Family Church Southsea

Children can be very single-minded. Just enjoying each day as it comes, with little to worry about, quick to make friends, finding it easy to believe what they're told, living in the now. We are called to be 'child-like' in our new life as born again believers, and yet sometimes parts of our old life can still be lurking around in a way that causes us to be double-minded and distracted in our walk with the Lord. This can be true when it comes to our more intimate and personal relationships, including in marriage.Many of us our sold a lie in this world that we must be in a relationship or married. Marriage is a divine design for us to celebrate and embrace. But so is singleness. Jesus was single in his time on earth. As fully man, He was someone who had nowhere to lay his head. His nomadic lifestyle suited His ministry. As fully God, he was in full communion with God the Father and The Holy Spirit. While he enjoyed it, he did not need or desire the kind of close human companionship that we often depend on. Marriage is designed to meet our needs and desires for companionship and offers a way to fulfil purpose in life. Marriage between male and female is designed to point to the ultimate marriage between us as the Bride and Jesus as the Bridegroom. Marriage is designed to reflect and glorify God and our reconciliation with Him into eternity. But being single as a disciple of Jesus gives us a great platform to live our lives fully with God. Singleness is something to be celebrated and embraced in the church, not just as a 'stage' before marriage and certainly not as meaning someone is somehow lacking something in their life. But whether married or single, we are all called to be 'single-minded'. We need to do whatever it is to minimise our distractions and respond to our calling. Especially in these times of crisis.This message takes as its inspiration the account in Acts 8 of the Ethiopian Eunuch riding in his chariot who was approached by Philip. As Jesus makes clear, a Eunuch was either born that way, is one by circumstance or by choice in order to serve the Kingdom. As a Eunuch, this man's attention was undivided and he was a man who could hold a position of responsibility in support of royalty. Whether married of single (or dating), this is the kind of single-mindedness we can be pursuing as followers of Jesus. We can be prioritising the Word and Worship, be teachable, attracting and inviting Godly people into our private lives, desiring to be baptised, letting go of our old ways and embracing our new life with Christ and confessing and believing that He's our Lord and Saviour and be open to be stopped in our tracks for His purpose. As we take on this new way of life, our spiritual journey will not be dependent on any other person, only God, and we will go away rejoicing!

We can find strength in the struggle when we surrender ourselves to God. All of us face mountains of different kinds in our lives - situations where it feels like everything is going against us. This is where we need to find strength. When his 600 men lost their wives and children and their safespace was destroyed, David - who also had his two wives taken - was facing being stoned by his own men. But he found strength in the Lord, the Bible tells us. Yes, this may have been through prayer and worship. but reading on, we also see him enquiring of the Lord on what to do next, and then obey the instructions he received. We seeing him having 'weight' taken off of him, while keeping hold of the compassion despite the crisis he was in. That compassion then led to his breakthrough, finding the enemy, having everything restored and then sharing the grace and mercy of God with those around him. When we face mountains and decide to find our strength in the Lord, we gain a greater understanding of Jesus while also shining his light more to others. Getting closer to Jesus we receive revelation and radiance. The Great Commission was shared in front of a mountain. Jesus was giving the eleven disciples a heads' up of what a life of discipleship making will look like. We need to get a grip! Sometimes conditions are really against us; cold, slippery, brittle - just like the North Face of a mountain. But God himself is described as the 'Holy NorthFace' - a place that should be inaccessible. But through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, our hearts have been made pure and hands clean and now we can climb.But if our hearts are pure and hands are clean, why does it feel like we are slipping sometimes? It's the feet that can lose their grip. This can be due to wearing the wrong footwear or because of the kind of surfaces we have contact with in this world. Closing the four part Terra Firma series, this message concludes that this is why Jesus needs to wash our feet regularly. FC Southsea are hearing clearly from the Lord. A word was shared weeks ago on us being like a 'limpet' in how it clings to the rock, to hang on in stormy times or low tides when they're exposed to the elements. We're encouraged to let Jesus wash our feet, and for us to wash each others' feet too, so our feet can grow muscular and we don't lose our grip. Don't look down. As we stand on solid ground in difficult situations - we can look up! Terra Firma.

