Enthuse March Edition by Felix Makanjuola Jr

EDITORIALVIEW

elcome to the March edition of Enthuse!

With so much going on this month, and so many events to be celebrated it’s not hard to see why this March we are focusing on Increase. The Lord told us to go forth and increase, to multiply. He told us that to those who have, more shall be given. The good Lord gave us talents and directed us to use them. And He promised us that He would always be with us, to have no fear but to step up, march out and prosper.

CONTENTS MARCH 2010 Editorial

Happy St. David’s Day

St. David’s Day Male Voice Choir

Increase your worth

Married Life

Book Review

Mother Dearest

This month we celebrate St David’s Day in Wales. St. David chose the way of God and increased his worth here on earth by spreading the Good News. He increased his relationship with God by studying His word and sharing it with their neighbours near and far. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we’re focusing on one of the greatest matriarch’s of our time, the wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Mrs. Foluke Adeboye. She is a woman of much strength who has taught many, helped many, mentored many, supported many, whose initiatives have been the foundation for which many have been lead to Christ. We salute this daughter of God, a caring mother of millions, and leader to her generation.

10-12 13

Birthdays in March

14-15

Pastor’s Desk Start Today

Single but not Lonely

We hope you enjoy this month’s magazine, and invite you to increase your own bounty by sharing your thoughts and opinions, and even your writing talent with the team here at Enthuse. God bless you and increase you this month, Zoë and the Enthuse team

Contributors to this Issue: Pastor Felix Makanjuola Jr Phil Maull Ifor Ap Daffyd Richard Abbott Zoë Abbott Efeoghene Etejere

10-12 COVER STORY A portrait on Pastor Mrs. Foluke Adeboye, a daughter of God, a caring mother of millions and leader to her generation. Write to us at The Charity Offices, Suite 110 Pearl House, 43 Princess Way Swansea SA1 5HF T: 07944 701 400 /07944 702 400 E:publications@placeofvictory.org.uk W:www.placeofvictory.org.uk ENTHUSE

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ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

COMMUNITYTOGETHER

by Zoë Abbott St David’s Day is celebrated on March 1st every year, but who was St David? St David was said to have been born from a prosperous lineage. His father was thought to have been the son of the Prince of Ceredigion, and his mother the daughter of a local chieftain (legend has it that she was also a niece of King Arthur). From such parentage a child can either become complacent and sit back in folly, or work hard and bear increase. We learn from his biographer, Rhyigyfarch, that David was diligent, disciplined and he spread the word of God throughout Wales, the rest of Britain and beyond.

St David was from South West Wales, near the present city of Saint David, but travelled Wales and England setting up churches as he went. He also travelled to Brittany in Northern France, and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to meet the Patriarch. In his daily life as a monk, in the monastery he set up (Glyn Rose, near Saint David’s city), life was practical, and strict. The work included food production, from tilling the land to bee keeping, cleaning, feeding the local poor and passing travellers, and daily prayers. Sometimes, as a selfimposed penance, he would stand up to his neck in a lake of cold water, reciting Scripture. Little wonder then that some authors have seen St. David as an early Puritan!

The stories of miracles which St David performed include raising a youth from death, and it is said that milestones in his life were marked by the appearance of springs of water. At the point when the decision was to be made over whether St David would be promoted from monk to Archbishop – at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi – the crowd became restless, saying they could not hear or see him. At that very moment the ground rose up until an amphitheatre was created, and all the crowd could both see and hear him, a sign that his life was filled with noteworthy messages.

Before his death, his last words to his followers were in a sermon on the previous Sunday: “Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.” 'Do the little things' ('Gwnewch y pethau bychain') is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh, and has proved an inspiration to many.

It should be noted that both Rhygyfarch and Gerallt Gymro, who also wrote about St David, recorded their work nearly 500 years after St David’s life, so it is hard to tell how much is fact and how much legend. However, his name and his influence continue to be felt today in Wales, and around the world.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

EVENTREVIEW

- The Brangwyn Hall 1st March 2010

Review by Zoë Abbott People gathered on the steps as the warning bell chimed out. We pressed in through the heavy metal doors as the public address system announced the evening’s performance would start in seven minutes. We pressed our tickets into the ushers hand as he directed us to our seats – helpfully pointing in the general direction of the entire venue. With the exception of about twenty people I was the youngest in the room by at least 30 years.

