Thanksgiving & Vision on Croydon Vineyard's 12th Birthday
Below you can find our teaching on Thanksgiving & Vision on Croydon Vineyard’s 12th birthday from our Senior Pastor, Tom Thompson. There is the talk audio below.
Want to run a Connect Group on this teaching? The session notes are here.
A Vision for the Church: Growing Together in God’s Mission
Twelve years ago, a small group of people stepped out in faith, believing that God had something special in store for Croydon. With no salary, no building, and no congregation, they simply carried a conviction: Jesus wants to do something here in Croydon.
Fast forward to today, and what started as a handful of people meeting over bacon butties has blossomed into a thriving, diverse, and mission-focused church.
A Church Like Antioch
We love the church in Antioch, described in Acts 13 - it’s a model for us. We see that they were an unlikely community—a mix of people from very different backgrounds, but all united in their love for Jesus. From this city, at least 17 churches were planted, making it a hub for the expansion of the Gospel.
God loves to establish diverse, Spirit-filled churches that raise up leaders, send out missionaries, and transform communities. As we look around our church today, we see a similar story unfolding. Leaders from all over the world—Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia—have come together, forming a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God.
Stories of Transformation
Our church is not just about numbers; it’s about lives changed by Jesus. Time and time again, we hear testimonies of how God is at work among us. Families have found a home, friendships have formed across cultures, and people have encountered the presence of God in ways that have reshaped their lives. Whether its children and young people growing in their faith, supported by the kindness and prayers of this community. Or the moments of total transformation when people just stepping into church one Sunday altered the entire course of their lives— seeing Jesus restoring marriages, renewing faith, setting people on a path of purpose - we’re so grateful for all Hehas done amongst us.
Looking Ahead
God has called us to reach more people in Croydon, invest deeply in leadership, and build a lasting foundation for future generations. This next season we are focussed on improving our Sunday experience, expanding our Connect Groups, and stepping forward in faith to acquire a permanent building for ministry. It also means growing in generosity—giving our first fruits to God, trusting Him to provide.
Twelve years in, we celebrate what God has done. But we are hungry for more. More of His presence, more of His power, more of His kingdom breaking into our city. Let’s press in together. Let’s seek Him. Because He is the One who is worthy.