
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Thursday, 17 December 2009
"Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul"
As everyday goes by, we are continuing to be shown this absolute truth. We have entirely no work of our own hands to boast in, and only God to lean on.
We, along with Mark and Lizzie, have always had a sense that London would a be a 'revolving door' so-to-speak, and concerning the church, it has been. God brings and He sends, and we see it as an amazing thing that we are able to build relationships with people here, share in the beauty of the gospel, and then see them either returning home or sent somewhere new.
As for us now, we as a church body are literally a handful of people... but we are truly encouraged to see that it is a group that has such an earnest desire and longing to pray! It is an amazing thing that with little exception, the entire church gathers to pray every week. It is because they have caught vision of the broken state of our city and the "hour in need of burning hearts, bursting lips, and brimming eyes" as Leonard Ravenhill describes. We have placed our all before Jesus; We laid our desires,wills, motives down on the altar; and our joyful response to God is to be the same as Jonathan's armor bearer...
"Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul"
Amen?!
Pray that:
>God would do a great work here in London, a city of approximately 7.5 million people, through a surrendered church. Pray for the churches here that hold true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, that there would be a unity in God's people. We are a marginalized group, through and through, sociologically marginalized. We know that it has not been in times of popularity but times of adversity that the true Church has always triumphed(the book of Acts/Reformation/19th Century London...).
>That as the above passage goes on to say in v.22, that: "Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle." That men and women of God, that have disappeared into the 'woodwork', would be refreshed by the Spirit of God, encouraged to see a worshiping church that will not abandon this nation, and be so utterly moved by seeing the mighty hand of God moving and driving out the enemy, that they would stand once again and fight for the salvation of this city.
Will you please cry out to God for this small church and this great city?!
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Gospel Driven Missional Community


Tonight was the introduction of a Gospel Centred study where we ask God to stretch us and challenge us in seeing our call to be on mission in our community that we live in, work in, go to school in, minister in, as a community of believers, and what that looks like for us as a church. We started in no better place than Acts 2.
We've been given an amazing opportunity to be able to meet at our local pub as well as build relationships with those who work there- resulting in really practical ways to be a light and share the Gospel. And on a side note: Free Curry every Tuesday
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Worship
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Prayer

Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
kids growing up
Trent Christian Simas is officially a student at St Clement and St James Nursery School. The Lord opened a door for him to attend which is a big answer to prayer. We had him on the waiting list, and after calling the school almost every day for a couple weeks, he finally got in. He is attending Monday thru Friday in the morning session and he absolutely LOVES it. It is actually quite nice to get up and out of the house at 8:30 and go for a nice 50-minute walk in the chilly morning. Cutest thing about school…the uniform. It's green and gold with an anchor as the emblem. We purchased the smallest size possible of trousers (3 years) and STILL had to take them to the corner tailor and get them altered! So funny! What a precious little munchkin. But how excited he was to walk to school the first day all dressed up and ready to face the day. A moment we will always remember.
Second biggest thing for our little man has been football or shall I say soccer for us Americans. The first two weeks were not so fun (he pretty much stood on the sidelines and was mute), but this week he did amazing. So proud to watch him kick the ball and follow the drills and interact with the kids. Cutest moment at football club this week was when the kids and coach were huddled together and we hear Trent say something to the coach, but couldn’t make out what he said and we hear the coach repeat it…”everyone needs Jesus in their hearts huh?” Our little evangelist; gotta love it!
Hope Vivian Simas is growing so fast. Already growing out of a lot of clothes. She is getting a little bit chunkier and it’s adorable. She is getting to be a little bit more alert and she smiles constantly. Trent and her “talk” back and forth and they are very funny to watch. She loves her big brother! What a joy she is to this family. Our hearts melt just looking at her. We thank Jesus for blessing us with these two beautiful children.
So as we settle into this new “season” of school and sports, we ask you to continue to pray for us and for God’s ministry here in London. Our world of contacts here in London just broadened by a lot being involved in the community through our son. Pray for opportunities and relationships to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for our precious son and his sensitive heart in telling others about Jesus. Pray for friends for him and also for his little mind to be protected. Pray that above everything else we would glorify Him in London and in this community.
Love, Michelle