Not being from Wales, this would be the first time I heard a Welsh Male Voice Choir with the exception of that clip in Twin Town and maybe a few snippets and I turned through the TV channels past S4C. Here I was about to hear them live with an orchestra and a guy I don’t know called Rhiddian, who you may know from TV’s “X-Factor”

The orchestra walked on dressed in cream tuxedoes like a troupe of white-chocolate magnum ice-creams. The choir next, with their black tuxedoes adorned with daffodils. The conductor! The welcome! The hushed silence descended. A melodic hum filled the room as the violins yawned into the beginnings of a beautiful song called “Llangweir”. The strength of the choir collected and blossomed.

With such a collective as this, you can imagine men being stirred into battle, or honoured as they return. Rhiddian joined us for the fourth piece and his voice was a delightful addition to the talented choir. Powerful yet restrained. His rendition of “If I love you” had my heart in my mouth.

The night was a wonderful showcase of Welsh talent with Welsh composer after Welsh composer featured, most notably local composer Carl Jenkins. The Welsh hymns reached to each heart song after song and local girl, seven year old Ellie Maguire from Neath, gave a beautiful performance of traditional Welsh lullaby “suo gan” (sleep my baby).

A truly wonderful celebration of Wales, so we say Happy St David’s Day or, as they say here Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus I chi.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

LIFESKILLS

Felix Makanjuola Jr Whether you like it or not, we are already in the third month of the newly started year. How far have you increased this year? If you’ve not been minding your business, it’s time to take stock. Here are 6 questions to help you:

1. Do you have a definite/desired result you want to achieve in 2010? When the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31st 2010, what are the things on your checklist you would say has been added positively to move you towards your ultimate goal in life? Have you thought about the things you want or don’t want? for success.

2. Have you made a plan of how you want to achieve it?

5. Are you consistent?

It’s all well and good to have a desired result in mind, but have you planned how you wish to accomplish it? Do you have to go back to school? Make new friends or create a network of clients?

Are you weary of doing good? Are you quickly tired of doing what it takes to receive an increase? Consistency pays as it combines process over time to produce increase. Anything that is not consistent cannot be fruitful because it will not build the necessary muscles or depth needed to help withstand the increase. Imagine planting a field of roses today, then tomorrow uproot it, then the day after plant it again – will it germinate? No, because there is no consistency. Any increase that is not measurable will not last, because it wouldn’t have gone through the process of time.

3. How much will it cost? My father uses the popular saying that if sand were to be money, then everyone would be rich. Have you calculated what it will cost you to achieve your desired result? For some you may have to cut out the amount of time you spend chitchatting on the telephone, for some the amount of time you spend watching TV and for another, you may have to increase the volume of journals and articles you read on a specific subject. Some may have to reduce their working hours so that they may go to school part time. What is your cost?

4. Are you willing to pay the price? Knowing the cost is not enough, it is only those that pay the price that acquire the goods. I’m not saying it will be easy but if you don’t pay the price, you can’t get the desired result - NO PAIN, NO GAIN. The difference between the successful and the mediocre is that one of them was willing to pay the price

6. Are you using what you have? Many people are waiting to increase before they start something. The truth is you have already in you what you need to start. Not everything requires money or capital immediately. Every enterprise starts with an idea. There are many things you can do before you have that capital or funding available. Never say you don’t have what it takes to start. I have realised that if you have a fantastic idea, other people, banks and investors will pay to have your idea become what you want it to be. So start with your mind: start with what you have to get what you want and increase what you have now.

Facebook group 6

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

LIFESKILLS

Innovative, Contemporary Elegant

07946 151 625

ENTHUSE FEBRUARY 2010 — MY MONTH OF RELATIONSHIPS

MARRIEDLIFE

Dear Troubled, Thank you for finding the courage to write in. I can only imagine the physical and most importantly the emotional pains you are going through. Issues of domestic violence are never easy and I commend you for being brave during this tough time. Despite the fact that I echo your thoughts on the Bible against divorce, you may need to separate in the interim while the state of affairs is being addressed.

