Hello everyone and happy Christmas.
It’s felt like this year has been an incredible whirlwind with some exciting developments and some massive challenges. Let me take you through some of the highlights of the year
FEBRUARY Daniels 2nd birthday was on 18th. Daniel is growing so fast and becoming a little man who loves footie and cricket, star wars, the tweenies, playing, watching trains and generally having a laugh. He’s quite a handful but fun with it.
February was a busy time for 24-7 as it celebrated it’s 5th Birthday. It’s amazing to think that in 5 years a little prayer room in Chichester has now grown to a movement in 60 countries.
In February we also began a long process of coming up with a document that clarifies and builds Boiler Rooms. There are now 6 worldwide in Reading, Staines, Wandsworth, the City of London, Calgary and Brighton with others now forming in Ibiza, Kansas City, Liverpool and Dresden. Other cities are planning them. It’s been a remarkable journey. Out of our meeting came the Boiler Room Rule, which you can check out at http://www.boiler-rooms.com/cm.
MARCH
I visited friends in the US and chatted to people interested in the Boiler Room concept. The highlight was 5 days with my friends Pete and Samie in Kansas City.
In the Spring, Karen helped with a parenting course at our church, New Hope. The church is going well and really is a community thing now, impacting the school, families and how life is lived in our little area. Karen is still a trustee of the charity and is involved in tons of things.
Karen continues to struggle with her diabetes but if anything the last few months have been better. She really is an incredible person, who overcomes much and is bringing lots to many people’s lives – most of all to us and to me.
MAY
May was a busy month. It was Karen’s birthday, she’s 21 again. It was SAT’s exams for David, Lucy and Jess – they all did very well and I’m so proud of what they’re achieving.
David’s also taken initial GSCE papers this year (sooo early) and is doing really well academically as well as growing as a person. He plays Cricket for his school and is getting into Hockey this term.
Jess has done brilliantly at school and in now in Year 3. She has an artistic gift and is very good at being very friendly and caring. She has some great new friends too.
Jonathan missed out on all these SAT exams as he was completing his first year at Highdown. Unsurprisingly he has thrived. Jonny loves to chat to his mates on MSN, gets involved a lot at church and loves watching sport and listening to music.
In May I had to do lots of travelling to Stockholm, to the Jesus Freaks gathering in Germany and to Ireland with Carla to help lead a retreat for Irish Methodist Youthworkers.
JULY
July was a busy month again for 24-7 with our Transmission missions gathering at the YWAM base at Harpendon. A few hundred gathered to share and be trained and then about half went off round the whole on mission teams. These teams are now beginning to bring about ideas and dreams of long term communities. Very very exciting.
In July, Jess turned 7, Lucy 11 and me 36 !
In July we also held our first Boiler Room Leaders Retreat at the beautiful Turvey Abbey. It was two days of sharing, praying and agreeing the final stages of the Boiler Room Rule. We’ll be doing this again.
AUGUST
We enjoyed a lovely holiday in the Yorkshire Dales. A glorious week, with mostly beautiful weather and great time to hang out. We then went for a few days with my Mum and Dad in Kent.
In August I was also hard at work on the book I have been asked to write. Punk Monk is now nearly complete and has been taken on by publishers in the UK and Europe and in the US. Watch this space.
SEPTEMBER
Was an amazing month. Lucy started at Highdown School. She has done really well (my kids are amazing !) and has joined about every club going. Maybe her highlight came this week when she ran 6 miles in a sponsored event for a kid who has leukaemia. The event was to raise money for his treatment. Lucy has become quite a runner, and a hockey player etc etc
England won the Ashes. I was there on the last day of the final game and then at the victory party afterwards.
In September our Transit training scheme started. 15 people giving a year to learn, experience and grow as leaders. I have been heavily involved in this and still am – it’s been an honour to see people growing and to be involved in that.
In September we held our Round Table in Hernhutt Germany and then after that our International Leaders Gathering in Dresden. People gathered, stories were shared, the movement is ever expanding and making a profound impact – it really does become overwhelming sometimes.
In Hernhutt our Boiler Room Rule was approved and is now being implemented. OCTOBER
On October 22nd Karen and I celebrated being married for 17 years.
In October I started helping to lead JCA, a lovely little 11-14’s cell group at my church. I am loving it and really enjoying some face to face time with the group, which includes Lucy and Jonathan. In October, we commissioned the Brighton Boiler Room, partnering with YWAM. Lots was going on with Boilers that month. On 17th we held a special evening to commission Lorraine Joslin as Abbess of Reading Boiler Room. Handing over responsibilities had been one of my big tasks of the year but it was wonderful to see Lorraine formally take things on. I am still involved here in Reading, but Lorraine is bringing her considerable gifts to guiding the thing forward.
DECEMBER
Brings us to here. Hope you have a good Christmas and New Year.
Andy and Karen and the family
59 Addison Road, Reading RG1 8EN
Tel 0118 9500 980
Email andy.freeman@24-7prayer.com
New mobile 07834593138