God has landed us on the shores of Southsea. We have detached ourselves from being too fixed on familiar places so that we 'don't look back' but instead are ready to move where God is moving. We have considered what it means to 'stay in our lane' as we determine to understand where God is calling us, open to receiving his vision, refusing to compare our lives too much with those in other lanes, and staying firm even in the wilderness. And now that we are moving, we have learnt what it means to be 'on the ground' and out of our comfort zone. So many 'touch points' were covered through Wayne's captivating personal stories from his journey with the Lord since those foundational years in Sunday school. The love of God is a firm foundation. It is always there waiting for us. But are we really building our life upon this rock? Like those two houses built on rock and sand, two lives can look very similar on the outside. But when the storms hit we get to see the foundation we're truly standing on. Wayne's mantra in life is clear: "if you want something, you go and get it". But the key to this is that whatever you're going for, you need to know you're doing it in God's will. God has many gifts waiting for us to come and receive. The journey in learning how to receive them is long and challenging but rewarding and God-glorifying. Wayne took us through his dedication to the Lord and also his parents' separation on Christmas Day - all in his teen years. In to his adult years he worked for his dad before starting his own business. He left his life-long church to then end up helping start Family Church with his close friend Pastor Andy Elmes. His dockyard business was merged with another business and life was flourishing - both at work and at home with wife Nicky and their first child. But a pivotal moment came at a Family Church Men's Getaway on the Isle of Wight with three simple words from God; "Are You Ready?". Reflecting on the life of Daniel, Wayne then resigned as a Director of the successful business and eventually joined the charity Stella's Voice, to help rescue children in Moldova and Ukraine from captivity and danger. While again experiencing success, with the help of a return to Genesis, it was then time for 'new beginnings' again; leading Wayne to leave Stella's Voice and eventually - after being tempted to find his own next step - finding himself joining Family Church as Operations Manager, employed three days a week. This is a story of God giving great gifts but also asking for something in return. To leave a life of comfort and live uncompromised for Him. When God calls us out of our comfort zone, He is only looking for our 'Yes'. If He has asked us to do something, the outcome is not our responsibility. It's His. When we say 'Yes', we can expect Him to move and to be at the centre of what we are involved in. It doesn't matter what is at thrown at his in life but where we are standing when it is thrown. As we commit ourselves to journeying with God, sometimes this requires us to leave homes, people and even friends behind. But what we take with us is the roots that we have planted. Let's not just go through the motions in this journey, church - let your roots go deep. Stand firm on solid ground.

We all share the same lane as disciples of Jesus; through time spent with him in prayer, worship, his word and fellowship. But we also all have individual lanes to run. When it comes to our unique calling in life, we need to learn to stay in our lane. This begins with vision - what is God saying to us? To stay in our lane, we should not only desire to gain this insight from God, but write it down in order to run with it. Especially when times become challenging or we can be distracted or diverted into other lanes - clear vision keeps us on track.To stay in our lane we have to avoid comparison with others. People can be fickle and fleeting, God is permanent and powerful. He is the one we should be tethered to, learning to listen, trust and obey the Holy Spirit to find our direction and pace as we begin to run as one, step by step. But what about those times when the calling really is not clear? Perhaps you have successfully handed over an assignment that is thriving and in strength, but been left asking the question 'what next?'. We all have times when God may appear silent or distant in our walk. In these 'wilderness seasons', we can still look at those areas we do know is our lane - whether a parent, a partner, or pursuits outside of 'typical' church ministry - wherever we find ourselves in, we can still take the responsibility to recognise this as calling too, and attach God's word to each of those responsibilities we embrace in our lane as we await the next. Where is your lane? Are you where you should be? If not or if you don't know, ask God now, what are you calling me to? Let the Spirit pour out in and through your life as you stay in your lane.

We’re arriving in new territory. As we do we must stand and step forward on the rock - the solid ground - where the church can be built on, where hell will not prevail, and where we have the keys to the Kingdom.We are no longer bound to the things of this world. Let’s not get too fixed in place. Jesus had no fixed address. We are first Spiritual beings living in the Spirit before we are natural beings living in the world. We are not fixed by a building but when Jesus is in the building. Be a Nomad - don’t be fixated on place, but be fixated on God, free to move with the Spirit.As we arrive in new territory. Uncharted places, think: 'Terra Firma'. Let’s stand on the rock and be built on the rock of Jesus. Let’s look forward. Don’t look back.

Why do even the most intelligent and sincere people often make choices they later regret? Is temptation simply about willpower, or is there something deeper at work?What is your marshmallow? Drawing on Jesus' teaching, everyday illustrations, and even insights from modern psychology, this message reveals how temptation affects every one of us, why it's a battle we all face, and, most importantly, how God has equipped us to overcome it. Discover practical, hope-filled ways to stand firm through the power of Scripture, authentic joy, and supportive relationships. Whether you're currently struggling or simply want to strengthen your walk with God, this message offers encouragement, wisdom, and the reminder that no temptation is greater than God's faithfulness.

