Church planted in a garden bears fruit!

When Stacy and Phil Gibbs felt God nudge them to start a church they began in their garden! Four years on and in a new high-street location, Overboard Church has plans to reach the town

When Stacy and Phil Gibbs’ daughters told them church was boring, they knew they had a problem. Having just followed God’s call to the seaside town of Mablethorpe they had visited a few churches but hadn’t found one to settle in.

That was when they heard God speak again: “If you can’t find it, build it!” he said.

So in early 2020, Stacy and Phil decided to start a house church.

Straight away, their plans proved too modest.

“We were going to hold it in our dining room but we couldn’t fit everyone in so we moved to the garden,” Stacy begins. “We had two families with six and four kids, then we had our own two kids.”

Clearly, the garden couldn’t be a long-term home, so Stacy and Phil quickly hired a hall and threw themselves into establishing Overboard Church.

One year later, however, the work was taking its toll.

“We were enthusiastic and wanted to give the church our all but we were close to burnout.” It was perfect timing, therefore, when they met Ignite Elim pastor Darren Edwards, who hosts his church’s annual Urban Wave summer event in Mablethorpe.

“He got in touch to say he’d been considering planting a church in our town. But then he’d seen what we were doing and wanted to help us instead. It couldn’t have come at a better time – he’s been our mentor the whole way through!”

At the same time, the couple linked up with Elim. Under the supportive eyes first of Gary Gibbs and then Paul Hudson, Overboard Church became part of the Reach church planting project and the couple got the help they needed.

Darren and Elim’s support proved invaluable as Stacy and Phil established a raft of weekly meetings and ministries.

Now, alongside two Sunday services, Bible studies and prayer meetings, they run Easy Church discussion times each month as “a place where it’s safe to ask ‘silly’ questions”.

A multitude of kids’ activities engage children in and outside the church, including a Sunday evening session, Thursday Bible study and a Saturday evening secular youth group. Stacy says a Wednesday evening homework club is popular too. “The younger ones who don’t have a lot of homework do a little Bible study when they’ve finished.

“They asked us to start that and the older kids join in too once their homework is done.

“It’s a great way to reach kids who don’t come to church.”

At the other end of the age scale, a ministry for older people is growing rapidly too.

“We realised we were really busy reaching out to kids, but actually there was an older generation who needed help too.

“Many older people can’t get to church easily. In winter, Mablethorpe pretty much closes down completely, so we decided to take church to them.”

Recently, the church began visiting Bill Baker Court, a supported living facility. Here, Stacy tells the story of church member Janet Malcolm.

“Two years ago, Janet walked into church. She’s 84 and we’re very lively so I thought she’d hate it, but she absolutely loved it! A year ago God did a miracle with Janet and moved her into Bill Baker Court. She started a ministry there which she helps Phil lead each week and residents come to her for prayer.

“Sometimes they come to church too. Phil picks up Janet every Sunday and often he’ll arrive back with a whole carload!” Over the past couple of years, another area of miraculous blessing has been the provision of Overboard Church’s new high street location.

Stacy and Phil run a charity to support children in Zimbabwe, Kidz2911, with funds raised through a charity shop on Mablethorpe high street. Recently, the church was rehomed within the shop, with the versatile space switched throughout the week to house the shop and Overboard’s youth club, homework club and more.

They value this central position and the opportunity it presents for evangelism. Now they are exploring new ideas for outreach.

“Last year we were given the upstairs of the building and some professional gym equipment so we’re turning it into a youth gym. It’s a perfect way to invite youth in and talk to them.”

As foster parents to a boy with autism, Stacy and Phil have also discovered how little support there is for autistic children and their families. So a second project being worked on is a sensory space which will run alongside the church.

“We’re going to fit out an entire soft space for children with sensory education needs and disabilities,” Stacy says.

“It’s something we feel really called to do since having George with us.”

The two new projects chime with a scripture the church received earlier this year.

“Last year our scripture was about stepping up into God’s calling. This year it’s about stepping out into the big wide world.

“There hasn’t been a church on the high street here for 80 years so we feel a big sense of responsibility.

“We’re on our high street, and now it’s time to get into it properly.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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