In this issue, we celebrate Besoms across the nation, spotlighting some we recently had the privilege to visit. God's nationwide abundant provision is evident at Besom! We also share Gavin Howard's encouragement for us all, details on how you can share Besom's vision with local Churches, and— dare I say it— the contagious 'Christmas Hamper ' excitement.
Why do we give Besom
Christmas hampers?
It was a pleasure to visit the Besom in Sheffield while they did their hamper packing and deliveries. Gareth Jones, our wonderful videographer, had the privilege of capturing most of this on video to share with us and the wider public on our social media platforms.
Here's Joy and team Sheffield sharing more about Besom Christmas hampers—their contents and why they love giving hampers to those in need.
Celebrating the Besom
in The Wirral
Speaking of relying on God, during our visit to the Besom in The Wirral we witnessed their faithfulness in trusting God for provision for the wider needs they receive in Liverpool, especially The Wirral area. Looking at their amazing warehouse space during their tidy-up/clean-up day, we were touched by their love for their community and their passion for serving the Lord in many ways.
Here's a short clip of our visit and the team busy tidying up and sorting their warehouse.
Look out for Part two in our next e-news edition to hear more about their journey and how the Besom in The Wirral came into being.
Discover more about the Besom in The Wirral here.
The Besom in York
gets a van revamp!
Check out the newly rebranded Besom in York van!
As Besom vans journey through cities and towns, they spread hope and show that someone cares. With our new look, we're more visible and united in our mission.
Will your van be next? Join us in carrying this banner of hope and making a positive impact wherever we go. Together, as one family, let's make hope visible, follow where God leads us, as we bring His light to those in need.
Please do contact us if you would like help with the van decals designs we have prepared for everyone, or any other questions about getting a revamp.
Best takes from the
Jubilee+ Conference
Last month, some of us in the Besom family joined believers across the nation at the Jubilee Plus Conference in Liverpool to learn more about how God leads and uses ordinary people like us to reach many communities of those in need.
These were our best takeaways from the conference:
'Change is possible'- Natalie Williams' keynote message linked to Numbers 13 - encouraged us that even if we feel like grasshoppers among giants, God can still use us to reach those he wants us to reach and to change communities, as we obey Him and rely on His guidance.
'Knowing your patch' - Tom Grant (Proximity hub) taught us the importance of understanding the people and communities we serve without imposing our plans on them but learning of their needs, culture, background, and ways that God wants us to serve them.
Generation Justice - Charlie McDonald and Dan Glover encouraged us not to stay silent where we see injustices but to take a stand, care, and put foundations in place for future generations to act justly and love mercy.
'Church for all' - Steve Rouse's talk helped us understand the barriers we sometimes create or face in communities and churches that stop people from forming relationships with us as they try to fit into the mould. Rather, we should consider accepting people as they are and finding ways of making everyone feel welcome regardless of their background, upbringing, social status or past.
Please visit the Jubilee Plus website to find out more about other topics shared at the conference.
Celebrating The Besom in Ashtead
Visiting Besoms across the country is always a delight, especially when we get time to pray together, share meals, and hear stories of their work and the people they serve.
The Besom in Ashtead is a hive of activity thanks to God's provision and the community's generosity. The enthusiastic team of time-givers is fully committed to Besom's Vision and Mission: to reach as many people as God sends them. Listening to stories of some recipients now attending church Alpha courses was truly inspiring!
Thank you Besom in Ashtead for Loving, Praying, Giving, and Going wherever God sends you.
(Photos: Team Ashtead, part of their warehouse, and a captivating acrostic poem & tools station)
Celebrating The Besom in Dorking
The Besom in Dorking is a living testament to God's boundless provision that donations overflow to multiple garages for storage. But just as easily as the donations come in, they go out to homes easily because of the number of referrals.
Their diverse, well-organised team of time-givers includes a recipient who was so touched by Besom's kindness in her time of need that she decided to join the team. Isn't God wonderful?! Their location and setup also allow them the privilege of serving people from all backgrounds, including immigrants and refugees.
Thank you Besom in Dorking for shining God's light in the darkness.
(Photos: Team Dorking, part of their main warehouse, more items outside their warehouse)
Celebrating The Besom in Woking
It was a pleasure visiting the cowshed at the Besom in Woking! An anchor of God's goodness in a place of so much need and many struggles. Here too, I was struck by God's amazing provision and how they manage to operate with fewer time-givers at the moment. Truly amazing!
I felt and felt their love for their community, a deep passion for reaching those in need, and a tenacity to keep going even as the road got tough.
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Thank you Besom in Woking for being a witness to Jesus's sacrificial love for all.
(Photos: Tony Hewat and Angelina at the Cowshed and some of the warehouse items)
Our gratitude for a servant's heart
Many of you in the Besom family will know Gavin Howard well! I recently caught up with Gavin at the Cambridge unit, a founder of the Besom in Cambridge and a former Besom Regional Advisor (from 2012). Also a stalwart and enthusiastic champion of our Network, he is now stepping back from the Besom Support Team which he faithfully served since 2021.
Gavin leaves the Besom Support Team to focus more on responsibilities at the Besom in Cambridge and his work enabling increased connections of church networks. We wanted to find out the highlights in his journey with Besom to date and to share with us some words of wisdom or encouragement.
Many of you in the Besom family will know Gavin Howard well! I recently caught up with Gavin at the Cambridge unit, a founder of the Besom in Cambridge and a former Besom Regional Advisor (from 2012). Also a stalwart and enthusiastic champion of our Network, he is now stepping back from the Besom Support Team which he faithfully served since 2021.
Gavin leaves the Besom Support Team to focus more on responsibilities at the Besom in Cambridge and his work enabling increased connections of church networks. We wanted to find out the highlights in his journey with Besom to date and to share with us some words of wisdom or encouragement.
Over the years with Besom, Gavin's highlights have been:
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Serving as a Regional Advisor in the early years of Besom
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Working alongside servant-hearted people and time-givers
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Having the privilege of working with churches/ 'Just Love UK' on projects
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Witnessing to support workers/ professionals and recipients who kindly let Besom into their lives
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Fellowshipping with Besom-ers at the Besom Family Gatherings
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Times of prayer together as a Besom family and in the Network support teams.
We are extremely grateful for Gavin's contribution to the growth of the Network through his work in the Besom Support Team, as a Cluster Facilitator, and the Besom in Cambridge.
Gavin's words of wisdom:
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Be careful not to be self-aggrandising, we are only to glorify God
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Always remember and be encouraged by Matthew 25:40 (“The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.')
Here's a brief challenge and encouragement from Gavin for us as we serve across our communities.
Do you need to pack a 'perfect' hamper?
Every Christmas, many of our Besoms receive donations towards hampers for their recipients. But what if you had to bless a large family with a hamper of all sorts? How would you be sure that everything they asked for is wrapped up right and can fit in a hamper box or basket? Chris at the Besom in Sheffield had an idea that they put into practice, and it really blessed the recipient.
Chris's Besom Hamper God-story.
Is God asking you to prepare your hampers differently this year? Just go with His lead and see what happens.
Sharing our Besom Vision with your church
If you want to know more about Besom's background and our heart for the church, generosity, and serving communities, we'd encourage you to read the 'Heart of Community' article and consider sharing it with your church fellowship too.
Please find and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep updated with our public communications, and please share if you see something that your local church community can get involved in.
Let's pray for opportunities to share and speak widely about the wonderful ways God uses His people through Besom's vision and mission, and for the seeds sown to bear fruit!