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Sunday, 6 September 2009
Worship at the pub


Due to a schedule conflict at the Gate Cinema this weekend, we had to look for a one week, alternative place to meet. At the very last moment, we found the Hillgate Pub, which is right behind the Gate, that would let us gather and worship. We at first saw it as a bit of an inconvenience, but really it was a reminder to us that God is not in any way constrained to a specific location made by men(Acts 17:24)and the Spirit of the Lord indwells His people, not a building. As Solomon prayed: "heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house"...(1 Kings 8)
Monday, 24 August 2009
Sunday, 16 August 2009
The Gate

(Prayer Tour starts in two days, and we will try and keep the updates/pictures rollin' in)
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Update from London
It’s been some time, and we are sorry about the lack of updates, but believe it or not, we are still waiting for our home internet to be connected for us. It seems that companies operate a bit slower then we are use to, but none the less, we are still able to use internet at free WiFi spots throughout the city.
So, some pretty major things have happened this month, one of which is the Lord giving us a beautiful daughter. Michelle had been admitted to the hospital to induce labor, seeing as she was about a week past her due date. The part of the hospital that she was in would not allow me to stay with Michelle, so my brave wife stayed the night there by herself, until I got the text in the middle of the night, saying “COME NOW”. I called Mark and Lizzie to come over and watch Trent and in a flash they were at our front door. Here is where you get to visualize me running franticly through the streets of London, as it is a forty-five minute walk...running and running hard. Thankfully I was able to stop a cab about halfway down, and literally walk in the door of Michelle’s room to see the midwife place our daughter in Michelle’s arms and place the scissors in my hand, saying “congrats dad”. My brave wife delivered by herself with one midwife, and no medication- do to some hospital drama. But most importantly, she delivered safely. Hope Vivian was born on July 16th, at 2:06am , and in good health. Without doubt, Michelle is an amazing mother, and it was automatic newborn love and handling, where myself on the other hand, in only three years, totally forgot even how to hold a newborn! I can be rough and wrestle Trent, but a beautiful, delicate, little girl?? I was undone… I melted as she was placed into my arms, and it was an automatic, sincere love like she had always been my daughter.
We are now still adjusting to being in a new country and having a newborn. As time and weather has permitted, we have been able to explore the city, thanks to an amazing transportation system(the underground, buses and trains). Again, it’s been a very good thing being able to be home to love on our family, and being able to commit to supporting Michelle and Trent in this huge adjustment. We totally underestimated how difficult it would be to leave the friends and family that we love. The Lord has given us the strength, and some amazing friends here in London, but we still need continual prayer to endure, prayer for Trent to make friends, and prayer that Michelle would adjust to the vast differences and challenges of being a wife/mom/homemaker in a new country. That she would find the contentment and joy in where she is being called and used mightily, at home.
Two pretty major dates are coming up in August that we are definitely looking forward to: the start of the prayer tour on the 16th and Lord willing, the first Sunday service on the 23rd.
We are truly blessed to be part of a church body that prays, in all things, at all times, out of total dependency… prays. When saints pray, it glorifies God and He is attentive to our prayer. So as you may or may not know, a large group from Reality Carpinteria and another large group from Reality Los Angeles are coming for a week+ long prayer tour, where people will be splitting up and dispersing throughout the whole city of London to pray. Through fervent prayer and sharing the Gospel, we believe that Jesus will draw hearts to Himself. We will be praying that the Lord would establish His church, strengthen believers in London, that He would break down the strongholds here, that He would save people, and that ultimately God’s Glory would be displayed. Where “Sunday morning church” is almost an American pastime of sorts, the spiritual climate here is quite different. The Lord will have to build His church, and we as a church, on Saturday nights, have been praying that God would graciously allow us to come along side that work. “By this we give him the ‘glory of His power’. Prayer is a humble appeal from our impotency to God’s omnipotence…”-William Gurnall on the necessity of prayer.
As I have mentioned, the first Sunday service will be on the 23rd of August. Pastor Mark last week, after much prayer and godly counsel, put an offer in on a theatre in Notting Hill Gate to rent for Sunday mornings, and we are praying that we would have favor with the building owners and they would accept the offer. We are seeking the Lord on the place He would have us meet, so we ask strongly that everyone would be lifting that up in prayer. Until then, and definitely always continuing past that date, we will be meeting weekly for prayer as a church body-worshiping and crying out to God. Also, we will be taking advantage of this next month leading up to the tour to not only set a foundation in prayer, but also to prepare through studying God’s Word, working through worship, and meeting with Pastor Mark to sharpen one another as brothers in Christ.
“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” –Jesus, John 17:10,11
We thank you for your love, prayer and support.
-Love-
Friday, 3 July 2009
Crazy to think that we have only been here in London two weeks today. In those two extremely quick weeks, the Lord opened for us a flat in West London in the borough of Kensington&Chelsea. Nothing short of a miracle… we spent our first week here scouring the entire North/NorthWest/West area of London for a flat that was inexpensive and we thought would fit our needs. We had found a flat that was for us nothing more then settling, and were ready to make an offer on(you make offers on flats to rent, kinda weird), when a last minute flat opened up for us to look at in a hood we had loved and were praying about. I spare the financial details, but the amazing part is that we offered what we had budgeted and could afford(which was ridiculously under the asking rate), went home that night and prayed that God would stir in the heart of the building owner. I get a call the next morning from the rental agent telling me that another couple had seen the flat and offered the asking price, a much higher offer, but to the surprise of his whole office, our offer was the offer accepted. My focus for this last week has been to settle our family, as uneventful and unexciting as assembling furniture is. I forget sometimes that though adjusting for me might be not very difficult, I just moved a wife and 3 year old as well. Through this, I believe that God is laying a foundation in my life and reestablishing my first ministry, mi familia. It has been truly a joy. So, we are moved in, set up and yesterday started to meet our new neighbors, some extremely nice, others ehhh…
Michelle is do to have our baby in literally a week! we have been called crazy here more times than we can count... but it gives us opportunity to share with people of what importance are we here for. So, if you would please pray for her…
We have a few things left to do such as get Trent signed up for public school. This boy is going to be on mission, and is very ready to meet some new friends.
We are blessed by everyone praying for us and all the support. We are continuing to pray for and familiarize ourselves with our hood and allowing the Lord to lead us in His plan, as part of His church here in London as we seek Him. Much Love! God Bless, Christian