Dear Pastor,

ns on ing the publicatio I have been read ey are th at must admit th marriage, and I quite insightful. dress my ticles are yet to ad However, your ar problem. for 13 d to my husband I have been marrie ren, ild ch ly have two love years now and we write to d I am embarrasse a boy and a girl. d in man being battere this, but I am a wo y little husband uses ever my own home. My and e, m rtunity to hit mistake as an oppo ren. At front of our child abuse me even in , like calling me names first it started with ted from en it slowly escala ‘you’re fat’ and th there. tionships my work and rela This has affected gs as I especially my siblin with other people ark m excuses for every continue to make e matters my body. To mak that shows up on hool for 2 s excluded from sc wa n so y m , rse wo ates t one of his class m days because he hi e Bible ristian, I know th last week. As a Ch know vorce, but I don’t does not support di nt wa d an my husband what to do, I love r his children. him to be there fo

This is important in order to create a break so things do not get any more out of hand than they already are. If things continue the way they have been going, and action is not taken, it could escalate to the point of having casualties whether it be you or your husband. Just like any brawl between two parties, one of the parties needs to be brave enough to remove themselves from the situation or else it will continue. Again, temporary separation is not only important for you but also for your children. It is a very sad thing for children to see their parents in a violent atmosphere. Children at a young age need to be protected from this kind of environment or else it leaves an indelible memory in their minds for life; if care is not taken, they may begin to think this is the norm, and that this is all they can expect from their relationships when they are older. Even if your children are not so young, domestic violence especially between parents affects children negatively. Also, without a conscious effort they may begin to think the best way to handle misunderstandings or arguments is by responding with violence. Once you and your husband have had some time apart, it will create an opportunity for both parties to evaluate the situation and seek help, especially for dealing with the root cause of the violence. Counselling is highly recommended during this brief time apart to help you and your husband work through some of the issues that have built up over time which are causing these bouts of violence. Please feel free to contact myself (pastorfelix@placeofvictory.org.uk) or any of the ministers to schedule an appointment. Finally, try to document times when violence has occurred in the home, for example, what triggers the violence, the time of the day, what happens to stop it and even the aftermath. My prayers are with you and I wish you good mental health. Kind regards

Please help me! Yours sincerely,

Pastor Felix Makanjuola Jr.

Troubled

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

BOOK REVIEW

Book: Start with what you have Author: Sam Adeyemi Review: Felix Makanjuola Jr “This book proposes that action is a major requirement for success. It is based on one of Newton’s laws of motion which states: “All objects remain in a state of rest until a force is applied”. The author maintains that this law is applicable to our lives and our aspirations in life, saying that things do not move until we move. The book is not so voluminous, therefore it can be read comfortably in one seating. It aims to help the reader overcome inertia and to get us moving in the direction of destiny. He brought up and addressed commonly asked questions like “How do I start?” or where do I start from?”, etc. Written in a conversational style, it engages the reader right from the first page to the last. Start with what you have simply says, everyone has something with which they can trade with. It is definitely a must-read for anyone who is at crossroads in life, those thinking of starting a business venture, or afraid to take a bold step in an unknown territory.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

In December, just after the Holy Ghost Congress of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, I was fortunate enough to visit the Adeboye’s at their residence. The woman of the house, the one fondly called Mummy G.O despite her staggering portfolio, personally made sure that I was comfortable and well taken care of.

writes Felix Makanjuola Jr. n the 13th of July, 1948, a female child was born to Papa Adeyokunnu, a teacher and Methodist Catechist, and Mama Adeyokunnu, a homemaker and trader. This child, destined to be a woman of amiable primness was named Foluke. Born to a father who was both a teacher and a Methodist Catechist, Foluke grew up under strict Christian principles. She was also a member of the Scripture Union (SU), a students’ group known for conservatism and strict adherence to the dictates of the Bible. Thus from her childhood through her days in school, the Bible remained her closest and most constant companion. She met a friend, a humble and calm gentleman, an undergraduate, Enoch Adeboye who would later become the General Overseer of the The Redeemed Christian

Church of God; their relationship blossomed over the years, they got married in September 1967 and are blessed with children and grandchildren. Even though Mrs. Foluke Adeboye’s entire life had worn the toga of Christianity, she was yet to make Christ her Lord and Savior. A quest for healing for their sick daughter led her to The Redeemed Christian Church of God (R.C.C.G), Ebute-Metta, Lagos and on one fateful day in July, a pastor preached on the vanity of life and the bliss and serenity of heaven in a way that stirred something in the couple. On that day, Mr. and Mrs. Adeboye jointly answered the altar call and gave their lives to Jesus. This marked a turning point in their lives as husband and wife began to undergo different levels of training: New believers class, Baptismal Class, Workers’ Training, Bible College, and so on. A new chapter in her spiritual venture was when her husband was made General Overseer of RCCG in 1981. With time, she would be fondly referred to as Mummy G.O, a reflection of her position as the G.O’s wife, her matronly poise, her

"...destined to be a woman of amiable primness..."

