Wigton Moor URC - a new vision

This is written by Rev Peter Clarkson at Wigton Moor URC regarding a recent vision for Cuba:

Rev Peter J Clarkson

34 Linton Rise

I have recently returned from a most exciting and inspiring visit to Cuba. I spent two weeks with my religious pen friend Damaris Gonzales who has a senior position within the Cuban Council of Churches. We have been friends for 10 years. With her help I have seen so much of the mission and ministry of Churches in Cuba. Whilst there, I had several overwhelming experiences of God’s presence and call.   In particular, God called me (and my Church) to the task of raising money to rebuild “El Calvario” Episcopalian Church in Luyano, Havana. The experiences of this call were profound and clear. God was real and so was his word! The Church building was severely damaged by a hurricane a number of years ago and had to be demolished. Subsequently, this Church’s mission to one of the poorest and neediest communities in Havana has been hampered and frustrated. The architectural plans for the new build are amazing and will provide this needy community with a magnificent resource which will meet spiritual, medical, social and economic needs. The potential is enormous. Believe me! God was very specific in his word to me.

1)       Raise the funds to rebuild “El Calvario” at a cost of about £55,000 sterling or 80,000 cuc.

2)      Do this within 2 years (dos anos)

3)      A significant sum of money should be raised for “El Calvario” by this Calvario (Calvary or Good Friday 2011.

4)      Work to rebuild should begin soon after Easter, with an aim to have the work completed in about 2 years

5)       Keep strong bonds of love and support between El Resurrecction as it will then be known and Wigton Moor URC.

I shared this vision in obedience to the Holy Spirit with my congregation on March 27^th both in our worship and at our AGM. And at our AGM, the Church meeting unanimously passed the following resolution....

“Wigton Moor URC undertakes the challenge to raise the £55,000 needed to rebuild “El Calvario”

Church, Luyano, Havana. We will aim to do this within 2 years.”

Members and friends of the Church will now seriously aim to give a sacrificial gift towards this vision before Good Friday 2011. They will also contact Christian friends, family and neighbours to engage further prayer and financial support.

We invite and warmly encourage other Churches to pray for us. If Churches can help financially we would be very grateful and any cheques should be made payable to Wigton Moor Church, and sent to my address above. Churches could consider for example asking worshippers on one Sunday before Easter Sunday 2011 to donate £1.00 toward El Calvario.

We aim to ring Cuba on Easter Sunday, and as well as share Easter love, joy and greetings, we will tell the community of El Calvario how much money we have raised at that point. The rebuilding process can begin soon after that, as money is transferred to the bank account of the Episcopalian Church of Cuba.

Yours, in the name of Jesus, and with grateful thanks for your support and interest,