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17 August 2005
Hi Crossbeats!!
I was intrigued that you had been
trying to trace the history of coffee-bar evangelism and, in doing so, referred
back to the Southport Project (summer 1964) and Ken Terhoven as one of the
earliest examples.
You probably
won't remember me but I was working as Ken's close associate in the 1960s in
the development of his movement called "Project Evangelistic Crusade" with
headquarters in Matlock, Derbyshire. In fact, the earliest coffee-bar
evangelism of which I am aware took place in the very first "Project Crusade"
in Matlock and Matlock Bath in August 1963. Well, do I remember being
"thrown in at the deep-end" by Ken Terhoven as he decided to hold a coffee-bar
"Late-Nite-Special" every night for the duration of the project - not only in
Matlock but also one in Matlock Bath..... one for which I was suddenly the
leader! As far as I can recall, if not the originator, Ken was at the
very least the earliest champion of such ministry in the UK.
Exciting times, as we had gospel
groups such as yours playing interspersed with testimonies and short
messages..... the all-too-familiar format that we all came to love. How
amazing to see so many young people (and older ones, too) making real
commitments to Jesus which proved years later to have been the real thing as
many of these joined us in later years as workers, and a good number of these
responded to the call of God on their lives and have since been pastors,
evangelists and missionaries.
During the rest of the 60s, such Late-Nite-Specials were held all
over UK in cafes, restaurants, school halls, church halls, pubs, shop-fronts,
town halls etc. etc.
You will
probably have heard that Ken went to be with the Lord just a few years ago on a
trip to England from South Africa. Ken always wanted to go home
preaching..... and that's exactly what happened at a small church in his
beloved Derbyshire. His wife, Win, lives and worships with her married
children in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.
Blessings
Dave
Barker Associate Pastor, Calvary Baptist
Church, Coquitlam, BC V3J 3B8 (www.calvarybaptist.ca)
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