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

COVERSTORY

amiability and profound commitment to her husband’s vision, and support of his work. Mummy G.O embraced her new role as the leader of women, mother of children and Chief hostess of the R.C.C.G. With an insatiable thirst for God and a rare passion to please Him, she keyed into her husband’s vision even as she set out to actualise her own ministries. She started Christ the Redeemers Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, where she both taught and was Head Teacher, without salary, for 12 years. Eager to bequeath the knowledge of God to her congregation and the rest of the world, Mummy G.O embarked on numerous educational and spiritual odysseys both locally and internationally between 1982 and 2003. In the process she obtained a Diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Bible College, a Diploma in Accelerated Christian Education, Certificate, Directorate of Education from the University of St. Marks and St. John, Plymouth, UK and a Certificate in Special Education from Columbia University, New York, U.S.A. he subsequent establishment of Christ the Redeemer’s Schools and Colleges, Christ the Redeemer’s School Movement under her Chairmanship, and setting up of the Redeemer’s University for Nations (RUN) remain eloquent testimonies to the fulfillment of the GenENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

COVERSTORY

eral Overseer’s prophecy, and her own unflinching faith in God. This respectable mother in Israel inspired other ministries that further delineated her as a visionary, and an excellent organizer.

rs. Adeboye is the Chief Hostess at all the church meetings, and in this capacity has successfully ran for many years ,the annual R.C.C.G Convention and monthly Holy Ghost Services in which millions of people are hosted in a spiritual rendezvous for God. She is the Grand Matron of R.C.C.G Women in Ministry, and the visionary behind Africa Missions, a ministry that sends missionaries to African countries to spread the gospel and win souls for Jesus. She is the inspiration to the Feast of Esther an holistic ministry for the wives of General Overseers and leaders, the visionary behind Courage Magazine and the founder of Habitation of Hope, a ministry with focus on the rehabilitation of destitute children and prostitutes aged 7 to 18 years living in shanty areas of Lagos. mother to millions. Her life has been a vivid testimony of steadfastness, focus, submission and unparalleled faithfulness of service to humanity and God as she continues to labour continuously in His vineyard. Mrs. AdeCOOL AND CALM: boye is a wonderful role model, a true “...an icon on the child of God, a Chris- home front, running a tian wife, a graceful closely knit family, mother, a dedicated engaging in fervent worker, a dependable discussions and chats labourer in the Vine- with her children, and yard, who continues entire household, reto be a consistent ceiving an ever flowing model, mentor and stream of visitors with amazing humility….” 12

y visit and time spent with Pastor Mrs. Adeboye, enlightened me to the fact that she remains an icon on the home front, running a closely knit family, engaging in fervent discussions and chats with her children, and entire household, receiving an ever flowing stream of visitors with amazing humility and hospitality, never ceasing to remind those around of the modest beginnings of the Adeboye’s.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

MARCHBIRTHAYS

Birthdays in March Name

Date

Hilaria Cunha

3rd

Iniobong Ekanem

3rd

Etejere Efeoghene

8th

Vimbai Musunda

18th

Gerad Morgan

23rd

Lola Agbaje

26th

Eberechukwu Ijeh

28th

Eddidiong Miannekere

30th

The Place of Victory Family celebrates you. Have a wonderful birthday.

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ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

POWER TO INCREASE

As a Christian, increase is mandatory in all areas of our lives. You do not have a choice not to increase, for you have been destined to. You have been fashioned according to His purpose (of increase).

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010â&#x20AC;&#x201D;MY MONTH OF INCREASE

PASTOR’SDESK

the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." He cannot go back on His words. This means that the standard still remains thousands of years later and our very kind, reproduced from us, should bear the same, if not better fruits as well. It’s a word that would fulfil itself if we allowed it! Habakkuk 1:5 says, “Behold ye among the heathen ... and wonder marvellously ... for I will work a work in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told to you.” – The key message here is ‘LET GO’! There’s so much you cannot fathom about God’s gifts, so why bother? Your disposition or learning cannot help either! We struggle too much at times to increase so we lose our source of nutrition! He said, He is the Vine and we are the branches. Is it possible that a branch exists without a trunk (vine)? We need to realise that He is our source and we have no righteousness of our own. Do you know that it is not possible to increase lastingly if you haven’t acknowledged that only God, not your skills and qualifications, can bring you productivity?

