New Encounters
The Christian Community Platform
New Encounters was born, following a prophetic word at David's Tent 2024. Our mission is to bring people to the living God, transform lives, create community and serve others. We believe that together, our Christian faith is strengthened through our encounters with God and with other Christians where we can spur and encourage each other. God's magnificence brings us amazing opportunities to encounter him in unlimited ways, so at New Encounters, we seek to build God's international community through new and pleasing experiences, where you can engage with what is happening in the Christian community. In addition to which we showcase adventurous Christians, Spirit filled Christian creatives, Christian businesses and other organisation that focus on Jesus and support the growth of God's kingdom on earth.
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Henry's Blog
Amazing Faith - not for the faint hearted
Henry's cycling adventure from Venice to Turkey via the Balkans - meeting new people and spreading the gospel. Here you will find the latest update, for the full adventure click here.
Day 4 (15 May 2025) - Excuse me sir, do you know why we’ve pulled you over?
Four days in and I’m starting to get used to this now. I’m getting quicker at getting going in the morning and better at working out when to follow the GPS suggested route and when might it might be wise to ignore Komoot! The last three days have taken me through some absolutely stunning scenery in the Julian Alps. Deep blue rivers, towering peaks with late spring snow patches clinging on above 2000m and flowering alpine meadows have made up much of my scenery, I think my camp on night two in Reisuetta is in the top 5 spots of all time for me.
Best wild campsite ever?
I passed into Slovenia on Day 3 after a brutal 10km climb with an average, yes average, gradient of 10%. With a 36kg setup this took me a fair while and I was in a less than glamorous state when I did top out. Was it worth it for the 20km descent? Probably. After just a few km in Slovenia though I was surprised to say the least when a policeman with a speed gun waved at me to pull over - Ok I was fast down that descent but surely not thaaat fast! Thankfully he was only concerned that I was cycling a little too far in the middle of the road for his liking so we have a good chat, I explained to him my tour and my planned route and I went on my way without any more trouble.
Topping out after a brutal climb!
Unfortunately, the Vrsič pass to Bled was closed, so I changed my route and headed southwards to a border town between Slovenia and Italy. Gorize (Italy)/Novogorize (Slovenia) is the European capital of culture for 2025 it transpires and will host the finish of a stage of the Giro d’Italia this year (unfortunately I’m about 10 days early). I stayed with a lovely bloke called Bojan here who kindly let me use his apartment, wash my clothes and have a shower!
I’ve been thinking lots over the past few days about a talk at church on my last Sunday in Bristol. We were talking about the where in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us not to store up treasures here on earth, but to build up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6). The phrase that stuck was “how can we stop seeing interactions with others as an ‘extraction’ opportunity, but as an ‘investment’ opportunity” I’ve been thinking about how we can build others up even through small interactions we may have when on the road, in a shop buying food or when sharing a meal. I’ve only done 75km today, but some highlights have been cycling along an amazingly wide valley full of fruit trees (see photo of valley plus cherry trees) and seeing a show cave with an electric train that goes through it! (postojnska-jama.eu)
Fantastic gravel track down wide valley
Cherry trees, with ripe cherries!
Yay caving!
Prayer points for those of you who pray:
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To know how to invest well in others through often transient encounters, and ensure I’m sharing Jesus with people I meet en route
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That I will find a way to fix my broken shifter. I’ve been on small ring only since day 1 at about 40km and it’s thankfully not been that problematic so far, but I would really like to have all my gears again!
Amazing Faith - if you have a Christian blog that you would like us to feature free of charge - please contact us.
This month's featured event
Race Across Europe
Are you keen to explore different cultures and share your faith? Join a group of young people from across Europe on this transformative mission adventure where faith, service, and exploration intersect in the heart of Europe. Be part of a movement of young people that God is using to take the gospel across Europe one country at a time. Race Across Europe serves as a platform for personal growth, deepening one's relationship with God, and discovering one's purpose in sharing the gospel and serving others. It's about embracing adventure, stepping out of comfort zones, and living out the gospel values of love, kindness, generosity, and humility in a global context. We want to see young people grow in their relationship with God and step out to have an impact in Europe. This Christian Interrailing Mission Adventure combines the thrill of travel with the opportunity to spread love, compassion, and the message of Jesus Christ across diverse cultures.
UK Christian Partners
Let’s talk
We want to hear from Christian centred businesses, authors, musicians, charities, creatives etc that would like to showcase their products, service and activity to a wide Christian community free of charge. Please submit an enquiry via the Contact Us page and we'll be in touch a.s.a.p.