Between your birth and salvation and the end of your life here on earth, what story has God written for your life?

What is God's purpose for you in this time? And how does this interlink with that of our Southsea congregation? Indeed, God has you here for such a time as this. What is your response? What more could you be experiencing and growing in with us, and blessing and building the church with at the same time?

It was wonderful to hear Ps Steve's own testimony, from praying for his mum's healing from cancer to an unknown God in his candle-lit bright orange bedroom and REM CD, to his Gideon struggle of accepting God's calling for his life, to what the Lord has done with Steve's eventual 'yes', as he now helps lead the church.

Steve described how he later walked into a church service that many people would have faithfully served to make happen, and ended up rededicating his life to Jesus. And then following up a few years later with him doing the same on a Friday night in Family Church, which resulted in a very broken Sean Finch - now Portsmouth's Pastor Sean - stepping in for the very first time. So encouraging.

Whether you're serving coffee, putting out the banners, welcoming people, showing the slides or playing in the band, or anything else on a Sunday morning or in the week, imagine what God is about to do with your 'yes' with his plans for you, to transform lives in Southsea and beyond.

Do you find yourself standing in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing? Can you stand up and stand out despite the cost? Whose shoulders are you really standing on? Can you stand humble, letting God do the work?

We dive into the dramatic book of Esther as a way to understand what the Bible calls 'people pleasing'. We are by design social beings. But are we prioritising other people to the extent that all we are doing is covering up pot holes in our own lives and causing more damage in the long run? Or are we allowing Jesus to cause true transformation in our lives, exposing our broken surfaces to reveal the foundations and give us a whole new fresh surface?

Today was a momentous occasion in Family Church....Ps Andy & Gina Elmes passed the Family Church Baton of Leadership to Ps Steu & Carla Payne. The following words were written by Ps Andy & Gina...

There are moments in life when you realise you are standing on holy ground - not because something is ending, but because something has been faithfully completed.

After 28 years of founding, leading, pastoring, and building this church and ministry, the time has come for us to step aside and step forward. To release what has been entrusted to us, and to trust God for what He has entrusted to others.

Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Seasons change, not because something has failed, but because God is faithful to finish what He starts - and bold enough to begin something new. When we first said 'yes' to God all those years ago, we had little more than obedience, faith, and a burning conviction that Jesus deserved a church alive with His presence and His power. We dreamed of a people who would love God deeply, love one another fiercely, and reach the lost relentlessly. What God has done since then has exceeded anything we could have planned or imagined.

We have seen lives transformed, families restored, leaders raised, nations touched, and Jesus glorified. This house has been built on prayer, faith, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. It has been the honour of our lives to carry that responsibility. And while this chapter closes, let me say this clearly: our voice is not stopping - it is simply shifting. The message God has placed in us, the convictions we carry, and the call to equip, awaken, and send will continue. It will simply be expressed in new spaces, new contexts, and new assignments. For those who still want that voice in their lives, it will be there - faithful to the same Jesus, shaped by the same fire.

This church was never built to rest on one person - it was built to run on mission and vision. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase.” I may have planted, others have watered, but it has always been God who makes things grow. And He is not finished - not even close.

To those now stepping into leadership: you carry this house with heaven’s backing. God trusts you. We trust you. Lead with courage. Guard the culture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Stay hungry for His presence and bold in your faith. The best chapters are not behind you - they are ahead. To every member, volunteer, giver, intercessor, and faithful servant: thank you. Thank you for believing, for standing, for serving, for loving, and for never giving up. You are the living stones of this house, and the future is strong because you are strong.

As for us, we now step into the next adventure with the same heart that started this one - faith-filled, surrendered, and expectant. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but knowing who was leading him. That is enough.

This is not goodbye as in separation - it is goodbye as in sending. And sending is always filled with hope.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.

Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for the love.

The story continues...

Andy & Gina