Monday, 22 June 2009
Prayer and Familiarization
Friday, 19 June 2009
"For He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,"
Saturday, 13 June 2009
An open door set before us...
Please check your visa immediately on receipt to ensure that we have completed your visa correctly. Please send details of any errors or omissions to visas.losangeles@fco.gov.uk ASAP.Please note that the UPS tracking number will not be activated for at least another 1-2 business days. It will be delivered by UPS Their reference number is *********************"
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Tacos for London




Friday, 22 May 2009
Atlantic Shmlantic
"15and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan."
The Lord has called us to step out, and we praise Him for that. Unfortunately, we as people fail to understand our role in His call. Failing to read scripture as a whole can sometimes be used wrongly as a tool to attempt to justify our motives or desires, but also, in my case can place crushing wait and unnecessary fear on our shoulders. I wanted to do. My attention and my "striving" desire was to see the next step for me to do in this passage of scripture rather then to see the beauty of an ever present Jesus in this. I missed the whole point! I failed to even grasp:
"3....As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it."
"11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan"
1) The Ark: the presence of GOD was "passing over BEFORE you"
2) "Lord of all the earth"- He not only created but COMMANDS the earth
3) I'm certainly not God and last time I checked, our high priest is JESUS(Heb 8:1)
4) We follow Him...
The Lord has made it evident that this is and will always be His work. We follow because of the love of Christ that compels us, and the truth that He has gone before us.
We know that just like the Israelites, this definitely is not the only battle that we will face. Our goal is not to get to London, our goal is the Glory of the Lord. However that looks: here, on the journey, or there.
Okay our status update:
-We feel that God is calling us to leave for London on or very close to June 8, despite the fact that>
-We are still, on this day, waiting to hear back on our visas(which should be within a week)
-We are still praying that the Lord would stir in people's hearts to become part of this work in London ...even the unlikely(Ezra1)right?!
So we continue to step out and pray that God would ultimately guide our paths.
For those who have been faithful in prayer for us, we truly love you and truly thank you! Please remember to also be in prayer for Mark and Lizzie who God is already using on mission in London. That the Lord would open doors, open hearts, and form genuine relationships in the building of His church.
Love, the Simas'
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
"..I will make you..."
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
It's Time
Friday, 6 March 2009
Support Letter


