“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

God has made who we are, He formed us in our mothers womb. We are created in HIS image!
It now becomes our choice -
Do we live with that knowledge and live as the world would live - not grasping the greatness of who we could be with God,
Or
Do we run wholeheartedly knowing in your head AND in your heart, that God as fashioned and formed us, given us a personality that has the potential to reflect Him?

When I was reading the above quote - I was challenged by this . . . "We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us."
We were born to MAKE MANIFEST the GLORY of GOD!! wow!
To manifest means . . .
- to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly.
- to prove; put beyond doubt or question.

So we are to live to show Gods glory - simply, plainly. So that when people juts look at us they would know without a doubt that we are caught up in Gods glory!

How? Live a life of worship - Christianity is far more than a weekly meeting, far more than reading the Bible, than praying a prayer or giving money to the poor and needy! Christianity is a way of life, it is living and breathing Jesus style!

In Philippians Ch 2 it says . . .

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."

So in everything we do - needs to be as for Jesus! That's how we can can start to manifest Gods glory here on earth!!

2 months away from "normality" away from the business of Derby. 2 months away from my amazing friends and Family, 2 months in a different country, 2 months in a differnt culture, different friends, different lifestyles, just different!

I am amazed at how different things are here in the USA, just the smaller finer details - they pay you to open bank accounts, they drive on the wrong side of the road, they have HUGE cars! The pronounce things differently, speak differently, dress differently.

But yet in all the differences, there is at least one thing that is constent, familiar, the same - GOD!

Despite being away from what I am used to, God is still the same! He NEVER changes! He is NEVER different, unfamiliar.

God is constent, when everything around you is not! Look at the book of Ruth - a story of Gods provision . . . the Author mentions God only 2 times. Once at the very beginning - Ch 1 - God gives food, and then again a the end of the book - Ch 4 - God gives a baby! It starts with Gods provision, and ends with Gods provision! And even when Ruth didnt know what she was doing - leaving all that she was familiar with, all that she knew - friends and family - God provided!

God is our provider! He cares for us, He Loves us, He feeds is, He provides for us!

My First Month

Mel’s News from America.

The Team

I have been blessed with an amazing team here at Eastern Michigan University.

Head Pastor—Sarah Krage. Ever since I have been apart of University Christian Fellowship way back in 2004, she has played a great part in my life. Not just as a great friend, but as a spiritual mentor too. So It is great to be able to serve under her! Then there is Associate Pastor—Eliot Geib, Whom I have also known since back in 2004. He is a great friend too and shares a passion for Faulty Towers! :) He has a great sense of humour and am blessed to be working with him! Then last but not least we have Kate Williams who is in the process of getting her credentials for ministry– she has a great heart for the international students! We share a passion of creating songs and silly movies!

It’s a great team and we all work well together with different strengths to bring to the mix!

My role

Ok so you may be thinking. . . What is my role in all of this. I know it sounds like a lot of fun—which it is, but it is far from a holiday!

I am on the staff team—which means that I am in fulltime ministry here at EMU.

My role is to provide a bible study predominately for American students, and to reach out to them here on campus.

On Wednesday night we have something called UCFConnect. This is a chance for American students to come together to look at the word of God, This semester I really felt God was calling us into a time of new beginnings. I felt it was right for us to go back to the fundamental basics of Christianity. So using Alpha materials, we are working or way through topics like—Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? How can I have faith?

There is so much junk in the way of the truth, its time to strip it all back and refocus.

The challenge I have is that there are people with a very firm foundation in true Christianity, and also some people who are not as far on the journey, so trying to get the deepness, but yet not lose people in that. Its fun! - That’s Wednesdays!

Another part of what I do is to build a team who will eventually take the full responsibility of running Wednesdays.

I also am attending bible classes once a month. I have completed and passed my first one on “intro to hermeneutics: How to study the bible” I have 9 more to go!

