6th December 2019 

Update from David Flowers

A surprised but smiling elderly face looked up at me out of the Bennett Road darkness as I opened the door to welcome representatives from local churches. This was the first time that the Vineyard had hosted the Churches Together in Headingley meeting and they were served with delicious cake and hot drinks and sat on the couches in the studio. “Ooh” she said, “I was in a play here once!”. It turned out that Joan had been a regular visitor to Vineyard House some 50 plus years ago (when it was known as the St Michael’s Parochial Institute).

“I like what you’ve done with it!” she offered. I don’t think she meant it. I tried to explain that apart from putting in the signs and planters out at the front and getting the heating working - most of our effort had been in clearing the garden and tidying out the rubbish. Azad and co have decorated a room which has been turned into our Prayer Room and Sam, Liz and their teams have done an awesome job at making the Studio functional. But, to be honest, although I wasn’t able to explain this to them all, it is amazing that the teams have got as much working as they have. This is because our plans will need a radical transformation of the building. One which will restore it not only to what it was like 50 years ago but in many ways back to what it was like 100 years ago (but with warmth and proper loos!).

But what has struck me again and again is the amount of love coming toward us as we bring this iconic old building back into use and, crucially, back into a use which resonates with its original purpose.

I believe the Lord is saying that as we reach deeper into the heritage of Vineyard House we are strengthening the roots to allow the tree to grow correspondingly tall, into the future – into a healthy, leafy, fruitful future.

I want you to imagine the conversations that will be taking in place in 10 years’ time or 50 years’ time: “That was where someone explained how much Jesus loved me and I gave my life to Him”, “That was where I was rescued from my loneliness as a student because it was a safe place to go to at night – I wouldn’t have got through Uni without it”, “That was where I knew my elderly father had friends and a welcome in his final years”, “That was where I was able to escape into a safe community as I struggled through my teens”, “That was where I learnt: to weave and crochet; to play the guitar; cook proper food; all about Jesus at an Alpha Course ….”

Many of us have given sacrificially to funding the purchase of Vineyard House, this pearl of great price. Others have given their time and energy. We are sowing deeply and thoroughly, and one day we will see crops. We’re getting glimpses of the first fruit but are learning how to wait for the full yield. 

Hannah tells me that even now Vineyard House is being well used: to start with as daytime offices for Leeds Vineyard, Leeds Christian Community Trust and Unity in Poverty Action. The Prayer Room is regularly occupied by individuals and groups. Other small groups using Vineyard House are: Doing Life Together; Sanctuary; In The Gap; Servant Leadership School; Headingley Small Group; Student Bible Study; Let food be thy medicine; Men’s Breakfast; Oasis; Vineyard Training and, next term, Alpha!
 

Setting up the Studio room for Adoration

T4:12 are enjoying Vineyard House on Sunday mornings & evenings and students use it as a study lounge. We hold leaders’ meeting there.

There have been one-off meetings with Churches Together and the ministers in Headingley. And in the next few weeks we’ll be hosting the Child Contact Centre Coffee Morning and then Christmas in the Lounge. 

So, although we have a holy ambition for much, much more – let us be patient, be generous, be prayerful. There is a great and rich harvest to come. 

The Lord has promised that we can all play our part and future generations will tell the story. The roots are growing deep and the tree will grow tall.

David