What a treat. Family Church Southsea member Lorna shares nuggets of godly wisdom as part of our latest Church Value; Church Family. 'Growing Up' in the Lord, with Christ, is something Lorna has walked through and experienced over time - and is the first to admit she is still on that journey. Christian maturity is not about becoming flawless—it is about becoming more like Christ through patience, humility, forgiveness, encouragement, and life together in Christian community. Spiritual maturity is a lifelong process, not a state of perfection. God shapes each believer differently according to their personality, experiences, and stage of faith. God grows each believer at His own pace, and the church should be a place where people are accepted, supported, and equipped rather than judged.Drawing on her time living at Lee Abbey, Lorna describes how christian community life challenged her pride, impatience, and expectations, ultimately helping her grow spiritually. Rather than judge or compare one another, Jesus teaches us to show patience, grace, and encouragement, recognising that everyone is on their own journey with God.We each have spiritual gifts to discover and we musn't be shy about that. Empathy, humility, kindness, integrity, and accountability are essential for a healthy Christian community; quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer's 'Life Together', a Christian community is centred on Christ and strengthened through mutual love and support.Let's remain open to God's guidance, trust His timing in their spiritual growth, and support others as they grow.

In this message, we explore what it means to be God's church family: one body and one house, with every believer chosen for a reason and called to play a unique part. As each member does its special work, the whole body grows healthy, growing, and full of love, reminding us that we are called to be valuable contributors, consumed with service and not just consumers. Following the example of Jesus, we are called to serve, not simply out of duty, but as family. We also discover our calling as a holy priesthood, ministering to God through serving one another and those outside the church. The message concludes with a call to step into the office of the priest through prayer and intercession for others.

Church isn’t just a place we go on a Sunday, it’s somewhere we belong. God is doing something intentional here; He intends us to be a family and we need to be intentional in building a home together.

When a pint of lemonade costs £4.50 and yet the world has just produced its first trillionaire, we can say economically, we live in shaky times. When it comes to finance, we are called to be bold in faith but also bold in our stewardship. Working with what we’ve got and giving from who we’ve got, we can live with a generous heart that gives God the glory and points people to Jesus. As Christians, we are not called to be lazy, just lying down and claiming 'the Lord will provide'. But nor are we called to be tight-fisted, earning and saving well but keeping it all to ourselves. The miracle of Peter walking on water was a demonstration of faith, but how did the boat get there? Peter had a trade and maintained the very thing that could withstand a storm and provide a platform for the miracle to take place. Then later in Acts, we read about the apostles who witnessed the resurrected King, received the promise and the power of the Holy Spirit, and preached the gospel in such a way that 3,000 were saved and more were added daily. What was the result? People who were all together praying, sharing the word of God, and breaking bread together, and very generous hearts ready to give whatever they had. This is the kind of spirit that made Peter declare to the beggar that what he did have that he could give was worth way more than silver or gold. And the lame beggar's life was transformed! Not by gold but by the generosity rooted in the gospel. This kind of generosity meant everyone sold what they had and covered each others' needs. But not everyone shared the same spirit. There was one couple who were just off a little, holding something back, with dire consequences. God cares less about the change in our wallet than he does the change in our heart. So what have we got? Are we working with it and giving it away for the glory of God so that witnesses will say "they have been with Jesus"? Finally, let's get practical. We quickly shared 6 steps relating to stewardship of our finances. Where are you at? Budgeting, tithing, being diligent, paying off debt, saving and generosity. We are all somewhere on those steps. What is next for you? Don't be lazy or tight-fisted. Work with what you've got and give from who you've got.

When it comes down to it, who would we choose first: our brothers and sisters in country, in colour, in culture, or in Christ? When we genuinely choose Christ, we’ll genuinely choose each other too. So where do we find our identity? And are we a genuinely diverse church? A church of all nations is not the goal but a byproduct of our discipleship in Christ that we get to enjoy and celebrate! Understanding church as a 'boat' that Pastor Andy and Xel are helping navigate at this time, we are in trouble if Jesus is not in the boat with us. He's our Saviour and the head of our church -- Jesus owns the boat and he knows it very well! He is God, he is with God, he is light in the darkness, he dwells with us and with him we see the glory of God. Why would we not want Jesus in the boat with us?The gospels have lots of accounts involving Jesus, the disciples and boats. Drawing on just three, we can see how Jesus brings peace, provision and purpose in our lives. He calms the storms when we fix our eyes on him (instead of the storms) and reach out to him. When we give what we've got to him, he brings so much more and we get far more in return. We are so grateful to have people from all around the world who can more than just exist together in the same church. And he works all things for good - including our cultural backgrounds - and brings purpose through them. When Jesus is in the boat, we receive his peace, provision, and purpose, we find out who we truly are, and we come to display a genuine diversity as his disciples from all nations - drawing more to him. Are you genuinely in the boat? And is Jesus genuinely in the boat with us? Get in the boat, come to the other side, leave the crowd behind and let's make sure we bring Jesus with us, exactly as he is.

