Bestselling Christian author Sharon Garlough Brown is leading a retreat at Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre 4th – 6th April. The retreat is called “Stewarding Love, Grace and Comfort” and is based on her novel Feathers of Hope. There are a couple of rooms still available or you can attend as a day visitor. See the website https://www.crowhursthealing.org.uk/retreat.php?retreat=955 for more details or call 01424 830204.

Sat 29th March

9.30am for 10am

All Saints’ Church Hall,

Grange Road, Eastbourne

Bekah Legg is the CEO of Restored, a Christian charity working to speak up about violence against women and equip the Church to stand against domestic abuse and with survivors. A survivor herself, Bekah is committed to helping other men and women find freedom and live life to the full.

A former teacher, youth worker and Church leader, Bekah managed the youth support line and relationship education programme for a sexual violence center on the South Coast. She delivered sex and relationships workshops in secondary schools and with the local youth service.

Bekah has published papers and lectures on a biblical understanding of domestic abuse and gender-based violence and has spoken at the UN on the important role the Church can and does play in ending VAWG.

Together with her husband Steve she has raised 5 daughters and fostered 4 boys. They used their sometimes crazy experience to inspire a series of devotional books for families to grow in faith together and talk about the stuff that matters.

Charity Accounting Senior – Charity Accountant experience more important than qualification required by expanding and leading firm of accountants in the charity sector.

Working purely on charity accounts, independent examination and related work. Applicant must be fully conversant with the charity SORP and digital accounting software.

Role full or part time with a minimum of 21 hours. If interested email vanessa@caladine.co.uk for a full job description.

River of Life Church has recently started a Healing Sanctuary which is held at St Barnabas Church, Kingfisher Drive, Langney. We are providing a safe space where anyone can come and encounter Jesus and receive prayer for healing in their lives.

We are open between 10am and 12pm on the last Saturday of the month. If you or anyone you know would like to come along for prayer then please feel free to turn up. There is no need to book a space. For more information please contact flossie.h@rolcc.uk

Much of the disorder in our lives affects us inside and out, and this will be the theme of the Healing Service on Sunday 23rd February at 4.30 pm at All Saint’s Church, Grange Road, Eastbourne. Come and join us on that afternoon to seek God’s healing for the whole of our being; spirit, soul and body. Jesus says, “Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden”, so if you are, then do come!

Football sometimes gives itself a bad name – overpaid players, bad-tempered super-stars disputing every referee’s decision, crazy prices to watch the top teams… It’s good to know, however, that here in our town is a beacon of light: Eastbourne Borough FC, currently chasing promotion from the Vanarama National League South to the National League, have a Christian chaplain – local youth worker Ben West. Ben’s dad, Alan, was a well–known professional footballer with an England under 23 cap and a successful career at Burnley and Luton, where he played over 300 games and in later years worked as the club chaplain. He also worked as a church minister.

Ben grew up in a Christian household with two passions, his faith and his football. He recently completed a course at the UK Chaplaincy and, having made himself known at the Eastbourne professional club,he has been welcomed as the club chaplain. The club’s manager, Adam Murray, a man with a strong Christian faith that he isn’t shy of sharing, has been happy to involve Ben in many of the club’s activities: joining in the dressing room prayer before the game; travelling with the team on the coach to away games; supporting training sessions; chatting with the club’s team of employees –groundsman, cleaners, chefs, analysts, sports science expert, physio.

The Borough is a professional club with a professional teamsupporting the players, as well as a board of directors and an ongoing search for sponsors.

Ben is gradually building up a rapport with the players, of whom there’s probably a hundred at the different levels. Somewhat to his surprise (but also great delight) most of the first team squad came to his first bible study. Without pushing himself, Ben is there for a coffee and a chat if desired.

Young men can find the life of a professional footballer challenging, often juggling the demands of a young family as well as keeping themselves physically and mentally fit, as well as often living far from the club they play for. A listening ear with someone not directly involved in the football itself, can be very helpful.

Football can be a cruel sport for some: a sudden injury putting a player out for many months or even ending a promising career;wondering why he or she doesn’t have a regular starting slot in the first team; not being retained at the end of the season; struggling to find another club; a childhood dream seemingly in tatters.

What about the effect of the result of the game on the players? A narrow win – good, but what about our goal difference? A draw – at least it’s a point but could have been better. A defeat? Perhaps best if the chaplain isn’t invited into the changing room after the game.

As well as the first team there’s a women’s team (at the time of writing top of their league) and an under 18 side – so, lots of players who might welcome a friendly ear at some point. The Borough prides itself on being a community-minded club, providing midweek social events and soccer camps in the school holidays for both boys and girls.

Ben regards his role in the club as a ‘privilege’ and a ‘blessing’. He is also conscious that a new owner or manager could decide they no longer require the voluntary services of a chaplain.  So, just like a player or a manager you could be given a sudden boot. Ben has this very strong faith and hopes that others of faith or none will pray for him and wish him well. He knows there’s more to life than football.

Ben is available to speak in local churches and can be contacted at westie17@hotmail.co.uk