We think it is the first time Christians serving in the health and care sectors of our city have come together to be thanked, encouraged and prayed for jointly by churches in Southend. We welcomed folk representing different areas of health and care provision for a morning designed to encourage and inspire them in the demands and challenges of their work environments. It was such an encouraging morning!
A tangible sense of God’s presence pervaded the morning and a great buzz of conversation as the guests networked. Worship led by a young worship leader from St. John’s set our focus firmly on Jesus. The 5 testimonies from NHS and care staff, focused on ‘God with me at work’, were inspiring and the applause at the end of each marked a celebration of Jesus and what he makes possible in the work place. There was a short message to encourage the guests and a time praying for those present, and for all those working in health and care settings. 6 prayer teams were available after the main event to pray for individuals who requested personal prayer and a number of the guests took advantage of the opportunity.
Throughout the morning high quality refreshments were available, including a range of gluten free home made cakes. The event took place at Southend Christian Fellowship’s Plaza Centre and the staff member could not have been more helpful in ensuring all the practicalities for the morning went off without a hitch. Each guest left with a ‘Thank You’ bag of items and the encouragement to take one for other workers they knew who could not be present.
Feedback from the morning was very positive. One person messaged:
‘We thank God and we thank Love Southend immensely and thanks to all of you who have organised this event; for your vision and passion for the NHS, the staff and the local community. We thank you for the opportunity afforded us to come together and share some of the ways God has been working with us and not only us in the frontline of the NHS but in all aspects of our local community and nation…
Please send our appreciation to Love Southend.
Thank you so much for your love, care and prayers.’
We are so grateful to God that the aims we felt he gave us for the morning were fulfilled.