Following form Ps Andy's previous messages about the classroom of faith, Ps Gina this week speaks about how God provides encouragement to us through His word. At times she sprinkles this message with personal anecdotes about how God has literally spoken to her through nature, through the Bible and even a message on a note left wedged in a table!

Ps Gina also speaks what may be some of her last messages to the church as a whole as senior leadership changes take place early 2026. She is keen to impart a message to us "Be strong and courageous and trust God". The faith we have learnt about in the classroom of faith messages demands courage. In the early verses of the book of Joshua, God speaks to someone who is about to lead His people into the promised land...

Joshua 1:6 & following (NIV) " Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Ps Gina's message today builds on this text by talking about the courage that Faith demands.

Ps Andy continues speaking in his Classroom of Faith series but moves away from looking at Abraham & Sarah (even though he admits there are moany more lessons to be leant there). This week, he looks specifically at the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. Ps Andy takes us on a tour of the story of Joseph, his sons, his multi coloured coat and life full of dreams, Pit, Potiphar, accusation, prison, waiting, appointment then palace, more dreams and eventual fulfilment!

Ps Andy then summarises the life of Joseph with ten learning lessons of faith.....

• Faith starts with a God given dream
• Faith trusts God when people fail you
• Faith refuses to let circumstance define identity
• Faith stays faithful in unfair places
• Faith chooses integrity over opportunity
• Faith trusts God in delays and silence
• Faith serves others even while waiting on its own breakthrough
• Faith believes that God can change everything in a moment
• Faith recognises that promotion comes from god, not people
• Faith sees God’s hand in every chapter – even the painful ones

Every point here which comes from the story of Joseph equally well reflects into our own lives!

Ps Andy carries on his series about Abraham's Classroom, this week looking at How to take hold of something by faith. He recaps last week - Abraham and Sarah stepping out in faith on a promise from God. If we are to take a faith Journey with God, its must start with a promise. Every time Abraham had a breakthrough, every time he met with God on the journey, he would take time to stop and worship, build an altar. Last week we crossed into Genesis 13 and we saw how Abraham separated from Lot & leant how we need to be ready to leave something old natural, in order to take on something new.

How to take hold of something by faith? We have the promise, we are stepping out, we have a word for the situation but we are not yet holding the outcome. Ps Andy looks at how Abraham conducted himself here in his journey after being told he would be Father of many nations yet had no son. He made mistakes (Ishmael) and more. Ps Andy walks us through this story looking at how we can be frustrated at waiting for fulfilment of God's promises yet the last thing God needs is for us to step in and "help Him". God is Almighty, he needs no help from us!

When God gives a promise, the Fulfilment of that promise is on Him, not on us. We need to walk in alignment with the promise but the fulfilling of the promise is based on Him which means He puts His character and His name on the line. We settle back not in apathy, but in simple Faith saying God I don't know how or when but if you promised I know you will. When we have a promise from God, we need to be speaking in alignment with that promise.

This is an action packed message, Ps Andy concludes explaining the situation about Abraham and Isaac, where God appears to test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac after he had waited many years to get him.

When God said, take the promised child, go to the region where Jesus was also crucified, sacrifice him as a burnt offering, it was a massive challenge of faith. When God gives something he promised then steps into our world saying can you trust me, we see the maturity of Abraham's faith. In Hebrews 11, Abraham takes Isaac, ready to sacrifice, but knows God will intervene. Abraham reasoned he would receive Isaac back from the dead. Abraham holds a child knowing he's in covenant with God. So God speaks to him telling him to offer his son just as Jesus would die many years later and rise. Abraham does not know God's plan here but does know his son will live. He was releasing God to do something that would save us.

This is an amazing and challenging message!

Ps Andy speaks today on the first of a new short series titled 'Classroom of Faith'. His message focuses on the story of Abram becoming Abraham, going on a journey of faith as directed by God (book of Genesis), but also leaning very much on the words of Hebrews 11 that tells us without faith it is impossible to please God.

As Pastor of Family Church, Andy implores us to be people having unshakable faith. We are not to place reason above faith. Let Faith be first in our lives. Before every miracle we read of in scripture, there's always an unreasonable request demanding people of unreasonable faith! Andy concentrates today on the story of Abraham found in Genesis 12 to 14. God told him to go from the country he knew to a place he did not, but that many promises would be his - the Father of many nations and more....

Andy underlines the importance of stepping out not in our own strength, but on a promise from God as Abraham did, even if the full details are not known at that time. Foolishness and presumption have no place here. We need a word from Heaven to take a journey to somewhere called seemingly impossible - just as Ps Andy & Gina are taking on their own next steps of ministry. In Genesis 13:14 and following, scripture says (NIV) The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

We can liken Lot to people, relationships, activity, habits etc in our own lives today and realise that we cannot expect to step out in faith somewhere new until we leave behind what we have naturally known. Only then will God show us the stars of tomorrow and all the sand of unstoppable promises.

Today is Remembrance Sunday. After a service of remembrance, Ps Sean reflects not only on those who gave their lives sacrificially for our freedom during wars and conflicts; but also upon the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross.

Just as many did during military conflicts, we are called to lay our lives down for God's purpose. Ps Sean recalls John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". This is a picture of sacrifice, the offering of God giving His son was a gift, it cost God our Father - the nature of sacrifice.

John 15:12-14 (NIV) says "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command". Ps Sean makes no apologies for telling us we cannot live a life ignoring Jesus' commands calling ourselves Christian & expecting the benefits!