Image: www.wechealthunit.org

There is a promise to us that we never really take to heart amidst our hustle and bustle, especially those who find themselves in cities around the world. It is found in Psalm 25:1214, and it gives a profound statement which made me pause for days. “What man fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and His seed inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.” (KJVannotated)

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16 (NIV) Jesus cursed the fig tree in Matthew 21:19 because it had become unnatural for it to increase by not bearing fruit. The scripture is often a blue-print for our present day life. The information we are constantly fed can cloud our thinking and perception of God's promises. In Genesis chapter 1, He said “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of

You shouldn’t struggle to increase for you are a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled! If you fear God and believe that you have been called according to His purpose and are ready to obey Him, His secrets will not be far from you! You will be shown things regularly. You will hear God speak before you launch out to make those seemingly inevitable mistakes. This will usher you into some ease that consists of a peace, which passes all understanding. You are meant to be different, not worked up! Don’t rush through your seasons, let go and enjoy them! We are so turned to this world that we sometimes see jostle and activity as a way of being productive. Shedding light on that, busy doesn’t necessarily mean productive or efficient! We Christians get too soaked up with activities most times we never allow ourselves to replenish and multiply. We then look around for sources of strength, quick fix and microwave solutions, therefore ignoring our source. He said you would be as a tree planted by the waters, giving fruit in your season, your leaves being evergreen! You will constantly not lack and still face seasons. He did not say that harsh seasons will not come but that they will not have a sting on you. You will go through the fire and not get burnt, nor smell of smoke like the Hebrew men! What else do you ask for? Knowing that your seasons are made just for you and that you determine the way things go, is all you need to increase this year; only search for increase in the right place (in Christ) and be around the right people.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

SELFAWARENESS

If you are to make a success of your life you need to make a success of your relationships. As they all demand something different from you, where do you start?

by Zoë Abbott know them very intimately – and sometimes not even then!) Ask about them before you speak about yourself.

YOU, YOURSELF AND YOU The most important thing to get right is your relationship with yourself. As the advert purports: “Because you’re worth it!” But are you worth it?! People will only treat you with as much respect as you give yourself. Don’t be arrogant, but do remind yourself of everything great that you are: make a list of what you like about, your personality, your talents, your achievements. When something else comes to mind go back to the list and add it on. If you’re ever having a bad day you can go back and re-read the list, remind yourself that whatever you’re going for: “You are worth it”. FAMILY One quote I really love is good for most to keep in mind: “Your family don’t mean to be annoying, they don’t even mean to be your family, they just are!” No-one has a stronger tie in your life than the family you grew up with: they give us our worldly positioning, our cultural grounding and we are each a product of every experience we’ve had. Even if you decide to break from the beliefs of your family their words and actions will always be in the back of your mind. To allow yourself to be an individual and follow your own path you must first acknowledge and allow your family to have their beliefs and differences. Practice forgiving them (even if you don’t believe it straight away!) and in time it will come. Try to speak to them about things that hurt you, and if you can’t say it to their face, write it in a letter even if you don’t post it. If you do, allow them the opportunity to give their side of the story too. But in the end, focus on the good parts of your bond: Enjoy the great moments together and remember them strongly. FRIENDS It’s been said that our friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Make time to contact those friends you don’t see often. If you know or can get their address send them a letter in the post – no matter how brief, mail is much more personal and more gratefully received than a quick e-mail. Anger slowly, forgive quickly (you don’t know why they act or feel the way they do unless you

COLLEAGUES At times one wonders how people so different end up working so closely together, but what an opportunity! It is very likely that if you weren’t in this job you would never meet most of the people you now find yourself with day-in and day-out. It’s a fine line to cross between getting to know your colleagues and getting in the way as you each try to get your work done! But some things are fail-safe. Greet everyone with a smile, even if you don’t feel very happy, it makes everyone’s day easier, and you’ll find you get on with people easier. Listen carefully when they speak with you – notice when they drop passing comments on things they like or dislike, or where they’ve been or things they’ve done, you’re likely to find out not only how people tick, but also a wealth of things you have in common that you’d never have guessed! COMMUNITY You may not notice it but you, just being you, has an affect on everyone around you every day. Whether it’s how noisy you are/when you put your rubbish out/whether you recycle/if you smoke drugs etc at home and how that affects your neighbours or whether you notice someone walking behind you in the shops and if you hold the door for them… or whether you see someone lost in the street and take the time to stop to help them… the small things you do have a great impact on the world around you. As you go around, try to find something you can do for just one person every day and see what a difference that makes to your own feeling of worth. If you want to get more involved, check Volunteer Swansea http://www.volunteering-wales.net/1345.html This has a broad range of activities and areas in which you can get involved. You can also look at Discovery - http:// www.swan.ac.uk/study/current/Discovery/ Or ask in your local charity shop how you can help.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

