Thanks for taking time to look at a general update on the charity rather than specific activity among the boaters/volunteers. The aim is to do this more often so we can give you the full picture of what is happening both on the Cut and in “the office”.
We are already over halfway through 2022, so it is way over time to let you have an update on where we are at this point in time as a charity.
The updates from the boater/volunteer teams on the front line should be updated soon on the individual pages, and the whole website brought up to date not long after that. Those that know us already will already be aware that Peter Atwill retired in November 2021 and that we have a new Team Leader in Chris Buck. Chris and Sally are on Kairos and you can read their updates on the website
Peter used to be my Pastor long ago and I one of his Deacons at Bishopstoke Evangelical Church. He founded Canal Ministries back in 2006. Hopefully in the Autumn issue of the Boaters’ Christian Fellowship Word Magazine you should see an article “wot I wrote” (as Ernie Wise might have said). The article attempts to let folk know who we are and what we do as an organisation, so I will not repeat that at this time but copy it here at a later date.
In January, we had our first retreat/conference/gathering after the Covid Pandemic. Although we know some could not make it, we had a blessed time over at the Elim Conference Centre in Malvern. This include ministry from Andy Moore and Tom Price from The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Now I come to mention it – it is time to start planning the next gathering in January 2023.
In June, we joined with the BCF in mission at Water Eaton for a second year. The local churches took ownership of the mission and BCF and Canal Ministries crews organised boat trips, assemblies, tours of the boats and much more. It was good to see them all on the Thursday, to hear the news of folks committing their lives to Jesus for the first time, and also recommitting their lives to Him.
On the mundane, but necessary, side of things, we have been updating our documentation and it’s good to see both boaters and trustees taking on new roles as we move to share God’s love on the waterways.
My prayer is that this year we will see more come to know Jesus and that we can help more people in need where we meet them on the waterways or on dry land.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:13-14 (NIV).
Again, thank you for reading
Peter Mills
(NOTES: The information in this article was correct at the time it was published. Any views expressed above are personal and not necessarily those of the other Trustees).