Story number 4 for 25 Jan 2000

Elsewhere, a United States-based outreach is creating a new concept for the
work of churches in their communities. New Focus National’s Betsy Decker calls
this ‘creating space for ministry’. She explains the idea. “Often our lives are so busy,
that we don’t take the time to do what we want to do. New Focus creates the structure
in the church where we can do that. When you have a space, you’re making an
appointment with a person-and, as you’re relating to that person, you have an
opportunity to share your own life testimony about how God helped you.” Decker says
they are asking for prayer support as they work with churches nationwide to implement
their own programs. “Our prayer is that the church will wake up to the potential of
encouraging people daily and being open to people who have needs, so that people
don’t only go to church to worship, but they can go to church to share their need.”