NOSTRINGS

SINGLE BUT

NOT

Felix Makanjuola Jr

s a single person, have you discovered the key to living alone without being lonely? If loneliness is a daily struggle, know that many others are going through the same thing. In fact, according to a single’s survey, one of the worst things Christian singles find about single life are the lonely feelings that go with the territory. Living alone is viewed in different ways by different people. Many people in their twenties have the desire to live alone - at least once before they start a family. Especially if you lived with roommates during university, you may be eager to have your own place to do your own thing. Living alone can be fun and liberating, but it can also be cause for loneliness and boredom. Here are a few tips on fighting those feelings while living alone, especially if you’re living alone in a new town where you don’t have any social networks.

Get a Hobby: One of the most important things when living alone is to have a hobby. If you don’t already have one, think about what you’re interested in and do some research on activities that appeal to you. Many hobbies like writing, reading, crafts, etc. are solitary hobbies that you can do from the comfort of your own apartment. However, because they are solitary they often increase the isolated feeling you may get from living alone. Take your writing to the library or to the park. Take your book to a café or quiet spot. The more time you spend in your apartment alone, the more likely you are to feel imprisoned and solitary. Sometimes, just leaving the apartment helps you feel less alone, even if you have no more social interaction than a quick thank you to a cashier. It’s important to get out, even if it is alone. Getting up and doing something will help you feel productive. Just by getting out of the same four walls, you are changing stimulation, which can be exciting even if you don’t

meet anyone new.

Expand your social network: If you do have a social network nearby, make sure to maintain a social schedule. If you have friends in the area, try to set up weekly get-togethers. Don’t leave social outings to chance, plan ahead. If you’ve moved to a new town and don’t really know anyone, take the opportunity to learn. Join clubs or groups. The YMCA often offers classes in a variety of subjects as well as exercise classes. Try to be cheerful and approachable and make sure you really enjoy the subject (in other words, you’re not just going to meet people). You aren’t guaranteed to make friends, but you will enjoy learning something new and at least having some contact with a variety of people. Volunteer: Keeping busy is important to battle boredom, but loneliness can still pervade busyness. By volunteering for an organization or cause you feel strongly about, you are using your time in a way that will make you feel good. Again, you may not meet friends, but by doing something valuable with your time you feel better about yourself and are less likely to feel lonely when working toward something important. At the end of the day, take time to realize and enjoy certain things you will only be able to do while you live alone. Decorate in an outrageous style; sing at the top of your lungs. Remember in the future, if you live with someone else, you may lose some of the freedom to make all of your own choices. Try to enjoy that freedom of choice while it’s possible.

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

COMMUNITYTOGETHER

Beyond tomorrow is Vision; being able to see the future and move into everything God has ordained; not just today or tomorrow, but for years to come to help towards achieving the vision of the church for the next 5 - 10 years:

Hi, welcome to the 4I small study groups at Place of Victory. A 4I Small Group (SG) is the getting together of at least three and no more than twelve people to study a specific subject matter generally referred to as the curriculum. Apart from the obvious primary purpose of fostering purposeful & meaningful relationships, these groups have been created to help towards achieving the church’s vision. The Small Groups Semester started in January 2010. Register early to avoid disappointment.

Imagine

Ignite

New Possibilities

our passion

Imaging having unlimited resources to meet the needs of our community

Imagine using your gifts and creativity to fulfil God’s plan for the church

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If you are interested in joining a Small Group immediately please email the group you wish to join as the subject line and include your details as specified below in the body of the email.

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If you are interested in starting a Small Group, please email Start a Small Group as the subject line and include the following details below as well as what the group will entail in the body of the email and you will be contacted shortly.

SG REGISTRATION FORM Please pick 1 or more groups you wish to attend this semester:

Group 1 - How to become a better you Group 2 - Sex & the woman - (ladies only) Group 3 - Sex and the man - (men only) Group 4 - Being a contagious Christian

Invest

Inherit

in the Future

the Promise

Group 5 - Doing life together - (married/couples) Group 6 - City keepers (call to pray)

Imagine being a part of something significant that impacts future

Imagine taking bold steps and achieving your heart’s desires

Group 7 - Fashion Focus Group 8 - The Financial Clinic Group 9 - No strings (Singles)

First Name: Last Name: Email Address: Mobile Number:

For further details or information of our initiatives, please email: smallgroups@placeofvictory.org.uk 18

ENTHUSE MARCH 2010—MY MONTH OF INCREASE

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