Route One Bus Project: Update July 08

What is the Route One?

Route One is an initiative based in the South East Essex. It aims to help equip churches to communicate the message of Jesus clearly and creatively.

To do this we have developed a mobile interactive exhibition onboard a double-decker bus. The resource is designed to help people explore the significance of Jesus and his message. It can be used to deliver lessons in schools or for outreach in town centres and communities.

Here is a brief update on the project:

The Bus
Gavin Dixon of King's Church, Southend and Simon Ford, Project Coordinator travelled up to Suffolk this week to check on the progress of the bus. We were very pleased with how things are going (See photos). If you have been following on the Route One facebook you will realise how much needed doing as parts of the exterior of the bus needed replacing this is much more than a re-spray.

However, the bus is now ready for the final spray which will take place next week and will include the whole thing being baked in an oven to seal the paint on to the highest standard (YES they have ovens that big).

After this the vinyl wrap will be applied which will make the whole thing look stunning.

The Exhibition
Sam Nudds is hard at work designing the exhibition and we took the opportunity last weekend to try some of the boards out on the general public at the Rayleigh Churches fun day. This enabled us to get feedback and make some adjustments to the display before the final printing.

The Team
We have begun building the project team which will be responsible for the running of Route One. This is of course a gradual process but we already have people offering their time and skills to see this vision become a reality. Could you help out in some way? Please get in contact.

The Next phase
We are in need of a further £10,000 to complete the setting up of the project and we estimate our yearly running costs at around £35,000. The bus will soon be back in South East Essex enabling the start of the internal refit.

We will be holding a meeting after the summer (date and venue tbc) as we are keen for people to see the resource and to catch the vision of the project which is:
To equip the church to communicate the message of Jesus clearly and creatively.

PRAYER POINTS

1. For the final stages of the external work to go smoothly
2. For Sam to find the time in his busy schedule to complete the exhibition
3. For the project team to be established with the right people in place
4. For blessing to continue to flow and grow in the area of finance

Thanks for your support and prayers

Simon
Route One
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Simon Ford
07534 904488
simon@routeone.org.uk
www.routeone.org.uk

Route One update June 08

Things are really starting to happen now which is all very exciting.

The sponsored cycle went really well with the weather being set to perfection and the all aspects of the ride going smoothly. Everyone enjoyed themselves some so much they decided to ride home afterwards making the distance they rode around 23 miles. We are still waiting for all the money to come in and will let you know the final figure raised in next months update.

The bus is now in Suffolk undergoing an external face lift. This involves steam cleaning, panel replacements and other bodywork processes, spraying and baking. Once this is all completed the bus will look all white and shiny.

If you are on Facebook you can become a friend of Route One/Si Ford and see photos of the bus as it changes. If you are not on Facebook why not join and get connected.

The designers are busy finalising the external vinyl wrap design and the exhibition design. I’d say we have completed about 35% of the exhibition and are aiming to complete and send the exhibition to print by the end of the summer. The interior of the bus has been gutted and the internal refit will begin as soon as we get the bus back down from Suffolk.

Please pray for:

• No hold ups or complications in the external refit.
• We are starting to put a project team together.
• Please pray for the right people to come forward to resource this project to see it become everything God wants it to be.

Thanks for your prayers
Simon Ford
Route One
07534 904488
simon@routeone.org.uk
www.routeone.org.uk

New year prayer with Love Southend & Hope 08

We are delighted to invite you and your congregation to the Love Southend Hope 08 Prayer Week.

The Love Southend Hope 08 Prayer Week commences on the 12th January 2008 and finishes with a celebration on the 19th January 2008 at Southend Christian Fellowship, Plaza Centre, Southchurch Road, Southend. Love Southend is already committed to delivering the intentions and ambitions of the UK wide - Hope 08, across the borough of Southend-on-Sea. Through word and action we hope the Christians of our town will join with us in showing the love which God has for the people of our town. We urge all local churches to join us in beginning and rooting 2008 in prayer! The detailed schedule of the Love Southend Hope 08 Prayer Week is included on the posters and leaflets which were recently posted out to church contacts at all churches in Southend. You will also find details in the events section of this website. We would be most grateful if you would publicise this event in your church through your news sheets, announcements and by displaying the posters and handing out the leaflets. Please stand with us, and together we will pray for a great transformation in our town. Further information, posters, leaflets and OHP/data projector slides are available to download, please click on the links below: A4 Poster/OHP Slide/Flier(PDF 1.3MB) PowerPoint slide(.ppt 370kb) Letter from Chairman to church leaders(PDF 314kb) please do make use of these. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email kalbi.massey@lovesouthend.org or call 07990 581595. May we wish you and your church all God's blessings for Christmas and the New Year, and thank you in anticipation of your prayerful support. Revd Stuart Kimber & Kalbi Massey Chair Love Southend & Prayer Co-ordinator