To our dear friends and family:
We are writing this letter to you in order to share what the Lord has been and is continuing to do in our lives. We want to humbly tell you how the Lord is calling and directing us to live, serve, and worship Him in the city of London, England.
The Lord called us in 2007 to move and serve in the city of Stockton as well as get involved in various ministries at our church Reality. We feel this time has been a sweet and necessary season of growth in the Lord and a wonderful opportunity to prepare us for the mission field. We are truly humbled by this calling, so we thank the Lord that 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 tells us “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty”.
This last summer the Lord put London on our hearts. We didn’t know what that meant for us personally, but through prayer and scripture He revealed piece by piece that we are called to move and serve the people of London. The Lord already called a sweet couple named Mark and Lizzie Dyrud to start a Reality there. An opportunity opened in November for us to visit them in England. We had a wonderful time of prayer and “spying out the land”. God is so gracious and burdened us for the people of that city and knit our hearts with Mark and Lizzie. God was answering our prayers. He is so faithful. We came home from that trip a week later knowing we were to start taking steps to follow Him in this call. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). We believe that when the Lord calls He is faithful to deliver.
At this point as we are taking steps we feel we are to be ready and waiting. And as uncomfortable as it is we are selling all of our belongings to be free to move the minute He says, “now is the time”. We are extremely excited to come alongside Mark and Lizzie and minister to a country that has quickly turned away from their love of Jesus Christ. They have turned into a place that is blinded and bombarded by world religions, paganism and post-Christian beliefs. We want to see Jesus Christ exalted and the gospel preached! We want to see a city that was once so passionate for Jesus and where Christianity thrived to be turned back and have their eyes opened to the Savior of the world. “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:23-25).
In closing we ask that you would prayerfully consider becoming a part of this work in the great city of London. A sender and supporter are just as important as the missionary being sent. Just as Nehemiah 3 shows us how the children of Israel had many different roles in rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, so do we have many roles as one body of Christ. Some are called to be sent out and others are called to pray and support. So the following is a list of our areas of need:
First and foremost is PRAYER: The foundation of our mission has been bathed in prayer and will continue to be. We need prayer!
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: As the Lord prompts you to assist in the expenses of daily living and being in full time ministry. Christian will be unable to work on a missionary visa.
ENCOURAGEMENT: As we are battling, there will be a huge need for encouragement through the body. This can be as simple as a phone call, letter or email. All would be extremely appreciated!
As we continue to take steps of faith by following His leading to England, we ask that you would stand with us in prayer!
Love,
CHRISTIAN, MICHELLE AND TRENT SIMAS AND BABY HOPE ON THE WAY ☺
Our website: http://www.prayforlondon.blogspot.com/
Our email: ukmissions@realitystockton.com
Reality’s website: http://www.realitystockton.com
Financial Support (tax deductible) Make checks payable to:
Reality Stockton
Memo: Christian and Michelle Simas
4933 West Lane
Stockton, CA 95210
Friday, 27 February 2009


We had the opportunity earlier this year to visit the LA/Carp group that went to pray for San Francisco and the Reality Church that will be starting there soon. We met up with Dave Lomas, who the Lord has called to plant the church in this beautiful city, and were able to see the preparation and foundation that is completely essential and all is lost without : PRAYER. Its exciting to see God moving up the coastland and to the furthermost parts of the world. Michelle and I , as soon to be missionaries (thats still weird for us to say) are blessed to fellowship with other church planters and people that are seeking the spreading of the Gospel. Not to mention, letting our son Trent see and experience the mission field that is all around us. Pray for San Francisco !