Ps Sean continues referring to Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship". He continues speaking about three key ingredients of sacrifice:

• Surrender
• Selflessness
• Suffering

Jesus lived this kind of life, not because he needed to but because we needed him to do this for us.

This Sunday is our Missions Sunday. During the service, the congregation listened to videos from all the missionaries we support across the world (audio of this omitted here). Ps Steu then spoke about why we do what we do and why this is important to us all.

The only true complete and lasting answer to the needs of humanity is found in Christ Jesus. There is nothing and nobody else that can be bring true hope, true healing and restoration outside of Salvation found in Jesus Christ. God's desire is that every human being on the face of this planet would find salvation in Jesus. Ps Steu refers to the well known verse John 3:16....(NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

Salvation is something every person can receive. All we have to do is put our faith in Jesus, repent of our sins and come to Jesus. Ps Steu explains at great length with many other scripture references how this is the plan of God for all humanity, to have the opportunity to be saved. This was revealed to Peter in Acts chapters 10 and 11. We have all been given an incredible message by God to share with the people around our lives.

We are Christ's ambassadors. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news!

Last week Ps Carla began a news series looking at 'Life is a Garden'. Following this, Ps Sean this week takes a look specifically at what we can sow with a focus on our finances.

Amongst many scripture references, Sean looks at Luke 6:38 (NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The law of sowing and reaping is as relevant today as it was thousands of years back when the scripture was written. He follows this with Matthew 6:19..."“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

Ps Sean points out that there are two fields we can sow into - the immediate field in front of us and the eternal field beyond our temporal lifespan. Which is worth more to sow into? The Bible tells us to set our minds on Heavenly things, not earthy things. Gaining the whole world but losing our soul is not wise..

Ps Sean goes on to speak about the love of money and our love for the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money helps us achieve many things, the key here is our heart attitude. Are we doing something because of our love of a monetary reward (perhaps), or our love for our Lord?

He ended with three key points on sowing with finances

• Get to give - not give to get
• Love is our motive - generosity, kindness, & love from the overflow of a grateful heart
• Joyful Obedience - have a merry spirit when giving

This is a challenging message!

Ps Carla begins a new series of messages entitled 'Life is a Garden'. The first message is subtitled 'Wilderness to Promised Land'. All through scripture from Genesis to the New Testament we find numerous references to gardens, agriculture, seed time and harvest (we reap what we sow).

Today Carla speaks about how in Genesis 2:8, Our Father God planted a garden. NIV verses..."Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed". In verse 15, God told Adam to work the garden and care for it "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it".

The Bible says God planted and Ps Carla envisages God crouching down putting seeds into the ground, perhaps with dirty hands. So the Bible is full of imagery around gardening, all this relating to our relationship with God, who is the planter & cultivator of both creation and of our hearts.

Ps Carla explains how the story of the Israelites who eventually feed not from manna & quail, but planted crops is similar. No longer was God going to rain down provision but to do something different. He was saying now you need to work the land and care for it. The Israelites had come into a place where the principle of seed time and harvest were put in motion.

Ps Carla leaves us with thoughts on three key seeds we have the ability to sow daily

• Speech - how we speak really matters. Proverbs 19:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat of its fruits.
• Tears - Psalm 126:5 (NIV) says "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy". We may be moved to tears in our prayers of closeness to our Lord...
• Energy or money or capabilities - God loves a cheerful giver, all that we have is His anyway!

Ps Andy rounds off the series on a "Growing Church" by speaking about Communion and Prayer. During the service he then led the whole church into taking communion together.

Acts 2:42 (NIV) says "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer". This has been the central theme for the series on growing the church.  Every time we touch the bread, whether it's a cracker, a wafer or sourdough, whatever bread we're using, let it remind us that a body was broken for our freedom. When we take the cup, that Jesus Christ paid the price of his blood, so that we could be set free from religious experience and obligation and brought into a relationship with Him and His Father.

Ps Andy explains the deeper spiritual meaning behind the taking of communion before speaking about prayer and the importance of prayer in our lives. He speaks about us being a house of prayer, not entertainment and how prayer should be ta the heart of our lives.

Prayer and communion go hand in hand, together they are a crucial part of the fellowship of believers as described in Acts 2:42.

Within the context of our series on a Growing Church, today Pastors Andy & Gina Elmes made a significant announcement to all of Family Church held dear to their hearts. The following words accompany the message today from Pastors Andy & Gina.....

After 28 years of pioneering and leading Family Church, on Sunday, 1st February 2026, we will be handing over the leadership of Family Church to Steuart & Carla Payne, who will step into the role of Senior Pastors. This transition comes after much prayer, preparation, and a clear sense that the assignment God gave us nearly three decades ago is now complete. We are confident that this next chapter will be filled with fresh vision, strength, and fruitfulness under Steuart & Carla’s leadership. They are trusted, tested, and called by God to lead Family Church into its next chapter. We are excited about what God will continue to do in and through the church under Steuart & Carla's leadership. Please know that this transition is not an end, but a continuation of the faith journey God has us all on. Thank you for standing with us, for loving us, and for continuing to build God’s house with faith and unity. With love and blessings, Andy & Gina.

Ps Andy further explained how this indeed fits with the biblical pattern of change and transition seen in the New Testament church. Paul raised people, trusted them, pastored them, taught them, established churches and also moved on to new things as God called him. Whilst the news today does seem a huge change, it is a reflection of Ps Andy's willingness to be obedient to God's calling even when the future is uncertain. God is a God of movement, we all need to become open and able to hear His call upon our own lives.