This is the community blog of Bless, a christian charity working to build a better future for Europe.
We are currently based in Dudley, England and Normandy, France. Any queries, drop us a line: matt@blessnet.eu

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Boys boys boys
We need boys on go2bless teams 
Boys boys boys
Play basketball in Croatia
Boys boys boys
Who want to live for others
Boys boys boys
We need them!
We need them!

Our summer missions are drawing nearer and we are looking for some young men to come along with us. In Croatia we will be running a basketball camp, in France there will be music opportunities and in Germany there will be a focus upon the local youth.

Find out more here.

Boys boys boys
We need boys on go2bless teams
Boys boys boys
Play basketball in Croatia
Boys boys boys
Who want to live for others
Boys boys boys
We need them!
We need them!

Our summer missions are drawing nearer and we are looking for some young men to come along with us. In Croatia we will be running a basketball camp, in France there will be music opportunities and in Germany there will be a focus upon the local youth.

Find out more here.

go2bless

Thursday, May 31st 2012 12:57pm

Live For Others speaks to Hélène Garagnon, the managing director of Alpha France…

Bless: Introduce yourself…  

Hélène: I’m 50 years old and have been married to Benoit for 22 years, we have 4 children and we’ve lived in Normandy for 18 years.  We’re part of ‘Chemin Neuf’, a community of catholic congregations, with a heart for working ecumenically.  With the support of this community and the churches involved, Benoit and I have been able to launch the Alpha course in Normandy.  Benoit was regional co-ordinator and a member of the Alpha board and when he told me they were looking for a managing director, I felt called to apply. Having been managing director for a couple of large organisations, I wanted to invest my talents into serving a worthwhile mission.  That’s how I arrived at Alpha in 2009.  It’s such a pleasure to do God’s work alongside such a fantastic team.

Bless: What are you up to at the moment? 

Hélène: I’m currently running Alpha in France, which has two primary missions: to proclaim the Good News through a 10 week course which is open to anyone and to transform society through courses for couples and parents. We work to promote these courses, as well as to train up the church teams to be able to run them.

Bless: What might a time2bless placement look like with Alpha Paris? 

Hélène: A student who came to work for Alpha Paris would participate fully in the life of the organisation through meetings, eating together (every lunchtime) and prayer times.  They would help out with training (we have already trained up 3,000 people in 20 different locations in France), events like Worship Central and presenting the courses to the churches.  

Bless: What are your dreams for the next 12 months (or so)?  

Hélène: My dreams are to see young disciples emerging who will inspire and train up other young people to enable 14-25 year olds to meet with Christ and to build lively and growing churches.

Bless: What can we pray for?  

Hélène: We’d be grateful if you could pray for the development of our Youth Alpha course and our youth festivals in Hautecombe this August, as well as for the training weekend in Lisieux on the 10th and 11th of November this year.

If you’d like to read the original FRENCH transcript of this interveiw please email vikki@blessnet.eu

Live For Others speaks to Hélène Garagnon, the managing director of Alpha France…

Bless: Introduce yourself…

Hélène: I’m 50 years old and have been married to Benoit for 22 years, we have 4 children and we’ve lived in Normandy for 18 years. We’re part of ‘Chemin Neuf’, a community of catholic congregations, with a heart for working ecumenically. With the support of this community and the churches involved, Benoit and I have been able to launch the Alpha course in Normandy. Benoit was regional co-ordinator and a member of the Alpha board and when he told me they were looking for a managing director, I felt called to apply. Having been managing director for a couple of large organisations, I wanted to invest my talents into serving a worthwhile mission. That’s how I arrived at Alpha in 2009. It’s such a pleasure to do God’s work alongside such a fantastic team.

Bless: What are you up to at the moment?

Hélène: I’m currently running Alpha in France, which has two primary missions: to proclaim the Good News through a 10 week course which is open to anyone and to transform society through courses for couples and parents. We work to promote these courses, as well as to train up the church teams to be able to run them.

