We are the Church in the Avenue and everyone is welcome to join our kind and loving community.

When we come into relationship with Jesus, he will restore us into a new life. The old life and all the past mistakes and disappointments will disappear, forgiveness and a new hope is available, where you will develop peace as you go deeper into the Christian faith.

Lets look at some testimonies where people have come from challenged backgrounds and how they have turned their lives around once they invited Jesus in, first we look at Joanna’s story

No matter what your circumstances Jesus can turn it around for you. By inviting him into your life you can develop peace through Jesus and walk in light.

If you have any questions about the Christian faith and how a relationship with God can help you in your life, then join us on a Sunday morning. We serve refreshments from 10.45am. We will be happy to receive you and answer any questions you might have.

We have good news for people who think there is no way back in their lives. Jesus is in the business of giving out 2nd chances, and not just 2nd chances but 3rd, 4th and 50 chances. So if you are lost, hurting or suffering with some form of addiction it can all be turned around through the grace that Jesus offers us all.

It is confirmed in the Bible that Jesus mercies are new every morning, in the book of Lamentations.

Isn’t that good news, that when we mess up, we can count on Jesus’ mercies being re-newed every morning. Not only this but in the book of Hebrews it says:

It means when we mess up and make mistakes as we will inevitably do, we can get up, dust ourselves down and try again.

Grace is defined as God’s un-deserved favour and he pours it over us. The 2nd chances are there for you if you have been devastated by the following and think there is no way back:

• Alcohol abuse
• Drug Abuse
• Violence
• Been involved in crime
• Been victims of crime

Whatever pain or hurt you have experienced in life, we can all have confidence in approaching God’s thrown of grace to receive mercy, and have that second chance of life no matter how bad the past has been.

This website is here to tell you about one simple message. To find peace is to learn about Jesus and what he has done for you.

Jesus came into this world to look after you

Over 2000 years ago Jesus sacrificed his own life doing God’s will in order for us to have a relationship with God. God brought Jesus into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world.

For anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved and have eternal life. Not only that, but those who believe in Jesus will have life in more fullness where you will experience peace and joy. Jesus will also provide for your every need, so you do not have to worry, you simply need to put your faith in Jesus who still lives today.

Jesus has taken the penalty for bad mistakes you have made

It is inevitable that in a world that is soaked in all kinds of temptations that people will make mistakes. The Bible calls it “Sin”.

For example, in your lifetime you may have been in violent confrontation with someone, stole something, or you have been dis-honest in someway, these are mistakes and are known as sin, and we are all sinners that have fallen short of Gods standard. The following Bible scripture sums it up.

How can you find peace?

When you learn about Jesus and start to acknowledge him and his ways you begin to develop peace. Here is a scripture that promises us that we will receive peace through Jesus.

But how?

There are several reasons why you may not be experiencing peace. From self-condemnation, bad habits, to worries about life and more things that can lead to stress and anxiety. It could be past mistakes, you might have been to prison or committed a crime, and you cannot get over it or forgive yourself.

Well, the good news is this, Jesus took your sins upon himself past, present and future over 2000 years ago on a wooden cross, he took the guilt and the shame of your sins and you have been declared forgiven from this selfless act, so that you can make amends and turn your lives around for the better. This scripture from the Bible sums it up.

This is how we develop peace, for those who believe in Jesus are forgiven for their mistakes and God will turn around those mistakes for Good as promised in the Bible.

People who have been victims of crime

It can be devastating for those who have been victims of crime. Hurt, bitterness and hate can overcome a person who has been a vicitim of crime, especially a serious crime. If you are someone who is suffering then we believe only one person can help you, and that is Jesus.

The thing to remember about Jesus is he was God born on the earth as a man to walk amongst us, to shine truth and light into the world. When Jesus was crucified he had done nothing wrong. Jesus died on the cross having never committed a single crime, and yet he was nailed to the cross and suffered a criminals death.

The very important point is this. Jesus understands exactly what you are going through and what you are experiencing. Jesus was also a victim of a crime, he did nothing wrong yet he suffered greatly on the cross. When you are suffering from the consequences of a crime through no fault of your own, turning to Jesus can be the best thing you can ever do, because he can be the only one who can truly understand what has happened to you, let him bring the peace that you need to walk forward in your life.

We have a great film for you to watch if you’re curious about the Christian faith. Watch the Case for Christ below.

• Is the RESURRECTION of JESUS a myth or a fact?
  An award winning Chicago Journalist takes on the case.

Here is the film which is a true story where you can stream straight from this blog post.

If you have any questions with regards to the film or the Christian faith you can come along to our morning Sunday service. We serve refreshments from 10.45am and will be happy to help you with any questions you have about God.

Trying to find your identity in the world?

Do you love the darts, football, rugby, or are you a cooking enthusiast, or a shopaholic. Would you ever consider that perhaps these things could be what you are building your identity on?

A lot of us love football, however if your identity is built on it this could lead to problems in your life. Let us say you have been a football fan all your life, Manchester United win the FA Cup or the Premier League and that brings you satisfaction and a temporary form of peace.

After the club has won these accolades, you venture back home only to be faced with all the same problems that life throws at you, anxiety returns, you have to go back to work to pay for this and that, and a whole range of thoughts that get you down.

Well in this article we have good news for you. You can build your identity in someone that will bring you lasting peace. This article is not here to tell you that you cannot watch football, by all means go, and enjoy the football match, however, build your life on the rock that is Jesus, so that you feel peace all of the time and not just when Manchester United win the Premier League (it might not be for a while anyway).

Build your identity on Jesus

Jesus said that those who thirst and drink who do not know Him will thirst again, but those who know Jesus and follow His ways will never thirst and living water will flow out of their lives welling up to eternal life.

We encourage you to read the following story where Jesus sat at a well and led a Samaritan woman to true salvation.

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman – John 4 v 1-26

“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Why is this story important?

It is important for two reasons, other reasons as well but we will point out two reasons for you.

1) Jesus knew everything about the Samaritan lady, he knew her struggles and the things she was hurt by. The fact that this lady had already been married to 5 husbands indicates that life has been a struggle. But Jesus looked past all of that and did not condemn her, he put her on a path to receive living water, A NEW LIFE.

2) Jesus then explains that those who believe in him will receive living water. The point is if your thirst is for Manchester United to do well and win trophies, then you are going to thirst again and have that temporary peace and joy, or if you believe in Jesus, you can have that peace and joy living inside of you all the time.

Again, go and watch the football and enjoy it, a lot of Christians do. But know that you can build identity on Jesus that will bring you living waters flowing through your life. Being in Jesus’ provision means you will do things for him that will bring you lasting peace and joy helping others; you will be provided for and Jesus will give you everything you need to sustain you.

Not only will you have a lasting peace in your lifetime, you will also be saved and know that when you leave this world, you will be going to a place where peace is eternal, no wars, no crime, and no consequences to bad decisions and mistakes you have made, nobody out to hurt you, no guilt, no shame and a place where you have joy in heaven.

If you can learn these scriptures and develop a belief that these are true then you will be on a pathway to peace, and will not worry about building your identity on temporary joy, you will build your identity on Jesus, and have lasting joy.