March 2009 - Evangelicals Now - Christian Newspaper

It was an unusual way for any couple to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary — exchanging a four-bedroom house where they had lived happily for 17 years for the cramped living conditions of a static caravan in an isolated ten-acre field.

But to evangelists Jem and Sue Hudson it was just another step in a remarkable walk of faith to expand the ministry work of a church they planted 15 years ago on a housing estate in Stenson Fields, Derby.

Launching out

The church, Stenson Fields Christian Fellowship, with a 120 strong fellowship, grew out of the success of a children’s outreach the couple launched in 1989, which has led to about 100 children regularly taking part in weekly Bible study programmes.

It was in faith that the Hudsons launched three Bible exhibitions targeting schools, which so far have been seen by more than a million schoolchildren, and the production of professionally-produced visual aids portraying Bible stories for worldwide distribution.

But their latest faith-based vision is in a very different league — a £2.5 million Christian camp and training centre to accommodate 60 young people, plus their leaders, for weekend and school holiday evangelism, discipleship, and church leader training seminars.

It will also include a multi-purpose sports hall, a woodland walk, a one-acre lake, a book cafŽ, staff accommodation, offices — and a home for the Hudsons, as well as one for staff members. The entire construction will be in log cabin style to help create a sense of open-air adventure.

‘Yes, it is ambitious’, said Jem. ‘But this is what God impressed upon our hearts and minds to do and, over the last 20 years and more, he has, without exception, unfailingly supplied all our needs.’

With their house on the market for £173,500, Jem began looking for a sizeable plot of land within reasonable distance of the church. After much prayer, he finally located a suitable site of farming land about a mile away, and successfully negotiated the purchase of ten acres subject to planning permission — which was far from certain.

Astonishing go-ahead

In fact, planning officials believed that South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee would give it the thumbs down because of the size and nature of the project. Instead, to the astonishment of all involved, on June 10 last year — four days after the sale of their house — the project was given a unanimous thumbs-up.

And three days later, on the day of their 21st wedding anniversary, 41-year-old Jem, and Sue, 49, with their sons — Jonathan 17, Simeon, 15, Ben, 11, and Reuben, 7 — were moving in to the static caravan. There was no room for their eldest son, Sam, 20, who moved into his grandparents’ home until his wedding on July 5. The cash from the sale of their house covered the cost of the land, surveys and planning fees. The rest went towards the construction of an access road a third of a mile long to the site from the main road, which Jem helped to dig by taking a two-week JCB driving course.

Voluntary help, both physical and technical, has come from a variety of sources: a vicar from Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, and a former quarry worker able to drive a JCB, who gave up three weeks of his sabbatical; a construction company in Surrey; a landscape architect from Warrington; an environmental engineer from Liverpool; a structural and civil engineer from Stockport, Cheshire; and a quantity surveyor from Nantwich, Cheshire.

The construction of the log buildings is due to take place in July by True North Log Homes, a leading Canadian company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of log buildings. Donations totalling £46,000 have arrived to cover the cost of the deposit. ‘As well as being beautifully designed and outstandingly engineered they have that wow! appeal, which we are sure will excite the imaginations of young people’, said Jem.

The Hudsons’ plan to have the main accommodation centre and buildings, the manager’s house and office, and their own home ready for occupation by next January, which will enable them to formally open the camp and training centre.

But their home will be the last on the list. It was one of the conditions of the planning committee’s approval to ensure that the Hudsons’ planning application was not a ruse to build a home for residential use and then quietly forget about the rest of the development.

By 2011, the plan is to see the completion of the second phase — the book cafe, staff residence and multi-purpose sports hall. The Hudsons, members of the Association of Evangelists, say they have seen the generosity of the Lord’s provision at every stage of development.

Said Jem: ‘There have been many gifts, both large and small, including timely gifts of £10,000 that covered the remaining costs for the access road and then another gift of £100,000 toward the costs for the basement of the main centre.’

Is it wise?

The sheer size of the project has prompted one or two Christians to question the wisdom of its undertaking, particularly in such financially difficult times. But, at the same time, Jem and Sue have been extremely encouraged by the prayerful support and positive comments of many other Christians.

Jem said: ‘We could have remained in the comfort of our own home and asked the Lord to provide the estimated £2.5 million, but we believe he responds when his people first move in faith, to trust him a step at a time. That is the journey we are walking with him.’

Sue commented: ‘It was never a difficult choice to sell our home, because we really felt it was something that the Lord wanted us to do as part of our ministry vision. He was opening doors time and again. We knew that he simply wanted us to follow him. We prayed with the boys about it, and we came to agreement as a family. He has given us the grace and the ability day by day to press on. And the really important thing is that it has not in any way hindered our everyday ministry activities. That would have been a real blow.’

There can be little doubt that the Hudsons have taken on a task that would challenge the faith of the staunchest believer. But who dares to doubt that it will not be long before their Christian camp and training centre is alive to a multitude of voices in loud praise and worship to a God whose pleasure and business it is to bless those who live by the truth of his Word and, because of it, makes possible the seemingly impossible.

To receive a prayer letter, contact Jem Hudson at jem@foundationmatters.com or Foundation Matters, c/o 100 Beaufort Road, Stenson Fields, Derby DE24 3AZ. For more information, visit http://www.foundation matters.com

Earth-moving faith

Launching out

Astonishing go-ahead

Is it wise?

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