FIRE IN THE NORTH Gathering 2023 OPENING Declaration
Declaration with the hand bell at the Start of FIRE IN THE NORTH Gathering at Northumberland Hall, ALNWICK Saturday 2nd September 2023
by Roger Daniel
The fire in the north will touch your soul.
The fire in the north will make you whole.
That burning fire of such pure delight.
God’s holy fire will set you alight.
Burning from the north throughout all the land,
Come, join in the song of God’s holy band.
In wedding garments of the purest white,
ready for the rapture, God’s greatest delight.
FIRE IN THE NORTH Gathering 2023 PRAYER POINTS arising
Following on from the FIRE IN THE NORTH Gathering on Saturday 2nd September 2023, please continue to pray for the wider church across Northumberland and the North East.
PRAYER POINTS
1) God has His eye on the bigger picture, and we believe, He is calling us together, not as side-line spectators, but with the eyes of the Eagle!
Pray that we will see what He is doing, and be encouraged by what we have shared and prayed with one another.
2) God is at work among us as the Lion, bringing healthy Kingdom order into our relationships.
Pray for Christians all across the North East that we would do what makes for peace in the Body of Jesus Christ.

Welcome Network Summer Newsletter 2023
Dear Partners and Friends of Welcome Network,
We hope you are keeping well. As we look to Him, God will show us the way we should go (Psalm 25:12) – a promise for all of us to rest in. Our prayer is that we will all pick up, and flow in God’s love for the people around us, and be a blessing where-ever we are!

ALNWICK and OUR VILLAGE (Shilbottle) We have been hosting a monthly Stories of Hope under our Bright River Chapel banner in Alnwick, since January. It’s been a lovely opportunity for people to share stories from their experiences of faith over a cuppa and some nibbles. There has been a sense of God on the move in the town, and we arencouraged by the praying that has been happening. Notably there was a 24 hour period at Pentecost where different ones took time slots to pray for the town.We also recently hosted a prayer walk around the village which brought together Christians from the area, and has been a great opportunity to pray God’s blessing over the village of Shilbottle. Each week we love going along to help with a lunchtime meal for older folk in the village. We enjoy the chat and the opportunity to get to know them all a bit better! One or two have also come along to our Stories of Hope! We sense that God is stepping up the prayer for our communities and we want to thank all of you who read this newsletter and are standing with us in prayer.
REGIONALLY IN NORTHUMBERLAND & TYNESIDE Our monthly, ‘Pockets conversations’ on zoom continue to provide mutual encouragement and support for a scatter of individuals, couples and small groups in our region, and further afield. We are hosting an Away time at our house at the end of June with some of the like-minded people with whom we engage in our region. We are praying for increased momentum in what we are doing together. As a group, we are planning a major Fire in the North gathering on Saturday 2nd September. This will bring together leaders, church pioneers, evangelists, worship, prophetic, intercessor and wider view people from across Northumberland and the North East to look at how we might encourage and nurture what God is already doing here! The venue this time will be in Alnwick; and then, later in the autumn, we will be hosting an evangelistic weekend here-in North Northumberland, with our Manchester evangelist friend, Wayne Hudson. In February, he came across to meet some wider view people as well as local church pioneers. We believe this is part of a general focus on evangelism and harvest. We are calling in the ‘strong wood’ to help us, especially in prayer, as we feel that God has some “Mighty Oak” praying ones to stand with us! Mary and I will also be helping to co-ordinate prayer ministry at the Cedarwood Festival in July – a regional worship gathering which we believe God is using to strengthen the wider church in the North, and to draw many into His kingdom.

OTHER NEWS In the last few weeks we also gave some teaching and prayer ministry support at an Away Time for a small church group from Birmingham. This was over 5 days staying at The Quinta in Shropshire. We felt very loved and appreciated by everyone, and enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing time together!
BRIGHT RIVER CHAPEL We continue every Sunday (4pm for 4.15pm UK time) bringing worship and encouragement for 30 min or so via zoom and Facebook live. If you’d like to join us on zoom, you are very welcome! You can also connect on the Welcome network youtube channel during the week.

