Feedback

Journeys is now in use in more than 1500 New Zealand churches, and is also being used in churches, schools, homes, youth groups and prisons, in Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Here's some recent feedback:

Evangelism made considerably easier

Journeys is a brilliant introduction to the Christian faith.  The focus is on ordinary people's real life stories about how they have encountered God is superb.

We have used it with friends of ours, and it helped us explore all sorts of issues such as 'What is God like?', 'If we know God, does everything go easily from then on?', 'What might heaven be like?' and 'Does prayer work?'.

We have had brilliant discussions, and our friends are still hungry to know more!

[Steve and Lorraine Thomas, UK]

Taking Journeys To Where The People Are

Earlier this year we did the course in a local Pub during the morning and encouraged everyone to stay for lunch afterwards. The course went very well and we have been invited to run the course at the Pub in an evening this Autumn - the Proprietors have asked if they can attend!

I am using the course to great effect in other situations - home and church - but feel we need to take the gospel to where the people are. Journeys is very non-threatening and meets people just where they are at. The people on the video don't come across as having all the answers - it is good that they express doubt and struggle to explain sometimes - this makes them very 'real'.

Thank you for producing the course and giving me the opportunity to say how effective it is proving to be for us here.

[Lorraine O'Neill, Shaw Salvation Army, UK]

Seekers want to run Journeys!

So good is this stuff that we've just started a Journeys group in the home of a 'yet-to-be-saved' lady.  Shed seen two sessions and was so taken by the message of hope that she offered to run her own couse with her friends.  She provides food, a venue and the friends - we simply show the DVD and then have a chat afterwards.

[Richard and Kate Colbrook, Leys Community Church, UK]

A Different Take On Journeys In Canada

"We have run Journeys with 18 people at Kerr Street Ministries, a Christian Outreach to the poor and marginalized of Oakville.

One of our groups was led by Dave*, he is schizophrenic, but stable, and a big blessing to us all. It was the 1st time he has led a Bible study... years ago he wanted to be a priest but could not enter any orders because of his condition. So Rod (a very mature Christian) and myself were in his group to keep an eye on things. During group discussions the group wandered all over the road map as several people wanted to be the 1st to answer every question, even though their answer didn't exactly fit the discussion. This went on for the entire 5 weeks.

Rod and I were just as frustrated as anything, certain that the group discussion was accomplishing nothing of value. Of course you can see where this is going...... both God and our leader Dave* were much more in tune with the needs of the group than we were!

The final night a lady named Sally* broke down in tears. Over the past 2 years her mother and 2 sisters have died. She was sure that God was testing her and she was failing and that if she failed it meant reincarnation and not heaven and she would have to go through it all again. Well, the rest of the group gathered around her to console her and help her understand God's love. We were able to pray for her and it was an amazing evening. The following week we asked the question: "Who were the people in your life who helped you find Jesus?" Well, Sally’s* answer was "it was the Journeys program and all you people because I hadn't been in church for 20 years and you helped me find my way back to Jesus."

So, God took a 2x4 (if that doesn't translate to where you are from it means a large piece of wood) and hit me on the head. I was worried about my agenda and doing things right while all the time the Holy Spirit was quietly working in Sally’s* life.

The other main thing is a lady named June*. She has multiple spirits and multiple personalities and it is hard to tell which is which. We have worked with her for years and she is slowly re-integrating having made amazing progress. She was in the 1st group but had to leave every week after the video. Then the next morning she would be in my office all agitated. She claimed this was the hardest it had ever been for her. She said, ‘The segment when the fellow had the near death experience, all the demons were yelling and hissing when he talked about heaven, and they all cheered when he described hell.’ What I figure is that the stories reached her in a totally different way, visually as well as audibly. And that was a double whammy. But it did point out the truth behind the stories. The demonic forces were like a truth detector --- the louder they got the bigger the truth!

So, that is what happened. There are other stories but those were the biggest insights and encouragements.

Journeys works exceptionally well in a mix of poor and marginalized people, some of whom have mental health concerns. Jesus used it to bind up the brokenhearted. It's length of 5 weeks is perfect, and the length of each video is also just right."

*Names have been changed

[Rich Chambers, Ontario, Canada]

Journeys Cafe Style

"We had a cafe evening on a Sunday night. We did Week Four of Journeys to whet the appetite. We had a number of conversions and about forty people interested in doing the course...we are very excited about this. This particular course is down to earth and touches people on an everyday living level. WELL DONE!"

[Peter and Rose Cloke, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa]

Journeys Gets Results

"We have recently completed our first 'pilot' Journeys. Ten people attended.My wife Caz & I found it to be a fantastic resource in our endeavours to build relationship with, and assist seekers on their own personal 'journey'. The emphasis of allowing people to examine the Christian faith by hearing people share their own personal testimony to what God has meant/ done for them, has been truly powerful.

After week 4 of Journeys we had four people make first time commitments to Christ directly due to the opportunity and challenges provided by Journeys and another two rededicated their lives to Christ. The remainder of the group have all expessed a desire to continue on their journey of discovery & we will be assisting and encouraging them all to join a Life group (small group) and/or register for our next ALPHA course.

We at Gateway are extremely grateful to the Journeys team.

[Murray Holmes, Pastor Gateway Family Church,Baxter,Victoria, Australia]

More Feedback

"Every time we watch a session of Journeys, God works through His Spirit in amazing ways. Many, many thanks."

[Karen, Outreach Team Leader, Cheltenham, UK]

"I lead a church in the UK and have been running Journeys as part of my chaplaincy work at a local prison. I have found you and your approach so refreshing. I am part way through the second course at the jail - had good fruit off the first one. We plan to keep it as part of the chaplaincy programme here, so thanks for giving us Journeys - it is really of such high quality".

[Pete Duke, pastor and prison chaplain, England]

"I watched the tapes. I was amazed! People said my face was shining and I looked really different. I've become a Christian and now I'm at Bible College."

[Joseph, Whakatane, NZ]

"The Journeys course was very timely for me. My health has been so much better since I became a Christian after doing Journeys, and now that my boyfriend's also done the course and become a believer, we're getting married! God's awesome."

 [Jess, Ohope, NZ]

If you'd like to send us feedback for inclusion on this page, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at info@greatjourneys.org