Update Tuesday 28/02/12

Just a reminder that if you are interested in still receiving update reminders by e-mail then feel free to sign up at the right hand side of this page by entering your e-mail. 

I feel almost lazy for doing it again, but I am going to send you to another blog for this week's update.  The story, about one of the international students with whom we work, is just too good not to share (Kim had her permission to write and share it).  To be honest, it has been fun for me to be able to share some of the things that God has been doing in our midst but from other voices and perspectives these past few weeks.  I will try to write something myself next week so that you don't think I am just getting out of doing work! 
Here is the link:

http://zoo-ology.blogspot.com/2012/02/grandmothers-prayers.html

Free Art Friday 24/02/12

For something a bit different, here are a few link to my friend George's photography sites.  Have a look at his work, he has some amazing shots!

http://www.gqart.com/

My favourites come under the "Projects" link part way down the left hand side. 

Update Tuesday 21/02/12

A quick bit of administration to begin this week.  As technology changes and advances it seems that there are more and more options available and that includes many options for receiving an update reminder for this blog.  Between Facebook, RSS feeds, e-mail etc. there are many possibilities.  With the hopes of allowing each of you to decide how you would like to continue to receive a weekly update (if at all) I have added an e-mail sign up at the top right hand side of the blog.  If you would like to continue to receive an e-mail update then please sign up there and I will phase out my e-mail list that is manually sent out each week.  If you would rather just see a reminder on Facebook, then please send a friend request.  You can alway sign up for the RSS feed, or follow the blog as well if you would prefer.  Thanks again for you continued prayers and support.

In terms of an update, I have to apologize for not sharing photos from our last outreach on Free Art Friday as I had suggested I would.  Below are some of those photo's, better late than never, taken by my friend George who managed some great shots between serving coffee, handing out sandwiches, and praying for people. 

Below the photos is a link to a blog that my friend Michael and his wife Annabelle started to share some of their thoughts about our outreach endeavours and the people they meet.  The latest post was about our outreach from two Sunday's ago.  Some of the photos George took coincide with the story that Michael relates.

 



Here is the link to Michael's blog with some further thoughts:

Luke3:11.org

Update Tuesday 14/02/12

It has been a while since my wife has had a moment to post over at her blog.  She finally shared some thoughts from the past few months of living and serving here in Hamilton so I thought I would give this week's update over to her so that you can hear a fresh voice a perspective.  You can find her post by following the below link.

zoo-ology.blogspot.com

Please make sure to check back Friday for the free art Friday feature at my blog when I will have a number of photos from out last homeless outreach event.  They were taken by my friend, newest member of our Fellowship and professional photographer George Qua-Enoo.  They are great shots that you wont want to miss!

Free Art Friday - 10/02/12

As some of you may already know, our family and our new work in Hamilton have been chosen to be featured in a week long prayer initiative leading up to Easter called the Annie Armstrong Week of Prayer.  This week is used to help focus on work happening in North America.  Along with this comes promotional material, prayer guides etc which also include some videos which are what I would like to highlight here today.  These videos were written and produced by our friend Tony Hudson and shot by our friend Matt King.  A big thanks to them and their team (who worked on all the other aspects that come along with them).  One of the most creative aspects is the telling of this same story, with the same footage, but from two perspectives as Liam really leads the second video (He Started It).  The writing is great!  It was really fun to be able to see these finished products, and I especially like the one from Liam's point of view (less of me the better!!)
Follow the link below to a page with both videos:

McGibbon Page

Update Tuesday 7/02/12

This promises to be a busy and exciting week in the life of the Hamilton Fellowships!  By way of update this week let me just share a few exciting things that will be happening for which we would really appreciate your prayers:

Firstly, being that tonight is Tuesday we are having our weekly Fellowship meeting in our home.  We are very excited about this evening as we will be welcoming some guests, both some old friends and some new friends who just moved into our neighbourhood.  This promises to be our biggest group yet!  We would ask that you pray that the large group and many children would not feel overly busy and distracting, but rather be an amazing picture of the community we long for our House Fellowships to be.  Our group tonight will be multi-generational and multi-cultural (Korean, Ghanaian, Jamaican and Canadian!) and could be an amazing glimpse of the nature of God's Kingdom.  I would also ask that you pray specifically that I might clearly communicate the vision and direction for our Hamilton Fellowships and an invitation to join us in what we feel God has called us to do here in the city.

Secondly, we are gearing up for our monthly homeless outreach during which we will be going to the city core to hand our blankets, hats, mitts, sandwiches, cupcakes and coffee.  Please be in prayer for those that we will encounter and serve.  Please be in prayer for those living out on the streets, especially through these winter months.  If you are in the area and have new or gently used items that you would like to donate then just contact me and we will see about connecting.

I have also begun to meet with a student who attends McMaster university who expressed a desire to be equipped to reach out to the many friends and room-mates that she has met while at University.  She has made some amazing observations during her time there including the fact that many are very skeptical of anything Christian, that they are smart and no matter how one might try to package it they see right through,  recognize "Christian" events and turn the other way.  She has also started to recognize, however, maybe rather than trying to invite them to a "Christian" event, that God has sent her to them to love, serve and share.  Amazing insights!  Looking forward to walking with her along with my friend Jeremy who is helping me out at the campus. 

Another exciting event this week is the Girls Monthly Bible Club that my wife has a part in hosting.  Please pray for the preparations being made, and for all those who will gather on Saturday afternoon to learn life lessons from some of the amazing women in scripture. 

Lastly, I would ask for your continued prayer for my outreach at the Beer Store with the recycling guys.  I have had some significant conversations with one guy in particular, who tends to hang around a bit after most others have left and wants to speak about the bible.  It genuinely seems that he is interested in more than just humouring me and wants to engage in meaningful discussion.  I am hoping over the next few weeks to steer this into a slightly more intentional opportunity for discipleship if he is interested.  Pray that he might consider going through a gospel together and learning more about Jesus.

Once again, thanks for all the support and prayer!

Free Art Friday 03/02/12

For something a bit different, and to hear from another voice for a change, here are a few videos that my brother Brandon McGibbon has done recently.  Although perhaps best known for acting, he is a great guitar playing, singer and songwriter as well.  These videos were cut live off the floor with the help of his friend Shane Belcourt (it helps to have talented friends with whom to colaborate!):

Steal the Spotlight

Long Gone