Bless: What might a time2bless placement look like with Alpha Paris?

Hélène: A student who came to work for Alpha Paris would participate fully in the life of the organisation through meetings, eating together (every lunchtime) and prayer times. They would help out with training (we have already trained up 3,000 people in 20 different locations in France), events like Worship Central and presenting the courses to the churches.

Bless: What are your dreams for the next 12 months (or so)?

Hélène: My dreams are to see young disciples emerging who will inspire and train up other young people to enable 14-25 year olds to meet with Christ and to build lively and growing churches.

Bless: What can we pray for?

Hélène: We’d be grateful if you could pray for the development of our Youth Alpha course and our youth festivals in Hautecombe this August, as well as for the training weekend in Lisieux on the 10th and 11th of November this year.

If you’d like to read the original FRENCH transcript of this interveiw please email vikki@blessnet.eu

Blessmail Interviews Alpha Course Paris France

Thursday, May 31st 2012 12:08pm

For donating some monies to Kate Alizadeh to come on a summer mission trip in Caen this year she sent me some drawings. They are going straight up on my wall.

Donate and receive some drawings here.

Kate Alizadeh doodle4bless

Monday, May 28th 2012 12:17pm

Time for badger the bless dog/ travelling mutt to have his long needed bath. (Taken with instagram)

Time for badger the bless dog/ travelling mutt to have his long needed bath. (Taken with instagram)

Friday, May 25th 2012 5:40pm

Friday, May 25th 2012 2:38pm

We have popped some of the BEND IT LIKE BLESS photographs online.

See the highs and lows here.

BEND IT LIKE BLESS 2012

Friday, May 25th 2012 2:35pm

2 HOURS LATER … (Taken with instagram)

2 HOURS LATER … (Taken with instagram)

Friday, May 25th 2012 9:49am

EXCITING TIMES (Taken with instagram)

EXCITING TIMES (Taken with instagram)

Friday, May 25th 2012 7:27am

The result of Anna’s golfing skills. (Taken with instagram)

The result of Anna’s golfing skills. (Taken with instagram)

Thursday, May 24th 2012 8:23pm

Found this little guy at bethanie today.We want to keep him. (Taken with instagram)

Found this little guy at bethanie today.We want to keep him. (Taken with instagram)

Wednesday, May 23rd 2012 10:03pm

One new happy bike owner. (Taken with instagram)

One new happy bike owner. (Taken with instagram)

Wednesday, May 23rd 2012 7:56pm

Day 10 Golspie - John o’Groats

We made it! Was kinda expecting nice flat roads along the sea similar to the last couple of days. Couldn’t of been more wrong, there where some big climbs and descents which made the day alot of fun and got a new top speed for the trip. The sun was shining for most of the day and there was a nice long hill down to finish.

The stats
946.5 miles
1 puncture (James-3 Richard-3 Matt-0)
Top speed 43.5mph
Average speed 15.0mph
Average heart rate 130bpm
Average cadence 74rpm
Rolling time 61 hours 49 minutes

I eat alot the last 10 days…
18 rocky bars
6 chewy bars
8 tracker bars
12 cadburys brunch bars
10 homemade flapjacks
1 milk dime bar
10 bananas
6 apples
4 pain au chocolate
2 soreen loafs
5 hobnob flapjacks
16 filled bagels
Lasagne
Stew
Curry
Regular salad
Large salad
Chicken salad
Tin of heinz Beans with sausages
19p Noodles
20 for goodness shakes
Nectar with water
3 powerades
6 mini rolls
12 teas
1 slice of carrot cake
7 filled bread rolls
2 cans of rice pudding
2 x Battered sausage and chips
8 bowls of muesli
Mcdonalds starburst milkshake
Chicken chow mein
Raisins
Mixed grill fry up
Apple strudel with veinetta
White magnum ice cream
Tesco chicken & bacon sandwich
1 glass of lemonade
Packet Honey roasted peanuts and cashews

A massive thanks to everyone who supported us!

