A message from Dan Holland 

      MAY THE WORD OF THE LORD RUN SWIFTLY – FAREWELL TO TAO

 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.
(Matt 6v 33)

THE ROLLERCOASTER

The Kingdom of God is many things, at times it can feel like a rollercoaster. The long slow ascents, the agonising moment that feels an age before a near vertical descent followed by a screeching corner. We’re not sure if we are screaming for fear or exhilaration or both at the same time! There’s certainly never a dull moment, although we wouldn’t mind one now and again!
Tao has served with TFM for 4 1/2 years, and what years they have been. She arrived half a year after me. I had some time to acclimatise to TFM and get a couple of missions under my belt before the lockdowns hit in 2020. These were unprecedented times bringing unprecedented changes. I still pinch myself looking back – did that actually happen? So Tao was plunged with us into the strange hinterland of endless Zoom meetings, and an occasional meeting in freezing buildings with all the windows open. We shared all the fears and uncertainties. Then came Light 2020, a curious mix of online and live mission activity. Two years later Tao bravely joined my team from Ely to Bluntisham on Walk the Way, not knowing where we would eat and sleep. As it turned out, we fared rather well!
Then came our departure from the historic TFM office in Coton. I used to feel like even the walls there were radiating the rich history of TFM. Eventually we pitched camp in Sawston at the URC, temporarily, but remained there even after Tim and Georgina’s departure in 2023. Tao ate Download 2023 for breakfast, totally unfazed by metal culture, what a blast that was.
Tao has journeyed with David and I as we’ve searched for a premises which could be a longer term solution. What a varied and unpredictable ride it has been. One of the glorious constants in amongst all the uncertainties and frustrations has been her prayer ministry at TFM. The boiler room of prayer warrior support, led by Tao, has consistently pumped power into our frontline activity, probably much more than we know. This has been our backbone, metaphorically speaking.
 

FAREWELL TO TAO
Tao is stepping off the TFM rollercoaster (she has never called it this), and we will miss her. We thank her and pray that all goes well for her in her new job, and that it is not too much of a rollercoaster. My prayer is that none of the momentum established in the prayer warrior group is lost. We seek God for a replacement either from within TFM, or someone from outside who shares our spiritual DNA.

 
THE KINGDOM
The glorious thing about building the Kingdom is that it never stops, even if we take separate paths. We all still want and seek the same thing, or should I say person, Jesus! Tao will, I’m sure, still pray for us and who knows, come on a mission like WTW again.
The family remains even if one member moves in a different path, love never fails (1 Cor 13v 8). What is foremost is that we all keep seeking His glorious Kingdom together, wherever we are. TFM is not an empire of itself but a wonderful family (there aren’t many like it), of which it is a privilege to be a small part. We all fundamentally want the same outcome; for Jesus to be glorified, for sinners to be saved and for His Kingdom to advance in this nation, driving out the dominion of darkness.
So the work goes on apace, we have been pruned back further than I  imagined possible, but there is life. Jesus’ resurrection life in us cannot be quelled, and we will spring back with new life for a new season. God will amaze and surprise us with what happens. So with renewed vigour and faith we cry,
that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (2 Thess 3v 1)
 

Dan Holland    Lead Evangelist