Somerset Gospel Outreach.
Its Formation.
My name is Chris Gadd and I’m an evangelist. I formed Somerset Gospel Outreach, (S.G.O.) in 2005. Prior to this, I was involved in evangelistic work with the missionary society, Home Evangelism, who concentrated on door to door outreach. Home Evangelism went through difficulties and I with many of the staff evangelists were stood down. After much prayer and with the guidance of God’s people, we were assured that God would have us continue in the work. We would have to live by faith and trust in God to meet our needs. God Is faithful! He has wonderfully upheld this ministry for all these years and we give all the glory to God, and thank Him for His faithfulness.
Areas of work.
As its name suggests, S.G.O. is all about taking the good news of the Gospel to people in the English county of Somerset. Areas include: Weston-super-Mare, Burnham on Sea, Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Street, Wells, and many of the villages and hamlets dotted around and about. This is done mainly through door to door outreach and open-air witness, with good evangelistic literature being distributed as well.
Where possible, S.G.O. seeks to link up and work alongside Evangelical Bible believing churches and fellowships, helping and encouraging them to reach out into their communities with the Gospel. There are many small fellowships who just haven’t got the man-power and so welcome help to do this. And brethren form larger fellowships who feel exercised to help, get involved in both first time calling and in follow-up work. Many areas no longer have an evangelical witness and so a big part of this work is pioneering, especially in the villages.
How People are reached.
Door to door is one of the main ways we reach out to people at S.G.O. Taking the Gospel to people where they live. This has proved, over the years to be one of the most profitable ways of reaching people. We have visited many homes; from large mansions to squats, and everything in between and have witnessed to many people in doing so.
All forms of evangelism are hard for one reason or another. In door to door evangelism we are going on to other peoples property with a message that most folk don’t want to hear. However, God prepares the hearts of those whom He wants us to speak to. We mention some for your interest:
- ‘D’ was in a desperate place. A drug addict and dealer. She welcomed our call and shared that she needed to be made clean inside. After hearing the Gospel, she started to attend chapel and to read her Bible and Pray. God powerfully saved this lady, who today is a trophy of grace and going on well with The Lord.
- ‘P’ welcomed us at his door, and after hearing what we had to say, asked for a Bible. Several days later, he turned up on our door, asking searching questions about the way of salvation. Not long after he was converted and still keeps in touch with us.
- ‘Mr C’ Was a J.W. He was asked if he knew his sins were forgiven. This troubled him and he wanted to hear our message. A few months later both his wife and himself were saved. He went to be with The Lord not long after, but died rejoicing in his salvation.
Open-Air outreach takes place in town centres. We put up scripture text boards, we preach the Gospel, and we engage with people in conversation and give out evangelistic literature. Glastonbury is one of the towns that we regularly work in. Glastonbury is a hot-bed for new-age and occult activity, and we greatly value prayer for our work here.
‘D’ Received a tract from us, which The Lord used to save her. She was heavily involved with the new-age movement, but God has worked in her and she has repented of her former ways and now has peace with God.
‘T’ Was greatly troubled and didn’t have assurance and peace with God. We sought to help and minister to him. Later he phoned to say how much he had been helped and assured us that he was seeking The Lord.
‘A’ Asked us how she could be forgiven and get right with God. She knew and felt herself to be a sinner. After pointing her to The Lord she welcomed literature to read. There has also been much opposition to us as we seek to witness. Satan hates this work, but we go in obedience to The Lord, who has commissioned His church to go into all the world and proclaim His saving truth to needy sinners.
This is a hard and difficult work. Along with the forces of evil against us, we have the un-belief and hard heartedness of man and sadly to say, much lethargy and indifference even amongst God’s people when it comes to reaching out with the good news of salvation through grace by faith in Jesus. But we go on, trusting in The One who is all- powerful and has all authority, knowing He will save His people from their sins.
Matters for prayer.
Not everyone is able to engage in this front line work, but all of God’ people can and should pray. So please do pray for us. This is a vital work, and for many people today, this may be the only means by which they will hear about their greatest need – the need to get right with God.
Please pray:
- that God would be glorified in all we do.
- For The Lord’s enabling and power in our witness.
- For Boldness in declaring the Gospel.
- For Wisdom, love and compassion.
- For guidance into areas for outreach.
- For The Lord to prepare hearts.
- For the convicting and saving work of God The Holy Spirit.
- For The Lord’s continued provision and up-holding.
- For more labourers in the harvest field.
- For The Church to see her responsibility in obeying the Great Commission and in fervently praying for us and all who serve The Lord in this way.
S.G.O. seeks to help churches and fellowships in reaching out to their communities with the gospel, so please feel free to contacts us if you would like further details. Why not invite us for a deputation meeting at your fellowship. You can also read about this work by receiving our prayer letter, by post or email.