Dear Reader,

You will see from the other items in this newsletter that Ellel Grange has been a hive of activity over the past months.

During the year we will have conducted a total of 34 short courses, a 9-week Flagship School, a 2-week Advanced School and 17 Healing Retreats. In addition, we have spent many hundreds of hours ministering to people, and been involved with numerous other activities like the Open Days and Taster Days.

This is all achieved with the Lord Jesus helping a very small team of called and dedicated people. It is my privilege to lead them in this adventure, but as you read this, I pray that it will stir your heart to support us in this venture from the Lord.

If you have particular skills and abilities that you would like to offer, I would be pleased to hear from you. I am looking for volunteers who could help us fulfill the enormous challenge that lies ahead of us this coming year.

If for example, you are a qualified electrician who could help us get our wiring circuits in order, I would be really happy to talk to you, or if you are a qualified cook, who is looking for a new challenge, please give me a call. We also need other people who have administrative skills to enable us to keep this battleship afloat.

As well as people, we need your prayers, so it would be lovely to see you at our monthly PSG (Prayer Support Group) at the Grange or a PSG local to you. We also look to the Lord's people to provide for our financial needs, and would be most grateful if you could support us through the "Friends of Ellel Grange" scheme.

I pray that as you read this eNews you will be encouraged to support us in whatever aspect the Lord lays on your heart.

Yours in Jesus

Ian Coates

Centre Director

Celebration weekend

What better way to give thanks to God for 20 years of ministry than to throw a three-day party, open to the whole community. This is what we did at Ellel Grange from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th Sept between 10 am and 4 pm. People responded by coming in their hundreds and we gave them all a welcome pack (which included the free promotional DVD about Ellel Ministries).

God blessed us with magnificent weather for two days and on the final day, it stayed dry even though surrounding areas had rain. We had garden tours, a bouncy castle, a children’s tent, ice creams, bric-a-brac, and a pottery workshop.

In the house, we had an exhibition of paintings by some of our team, a jewellery workshop, superb sandwiches and cream teas in the dining room, a slide show with peaceful music, interesting talks followed by the DVD and finally a tour of the bedrooms and the prayer tower. Many seemed greatly touched by the talk and the DVD.

People were surprised we charged no entry fee and said they were glad we were using this grand house “to do some good.” Some were local farmers and neighbours, some were holidaymakers on the canal boats, and some had come from quite a long way, but it was great fun to meet them all and make friends with them.

The first day we were all thrilled to meet a lady, aged 92, who was once a scullery maid at Ellel Grange. It was a special treat for her to come into the front of the house, which had never been allowed when she worked here. She shared her photos with us and told us many stories.

On Saturday, our team had a delicious celebration meal and many friends and supporters joined us later for an evening of praise.

A Word from Finance

TESTIMONY of Pauline Baguley done over a cup of tea and scones on 9/9/2007 during the Open Days at Ellel Grange .

What do you do at the Grange?
I've been working with the finance team at Ellel Grange for the last 15 months.

What led you to Ellel Grange?
I came to visit a friend who works here at the Grange and as I came up the drive I felt strongly God's presence and a feeling of 'belonging' here.  After praying about it for a couple of months I still felt this, and was prompted to write to Ian Coates offering my skills to the ministry. I started working 2 days a week at first, but soon increased this to full time as I became sure the decision to come was in obedience to God's calling.

How did you come to know the Lord?
I had suffered depression from being a child, and this became more intense as I grew older. After having my first child, I suffered intense post-natal depression to the degree that I attempted to take my own life. God intervened, and I was resuscitated, but I was very damaged and broken emotionally. On my release from hospital I felt prompted to attend the Methodist chapel I had attended as a child, and shared with the minister there. He put me in contact with a church in Southport with a healing ministry and there I received a lot of deliverance ministry and came to know the Lord in a real way for the first time. That was where my journey with the Lord started, but He has been very patient with me since then, as there have been periods when I have been a long way from Him. However, since being here at Ellel Grange I really feel back 'on track' with His plans for my life.

What have you experienced while being here?
I have received so much healing from God, especially through doing the Modular School, and have really felt part of a team for the first time in my life. I had always been a 'loner', keeping myself in isolation emotionally because of pain in my past, but thanks to God's healing I can live and work in relationship with others. I feel such a different person from how I was only 2 years ago.

You are the lady that brings round the allowances every week.
Yes, that's one of my favourite tasks – everybody I visit that day is always so very pleased to see me! Working in finance is very busy and challenging, but also very rewarding. We really see God's provision and answered prayer as our needs are met on a daily basis.

What about the future?
I would very much like to grow into taking more responsibility in the finance office, and I am busy studying at the moment so that I will be able to make more of a contribution there. Anything other than that God has planned for me is yet to be revealed!

Latest finance news:
We give thanks that Steve Bishop has recently joined the ministry as the corporate financial person. Please lift him and Sally up in prayer as he takes on this challenge.

Advanced School of Healing and Discipleship

The Advanced School (29th September - 7th October) covered two weeks of intensive teaching from world renowned teachers: Peter Horrobin, George Otis, Alistair Petrie and Henry Wright. The house was full with over seventy guests. We then had Pastor Henry Wright teaching a 3 day course on the Spiritual Roots of Disease.The staff, especially the young people on team, excelled in keeping the house running smoothly.

Young People's Team

We have gone through a time of bidding farewell to a lovely group of young people and welcoming a whole new group from all over the world. Our two most recent additions to the Ellel family are Lise from France followed by Zhenya from Russia.  This brings the Young People's Team, (YPTS) up to twelve. They are from eight different nations including Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Equador and England. Most come for up to a year to serve the Lord and grow in Him and in relationship to each other.

Do you know anyone who would be interested in Ellel Grange? Please feel free to forward this email to them.