When God Intervenes

By Jean V John

When God Intervenes is an inspiring story of my faith journey. It tells how an encounter with God at a stressful time of my life led me to open my home to care for people suffering the effects of mental ill health, the success, and the deep passion and concern that I felt for these individuals.

I encountered hardships, persecution, negative influences, and challenges by people who tried to discourage me. It tells how it did the opposite and stir up courage in me to go the distance regardless of the obstaclesto successfully build and manage what has now grown to become the life-changing organization called Wayside Community Centre in Londons East End. Read the amazing and inspirational account of perseverance and trust in God even amid the trials and be inspired to take God at his word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524678951

Jean V John

Jean John is the Author of the Inspiring book When God Intervenes. She is the founder of the Wayside Community Centre in Hackney, East London. Over the years Jean has Volunteered in several Organisations in Hackney, Leyton, Walthamstow and Islington. She is a Fully Accredated Local Preacher in the Methodist Church. Jean was featured in her Local Hackney Gazette, and the Voice Newspaper for winning the Award of the year (1999) for her work in the Community. She was also included on the Channel 4 programme (You deserve this House).

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© 2017 Jean V John. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/20/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-7894-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-7895-1 (e)

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The HYPERLINK "http://www.zondervan.com/"Zondervan Corporation.

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

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Dedication

The Beginning of a Journey

House Prayer Meetings

Bible Study

Persecution

The Birth of an Organisation

Wayside

Away Days

The Restructuring of the Project

Health Project

The Decline

Chatsworth Road

God’s Providence

Charity Shop

Old Peoples Home Outreach

The Sunshine Project

Overseas Outreach Project

Inshape Partnership

The New Wayside Community Project

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On spring bank holiday, May 1987, I left home to walk the short distance to catch the coach to Derbyshire. It never occurred to me that anything could happen to change my way of life. I was a broken and sad person feeling unfulfilled due to a lack of self-worth and, unable to move forward towards my goal. As the years crept up on me, I often felt that any chances I had towards my dreams coming true were evading me, but I still kept dreaming of finding fulfilment.

That Spring Bank Holiday Monday, however, I was given an awakening to the realities of the Christian way of life. I was in a place where the worship was exuberant, and people praised God in a way that was completely new to me. It was as though heaven had come down to earth as God’s presence was felt everywhere I went. Something supernatural was also happening as I could hear a voice in my head making a demand on my life. This form of worship was new to me, and I became afraid of the sacred atmosphere, and the urge to escape was overwhelming. I was very critical of those who gave their testimonies. I wondered why they were talking so much about Jesus even giving Him credit for healing them and wondered whether they were genuine or not.

However, as I listened, I began to relate to some of the things that were being said and wondered if Jesus could help me also. But somehow the feelings of scepticism kept returning, and I could not wait for the meeting to end to make my exit. I decided not to attend the final service and went to the bookshop. There I met a friend who had previously heard Rev Colin Urquhart preach and recommended that I come with her to the Lower Tent where he was due to speak that afternoon. Reluctantly I went along to that meeting, and it was there that I finally made a new commitment to God.

On the return to London, my life was wonderfully transformed. I found the confidence to move forward towards my goal and I’m now a fully Accredited Local preacher and the founder of an organisation which has been serving the community here in London and internationally, for the past twenty-seven years.

After overcoming my personal experiences, I started a prayer meeting in my home. Through this meeting of openly sharing our life experiences, I realised that my personal circumstance was not isolated and I wanted desperately to help restore the lives of those suffering the effects of stress. I decided to set up a support network for the lives of the vulnerable. I opened up my home and began by offering counselling and befriending sessions. Later on, a helpline was introduced to provide support to the shut-in.

As more people began to tell others of the service my home became a drop-in, and it was then that the need for a community centre arose. Some others who were also committed to the local community shared the same vision. We set up an organisation. Provided a programme of activities that would help to heal the lives of those suffering the effects of mental stress. My mission has always been to provide a voice for those who desperately need to be heard. To give consideration to the plight of the mentally ill people that came our way.

We started out without any funds. Daytime activities, outings to places of interest and a lunch club was provided. Grateful people brought provisions to keep the Club going, and to help with the rent.

Throughout the years the team and I have listened to concerns and have worked to implement positive changes, develop projects that are both relevant and necessary to the needs of such a community of vulnerable mentally ill people.

Some of the first areas of our intervention include providing:

• Counselling and befriending support to the mentally ill

• A health programme of activities which provides the chance to keep fit in a fun and safe environment

• Educational projects which help to equip individuals with the tools and skills necessary to take control over their lives and enable them to live independently.

• Recreational events which provide people who are socially isolated the opportunity to explore new projects, meet new people and become socially included.

Years later we began to raise awareness of the benefit of keeping fit and to help reduce the numbers of strokes, and heart disease which is high among African/Caribbean, and people of Asian origin. As a result, we have seen vast improvement in the health and well-being of users, such as.

• Dramatic changes have occurred within only a few weeks of participating in the programme

• Health complaint such as High Blood