Category Archives: mission

acclimatisation

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Today as I went around my normal everyday stuff I met a young woman from Russia who was visiting friends in Gillingham. Why on earth would you come from Russia to Gillingham!!?

Anyway … we got talking and in typical British style I got onto weather as I attempted to show some intelligence by guessing that in Russia the temperature would be around -20C. Apparently I was spot on but the girl then aid something that surprised me. Although she has only been here a few weeks she said that when she left the house she still felt very cold which I found quite bizarre! She is used to -20 at this time of the year and she is feeling the cold in 10 degrees! Could it be that her local context tells her she should be cold as its winter and so she is cold!

Isn’t it amazing how quickly the human body acclimatises, or adapts, to the surroundings it finds itself in? It seems to like to find, and rest in, an equilibrium.I wonder if this is one of the issues with church today – we are no more than a bunch people who have adapted into the sort of church we are told to be by our local context – the church should stay out of politics, the church should not make unnecessary demands, the church should not rock the boat. A good steady equilibrium is good for us all!

Have we acclimatised?
Have I acclimatised?
Is this such a bad thing?

I think maybe it is. I think maybe we have succumbed to trendiness and a longing to be accepted. I think maybe this longing has resulted in a watered down slightly corny faith. I think maybe this has resulted in cheap gimmicks to make Jesus acceptable.

I’ve remembered Jesus was unacceptable 2000 years ago to the majority mindset.
Should it be any different now?

I want to live out an authentic faith with others, not an acclimatised one that people don’t notice or see no need for.

Billy Graham at 85

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I was sen this amazing story yesterday by good friend Rachael:

In what might prove to be the crowning achievement of an illustrious career
in ministry, the 87-year-old evangelist, Billy Graham shocked the 16,300 in
attendance at the Celebration of Hope crusade in New Orleans Arena on
Sunday Night. Touted in advance as possibly his last evangelistic crusade,
Graham invited the packed house of evangelical Christians and the hundreds
of new converts to join him on the one mile walk from the arena to New
Orleans’ infamous Bourbon Street.

“While we have seen God do tremendous things here the past couple of
evenings. Yes, it is true that a great healing and a great many salvations
have occurred within the confines of this auditorium. Still yet, there lies
a great mountain in this city which needs to be conquered.”

Then taking from the Biblical Book of Joshua Chapter 14 he read, “I am this
day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this Day as on the day
that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for
war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this
mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day,” his voice suddenly sounding
more forceful than during his 22 minute sermon.
“I last preached in the City of New Orleans in 1954 and I felt then that
There was some unfinished business. Tonight, in what very well might be my
last evangelistic service, I aim to finish that business and lead as many
of you that would follow me to the multitude of lost souls that fill
Bourbon Street tonight.

That is my mountain ! That is where we shall see the harvest!” said Graham
as the stadium erupted in cheers that lasted the next several minutes.
Utilizing a waiting mobility scooter, the elder Graham joined his son and
heir to the ministry, Franklin across the Arena floor and through the
opened doors leading towards the French Quarter. In a show of solidarity
and determination reminiscent of civil rights marches of the 1960’s, nearly
the entire capacity crowd joined in the 20 minute trek while singing, “When
the Saints Go Marching In”.

As the march crossed Canal Street and headed northward towards Bourbon
Street, many onlookers stood in stunned silence as the massive crowd of
people began singing in unison the Christian hymn, Amazing Grace. Upon
entering the west end of Bourbon Street, Billy Graham was soon recognized
by partiers.

soon those joining in the march began to approach those partying on Bourbon
Street with the Gospel message that they had heard preached just a half
hour before. Graham himself joined with a group of local street evangelist
in ministering to a man who had survived Hurricane Katrina in the lower 9th
Ward.
Within 30 minutes the entirety of Bourbon Street was packed with
Christians and the once blaring music of nightclubs and strip joints had
been replaced by weeping and worship as people poured out their drinks and
sought prayer from the Christians who were now reaching out to them. “I
have never seen anything like this in my life,” said 20 years New Orleans
Police Department veteran, Tom Phillips. “This is unbelievable! We thought
a riot was going to break out, but this looks more like a revival than a
riot!”

