationship we enjoy with the local community is unique and very special. The
fact that things have taken time and we have had to use local B and B’s, Claire’s tearoom, Smudger’s tent, etc
has given us a wonderful gift in the relationships we now have with the community. As God releases resources
and we build our own facilities we should never forget the links we have and continue to strengthen them and use
their resources. As we spoke I was reminded of the old Celtic missions who were central to the communities they
served. They were the hospital, the school, the art hub and the spiritual core. What a vision for Sannox. What a
reminder for us that God is building people, building relationships and bringing rest and restoration - and oh yes
to facilitate that he’ll supply a roof over our heads. As we prepare for another year I realise the prayer points are
largely to do with building works and resources. However, these are detailed in order for you to pray with us
about our trust In God that He will release them at the right time. Sannox is not a construction project, it is part of
the Father’s plan to build the Kingdom on earth, at Sannox on the Isle of Arran. It is His work, His plan; we just
follow the footsteps.