It is time to draw near to him as he promises to draw near to us. Worship is not just our song but our everyday lives, even the mundane parts. Sometimes we are faced with very difficult challenges that can cause us to fear. Go anyway. This is our worship. He promises that he is with us and he will go before us. On discovering Jesus had been resurrected, the two Marys fell down in worship. Soon after, discovering he is alive, some of the eleven disciples also worshiped. But some doubted. Today you may be facing a situation that is causing you to question whether God is really going to come through on his promises. He will - in his timing. And while we wait, we have a choice; we can choose to grumble and doubt, or we can take ourselves and all of our emotions and bring them to God in worship.Our special return visit from Senior Pastor Carla - the co-church planter of FC Southsea - came with an invitation to worship despite what we may be feeling or going through. This completes our latest values series on having a Relationship with God, whether through the Word of God, prayer or worship.

We say prayer is communicating with God. But it is even more than that!Prayer is communicating with God, approaching him as father through relationship, with boldness and faith to receive his response according to his will.What another fantastic message delivered by one of our Core Leaders, Laura. Laura's gift for teaching really blessed us as she took us through what can feel like an overly-familiar but often overlooked subject that is so crucial in our relationship with God.Consistency is key. And so is attaching scripture to our prayers. When we repeat words that have come from God in our conversations with him and for someone's situation, we are sending prayers into the future ready to be made manifest in accordance with his will. But we must also do this with confidence. We approach the throne of grace with boldness, not only to be able to speak to the Father, but also expect him to respond. We don't always know the timing, but he does not go back on his promises. Persevere.And if you can manage to do this as your first-fruit with each new day, you really are on to a winner in your walk with God. Walking with Jesus was never meant to be a burden. This is exactly why he took all of our shortfalls to the cross. Now we get to live and walk in freedom with the same Son of God who is also interceding on our behalf!It's time for us to be weaned off the spiritual milk, FC Southsea, and begin to enjoy some prayers of substance!

We value relationship with God and want every believer become a committed disciple of Jesus. This includes being baptised in water, filled with the Holy Spirit and walking closely with Him. We encourage personal responsibility for growth through Bible study and desire our church congregation to love the Word of God.To love the Word it is essential to understand its purpose. Without this, its abuse is inevitable. The Bible is not merely an historical account, a moral compass, or an ideological tool to support whatever we believe. Knowing the ‘why’ and the ‘who’ behind the ‘what’ of the Word of God is a fundamental discovery for every believer to grow in their relationship with God. The Bible’s promises, prophesies and principles all point to God’s desire for this relationship. How this is made possible has morphed over time, as the written word of God, the Bible, introduces us to four expressions of the same entity. When we read the Bible we are not just interacting with a book; it is a person. It is Jesus. Jesus is revealed in the beginning as God the Son, one of The Trinity of God. A little like how we understand H2O with its three forms of water, ice and steam, God is three administrations or expressions of the same entity. As one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the Son is the messenger, the eternal word of God, through whom God does things only God can do. We meet the Son of God; the representation of God in the realm of mankind, sent to us through natural birth, died for us through crucifixion to forgive our sins and give us mercy, and buried and resurrected to bring new life through salvation.We also meet the Son of Man; the humanity of God who is the represents of man in the realm of God. He ascended to be with God interceding on our behalf - we are not alone; when we call on his name, we are BACKED! Hallelujah! And then there is The Christ. The Anointed One has anointed us through the Holy Spirit, making it possible for us to do even more today than He did as Jesus on earth. We have been anointed through Christ as kings, priests and prophets who have the power and authority working through us to do what God wants us to do in this world - we are not limited by our limitations! Our job is to observe the word, to study it, meditate on it and have the courage to speak it out and put it in to action. Take the time - more than once - to enjoy, and be educated and empowered by this foundational keynote message for FC Southsea. Hear how The Word of God - The Bible - points to God and our relationship with Him; the third of our six Family Church values. Let’s commit to a Southsea built on the Word of God; a knowledge of Him, who he is, and a real relationship with Him.

What are you remembering, that you should really forget?And what have you forgotten that you really should be remembering?Jesus used Passover as an opportunity to encourage us to remember what he did for us. David meanwhile committed himself to remembering what the Lord had done for him. And the prophet Isaiah tells us to forget former things.And then there's forgiveness. Forgiveness is not so much about forgetting as it is about letting go; letting the captive free, with that captive actually often times being us!Jesus asked his Father in heaven to forgive those who were killing him, for they do not know what they are doing! Wow - what forgiveness. And of course, he has forgiven our sins. Over and over again. So just as he forgives us, we too must continue to forgive those who sin against us. And don't forget to forgive yourself, too. Listen and enjoy this wonderful and timely message from Assistant Pastor Richard.

