17/09/2021
GRACE UPON GRACE is ready!!!!! As some of you may know, we have been renting a house (next door to our own house) to postgraduate students for the last 15 years. Clare and I recently decided to partner with The Open Hands Project (www.openhandsproject.org.uk) who provide housing and friendship to destitute asylum seekers, and provide the house for their use instead. We are calling the house "Grace upon Grace", a reference to John 1v16, and a testimony to the grace upon grace Clare and I have received through Jesus Christ. Our first asylum seeker guests are arriving tomorrow. To all our Christian friends, please pray for the guests, that they might feel safe, secure, warm, welcomed, befriended, and that they too might know this "Grace upon Grace" found in Jesus.
For full disclosure, Open Hands are paying us a rent, and will pay the utility bills. The rent is significantly below the market rental value, and does not meet our actual mortgage costs or other ongoing costs. I thought it would be good to be open and honest about the finances, in case you thought we were able to give it for free! Our small house church, Grace Fellowship, have been financially supportive and have provided about £1200 to help us get the house ready, to provide new bedding, crockery, cutlery, chairs, rugs, and some maintenance etc.
Grace upon Grace is an exciting project and partnership between Clare and I, Grace Fellowship, and Open Hands Project.
