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Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Jesus Loves |
Spring Report - May 2026"St Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians (4:3) “Pray for us…that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ….” This is the prayer, too, of our small team of ‘Jesus loves Sidley’ litter pickers as we go out onto the streets of Sidley each second Saturday of the month. We take seriously as well Paul’s further challenge in his letter “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know now to answer everyone.” The hi-vis tabards we wear bearing the words ‘Jesus loves Sidley’ is a message in itself, but we have found over the first few months of 2026 that God has indeed opened a door for us to have conversations with people - sometimes just on a friendly basis: we have noticed how important it has been to be willing to listen to what people have to say, especially about family concerns (and promise to pray for them), perhaps by taking an interest in a dog or a flashy motorbike or someone’s garden. Sometimes the ‘door’ opens wider and we can share testimony of Jesus in our lives. Meeting some people several times (and remembering names!) has helped build relationships. A local councillor, canvassing before the May local elections, was interested in what we were doing and was invited to church. He was surprised that there was a meeting every Sunday! One young man, was happy to talk for a long time about his ‘spiritual encounters’ having explored various religious ideas, but nothing was centred on the importance of Jesus as life-giving Saviour, so here was a wide open door to speak of Him. We are grateful for one or two prayer partners who remain at Freedom Church praying while we are out, and having the kettle on for refreshment when we return. Sometimes we have lunch together as a team in one of the Sidley cafes (wearing our hi-vis, of course!). Importantly we continue to pray regularly for those we have met. If you would like to join us we meet on the forecourt of the New Inn in Sidley at 10.15 on the second Saturday of the month. We shall also be present at the Sidley Festival on 28th June when the brand new, and now finished, Sidley Hub will be opened". |
Last Outing of the Year - December 2025Our last outing of 2025 began with our very small team joining a much bigger group from Freedom Church singing carols and reading the Christmas story in Sidley High Street, to beautiful violin accompaniment. 
(One lady from a shop opposite came across for a while with her little boy to join the singing. Customers
in that shop and, we learned later, from a nearby shop, had enjoyed the carol singing).Three of us then set off around the roads just off the High Street, enjoying a few friendly conversations on the way - helped by beautiful sunny warm weather. One Gospel conversation in particular followed stopping at a table-top sale in someone’s garden. Amongst the items for sale was a framed photo of the famous Light of the World picture by Holman Hunt - a wonderful lead-in to be able to talk about Jesus wanting to come into our lives if only we will open the door to Him. Our team has been reduced by illness, other commitments, and ageing limbs! We will continue to meet once a month on the second Saturday - do join us! Next outing is 10th January 2026. |
Jesus Loves Sidley - One Year Old!Roger and Mary, who have now been going out under Jesus Loves Sidley for a whole year, spoke about how 
they had found it. They feel it has been worthwhile and that it has been an encouragement to the local church,
who see it as part of their outreach, and that it fits it very well with the prayer walking they do.
They are especially happy that they have been able to meet people in cafes, and to have ongoing contact
with one particular couple. Roger recalled that when they first joined the Bexhill team on the sea front, it was quite easy, being summer, and there were plenty of people around, sitting on seats, with time to talk. People in Sidley however don’t sit on benches much. They are going shopping, going home etc, so somehow they have to build relationships with the community but he believes they have begun to do that. Their plan is to attend the Sidley Christmas lights switch-on and they hope to be at the Sidley Festival next year. Sylvia added that it is important that they are walking the streets of Sidley, walking God’s footsteps, walking blessings through Sidley. She said, “We may not see what is happening but God does. We are walking through darkness, clearing the way and showing them the light of Jesus. We may not know what we are doing but every time we go we are walking Jesus. People may not immediately recognise it, but I am sure the atmosphere in Sidley is changing and it will the more we walk the streets. We may not personally know what is happening, but someone may come to know the Lord in a few years’ time because they met someone walking in Sidley. We may not be able to say ‘this person has come to the Lord’ or ‘this person is coming to our church’, but Jesus is working wherever we are“. Mary shared a quote from Mother Teresa. When someone asked her about the success of her ministry, she answered, “It’s not about success, it’s about being faithful.” We don’t necessarily see people coming to the Lord, like some other outreaches with a very direct evangelism approach, but “just being faithful keeps her going”. |
Sidley Litter Picking – November 2025Jenny reported that, “People are getting used to us and are a lot more friendly now, whereas before they used to avoid us, even cross over the road. But now people smile and thank us, even the lady who sounded rather ‘New Age’ in her thinking, claiming that her name means ‘light’ and that she is light. We told her that Jesus is the light, which she ignored. (She kept using the word ‘divine’.) Generally, we now have fun and interaction with people, which is good.” Mary shared, “Mary met a man she had met previously with his wife and with whom visits to each other’ s houses had happened. (They are adamant they are ‘not religious’). Today he spoke of an incident of sudden death he was aware of, which gave the opening to challenge him about his eternal future. He was given a testimony leaflet." 
Roger’s report: “As we were preparing our bags at the New Inn, I met G, (we had met before at Marketplace), and we continued the conversation we had before. He was saying he might go to hell, he might go to heaven, so I told him we could make sure about that, but he wasn’t convinced. I told him that if we make our peace with Jesus, we can be sure of going to heaven. He didn’t agree with me but it has given him something to think about.” Mary added that they had asked the prayer team to pray for second and third meetings. Alex and Roger gave one man a copy of John’s gospel and encouraged him to go to church in either Sidley or Bexhill. They met three youths who were rather taken aback to be spoken to. Alex tried to pray with one, but the lads just made fun of them. So they simply tried to leave the boys with a good impression of themselves. They met J. He doesn’t go to church, can’t walk very far, and has to take taxis to get around, so they recommended the nearby Freedom Church to him. They left him and were walking on, but he stayed with them, walking and talking. They were generally encouraged by the contacts they made today. |
September / October 2025On September 13th, with rain lashing down for most of the morning, 5 of us spent time in
prayer together (indoors!) for Sidley and those we have met over the past months during our
litter-picking adventures. |
August 2025: Progress so farThe Jesus Loves Sidley team have been going out and about Sidley each second Saturday of the month since November. |
Our AimThe aim of Jeus Loves Sidley is to do our part in cleaning the streets of litter,
to make good contacts with the Sidley community,
to tell them about Jesus where appropriate, and to provide practical help.
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During our outings in the past seven months we have encouraged several people to consider the Christian faith,