WOW!!! It’s now been over 6 years since the first EZ36 team members moved to St.Mellons! How mad is that!?!

So much incredible stuff has happened since then! There’s been up to 12 people on the team at any one time, living in 5 different houses and 5 different behavioural challenged dogs! Even more amazingly the promises of Ezekiel 36 have been happening! Ruined parts of the estate are being rebuilt and renovated. Kids are playing and laughing in parks again. There’s been amazing conversions, heartbreaks, answered prayer and loads of challenges..

We’re so grateful to God for His faithfulness and His mercy. What we can’t get over is that Jesus has chosen to use ordinary people like us to be involved in His plan of salvation and hope for this part of Cardiff. Jesus does stuff like that! He turned water into wine, but let the servants dish it out. He took 5 loaves and 2 fishes, but let His disciples feed the crowd! Speaking to His rebellious, messed up people, God promises to “show my holiness through you” [Ezekiel 36v23]. That just blows us away! Our awesome God who knows all our mistakes, our fears, our weaknesses and our excuses, still wants to shine His holiness through us!!! Hallelujah! Whoever you are reading this, be encouraged that God loves shining His life, giving light through you too, whoever and wherever you are!

Here's the stuff we're doing:

Latest News from EZ HQ:

(Currently the EZ36 team are Deb, Pete and Meg.  Deb and Pete are the leaders of EZ36:St Mellons).

IGNITE HOPE 2010 (30th April – 3rd May 2010)
Although it seems a long time away, the Hope (get it?) is that we’ll be involved in something big for Ignite Hope 2010. Hopefully working alongside Communities First in Trowbridge to improve the area somehow. Not sure of what or where, but something will be happening, watch this space.

YOUTH CELL
The Youth cell group is run by EZ36 members as part of the local church cell group structure. The group is open to young people who want to learn more about God and ask questions about life, the Bible and what Jesus has done for them, and also those who have made their own decisions to trust Jesus and want to grow and move on with God. We usually have a social time and a game and then creative worship followed by the Word and its application to our lives. Those of us running the cell are really enjoying it and it’s a real privilege to be allowed to share in the young people’s lives and see them understanding the truth of God’s Word and enjoying life with Him. Please pray for those who attend- for salvation and also for real growth and stability. Pray for us as leaders that we will be able to really support the young people and that we will have wisdom to bring the truth in a way which they can understand and apply to their lives.

URBAN SANCTUARY
The Urban Sanctuary is a mobile youth facility (aka double decker bus) run by EZ36 and other volunteers. It aims to provide a safe, fun and godly environment for teenagers in east Cardiff on a Thursday night The bus is covered with scripture and graffiti, and the inside kitted out with DJ decks, table football, a ps2, an xbox, a snack bar and chill out area.

Over the years Urban Sanctuary has become a popular hangout for St Mellons and Trowbridge youth, with the main attraction being the DJ decks where several boys (and a few brave girls) show off their talent at “MC”ing. Since last summer the youth have been able to do some arts and crafts on the bus, such as painting and clay modeling and it’s lush watching them get excited at what they’ve achieved by the end of the night. There are free drinks and biscuits on board which I’ve yet to see anyone pass up!!! The bus has literally become an urban sanctuary where youth can get off the streets into a safe and loving environment

Since October we have introduced “Upper Deck”, a 15 minute slot at the end of the evening where we informally present the gospel and discuss issues important to them through testimonies, games, songs etc. Please keep the Urban Sanctuary team and youth in your prayers. Please pray especially that the bus could be more consistent, without mechanical failure, or adverse weather conditions on Thursday nights, and that we will have enough team members (over 10) each week to take the bus out. Also, please pray that we will fill the “Upper Deck” times wisely with stuff God wants the youth to hear, and that their hearts would be softened towards God and they would hear him speak to them. Finally, please pray for deeper relationships to form between the team and the youth, and their salvation.

CHILDREN'S WORK
EZ36 continue to have links with a nearby church, Bethania, who run an excellent, well attended kids club every Friday night and commit to visiting the children and their parents each week to build on the relationships formed during the club. Christmas saw a very exciting family day, where a coach was hired and filled with both kids and parents who all took part in fun games and heard the gospel. Please pray for the children who attend, for their salvation and growth in God, and wisdom and energy for all the helpers. Please pray for more helpers to both help out in the club and visiting families each week, and that those already there would encourage the families they meet with God’s love.

BEACON FAMILY FESTIVAL
EZ36 members have been heavily involved with the church’s annual mission week “Aquasplash” in previous years. Plans are already being made regarding the holiday bible club, running from 29th July to 3rd August 2007. Please pray for wisdom in deciding what material to teach the children, and that the children who’ve come in previous years would come again, along with others. Pray that God would bring together His team for the club and He will be glorified through all the activities involved. Pray for the salvation of the children who attend, and that strong links will be made with Bethania kids club, so that children will continue to hear God’s word through the rest of the year as well.

LADIES' PAMPER EVENINGS
During Aquasplash 2006, the EZ36 girls held a ladies pamper evening, where we invited ladies off the estate to come to the Beacon Centre and be served food and drink; whilst having a facial, manicure, foot massage or hand massage, all for free! A personal testimony was given that the women could relate to and songs sung as they relaxed and were pampered. As it was so successful we are planning to do more events like this in 2007, we launched this with the first one on 28th Feb. Please pray that God would reach out to these women, on our estate, through these events and they would learn that God does love them and care about them. Pray for meaningful and lasting relationships to be formed between the team and the ladies, and that they would be saved.

OTHER WORKS EZ36 TEAM MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED IN:
Several of us are involved with various aspects of church life; PA, Worship, Leading Youth and Children's works, Preaching, Teas and Coffees. Some volunteer at the Beacon Centre, others are involved in Graphic Design for various events (including producing tracts for street evangelism). We also do detached youth work, when time permits, and take youth to events such as IGNITE and SOUL SURVIVOR.