In 1997, we stumbled on doing free barbecues – with groups of churches of all denominations, to bring the love of Jesus to the streets! It worked so wonderfully that this is what we have been doing ever since.

This is what happens. People in the main street see a worship band (guitars, other instruments, maybe half a dozen singers); soon, they see another one; then another – creating a carnival atmosphere. Team members go up to passers-by and say ‘Can I invite you to a free barbecue?’

Nearby, there are chairs and tables, a queue for food and a worship band – a relaxed party, but with a strong sense of the presence of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, guests open up and we serve them by praying for their needs. Some give their lives to Christ. Many are touched and impacted.

The local church is mobilised, with something like 100-200 Christians taking part – anyone can cook, sing or invite! Typically, 100+ non-Christians are there at any one time, but over 2 hours, an average of 600 come, and about 2,000 come over three or four days. The Holy Spirit is free to move. And he does!

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Origins of On the Move.

Martin Graham, OTM director, was chief executive of the Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry when in May 1995 he received a ‘calling’. Sitting in church, he ‘realised’ that he was ‘always’ going to go into full time Christian ministry. Ten minutes later, the service ended and a lady he didn’t know, sitting directly behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and said ‘During the sermon I felt God showing me that it is time for you to be released into your ministry’. Five minutes later, still trying to come to terms with what had just happened, his wife Gina came to him and said: ‘During the sermon, I felt the Lord showing me things about your future, but I am not going to tell you until he shows you.’ She also heard God say that he was calling him to full time ministry!

God soon showed Martin that it was evangelism that he was called to.  Nearly two years later, he met an American who had powerful a vision that he was to lead a mission in the nearby city of Canterbury. Martin felt this was from God and offered to help. He was immediately appointed UK co-ordinator of the Canterbury mission!  But there was no plan for the mission, no money and no local church support, even though the mission was due to start in seven weeks… In prayer, Martin had a picture of a loaf of bread and said ‘I think the Lord wants us feed people’. Thus, the barbecue idea was born and local churches agreed to take part. God provided the money in a miraculous way too.

The Canterbury mission was wonderful and many people’s lives were changed. Shortly afterwards, Martin gave up his job and with Gina started On the Move.  Shortly after doing their first mission, Martin felt a very heavy weight coming on his shoulders – a profound experience - and heard God say to him: ‘Your vision for the Millennium Year is not big enough’. From this came the vision to do missions in the biggest cities of England in 2000. God miraculously opened the doors and the missions took place, wonderfully. At the end of 2000, Martin had the very same experience of a heavy weight coming on his shoulders; and this time received the vision for a mission bringing together 30 capital cities in 2005! In the event, 23 of these remarkable missions happened in all 5 continents, involving groups of churches and an average 140 team members in each city. See International Reports for further details of these missions. On the Move remains a faith venture and seeks to follow the Lord wherever he leads.

In 2007 Martin and Gina felt the call to 'give away' On The Move.  As a result there are now nine 'branches' of On The Move across the country from which UK missions are to be organised and supported.  Martin and Gina, however, continue the International work of On The Move.

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