Two hours later, a glowing Graham sat back down on his scooter and smiled.
“Now I know how the Apostle Paul must have felt at the end of his ministry.
Do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Hours later hundreds of Christians remained on the street ministering to
the many people eagerly waiting to receive prayer and ministry. New
Orleans will never be the same. And the press remained mute on this “news
item?”

Spread the news. It cost our elder brother, Billy Graham, more than any of
us know to make that effort.
The least we can do it publicize it.

JESUS IS LORD!!

S’no trouble!

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Today it snowed.
I love snow and it looked great.
It snowed quite a bit and I scraped over 6 inches off the top of my car. There was a lot of fuss on the radio, Tom’s school was closed for the day, but the drive into East London was easy. I think it was the first time I have never had to queue to drive through the Blackwall Tunnel. I guess a lot of people took the excuse not to work leaving the roads fairly calm and empty.

I met up with Ruth from Waltham Forest YFC and we spent a good 3 or 4 hours looking at her vision for the area and supporting her as she put this into some form of strategy. I love this part of my job. It is a real privilege to hear the vision of someone like Ruth and then just act as a catalyst that helps them get their ideas down in some form that both they and others can understand. It’s quite an easy part of the job, but a special part.

I was excited at hearing the vision, and Ruth is excited at having developed her own strategy and feeling confident of where to go next. Brilliant! I wish every day was as easy!

The drive back was quick too … the only slight down was that most of the snow had melted when I got home!

Laugh for Jesus!

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It was great to meet up with Bernie at Camberley YF today and learn of all the excting things he is getting up to there. One idea that particularly grabbed me is ‘Sniggers’ a comedy club devloped between YFC and the local churches as an event for those on the fringe. A great example of what can be achieved by having the courage to work together.

blah… learning days 2007

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This looks excellent and I’ve love to be there, but already promised to be somewhere else on that day! If your diary is free on this day why not go along.


Blah… learning days take place in London where we bring together key speakers for a day of discussion around a key area in the ongoing conversation about mission in a changing culture. We are very excited to be hosting the first day of 2007 in conjunction with Ethos on the MLS ship HMS President which is on the Thames in the centre of London.

March 31st | The Entrepreneur Imperative
with Bill Bolton 10am – 4.00pm on the HMS President, Victoria Embankment

Bill leads the field on thinking about entrepreneurial talent. He has been closely involved in the ‘Cambridge Phenomenon’ – he set up the St. John’s Innovation Centre which now has an international reputation for generating new businesses and nurturing entrepreneurial talent; it helped to launch about 500 businesses – 2 businesses a week for 5 years. He was a UNESCO professor of Innovation and Technology Transfer and is a specialist in Business Incubators. He has written three books, and has developed an entrepreneur evaluation tool that identifies people’s entrepreneur potential and also that of entrepreneur enablers. While his background is in business, he sees entrepreneurs working with three kinds of capital – economic, social, and spiritual. He has also recently written a grove booklet on entrepreneurs and the church.

A changing world is the entrepreneur’s natural habitat. Business, mission, spirituality, social transformation are all environments where there is huge change. So it makes sense to see what might happen if we can encourage more entrepreneurial thinking and activity.

Cost including lunch and refreshments £15

Book online at http://blahentrepreneurship.eventbrite.com/

Blah learning days are a partnership between CMS and Moot. This day is being held in conjunction with Ethos.

Mission In London

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I had a day in London today.

Met up with Dean from Southwark Diocese, Rich from Oxygen and Hugh from Greenwich to chat about Mission in London. We talked about what makes this different from other things happening around us. We think this is quite unique as this is about incarnational ministry, getting alongside individuals who want to be involved in mission, locally owned, sustainable and broadly inclusive as far as church-personship goes. As YFC we feel we are here to serve the local church in our local area, not to push a particular name or method of working.

This evening we had a Mission in London training event. In fact it was the second session run by Debbie at CMS looking at cross cultural mission. We had to step into each others shoes – literally! not a particularly nice experience but an experience which made you think! Thanks Debbie!

mission talk of unity in diversity

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I had two conversations today, in two very different places.

