We gathered together as normal and kicked off with a time of sharing Tests & Testimonies, with many people requesting prayer, this was such beautiful and precious time

This led to a time of worship with Hope Central Worship leading us for the second time which was great, all praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

We then moved on to the second talk in our relationship series “What Love Isn’t”. We understood this was going to be an emotive and sensitive subject which may cause a variety of reactions as we unpacked each of the following:

Emotional Abuse: Making someone cry; Being unkind; Being rude; Emotional blackmail; Name calling; False promises; Lying; Shouting; Putting them down; Withholding affection

3 Tactics of Coercive Control: 

Tactic 1 Psychological Abuse: Purposeful pattern of behaviour that provokes feelings of shame, mental anguish, isolation, deprivation, indignity or powerlessness 

Tactic 2 Love Bombing: Love bombing is characterised by excessive attention, admiration, and affection with the goal to make the recipient feel dependent and obligated to that person. It’s not love ­– it is a clever manipulation technique. The chilling tactic is often used by the narcissists, abusers, and even con artists and scammers.

Tactic 3 Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which a person causes someone to question their own sanity, memories, or perception of reality. People who experience gaslighting may feel confused, anxious, or as though they cannot trust themselves. The abuser may often step in and be the victim’s saviour in a situation that they have cleverly orchestrated

Economic Abuse: Economic Abuse involves the control of money and finances, as well as the things that money can buy.

Sexual Abuse: Emotionally pressured into having sex or partaking in sexual activity; Physically being forced to have sex or partake in sexual activity; Demanding the victim dress more provocatively; Making degrading sexual comments; Making threats of sexual acts; Threats to expose intimate photos or details; Having sex with the victim when they are asleep or unconscious; Drugging or plying the victim with alcohol or drugs in order to get them to comply; Sexual Assault; Rape

Stalking: It is important to remember that leaving an abusive relationship offers no guarantee that the abuse will end. A Victim may then be subjected to heightened patterns of stalking, and/or harassment from either the ex-partner, family member or a whole community in cases of ‘so-called honour-based violence and abuse

Spiritual Abuse: The term ‘spiritual abuse’ covers a wide variety of behaviours, but can be summarised as the use of spiritual authority or spiritual means in order to demean, manipulate, control or exploit someone. This type of abuse like all others can have a devasting effect leading to sever emotional reactions such as depression, suicidal thoughts, anger and a deep mistrust of churches.

After running through each slide, we then returned and discussed each slide in turn as a community 

We finished by remembering what love is…

Cor 13: 4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

Thank you, Jesus, for another great night at Hope Central, You will build Your church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it…

Our Mission (Isaiah 61)

To proclaim good news to the poor. 

To bind up the broken hearted,

To proclaim freedom for the captives and release them from darkness, 

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,

To comfort all who mourn,  

To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 

Thank you Taste & See for your continuing prayer support please continue to do so it is vital

Our declarations – This is the generation of those that seek him, that seek your face, O God of Jacob (Psalm 24v6)

A generation with clean hands and a pure heart

A generation with baptised with fire

A generation who pursues and loves Jesus

A generation with a simple but powerful faith

A revival generation 

Can you hear those dry bones rattling as God rebuilds his temple in us and through us….