Dear {!firstname},

Every morning as I drive up the long drive through trees laden with autumnal colour, the sunshine highlighting the amazing landscape, I thank God for this beautiful place that so many of us know as "Home". Looking at the splendour of the gardens and permanence of the Victorian stone building you might think that nothing ever changes, but you would be wrong because this year has seen so many changes in lots of areas.

We have had changes in the way we handle all the administration needed to run the centre and the international ministry, and this resulted in the need for refurbishment of rooms to become suitable offices for the new structures. That said there is a great sense of stability and permanence here coming from our assurance that Jesus Christ is our strong and eternal foundation

None of us can be unaware of the sense of fear and uncertainty which is pervading our world as a result of financial crisis in one area after another, but yet we know the certainty of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is this certainty which brings us peace in all our circumstances and a joy in our spirit which cannot be moved.

This week we will have a full house on the Healing through Creativity course, what a joy it is to see people expressing themselves through dance, making things with clay or wood and painting big expressive pictures that capture the depth of their emotions and feelings

Behind the scenes the maintenance team are working in the roof spaces to install loft insulation. We praise the Lord that we have received over £6,000 already which enables us to start with our energy conservation improvements, and quite a few people are giving us donations for low energy bulbs. We still need more than £30,000 to completely upgrade including replacement of all the boilers and central heating systems.

Just this week we had both our ovens condemned because of gas safety. So we have had to immediately order two new ovens at £4000. Please pray for this unexpected need. If you would like to help us with a donation click here

In the next weeks we will be sending out the new handbook for 2009, I would encourage you to tell your friends to request one if they are not already on our mailing list. Of course the whole handbook is also available on line. It is still possible for you to attend a course here this year as there are still a few places on Healing for Women, Restoring the Human spirit and Stress anxiety and Burnout. Telephone our bookings office today to reserve your place ( tel. 01524 753 820 or 01524 753 821). A brand new development is Ellel Ministries 365 Online, which will make our teaching and training available One Day at a Time on our virtual centre any where in the world.

I'm very excited that on 2^nd May next year we will be running the 9 week Flagship School again. This year we had 17 nations represented. Now is the time to make your application if you are being drawn towards a longer school. So many nine week school students say that this has been a life transforming point in their lives. Some of the students were fully sponsored by the kind giving of others. Pastors from India, students from Africa and other poorer countries are able to attend only with our help. If you are able to help with sponsorship please contact us, or simply complete your donation online now

I pray that you will all draw closer to Jesus this Christmas time as he is the centre of all of our lives, and we all look forward to seeing you again soon here at Ellel Grange

Andrew Stewart
Centre Manager Ellel Grange

Behind the Scenes at Ellel Grange

Interview with Jean Hepworth

Jean how long have you been coming to Ellel Grange and what has been your involvement?

I've been coming since 1987 shortly after it opened in 1986, and started working here in 1989. My husband Ken met Peter Horrobin during the Mission England in 1984. We needed to seek help for others and receive healing for ourselves! I was asked to run the Kingslee Home for the elderly in the building at the back of Ellel Grange, which I did for two and a half years until it closed. When Ken was appointed director of Glyndley Manor we moved to Sussex for a time until we returned to the Grange to direct the work here.

What have you done that has blessed you in this ministry?

Working alongside my husband most of the time is a great blessing. Going to Ellel Canada twice as resident teachers and later with Ken the director of the work there, was great and brought me more healing.

So how do you seeing the Lord using you at this stage of your life?

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009