My first of the day was in Gillingham as a few got together to think about Love Gillingham later this year. We chatted about what we should be thinking about doing, who we should ask about what needs doing – basically how we can show the love of Jesus in a relevant and tangible way in the community that is Gillingham.

I then hopped on a train to Victoria and met up with Ian Mobsby from Moot for one of my supervisory meetings. Here again we talked about mission in the context of Moot and how it seeks to reach those who are searching in the context of city life with a postmodern and disenfranchised or deconstructed/reconstructing sense of faith.

Two communities that in many senses are miles apart from each other, but are united in their desire to become more Christlike in the spaces that they find themselves in during the course of everyday life. Two communities that seek to express themselves in their own ways that mean something to where they are, but would probably look a little odd if taken out of their prticular contexts. Diverse approaches underpinned by the centrality of Jesus Christ.

I currently have a frustration.
That frustration is that some think there is ‘one right way’ to do things.
One right, underpinned by scripture, way to worship.
One right, underpinned by scripture, way to be involved in mission.
One right, underpinned by scripture, way to baptise.
One right, underpinned by scripture, meaning of the Eucharist.
(yep … 4 points, not 3, which I know is the right way, underpinned by scripture…)

Why do we all have to do the same?
Is it conceivable to think that in early Christian times all churches with poor communications between communities, were able, or even felt the need, to do the same?
Would the same even have been appropriate for everyone?
Even then, would one size, one approach, have suited all?

I love diversity!
We only need to look around the creation to see God’s love of diversity.
On a smaller scale, a wander around any art gallery, will show the gift of diversity of expression that God has given to humanity.
With the complete richness we have been given, surely God expects us to use that richness in all we do – in our lifestyles, our worship, our mission.
If we use our diversity, uniformity is not only impossible, but would be ludicrous to attempt.

But what of unity?
I’m told to be united as ‘one church’ we all need to do the same.
But … what about …
A unity, where we know we are on the same journey, being loved and accepted by the same God, searching for that same God in our own lives, living where we are.
A unity that allows us to share, laugh, talk, discuss, respect, love each other no matter what our opinion would be.
A unity that allows us to stand around one table and share one bread.
That’s my dream!

Hospitality … it aint easy!

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Last night I went to the Eucharist at Moot which had the theme of hospitality.
It was great to see everyone again and during the homily I was struck by some of Ian’s words:
‘are we hospitable to the drunkards, the homeless, the prostitutes’

Dictionary.com says hospitable means:

the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

My immediate thoughts were ‘yes, I would always treat all with respect’. But … hospitality is so much more. The ‘reception and treatment’ suggests ‘welcoming in’ as you can’t ‘receive’ someone by talking to them on the streets.

Donating on the streets is quite easy, donating money can be done through the warmth and comfort of my sweet smelling home by clicking on a button on my laptop while watching TV and sipping a beer. Campaigning for safer laws is manageable. Hospitality seems to be more than this.

This is a massive challenge that I had not thought fully about before. If being hospitable means opening up the home, my life, my family then that is a massive ask. But … that IS what hospitality is all about, isn’t it? Or is it mission … or both?

Epiphany

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The term epiphany means “to show” or “to make known” or even “to reveal.” In Western churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing “reveal” Jesus to the world as Lord and King. In some Central and South American countries influenced by Catholic tradition, Three Kings’ Day, or the night before, is the time for opening Christmas presents. In some eastern churches, Epiphany or the Theophany commemorates Jesus’ baptism, with the visit of the Magi linked to Christmas. In some churches the day is celebrated as Christmas, with Epiphany/Theophany occurring on January 19th.

As with most aspects of the Christian liturgical calendar, Epiphany has theological significance as a teaching tool in the church. The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as “King” and so were the first to “show” or “reveal” Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ. This act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32), was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few.
(source: The Voice)

Today is Epiphany when traditionally we focus again on mission. Today reminds us God embodied in Jesus came for all. Today reminds us again to reach out to our neighbours in love.

Stop the Traffick resources

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There are some great looking resources here to support ideas for Freedom Day on March 25th.