On The Cross Ministries
Presenting Jesus to the people

What or who is On The Cross Ministries? Well, here follows an explanation into what Ann and I are up to, when we are not working or out preaching, or worshipping at Wisewood Methodist Church here in the North of Sheffield. In May of 2006, I felt that God was calling me to move in a new direction and the word I heard was ‘Evangelist’. Now, my first reaction was ”Wait a minute, God, isn’t Local Preacher enough? I’m not sure I could fill a football stadium.” Well, the word was loud and clear, and so Ann and I began a journey of exploration to determine how and where God was leading us. We feared God was telling us it was time to move on, but soon came to realise that he had actually given us the opportunity to deepen our own faith, and bring back what we had learned to enrich our spiritual home at our home church, although we still felt there was something more God was asking of us.

Then in early May 2006, we received a local newsletter explaining about the Parson Cross Festival, and asking if people wanted a ‘car boot stall’ at the Festival. That’s when it hit me like a sledgehammer. This was what God was calling me into, or rather calling both of us into. I made a phone call and booked a table, explaining that I didn’t want to sell things, but rather give away Bibles, and scripture leaflets. A rather surprised lady at the other end said OK and told me that it would cost £7.50. Ann and I then decided we needed a name for what we were embarking on and after suggestions such as ‘Sheffield For Christ’, and ‘Parson Cross For Christ’, almost simultaneously we came up with the name ‘On The Cross Ministries’ -  ‘Presenting Jesus to the people’. This is a wonderful play on words as we live on Parson Cross! Locally, anyone there is said to be living ‘On the Cross’. This was the evangelism to which God was calling us. Being out there, where the people are, actually practising what I had preached to others for 13 years. Ann felt that we needed the right image if we were to present Jesus to the people, and so we approached David Andrew, who prepared a wonderful banner and artwork for us.

Saturday June 24^th came and we set out our stall amongst all the carbooters. We shared fellowship and resources with ‘The Church on the Corner’ and attracted visits from one or two other Christians. One or two people gave us strange looks, a couple of children went away with ‘kiddies packs’ and one young lad who thought we had SIM cards, went away with a youth Gospel. But one lady, who had lost her mother the week before, stopped to talk to us and we were able to offer some measure of consolation. That’s evangelism – the opportunity to share one to one with a person in need. We went away exhausted, but quite excited about the prospect of another festival.  

This came on July 15^th when we set up at the Gleadless Fun Day in Herdings Park. Again, we had the usual scornful looks, several Christian visitors including a young man with seven children. We had started to sell small items, such as bookmarks, Christian videos which we no longer used, and the odd CD and cassette, purely to try to recoup the cost of the stall (this varies with the venue). The young man bought a 12 cassette audio Bible, turned to his 13 year old daughter and said, “We can listen to this in the car on the way home.” We gave him some literature for children and teens, and we know that at least 9 people were going to benefit from our being there. In addition, we put up a prayer board, and had one or two requests and held an impromptu prayer for healing over a lady. We also shared a wonderful time of testimony with a Pentecostal gentleman. That’s evangelism – building one another up.  

The following Saturday we set up at Handsworth Festival, which for us was the largest yet. There was a thunderstorm and torrential rain at both the beginning and end of the day, which saw us wetter than if we had jumped in a bath, but we had a wonderful time. Friends from the Boys Brigade loaned us a gazebo and helped us set it up. We shared fellowship with friends from Handsworth Methodists, The Christian Life Centre, a family from the Salvation Army, and a Christian lady from a beauty salon. We also formed a link with four people who hold a prayer ministry called the Healing Room. We received the usual looks, but again, the ‘special’ for whom we were there, in the form of two little girls aged about 10 or 11. They approached Ann and asked what the prayer board was for, and after she had explained, one of the girls asked us to pray for her Great Grandma Nora who had died the day before. She added, “Can you tell me she’s gone to a nicer place?” Ann offered her some reassurance, and the little girl gave Ann a big hug. That’s evangelism – just being there to offer comfort. We know that most people just give us a quick glance and turn away, but at least they have seen the name Jesus in their local community. That’s evangelism!  

We are coming to look upon the ministry as not just evangelising the unchurched, but also helping to build up and resource local Christians. Chris, one of the four from the Healing Room, answered a call from God 10 years ago to move to Sheffield and wait. He is as convinced as we are that God is moving in Sheffield, and people are being brought together in new and exciting ways. One thing that I should emphasise is that we are not a separate entity from our church. We see ourselves as an essential part of the work here, and we pray that he continues to use us in this way. We will keep you in touch with what is happening, so please pray for God’s blessing on your evangelism outreach programme.

God bless        Albert and Ann Burton