Newfrontiers : On the Move!

On the Move!

Matt and Wendy Partridge, along with their two daughters have been based in Haywards Heath, Mid Sussex for 16 years, and Matt has led the church for the past seven years. They recently sensed God was speaking to them about moving. Matt explains the story here.

Over lunch, on a sunny day in central London, David Stroud asked me this question: ‘Do you believe you are in the right place – is it time to move?’ I still remember the feelings of mild shock as the concept washed over me. Move? No way! I explained that, as a family, we believed we were in the right place, that there were many things still unfinished in Haywards Heath, and that there was no possibility of a move.

Within a few weeks of this conversation I was with a group of seventy leaders for a two day retreat, where we had the privilege of receiving prophetic ministry from Keith Hazell. I had never met Keith before and was very open to hearing God through his prophetic gift. Before too long I was invited to the front of our gathering and Keith prophesied: ‘….brother the going time has come and you can’t say ‘send someone else’!’ Two weeks later, during our own regional morning in Sussex, Julian Adams visited and prophesied a similar word over me. Some time later a third word followed which sealed the decision in our hearts.

God had spoken. It was time for us to move.

Wendy and I prayed and considered a couple of locations, both exciting and full of opportunity, but failed to find the peace of God in either. Something happened in us however as we began to prayerfully consider the city of Oxford and the possibility of joining our friends David and Margaret Coak who had moved there 18 months before to plant Emmanuel Church. We visited the church and enjoyed the city but still so much needed to happen. Who would succeed me at our home church? How would the practicalities work out? How would my additional responsibilities be managed?

The day after this initial visit we received a Christian magazine through the post and as Wendy unwrapped it I heard her laugh and ask ‘do you think God is saying something?’. As I looked up I saw the magazine cover was a picture of Oxford city centre with the word MOVE! emblazoned across the top, with the additional phrase ‘pray and pioneer in Oxford’. With a sense of the grace and peace of God we began to discern a clear call to this great city. With our decision made in faith we began to see God provide answers for each of the seemingly ‘tricky’ questions and now have the joy of anticipating all that God has in store for us and Emmanuel Church Oxford.

Never say ‘never’! We started this process immovable but now you couldn’t stop us. Peace, security and fulfilment are all found in following God, wherever that may take you.