FAMILY NEWS We had a lovely family time away in Frome, Somerset, just after Easter, staying at an old manor house! Six of our seven grown-up children were with us, plus partners and five grandchildren! This was a fantastic opportunity for us all to catch up- we had some lovely days out and had fun acting a murder mystery play too! We also enjoyed celebrating the first birthday of our grandson, Jack, with parents, Esther and Martin in Paisley at the beginning of May. Recently, we went to see our son-in-law, Scott, Abigail’s husband, at a Ladies Finals football match in Norwich, where he acted as assistant referee. (see photo above) What an experience!
We have visited London as well, staying with our son, Joe and Emily and their two young boys, which was really fun! Very soon, we are going down to Cornwall, on a discounted train fare to see our youngest son, Matt and wife, Sharmila; plus, on the way back, we are stopping for a coffee with our eldest son, Dave, at the train station in Bristol!
THANK YOU to all of you who pray and support us! Please let us know your news or prayer needs.
With much love
from Bob and Mary Bain xxx
Welcome Network Christmas News 2022
Dear Partners and Friends of Welcome Network
STEPPING OUT – Recently Bob and I were given an encouraging prophetic word – God said we had been taking small steps, and that was good, but now it was time to take a BIG STEP forward! (see Isaiah 54:2) It was as if we had pressed the PAUSE button; (Do you know that feeling?) and now God was giving us the same stepping out words He had given to us a year ago, because we had hardly moved out on them! Sometimes God reveals the plan only when we take a step! (e.g.Joshua had to cross the Jordan before he received God’s plan for taking Jericho! Joshua 5:13-6:5) As we enter 2023, let’s look over the promises and plans God has given us, and take a big step FORWARD in faith, knowing that He is Immanuel -“God with us”!
AUSTRALIA and PHILIPPINES – Autumn, this year, was a wonderful adventure with four weeks spent in Melbourne, Australia, with our son, Jonathan, daughter-in-law, Dolly, and two young grandsons, Edward and Henry. It was a real family- focussed time; full of the simple joys and everyday routines of life, celebrating birthdays, reading stories and play times, as well as discovering the unique flora and fauna of the area! A great break from our normal routines!
On our way back to the UK we stopped over in the Philippines for a few days. We met a good friend, Angelica, who is busy with outreach and mission in Manila. We also spent a lovely day with another friend, Christine, who we know from our time living in London.
FIRE IN THE NORTH In September we hosted this amazing revival gathering at Howick Hall with fifty leaders from all across Northumberland. It was a significant time of worship, prophetic prayer, speaking out declarations, networking and encouraging one another. We sense God’s leading to continue to bring together those who are eager for God’s fire- His love, passion and compassion, to transform our region of the North East of England! Watch this space!
CEDARWOOD – Bob and I had a very fulfilling time helping in the Prayer and Worship Tent at Cedarwood Festival this Summer. Over the three days, many people encountered Jesus, experienced healing and some gave their lives for the first time! We are helping with next year’s Summer Festival.
OUR VILLAGE – We love living in Shilbottle and helping to share God’s love as village chaplains. This year we held a Jubilee Garden Party in our prayer garden, Albafarne; we co-ordinated the outdoor Remembrance Day service at the war memorial and are posting a Christmas Gospel newspaper and prayer card through the doors of all the 800 houses. Mary is very happy to again be part of a team taking Open the Book into the local village school.
BRIGHT RIVER CHAPEL Our regular online gathering continues every Sunday from 4pm on zoom (also live on facebook from 4. 15pm). You are very welcome to join us as we worship the Lord, encourage and pray for one another. (ID: 7253379548 Password: Albafarne). From January, we will also meet on one Sunday each month, in person, at a local venue in Alnwick. Please pray for us as we take this step forward! Our monthly “POCKETS” ZOOM continues to support and encourage a scattering of folk, from across the North East, who are eager to share the gospel with others in their community.
FAMILY NEWS – It was a great joy this year to welcome our seventh grandchild Jack, born in May to our daughter, Esther and husband Martin. He is now six months and doing well! In July, we celebrated our youngest daughter, Vicky, and one of our sons in law, Scott, as they graduated as doctors!
Much Love and a very Happy Christmas
from Bob and Mary Bain XXX
Welcome Network, 29 Grange Road, Shilbottle, Alnwick NE66 2XN; Mob: 07988564299 e-mail: bobbain@hotmail.co.uk; See our website blog for ministry news and info : welcomenetwork.org To support our work, please send gifts to Welcome Network CIO Lloyds sort code 30-91-92 A/C no. 77504560 or use our giving link, https://www.give.net/welcomenetwork/oneoff
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