Jesus is full of grace and truth. He is both. Fully. In equal measure. Both are essential and life giving, but one without the other is worthless - deadly, even. The woman in adultery was able to walk in freedom because of Jesus' grace given to her despite her sin. Jesus' truth turned the temple's tables so that the blind and lame could enter and be healed. Jesus spoke about the two sons where the first said 'no' to his father's request at first but later changed his mind and went where he was asked to go - that's grace leading to repentance. Prophet Micaiah told the two Kings of Israel and Judah the truth and it came to be; leading to death for one and salvation - by grace - for the other. Grace creates believers but in the end, it is living in truth that makes disciples and allows us to walk in freedom. Let's choose both grace and truth.

Surrender, submission, sharing. This is what the new life of a believer should consist of. To surrender is to recognise that our new life is going to cost us our old one - just as the prodigal son was required to take off his old rags to put on the best robe given by his father. We need to know what it is we're still trying to cling on to. To submit is to recognise that we can't keep doing what we've always done and expect a different result. While the robe is given to us in an instant; transformation is a process. Let God the gardener do the work He does best. To share is to celebrate what God has done in your life. Just as the prodigal son was celebrated publicly, get ready - our new life with Jesus is there to be put on a stand by sharing our stories and giving that same grace we now know we have received. Surrender, submit, share - where are you at with these at this time? Enjoy this message from Family Church Philippines' very own Joyce Dadero as she reaches the half-way point of her time here with us in the UK.

Returning to his father's house, the prodigal son saw himself as a servant, but the Father wasted no time in clothing him in the finest robe. Today - regardless of our past or how we see ourselves right now - when we come to Father God we immediately receive His white robes of righteousness. By His grace alone, the old has gone and the new is here and filled with direction, purpose, infrastructure and peace, as we get to stand firmly on and cling to the rock of Jesus. But salvation is not a one off event. God loves the new and he is always at work in those who come to Him. We are born again and again and again and again. Wearing white robes we can learn to walk on water, standing firm regardless of what's coming at us externally, or what we need to dispose of internally. As vessels, Jesus invites us to carry his light burden and be guided by his easy yoke as we continue to mature in Him, and in our white robes.

Assistant Pastors Richard and Philippa arrived back home on Saturday night to then share with us on Sunday morning all about their three weeks joining missions in Africa. From Tanzania to Angola, the presence and power of God was experienced in their travels and reminded them just how much the Father loves and cares for us. It is from this position of living in God's grace, we must share the same heart for people that we must also go out into the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus in these times; whether across the world or on our doorstep in Southsea.

Like the Father who ran to the prodigal son, our Father in heaven first heals our Spirit when we give our life to him. But he doesn't stop there. Mesi took us through how God heals and restores us spiritually, then in our minds and emotions as we put on the clothes of righteousness, and also physically as the Lord nourishes our bodies. Imagine going from desiring pig food to sitting at a feast! We come from a fallen lineage as humans. We live in a fallen world. We have an enemy who is trying to resist our reconciliation with God. It is not a surprise that we all experience brokenness. And therefore, it is also essential that we understand that we all need healing and restoration. Take the time to enjoy this second message in our first Values series on People. At Family Church, we value people. That includes believing that God heals and restores all who come to him.

What is Compassion, really? Do I Feel what God feels towards people? Are we showing others the same Compassion God has shown us?The new Family Church values have officially landed in Southsea. Core Leader Laura picked up the first value of 'People' and took us through what it really means to have compassion. It says that the Father was moved with compassion when he watched his lost son approaching. This is how God is towards us. He goes after the 1 even when the 99 are safe. He doesn't let a single lost coin stay missing. Jesus transcends the world's rigid boundaries and expectations to meet us wherever we are. Are we prepared to do the same for others in this lost world?

We are a Church Without Walls at the water's edge. Pastor Andy introduced the vision and plans to prepare for our church family to prayerfully consider getting behind, in serving, financial offering, and bringing 'God ideas' to the table. We are in turbulent times where safe lives are not guaranteed and complacency is being shattered. So as we 'carry the ark' of God's presence and prayerfully stand at the water's edge, as a church who are both intimate and innovative, we ask God to use us to reach our local Southsea area and beyond.

Today is Vision Sunday 2026 for the whole of Family Church. Ps Steu speaks about the Mission and Vision of the church and introduces the six Family Church Values which will be expounded during the following weeks...We Value PeopleWe Value New lifeWe Value Relationship with GodWe Value Church FamilyWe Value GatheringWe Value CommissioningEach of these is represented by a part of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) - a central Christian teaching on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. All Family Church congregations heard this message and everyone received a booklet entitled Reach, Grow, Empower, explaining these values. Please refer to www.family.church for further details.

