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The Pelham
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In September 2012, Eric accepted the call to lead and direct this exciting project in Bexhill-on-Sea, in south-east England under a one-year renewable contract.
Unfortunately and unexpectedly his contract was not renewed – read more.
What now follows is the rest of the page as we originally published it in September 2012. We wish the project every success.
Pelham Trust is a new UK charity with a huge vision. It’s overall mission is for the local and wider community to know and experience God — His love, His forgiveness, His abundance and His concern for every aspect of life — that it is His desire to meet the spiritual and practical needs of each and every person and to be involved in their daily lives.
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The trust has acquired and is renovating the former Pelham Hotel, a derelict 19 room late Victorian Hotel and pub that had fallen into disrepair. It had earned a very bad reputation but is now being redeemed for God’s purposes to bless the community.
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Mike Norcock, one of the trustees of The Pelham Trust, said: “We are determined to make The Pelham into a beacon of change, a landmark of hope that shows that we really can reverse decay and make something wonderful, despite the economic environment. People will be able to walk into a welcoming, comfortable and hospitable place that has time for them. We are committed to unlocking opportunities for enterprise and for employment, to encourage young people, the elderly and everyone in between to know that they are precious and valued. We will work with community groups, local government and agencies to run a range of much needed services. The Pelham Trust is particularly excited about forming partnerships with local churches so they can launch their own initiatives from a well resourced centre that shows God’s love in action. This requires effort and resource – but we could never have got this far without miracles, and we’re expecting more!”
The trustees were looking for “God’s man” to head it up and carry it forward; and they appointed Eric as Chief Executive.
Eric’s job is to lead, manage and coordinate everything, as well as to be the public face of the project for the media, politicians, authorities and churches.
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It is God’s purpose for Eric in this season, and one for which he has waited.
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+>>>>>>>>>>Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
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On November 6 2009, Eric & LaVonne were given a prophecy that they would be entering a new vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, with a change of direction and a change of terrain; but they were not to think they couldn’t handle it, for God had directed it and they would be competent to handle “this new place [they] will be turning into.”
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On July 6 2010, Eric received a another prophecy that despite all he had previously done for the Lord, he had not yet tasted that which the Lord would be bringing him to. Added to which, the day after their wedding, a prophetess had called Eric & LaVonne out in a meeting and identified them as a husband & wife team for a project that God would be calling them to in the future and for which a great deal of money would be required but God was saying that aid, both in money and people, would be there.
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Fast forwarding to Sunday August 12th 2012, Eric & LaVonne were booked to share about Lion and Eagle Ministries at Bexhill United Reformed Church in the morning, and in the evening they would be meeting with the trustees of Pelham Trust to discuss the job of managing the project.
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Having shared about their ministry, they sat back to listen to the message that Andrew Berry, the minister, had prepared for the service. In the midst of his message he said: “God loves us and He knows the terrain we’re going through.”
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This gave Eric & LaVonne much peace. And his use of the word “terrain” resonated so very loudly with them because of that 2009 prophecy.
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That evening Eric was offered the position of Chief Executive of The Pelham and he accepted.
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Over coffee, two days later, Andrew told them that in preparing his message he had not wanted to use the word “terrain” and had wrestled with God for at least ten minutes over it; but God had insisted he use it.
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God has fulfilled His word. The Pelham is the new all-terrain vehicle, for all kinds of people will be helped there; and this is definitely new terrain and a change of direction for a season.
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Yes, a great deal of financial aid is needed, but God will supply as He has promised. He has already supplied the funds to buy and renovate the property. Now it’s necessary to gather funds to finance the redesign and refurbishment of the interior.
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The Pelham is a new and welcome addition to the Kingdom culture and outreach of LEMI, albeit seconded to Pelham Trust.
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The Pelham will not be ready to open for some time yet as renovations are still being carried out; but there’s much going on behind the scenes in this redevelopment and preparation phase.
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