Chris asked the team what their hopes and aspirations are for 2026.
Jeremiah 29:11 clearly shows that God knows His plans and thoughts for us. Please would you pray into the following as the year goes by:
Roger Womack
The Lord has clearly gifted Litania to Roger.
Please pray for his work with the charity Loss and Life.
Pray that God will:
- Build the prayer support team for the charity.
- Connect with local churches and organisations, including hospices.
- Help establish a Grief Pottery Studio in support of the Litania work.
- Provide a team to support the work on Litania.
- Provide fundraising opportunities.
Martyn and Donna Pooley
They are financially unable to travel the canals in the way they once were. Donna’s health has meant the best place for them is currently on land. Pray as they look to sell their boat.
They have been seeking the Lord for what is next for them. This has led to them working with the Pentecostal Church in Nantwich and staying in accommodation linked with this.
Pray for them as they minister to those who live there. Many migrant workers and students rent rooms in the church building.
Richard and Mary Haines
They felt God’s plan was for them to sell their boat (which has now happened).
They are now in London and will see where they can do Canal Ministries work, both along the towpath, with boaters, and among the St Pancras Cruising Club.
Richard feels God is calling him to mentor younger men, and Mary feels called to a doula role in bereavement support. They are keen to see how London churches may become involved with Canal Ministries.
Finally, they would like to get out on the network, perhaps moving boats for people or networking more generally within Canal Ministries and helping at missions.
As with all plans, they hold them very lightly.
Roger and Jo Gilbert
They have decided, for the time being, to stay in Lechlade.
Roger has applied for his ILR this year and therefore needs to prove income for this process.
They attend St Aldates Church in Oxford.
Jo is working in a charity shop role and hopes it will allow her to minister to many people in the town and make connections. They also run a pop-up pizzeria on Friday nights with friends.
They hope to restart an Alpha course on the boat.
Paul and Sue Standley
Boat-wise, they are working with churches in Burnley towards the mission in August.
Building Bridges Burnley has asked for help with their new canalside project, which is due to open around April/May time.
They hope to take vulnerable families on trips and work with the university.
Please pray for the purchase of their new home in Burnley to complete. In the meantime, they are living on Ten Thousand Reasons.
Steve and Fiona Burt
Pray as they prepare their house for sale.
They plan to continue travelling around the canal network wherever they feel led to go, having good conversations about sin and grace, and continuing their work with CRT.
Please pray that God will use Fiona and Rob Munday to advocate for liveaboard boaters and help shape legislation so that justice is done.
Andy and Sue Smith
They plan to do some much-needed decorating on Spring Water this year, which will naturally bring them into contact with people at the marina.
Chris and Sally Buck
They plan to continue developing friendships with those God has placed alongside them, whether in marinas or on the towpath.
Due to work, family commitments, and medical appointments, they could do with a base mooring. They have enquired about a cruiser mooring at Aylesbury Canal Society and have reserved a winter mooring there for 2026/27.
They have made some good connections with churches and would like to continue visiting and further developing these links.
They will also be attending the Burnley mission as part of the team there.
Rob and Trish Munday
They are back on board Ocha, having cleared out many of the stored liveaboard items that were never used. This has made room for visitors, so please do visit.
Their plan is to cruise through the summer from their base at the western end of the Kennet & Avon Canal.