I was recently asked “What is TLC?” I could have described the individual initiatives that we run, or the heart behind why we do what we do or the original vision Tracy and I felt God was calling us to build. But, I believe the following sentence sums up the work of TLC:

 
A Christian community outreach project that preaches Jesus through words and actions in as many ways as God leads us to outside Sunday Church
 
Over the three years we have been building this initiative, we have prayerfully taken steps of faith in the groups we run:
 

Christian Craft Nite

An informal evangelistic outreach, where individuals gather to hear a short Christian message and try a new craft each month 7-9pm

• Can you help?

• Do you have interesting idea for a craft we could try?

Knit or Natter

What began as a month’s knitting for orphans and widows in Bulgaria, has grown beyond our wildest expectations. God has led us to numerous scriptures where he has confirmed that He has a heart for knitting too! We now belong to Norfolk Knitters and knit for over 50 charities. We hold a monthly ‘Knit or Natter Drop In’ at the Salvation Army Hall in Great Yarmouth on 3^rd Saturday of the month 11-3pm, which is attended by all ages. We often have homeless and hungry individuals joining us for refreshments

• Can you help?

• Could you spare one day a month to volunteer at our Drop In?

• Do you want a purpose to knit for?  We can supply patterns, wool and needles.

• Can you teach others to knit?

• Could you donate wool or needles?

• Can you bake cakes?

 Tracy and I have been asked to be part of a missionary trip to Bulgaria in August (paying our own way), working with a local gypsy church, and are excited about the opportunity to personally hand out TLC knitted goods to the need
 
Very recently we have worked with St Andrew’s Church in Lowestoft in the launching of their Knit or Natter Group, where they have a short thought for the day. And later in the month I am travelling to St. Mary’s Church in Greenhithe, Kent to start a ‘Knit or Natter’ at the launch of their community café
 

Knitter Natter

We were asked by Herring House (homeless hostel) to start a knitter natter group at the hostel, which we run three evenings of the month. One of the highlights for me was when a service user said “you don’t know how much you have done for my mental health since you started coming – thank you!”

• Can you help?

• Do you have a Thursday evening free?

• Are you able to teach others to knit?

• Would you like to be part of the team and come and chat to folks?

• ?Can you bake a cake?

 Pool Nites

We are building teams who aim to show the love of Jesus through going into Herring House on a fortnightly basis to run pool evenings with the service users

• Can you help?

• Do you have time on a Wednesday to play pool or just to chat?

 Evangelism Teams

A team of us go out onto the streets of Gorleston and Great Yarmouth on the 4^th Saturday of the month. We have given out over 5,000 gospel tracts in the year we have been going out. We have been blessed with numerous conversations with individuals wanting to know about Jesus and even more blessed by the encouragement of other Christians who come up and say hello

• Can you help?

• Do you have a heart to scatter seeds for Jesus?

• Do you want to reach people who don’t know Jesus, we offer training?

 Street Presence Teams

We are launching our Street Presence Teams on Easter Saturday. The teams will patrol the streets of Great Yarmouth offering a listening ear, aiming to diffuse volatile situations, signpost to appropriate agencies and give out bottles of water, space blankets and chocolates. They will be supported by a prayer team while they are out on the streets

• Can you help?

• Are you a nightowl who would like to chat to people on the streets?

• Are you a prayer warrior?

 One to One Support

We support individuals in the community through our links with other agencies such as Leeway women’s Refuge

• Can you help?

• Are you a good listener?

• Do you want to walk with someone on their journey with Jesus?

 Hope Bus 2

Stagecoach recently donated a newer bus to the work of TLC after our first Hope Bus had mechanical issues. The bus is being professionally revamped by SouthEastCoast Coachworks and work has begun on the roof

• Can you help?

• Funds for revamp – monthly donation, small change boxes available

 Day to Day Running

• Can you help?

• Do you feel called to join with our evangelistic initiatives?

• Are you a leader?

• Are you a helper?

• Do you have a heart to pray for us?

• Are you able to look after TLC finances in a Godly manner – treasurer needed

• Do you have a heart for safety of children and vulnerable adults – Safeguarding Officer needed?

• Are you able to create a regular newsletter?

• Can you pray for our work and workers?

• Can you commit to regular financial giving?

 We are excited by where God is leading us, and how the project is growing but we are in need of workers. We remember the words Jesus spoke to His disciples when He walked this earth in Matthew 9:37
 
 “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So, pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, ask him to send out more workers for his field”
 

If you feel called to help us in anyway please contact us:
 
Jan Tapp – (Project Manager) Tel: 07970531670