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Open-Air Mission
‘Holding fast the faithful word...’
(Titus 1:9)
(Titus 1:9)
Registered as a Charity: No. 215409
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‘Holding forth the word of life...’
(Philippians 2:16)
(Philippians 2:16)
Steve Burton
Regular open-air opportunities in Bedford, Hemel Hempstead, Luton, St Albans and Stevenage.
My Testimony
Growing up, I didn’t have many Christian influences in my life. It was at the age of 13 that I made my first Christian friend, Woody, at the local Air Training Corps squadron. Woody also led the Christian Union at my new upper school and encouraged me to attend. He was a big witness to me because he never swore and he never laughed or joined in with the vulgar jokes we often made as a group. Woody was very patient with me as I asked him questions and often joked about his faith.
I was saved when a Christian outreach group came to my school for one week. They performed a big concert before leaving. At the end of the meeting one of them gave his testimony and challenged us all to turn to Jesus Christ. I prayed to the Lord right then for forgiveness, knowing I had been rejecting Him.
I was now hungry for God’s Word and passionate to tell others about this good news. This led me to become involved in open-air ministry in Dunstable, Beach Missions, and children’s clubs at church. As school was coming to an end, I was deciding what to do next. After prayer and discussion with others I applied to become a trainee with OAM. It was a privilege to work alongside men like Mike Mellor and John Hawley. During this time the Lord challenged me greatly and gave me the grace to give up other ambitions I had had since childhood. Deep down I knew that these ambitions would have been unhelpful to my walk with God, and I began feeling a burden to do open-air work full-time.
After 2 years of doing various jobs, including working for a child bereavement organisation, the burden for telling others of Jesus became heavier and heavier. The Lord has opened the door to be involved in telling out the message of salvation in Christ. As I begin the work I cling to the Lord’s wonderful promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).