Chairman's Review, April 2008

This report was presented by Bill Matthews, Chairman of the Trustees of Normandy Vision UK Trust, at their Trustees Meeting held on April 26^th 2008. The meeting was held in the wardroom of HMS Nelson, Portsmouth (see picture on right).

As the trustees meet to consider Normandy Vision's progress through Philip and Simone's ministry, it seems appropriate to offer a short review of the work in order to assist our reflections.

• From the first meeting of the Normandy Vision trustees about one year ago, Philip and Simone have demonstrated clearly that there are many confirming signs that Normandy Vision is uniquely placed to “advance the Christian Faith... in Normandy...”.
• These signs include:
  
  
  • Their growing facility with the French language, including the effective leadership of a series of Bible Studies.
  • Their growing understanding of French culture and manners resulting in strengthening relationships with French people, especially those engaged in Christian mission.
  • Their leadership of the English services and the healthy responses to that ministry.
  • The additional opportunities that they have developed for mission and ministry beyond Houlgate, especially in Condé-sur-Noireau and in particular the very positive response to the recent carol service and their regular ministry there.
  • Philip and Simone have persisted in following up earlier hopes of establishing a work based on regular day or residential meetings in Houlgate and have accordingly sought a new vision and a new direction from the Lord. The work will clearly be broader based and NV can, with input from Philip and Simone, make a better informed assessment of the of the possibilities for such work and use techniques such as a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to analyse and scope the work and produce SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed targets) for the future tasking of the Mission.
  • The networks they have set up and the intelligence gained about the work of other Christian groups in Normandy.
  • The issues and opportunities that face the future work of Normandy Vision.

By any standards this is a substantive piece of work achieved in a remarkably short amount of time given that they have also provided a considerable amount of support in practical and pastoral ways to the pastor and people at Houlgate evangelical church.

In consideration of the above the time seems ripe to 'launch out into the deep' in the sense of going further into Normandy to establish more contacts and provide more support for the work of welcoming Christian churches in Normandy. Of course, this will mean both building on existing networks, especially at Condé and researching and establishing new ones.

This would mean a move from their existing pattern of ministry within Houlgate and I believe that a house move is both desirable and inevitable - and this could well provide additionally a saving in terms of rental costs. Although the proximity of the folk from Houlgate has been a good source of fellowship and support hitherto, I judge that the kairos time has arrived for the next exciting though no doubt challenging move.

At this board meeting, therefore, I propose the following two substantive agenda items:

• A vote on the amendment of Clause 4 [in the Trust Deed, that establishes the region of interest in which the charity Normandy Vision UK Trust operate] to delete the word Houlgate, so that it is clear that Normandy Vision's mission is Normandy rather than Houlgate plus Normandy, and
• A debate leading to a resolution on the direction of the Normandy Vision's mission from this point onwards.

A change of accommodation could well facilitate a degree of hospitality that Philip and Simone might be able to give the occasional visitor to Normandy especially as it may be helpful to explore appropriate direction/management of the work for the purposes of both support and accountability. If appropriate, it may even provide a suitable venue to set up a regular home group as a model, which can then be grown through cell division in other areas.

These exciting possibilities lie before us as a Board but more importantly the work of Philip and Simone in identifying and proclaiming the signs of the Kingdom can best be supported and directed as we prayerfully reflect upon what the Lord is saying to us as we pray: “Thy Kingdom come”.

Yours in Christ,
Bill

Rev William Matthews,
Chairman, Normandy Vision UK Trust