February 25 Filling Station
This February at the Stroud Valleys Filling Station, we enjoyed an inspiring time filled with worship and encouragement!
We welcomed Hosea Tinotenda (‘Tino’), Pastor at the Gospel Centre in North London. Tino not only delivered a beautiful sermon exploring the transformative nature of God’s love, but also delighted us with his Worship music, both singing to us, and with us, whilst playing the piano.
In his address, Pastor Tino delivered a heartfelt exploration of God’s transformative love. He began by briefly introducing himself as a young pastor serving in London, with a wife and two children, before transitioning to his central message that “God loves you”—a truth he believes applies to everyone regardless of where they are in their faith journey.
Drawing from Ephesians 3:14-21, Tino emphasised Paul’s prayer for believers to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” and to comprehend the multidimensional nature of Christ’s love—its width, length, height, and depth. He suggested this love surpasses intellectual knowledge and must be experienced, noting that prayer is key to deepening this understanding.
Tino contrasted worldly love with God’s love, explaining that true love is demonstrated not in good times but in moments of betrayal and darkness. He referenced the Last Supper, where Jesus established communion “on the night he was betrayed,” highlighting how Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice even amid betrayal.
Tino challenged the congregation about hypocrisy, citing 1 John 4:21: “Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” He argued that loving others—especially those different from us—is essential for experiencing revival and God’s power. Using Matthew 5:23-24, he emphasised the importance of reconciliation over religious rituals.
Tino concluded by inviting listeners to experience God’s love more deeply and to respond by loving their neighbours sacrificially, regardless of differences, as the true mark of discipleship.