If we truly want to live in the Holy Spirit and operate under the anointing of God and see signs, wonders and miracles taking place, then we need to see what He is doing.

Between your birth and salvation and the end of your life here on earth, what story has God written for your life?What is God's purpose for you in this time? And how does this interlink with that of our Southsea congregation? Indeed, God has you here for such a time as this. What is your response? What more could you be experiencing and growing in with us, and blessing and building the church with at the same time? It was wonderful to hear Ps Steve's own testimony, from praying for his mum's healing from cancer to an unknown God in his candle-lit bright orange bedroom and REM CD, to his Gideon struggle of accepting God's calling for his life, to what the Lord has done with Steve's eventual 'yes', as he now helps lead the church.Steve described how he later walked into a church service that many people would have faithfully served to make happen, and ended up rededicating his life to Jesus. And then following up a few years later with him doing the same on a Friday night in Family Church, which resulted in a very broken Sean Finch - now Portsmouth's Pastor Sean - stepping in for the very first time. So encouraging.Whether you're serving coffee, putting out the banners, welcoming people, showing the slides or playing in the band, or anything else on a Sunday morning or in the week, imagine what God is about to do with your 'yes' with his plans for you, to transform lives in Southsea and beyond.

Do you find yourself standing in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing? Can you stand up and stand out despite the cost? Whose shoulders are you really standing on? Can you stand humble, letting God do the work?We dive into the dramatic book of Esther as a way to understand what the Bible calls 'people pleasing'. We are by design social beings. But are we prioritising other people to the extent that all we are doing is covering up pot holes in our own lives and causing more damage in the long run? Or are we allowing Jesus to cause true transformation in our lives, exposing our broken surfaces to reveal the foundations and give us a whole new fresh surface?

Today was a momentous occasion in Family Church....Ps Andy & Gina Elmes passed the Family Church Baton of Leadership to Ps Steu & Carla Payne. The following words were written by Ps Andy & Gina...There are moments in life when you realise you are standing on holy ground - not because something is ending, but because something has been faithfully completed.After 28 years of founding, leading, pastoring, and building this church and ministry, the time has come for us to step aside and step forward. To release what has been entrusted to us, and to trust God for what He has entrusted to others.Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Seasons change, not because something has failed, but because God is faithful to finish what He starts - and bold enough to begin something new. When we first said 'yes' to God all those years ago, we had little more than obedience, faith, and a burning conviction that Jesus deserved a church alive with His presence and His power. We dreamed of a people who would love God deeply, love one another fiercely, and reach the lost relentlessly. What God has done since then has exceeded anything we could have planned or imagined.We have seen lives transformed, families restored, leaders raised, nations touched, and Jesus glorified. This house has been built on prayer, faith, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. It has been the honour of our lives to carry that responsibility. And while this chapter closes, let me say this clearly: our voice is not stopping - it is simply shifting. The message God has placed in us, the convictions we carry, and the call to equip, awaken, and send will continue. It will simply be expressed in new spaces, new contexts, and new assignments. For those who still want that voice in their lives, it will be there - faithful to the same Jesus, shaped by the same fire.This church was never built to rest on one person - it was built to run on mission and vision. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase.” I may have planted, others have watered, but it has always been God who makes things grow. And He is not finished - not even close.To those now stepping into leadership: you carry this house with heaven’s backing. God trusts you. We trust you. Lead with courage. Guard the culture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Stay hungry for His presence and bold in your faith. The best chapters are not behind you - they are ahead. To every member, volunteer, giver, intercessor, and faithful servant: thank you. Thank you for believing, for standing, for serving, for loving, and for never giving up. You are the living stones of this house, and the future is strong because you are strong.As for us, we now step into the next adventure with the same heart that started this one - faith-filled, surrendered, and expectant. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but knowing who was leading him. That is enough.This is not goodbye as in separation - it is goodbye as in sending. And sending is always filled with hope.“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for the love.The story continues...Andy & Gina

Why is 'First Born' so significant in the Bible? This was the question that stuck with Andy after sharing on 'Hagar Not Hate' a few weeks ago. We are the Church of the First Born. The First Born - Jesus - was there at the beginning and was the first to be resurrected into new life here on earth. As with Jacob and his father Isaac, we have received the birthright and the blessing. And just as with Jacob, we did't deserve it. So what do we do with this? We began to uncover how this redemption that we have been talking about in this 'First Things First' series is all about reconciliation, with one another and with God and us. We start by asking, 'what mountain are you looking at today?'

