Page 29 - Good News for EveryoneSpring Summer 2023 magazine

SPECTATORS FIND

HOPE AT

WORLD RUGBY HOPE
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY | PROMISE & REASSURANCE FOR EVERY SITUATION
LEAGUE FINALS

Look up
IN THIS (P38)
YOU'RE NOT ALONE

A REMARKABLE journey THAT WILL
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
THE key TO FINDING STRENGTH
(P51)
WHEN THINGS ARE TOUGH (P25)

When we were first asked in Region 2 (North-West Ron Margerison of the Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre Branch
England) to be involved in the distribution of specially travelled to Bolton with some Friends to help the local
designed HOPE magazines for the Rugby League World branch and reported, “Four of us arrived on a lovely warm
Cup Finals held in the North-West of England last evening ready to give out the special HOPE magazine
October, we didn’t quite know what to expect. How as supporters left after the match. It was a hectic 30
many magazines would we order? How were we going to minutes, but we gave out 300 as they made their way to
distribute them as they were quite heavy? the car park. It was lovely to hear them say ‘thank you’
We discovered that we couldn’t distribute immediately and ‘please can I have one’. Praise the Lord!”
in the vicinity of the grounds because of rules set by the Stuart Gedney of St. Helens Branch was at the mens’ and
World Cup Organising Committee, so we decided that the ladies’ finals with Philip Bunting, Region 2 Director.
the best option would be distribution in the car parks Another group of members from Trafford Branch were at
following each game. Several branches from Regions 2 another exit point leading to the car parks. The remaining
and 3 were involved including St. Helens, Warrington, supplies were distributed in quick time as the supporters
Wigan, Bolton, Trafford, Doncaster and Manchester. came out. There were 52,000 at the men’s final. If only we
Armed with hi-vis jackets, torches, umbrellas and, had more supplies! Nevertheless, we praise God for all
of course, HOPE magazines and foreign-language the magazines given out by the local branches involved.
Testaments, Warrington branch members, with support Encouragements from the other matches included:
from St. Helens Branch, were at the first game in the • A supporter shared how inspirational he had found
north west on 16 October - New Zealand v Lebanon. it standing among supporters singing hymns before
Despite some trepidation, over 200 HOPE magazines
were given out on the first night with many genuine willingly accepting a copy.
expressions of gratitude. A few North-West Ambulance • Several people re-approached us requesting extra
Service Testaments were presented together with a copies.
couple of Merseyside Police Testaments. • A girl who had initially declined the offer of a HOPE
Over the next few weeks there was a flurry of activity magazine subsequently came back with her father,
from the various branches at over 17 matches in the who said that she had changed her mind and now
North-West, culminating in three finals at Manchester. wanted one.
Many positive reports came back. Despite street • A supporter who took his headphones out, looked at
presentations being a challenging new expression of our the HOPE magazine and said “I need all the hope I
ministry, over 2300 HOPE magazines were given out over can get, I lost my job on Thursday”.
the few weeks.
Submitted by members in Regions 2 and 3

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