Some of you will have heard this journey at the Family meeting, however I know not everyone was able to be there, so I wanted to try and write something of the journey to communicate it as best I can.

In September as part of the week of prayer, as a staff team we spent our usual Tuesday prayer meeting in the prayer room. Over the previous week I had been reading Psalm 4, and God was nudging me on verse 7, “fill my heart with Joy when their grain and new wine abound”. God then took me on a journey of new wine skins and his joy he has for us. I felt we are moving into a new season, needing new wine skins that would stretch naturally with the new wine (Spirit) being poured in. This is a picture of new joy coming, celebration, of fresh fruits, his promises being fulfilled. I feel as a church (not just GodFirst) we are on the cusp of something new in God. However, for there to be new wine, there needs to be fresh fruit, pressing and then comes the wine.

The past 18 months of Covid has meant different things for different people. One of things I remember saying to my wife, Caroline early days in the pandemic, was God is going to start moving people around, to where he wants them for the next season. Four years ago I can remember walking round a park in Wimbledon with Caroline as we were praying about moving on from London, and the culture of Church we wanted to be a part of. This conversation started an adventure that brought us down to Christchurch. First priority was to be part of GodFirst as a church, and then secondly to find employment which ended up being the Operations Leader at GodFirst Church.

A week before the prayer week I sat down with Duncan Lee, and Duncan Kemp to discuss proposed changes in my role. This followed a review of the staff team aimed at helping the church to move forwards into a new future. In the three and a half years in my role, we’d bought Airfield Road (the week I was appointed), sold and moved out of Hope House, moved into portacabins with a green metal box for a toilet. Moved from the Regent centre, into the Grange school, and then joining both sites (Christchurch and Highcliffe) together in Airfield Road in September 2019. The pandemic, and transferring us from physical to virtual rooms, and so much more. We changed the IT systems, finance systems, systems that turn on the coffee machine, and a few more in the background that keeps things moving. We introduced new leaders, we often said we’re changing the wheels, engine and oil on the bus as it was moving. GodFirst is a different shape to where it was three and a bit years ago - to move on to the next steps of the journey, the shape of the staff team needed to change, to support the work moving forward.

Throughout this year God had been speaking to me privately and publicly about areas he wanted to grow my heart in. As a part of the SLT I could see the roles we were discussing are right for the church moving forward, however things for me personally in the role didn’t align with my nudging’s in a different line of work. We love being part of GodFirst and that continues. We’re also loving getting involved in things in a different way as volunteers, through things like the Wellbeing Course, something God has really been speaking to me over this time.

I’m really praying and encourage you to pray for these new positions in the staff team, because I really believe we are on the cusp of something, and God is bringing together a church ready for the fruit to come, these roles are part of that continuing and moving forward.

So, in short, we are staying in the church, and watch this space, as I know there are exciting new things on the horizon. However, I am moving on from the Operations role finishing in December. To what I am not sure, I have ideas and pushing doors. Your prayers are appreciated, this is an obedient step of faith, following where we feel led, steps we have seen God open miraculous doors in before, and know he will again. Anyone who know Caroline and my stories will know bold steps of obedience in jobs, ministry, housing etc are not uncommon… and when God nudges you, you start moving and he guides the next steps. Sometimes those steps out on the water are courageous ones and not as easy, however we have a loving Father who has plans for each of us and I am excited about the next steps and chapter.

If you’d like to chat with me through the story or have encouragements for us please do come and speak to us.

Blessings

Paul Cox