It started in the Rose Garden and involved a donkey. What sounds like a romantic story was, in reality, not. Or at least, it didn't feel like it at the time. And yet, looking back as Pastor Andy & Xel share their own testimony of how the Lord brought them together, it is clear to see how God authored their steps. Following from last week's 'First Love'; this is a story of a redeeming Jesus continuing to work across and through generations of a single family.Take a listen, as we continue on our 'First Things First' theme, to an open and honest story of how our perfect God can work through our imperfections, and work all things together for our good when we give him - eventually - the First Fruit of our lives.

We are all imperfect people. But when we make that decision to have God as our first love, it all changes. The above quote was the advice given by Arnel to the congregation, as Philippa rounded up a difficult but important conversation with him and Natalie from the sofa this Sunday. We continued in our 'First Things First' series by talking about our 'First Love'. Our Assistant Pastor Philippa sensitively led our congregation through a story of a challenging history which became a beautiful picture of God's redemption in a marriage that turned to Him. What started as a childhood friendship and teenage romance, became a very broken early marriage and parent life, before leaving to work in the Middle East and then the UK, with three children left behind in the Philippines. Have a listen and get ready to be in awe and encouraged about what God's redemptive power did next, and how making Jesus your First Love can impact marriages and lives across generations.

This Sunday markes the first anniversary of the Family Church Southsea congregation. Also, its the start of a new series of messages titled First Things First. Ps Andy Bullock invites memeberts of the congregation to share testimonies as words of encouragement for everyone. He follows this with his own testimony and message.

Hagar not Hate; this was the message that concluded FC Southsea's 4 week 'Incubator' series. The culture of our congregation - as intimate and innovative - as living as a 'church without walls', has now been set. The final invaluable message encourages the church to 'Let's Talk About It'. We explored together what the Bible points at with regards to the religion of Islam in relation to us as Christians, and ultimately, what it means to live a life of freedom and promise through the saving grace of Jesus Christ - and how we must approach our neighbours as a result. We have been called to live a life fully in the church, yet functioning well in the world - to know how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable - through grace and truth. 

The Incubator series continues to work on conditioning our culture as the Southsea congregation as both intimate and innovative. Family Church seeks to reach, grow and empower people into all that God has called them to be. Pastor Steu's 'Ministry not Marketplace' message embodies this in sharing that serving Jesus is not only for Sunday morning or the church leaders. This is especially true in our workplace and businesses, and all spheres of our lives. When we treat people correctly, apply faith, practise good stewardship and have a heart for reconciliation - all while remaining planted in the church - we can be certain that our worlds 'out there' will flourish for God's glory.  

It can be easy to invite friends and family to your home. But what about a neighbour or a colleague? How about a stranger from a different land? Or even someone you really haven't been getting along with? The second week of our 'Incubator' series saw Philippa present this convicting message filled with personal accounts and testimonies of a life laid down for Jesus. Even our very homes - whether big or small - are not ours but the Lords. Remembering how God through Jesus has opened himself to us, we too must open ourselves to others - our hearts and also our homes. 

This week saw the first message of the new Southsea series 'The Incubator'. Nathan encouraged us in looking at three ways in which to have an open heart to God and one other; allowing in intimacy, vulnerability, and a soft heart. Each step proved to show how we can really follow the heart of Jesus and connect with God on a deeper level. 

Richard speaks about how life is a garden, with a focus on finance. Tithing prepares the ground and offerings are the seed planted for the future. Money is a good servant but an awful master!

Join our engaging conversation where we delve into Sam's recent mission trip to Nepal. The Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20 provided the basis for a Q&A on the 'why' behind the 'Go' into this nation, the youth disciple-making agenda, the holy spirit baptism moments, practical sound tech teaching workshops and times where God's 'I am with you' was experienced by Sam amongst a people set on fire for Jesus. 

This week, Laura carries on speaking on the topic of 'Life is a Garden'. Her focus specifically is on Words, Health and Relationships. She speaks about God having principles....faith, love, mercy, sowing and reaping are examples. Her key scripture is Galations 6:7 (NIV) " Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows". Laura speaks how scriptures usually are instruction, prophetic word or principle - ie it works whether we believe it or not!The message continues to focus on the principle of sowing and reaping, with audience participation for those who were there!

As the Southsea congregation took the opportunity to support the Great South Run outside the walls of our Sunday morning gathering, we also enjoyed taking in a morning with our Portsmouth congregation.Following the new series looking at 'Life is a Garden', this week Ps Sean looked specifically at what we can sow with a focus on our finances. Amongst many scripture references, Sean looks at Luke 6:38 (NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The law of sowing and reaping is as relevant today as it was thousands of years back when the scripture was written. He follows this with Matthew 6:19..."“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". Ps Sean points out that there are two fields we can sow into - the immediate field in front of us and the eternal field beyond our temporal lifespan. Which is worth more to sow into? The Bible tells us to set our minds on Heavenly things, not earthy things. Gaining the whole world but losing our soul is not wise..Ps Sean goes on to speak about the love of money and our love for the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money helps us achieve many things, the key here is our heart attitude. Are we doing something because of our love of a monetary reward (perhaps), or our love for our Lord?He ended with three key points on sowing with financesGet to give - not give to getLove is our motive - generosity, kindness, & love from the overflow of a grateful heartJoyful Obedience - have a merry spirit when givingThis is a challenging message!

