For the last two decades August each year has been a ‘non-stop hack’ around the country preaching the Gospel and running events anywhere and everywhere it seems but this year it has been a little different! As many will know both my parents are in very poor health and together with having a young family, Lorraine and I have had a lot of juggling of responsibilities to do at a time when the demands on my diary have been huge. The situation is essentially unchanged but with the summer coming to an end things become a little easier. Thanks so much to everyone who has stood with us at this tough time, it has been very hard but I have felt close to God throughout.

Despite the disruption we have seen many people respond to the Gospel this summer at events we have facilitated from Normandy in France to Madrid in Spain and from St Austell in Cornwall to Bridgend in Wales. As the numbers of people I speak to increase year on year, I remember so many faces and personal conversations that have a lasting impact on me.

With a shift in season I'm now focussing heavily on the training and consultation side of what I do with leaders and churches as well as gearing up for the Christmas tour and looking to 2011. Only yesterday I was meeting with the leaders of a number of churches to begin laying down plans for a series of evangelistic events in the Solent region. Over these next few months I’m returning to Normandy on several occasions and continuing my visits to Madrid where I have seen many people come to Christ in the last year.

As is always the case, I am deeply grateful for the constant support in prayer and finance that sustains me and the team as we constantly push forward and search for new ways to bring Jesus to ordinary people in this country and beyond.

This last weekend we have been running one of our outdoor evangelistic community festivals with New Community Church Eastleigh, part of my home church here in the Solent region of the UK. We saw 10 people make a clear first time response to the Gospel throughout the events that were well attended at a brilliant location in the centre of the town. The openness and hunger in the people we met was so evident, God is at work and the Gospel changes lives!

It continues to be a very challenging time for me personally and the family as we balance a hectic schedule with the care of my sick parents but God is good and there is an immense peace in the middle of the storm. Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me, Lorraine and the children as well as the work of Miracle Street. This week Francis and Diane Dognon, the leaders we are partnering with in Normandy are staying with us in Southampton at a time when the dream for Mainland Europe burns very strong in my heart as we see breakthroughs at many events closer to home. I’m now taking a well earned break before heading back to Cornwall in a couple of week’s time with the team. Thanks for sticking with me in prayer and in so many other ways, we need you desperately!

I write this we are in the middle of another hectic Miracle Street summer of events. The Mobilestage and the Mainstage are on the road a great deal and we have covered a lot of miles from Newcastle to Cornwall! In the last few weeks we have visited many towns and many have responded to the Gospel particularly at the Church in the Park events and also at Oakwood Youth Challenge in Wokingham, Praise God!

In the middle of all the successes there have been the usual rounds of challenge and opposition to the work and the team. Two weeks ago the Mainstage was on Brighton Beach and then in Kent. Over the space of a few days we lost three of the five front of house amps. Tim and the guys did a great job but we are still waiting for the repair bill! This week my Mum was admitted to hospital for the third time in a month with chronic heart failure and my Dad also has serious health problems. I am travelling constantly between Southampton and Worthing to care for them. I think is was Churchill who coined the phrase “The best and the worst of times!”

 Please pray for those who have heard the Gospel message and those who have responded over these last few of weeks or so and remember me and our family and the rest of the team also in you prayers. Your support and partnership with is means more than I can say.