Plant, plant, and plant again!
Reverend Jonathan Haigh
For 225 years, Greenhill Methodist Church has been a Spirit-filled discipleship community serving Greenhill and the surrounding area. It was originally a church plant in someone’s home: when they needed a larger place to meet, they bought some land to build the first Greenhill Methodist chapel. The community of faith did not stand still. Through worship and prayer, they wanted to meet the needs of the village. The first church hall was built. A larger church sanctuary followed, and then in 1952 a larger hall.
The growing footprint of the buildings tells a faith story of a Jesus-loving community who wanted to serve their local neighbourhood. Year after year, they continued to plant on prayer-soaked soil.
If the ground could speak, it would tell the story of its ups and downs: a time when some left to start another church; healing meetings where coach-loads would come to be touched by God.
Then, in 2015, God called the church to start a new season of planting. We were led to the 2020 Vision: to create a new space that was worthy of welcoming the current community around us.
A space where we could minister the love of Jesus to meet our neighbours’ mental, physical, social and spiritual needs. A space where parent and toddler groups could meet alongside memory cafes and get-togethers for those in their third age.
Where we could host Messy Church, and other vibrant children’s and youth work. Where we could welcome people to try Alpha and have a comfortable space for deeper, one-to-one conversations. Where people could meet with Jesus and feel his healing touch.
Little did any of us know the environment we would find ourselves in leading up to the building. Raising nearly one million pounds in five years was a challenge enough.
It is now a miraculous testimony of God’s provision.
But then, to start building just as the lockdown struck, seemed even more crazy.
But God continued to assure us that we had been faithful to his call to plant again and that he would provide. For example: we started to build the first phase of the project, but then found ourselves with a serious cash flow problem.
We held a gift day, and thanks to the generosity of the community – as well as several grants and an interest free loan – we received nearly £200,000 in a single month. Which meant the work continued on schedule, and the building was completed in November 2020.
Planting with purpose. Sowing seeds of faith. Building friendships, helping people find Jesus and become disciples. We pray that this new building will be the place that many find Christ in generations to come.
Jonathan oversees two churches, find out more about them by visiting Greenhill and Victoria Hall Methodist Church websites.