—

Nigel has conquered something special here. Please support him now.

Day 10 Golspie - John o’Groats

We made it! Was kinda expecting nice flat roads along the sea similar to the last couple of days. Couldn’t of been more wrong, there where some big climbs and descents which made the day alot of fun and got a new top speed for the trip. The sun was shining for most of the day and there was a nice long hill down to finish.

The stats
946.5 miles
1 puncture (James-3 Richard-3 Matt-0)
Top speed 43.5mph
Average speed 15.0mph
Average heart rate 130bpm
Average cadence 74rpm
Rolling time 61 hours 49 minutes

I eat alot the last 10 days…
18 rocky bars
6 chewy bars
8 tracker bars
12 cadburys brunch bars
10 homemade flapjacks
1 milk dime bar
10 bananas
6 apples
4 pain au chocolate
2 soreen loafs
5 hobnob flapjacks
16 filled bagels
Lasagne
Stew
Curry
Regular salad
Large salad
Chicken salad
Tin of heinz Beans with sausages
19p Noodles
20 for goodness shakes
Nectar with water
3 powerades
6 mini rolls
12 teas
1 slice of carrot cake
7 filled bread rolls
2 cans of rice pudding
2 x Battered sausage and chips
8 bowls of muesli
Mcdonalds starburst milkshake
Chicken chow mein
Raisins
Mixed grill fry up
Apple strudel with veinetta
White magnum ice cream
Tesco chicken & bacon sandwich
1 glass of lemonade
Packet Honey roasted peanuts and cashews

A massive thanks to everyone who supported us!

Nigel has conquered something special here. Please support him now.

(Source: worldofpayne)

lejog

Monday, May 21st 2012 6:30pm

Monday, May 21st 2012 3:10pm

Illustrator Kate Alizadeh is raising money so she can come on the Caen summer mission trip with Bless. In order to do this she is doodling for cash. If you donate £5 she will do a personal doodle just for you and if you donate £10 it will be in colour.

She is great and we would love to have her on mission with us.

Please support her here.

Illustrator Kate Alizadeh is raising money so she can come on the Caen summer mission trip with Bless. In order to do this she is doodling for cash. If you donate £5 she will do a personal doodle just for you and if you donate £10 it will be in colour.

She is great and we would love to have her on mission with us.

Please support her here.

Kate Alizadeh DOODLE2BLESS go2bless Caen Summer Mission Trip Short Term Mission

Monday, May 21st 2012 9:14am

BENDITLIKEBLESS STAT ATTACK:

Played 15
Won 6
Lost 6
Drawn 3
Goals For 31
Goals Against 31
Clean Sheets 5

GOLDEN BOOT 2012:

MAXi 8 goals
JONaldinho 7 goals
CHEZnei arseshavin 6 goals
SNAILHAM 2 goals
TIMpong 2 goals
MATTberg 2 goals
PETE Krouchby 2 goals
JUSTIN Pique 1 goal
GEMLA 1 goal
BRAY Spearing 0 goals

Money Raised… were still counting so please help us reach our £4000 target by giving at justgiving.com/benditlikebless

BENDITLIKEBLESS STAT ATTACK:

Played 15
Won 6
Lost 6
Drawn 3
Goals For 31
Goals Against 31
Clean Sheets 5

GOLDEN BOOT 2012:

MAXi 8 goals
JONaldinho 7 goals
CHEZnei arseshavin 6 goals
SNAILHAM 2 goals
TIMpong 2 goals
MATTberg 2 goals
PETE Krouchby 2 goals
JUSTIN Pique 1 goal
GEMLA 1 goal
BRAY Spearing 0 goals

Money Raised… were still counting so please help us reach our £4000 target by giving at justgiving.com/benditlikebless

Tuesday, May 15th 2012 9:59pm