As I get into a routine and figure out how much time I have, I will be picking things up on the way!

American Students

If not me , then who? If not now, then When?”

Being called to work with American students. . .what does this entail?

To be able to connect with someone, you have to know where they are coming from, you have to be fully aware of their culture, what they like, what's cool and what's not! This is hard for me as the culture is quite different to what I am used to, and it is even more difficult as I am not a student! I have formed some great friendships with people from the ministry here, but what I desire to do is to form friendships with those outside. God has brought one American student to me in particular who is very hungry to know more about God, to find out the truth. And I have been able to connect to her on a level that perhaps the rest of the staff team couldn’t. The culture here for Christians, especially within the Assemblies of God is that you don't drink alcohol. You tend not to go to places that promote drinking. Whereas in England, it is normal for us to go for a drink to be social, to connect. I know that God is using for me to be able to connect easier, or perhaps on another level.

My thought is—How can you reach a generation of students if you don’t go to where they are? Why do we expect them to come to us? Jesus was a prime example of breaking cultural “rules” He spent time with the Woman at the well, He had dinner with the tax collector! He didn’t care about what people thought, he went against the grain to advance the kingdom. So I am here feeling stirred to go to the students, to meet them were they are at, to be a light in their dark places, to be salt in their lives!

Financial Support

Thank you to all of you who are faithfully supporting me! I really appreciate you and wouldn't be able to be doing what I am doing with out you! So Thank you!!

I have a budget of $1000 p/m ( £600)

Of which I have $800 p/m raised (£480)

So I have $200 /£120 left to raise in monthly support! If you would like to support me and your in the UK my bank details are available - email me at muhr_by_mel@hotmail.com

If you are in the US please send checks payable to King Of Love University Church. With “For Mel” on the memo. My address is

516 St Johns Street, #205, Ypsilanti, Michigan.48197.

Look forward to hearing from you soon!

It the US of A

As you all hopefully have realised by now . . . Ive made it!

Here I am.
can't quite believe it! I'm in America - and I'm here for a while!

I had a fun journey getting here, and I almost got sent back home within 30 minutes of me arriving!
I got to customs and border control and I was informed that The visa I was given can only be given for 6months at a time. I ad received it for the year. They took me to a room while I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited!
But God was faithful and I was given a year on my visa!

So I arrived to Ypsi (Ypsilanti is the city I live in now).

I managed to catch up with most people I already knew before things started to get crazy. Last week was Freshman move in and orientation - a great opportunity for us to meet new people.

We were able to help many students move in on Saturday, we started at 8am and got finished for around 12.30. This was a great chance for us to show the love of Jesus to both the students and the parents. God was making a way for us! Myself and Sarah were able to pray with two guys and their families, and two Girls and their families, and many others that day heard about who we are and what we do! It was great!

This week has been full of re connecting with people we met in the first week, we had a carnival, an Ice cream party, and lots more fun!

It has been great being able to meet lots of new people, I am really excited to see what God will do here at Eastern Michigan University!

While I am here, I will be overseeing the mid week bible study - UCF Connect.
We had our 2nd meeting last night and I know that God has some great things planned and that we will see much fruit! e will be using some of the materials from The Alpha course - looking at the fundamental points to being a christian! Making sure that Gods truth is shared!

It seems to me that the Harvest is ready for the taking, and we are here to take!!
"Forget what has gone before. For I am doing a NEW thing"
It is no mistake in me being here at EMU at this moment in time, and that I am excited about!

As much as I am loving being here and getting to know some amazing people, I am missing my friends and family back home so much! This week has been difficult! Leaving everything behind - Job, friends, family, car, familiarity, good chocolate, good food, and coming to a place God has called me to be. I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster! feeling happy I'm here, but sad to be gone. looking forward to all God has for me, but missing what came before!

But I can rest in the knowledge that Jesus is my comforter, my lover and my refuge!

God is Good!!