Ps Steu starts a new series entitled 'Life is a Garden'. The first message is subtitled 'From Wilderness to Promised Land'. The children of Israel left Egypt in order to take hold of the new life that God had prepared for them. Whilst they lived in the wilderness they experienced many miracles and God’s supernatural provision. However, when they stepped into the new life that God had prepared for them, they began living according to new principles, including the principle of ‘sowing and reaping’. It’s important that we, as Christians, understand and live according to the principle of sowing and reaping.

Prayer is not platitudes. It is personal and it is powerful. As well as power, prayer brings unity and peace. The Southsea congregation used the Lord’s Prayer - Jesus’ instruction on how to pray - as a foundation to talk about ways in which prayer works in our everyday lives. Prayer is a journey and we invite you to join us for this one, ending with a powerful moment of unity and peace as we took time to pray in small groups. 

As part of a massive announcement for Family Church, we talked as a congregation about what it is to be a church that is moving and alive. Being devoted to the journey and times of transition means our leaders being devoted to growing leaders. We cannot afford to stand still when there is a hungry world out there looking for truth. And so as facilitators, following in the footsteps of those giants whose shoulders we now stand on, including Pastors Andy and Gina, we are to begin to see ourselves as Ambassadors. First for Christ and also for Family Church. This will grow us as a 'church without walls', a church on the move, a church devoted to the journey.

We are called to devote ourselves to the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. What better way to begin to experience this in our everyday lives than in a Connect Group? This Sunday was filled with snippets and teasers of the different facets of life in a connect group, drawing on Acts 2:42 as well as the power of going from 'house to house' and having everything in common. What a morning of rich conversations and a beautiful picture of God's family in action, together.

Ps Andy provides an introduction to the next series of messages entitled "A Growing Church". He also speaks about how this fits within our overal theme of Magnify and Multiply....

Surrender sounds like weakness, but in God’s kingdom, surrender is strength.A life laid down is not giving up your life in defeat, it’s placing your life in the hands of the One who gave it.

Following the Youth Summer Camp this year, two youth members speak today......Owen Jones - 'The Attitude at the Altar' - You will be inspired and challenged to come to Jesus with an obedient attitude, laying everything at His feet, and seeking intimacy with Him. This is what leads to a changed life!Charis Hargreaves - 'God is Moving in this Generation' - We are living in exciting times where God is moving in the younger generation, changing hearts and preparing them to live for His Kingdom. Whether younger or older, you will be inspired to find your part in what God is doing.

Andy concludes the three week ‘This Is Us’ series with a look into our multi-talented church. Drawing particularly on the book of Joshua and the Israelites journey into the promised land, Andy shares how gifts are simply a way for us to communicate with God and to communicate God to others. We are all gifted, so we need to understand how to grow and guard these gifts. Some of our most intimate moments with Christ - where we really see our gifts emerge - come when we are living outside of our comfort zone. Our Shepherd is preparing us to handle the gifts he gives as we learn to truly and fully depend on the Father. As a church we possess the full range of spiritual gifts that are found in Jesus, but it is in growing together and celebrating each others’ gifts that we will see the fullness of this emerge - including the hugely important gift of administration. When God entrusts us with His gifts, we have a responsibility to use them well, as a witness that points back to him and that draws us closer to one other, and others to Him - even if those gifts are sometimes out of the ordinary! As a community that is both intimate and innovate, it is time for Family Church Southsea to go on a character building journey together, ready to mature right in front of our very eyes, and seeing the salvation of Christ in ourselves and the lives of others who will come to call the church home. 

Nathan opens the ‘This Is Us’ series at Southsea by talking about how Jesus is for all ages and generations, and how God’s church is most beautiful when it is a multi-generational family carrying the message of Jesus!

Today, Ps Steu shares a short message to wrap up the series about Miracles. Ps Steu speaks on the story of Blind Bartimaeus, explaining that Jesus SEES us, He is moved with COMPASSION for us, and that He responds to our FAITH. This was a shorter message as during the service people were then given the opportunity to come forward and receive prayer for miracles.

When Jesus healed the paralysed man carried through the roof by four friends. It was their faith that healed him. Jesus doesn't just bring physical healing - he forgives sin,and brings eternal healing for our soul!In this one act he multiplies strength and determination,faith and an increase in a future that was limited.