Pressing On

Have you ever been hit in the small of the back with a baseball bat? Or doubled over in so much pain that you are feverish and nauseous? No ... congratulations. I have - just yesterday in fact ... problem was diagnosed as kidney stones! Interestingly this has happened to me before - though the last time it happened I was in Senegal in West Africa. (Apparently living in the tropics can be one factor that increases the likelihood of getting them.) This is not a blog about Kidney stones per se - but it did cause me to reflect on how differently I dealt with the problem and the vastly different treatment I was given by the local healthcare facilities. Here in the UK I had breakfast and was preparing to get my train to Derby for a meeting ... within 30 minutes the pain begins and builds slowly ... by 9:45 my wife returns from the office expecting to take me to the train station instead finds me pacing like a caged animal ... 9:50 phonecall to GP quick discussion of symptoms instructed to g

As one part of WEC UK's mobilising strategy we have developed the use of Bulstrode our hq, Springhead Park House in Leeds, and Portadown in Northern Ireland as "Centres of Influence for Missions" - places where people can come, meet with God, and be inspired for Mission." Part of this process has been the redevelopment of the facilities. So, where have we got to at Bulstrode? Are we still in the process of redevelopment? Yes, the practical work is ongoing and we are about to embark on the planning process for the next phase. Is this holding us back from praying and working together to fulfil the vision? No ... Bulstrode already hosts many people, all of whom we seek to influence!!! In the last 12 months we have seen over 7,500 visitors to Bulstrode, 1200 staying for at least one night - church events, pastors' retreats, Mission & Me weekends, missions courses, leaders' days etc. We seek to serve each person that comes through the door, share our heart

Yet more Foreigners - Richard Tiplady How ought we to respond to the challenge of migration in our praying and ministry direction? Obviously with love and grace towards the 'alien' ... But what struck me is the next step ... When the 'alien' comes to faith here in the UK then they can very often be 'alienated' from the 'alien' ... And what do we, the Church, offer in return? How we grapple with the issue of migration is complex ... And perhaps difficult to do in a cultural box. Firstly, our response is probably determined by how we view ourselves. Do we consider our primary identity to be British? (Or whatever nation state you were born in?) If we do then there will inevitably be conflicts as allegiances will be divided on some issues. Even today there is a report being published that states clearly that immigration from outside of the EU has indeed affected jobs for British Citizens ... if you are looking for work then this could be a very challenging

I am very concerned at the blogosphere being alive this evening with repostes, or worse, of Mark Driscoll's comments on UK Pastors and Teachers. None of which will make a jot of difference to anyone else's opinion - and all of which will confirm what the world thinks of the Church. Sorry Lord! There are surely bigger concerns that merit our thought, attention, time and endeavour? Poverty, our neighbours suffering, the persecuted Church .... Etc.

Post Colonial and the Changing Role of the West - Kate Coleman Herein we have an explanation of some of the potential effects of the shift of power, both Christian and secular, from the global North to South and West to East, which leaves us functioning in a post-colonial world and the change in attitude that it will necessitate in our relationships with others, changing from 'Patronage/Paternal to Collaboration/Partner'! The key word for me, if we are to be successful in responding to these trends, is humility ... At one stage in my missionary life I was leading a team of some 30 people from 17 different nationalities in a western school establishment in Senegal, West Africa!! Until one has been in a genuinely cross-cultural environment, and brought face-to-face with our prejudices, it is very difficult to accept how deeply engrained racist/superior attitudes can be. We often cover them over with humour but Brits seem to have major differences with every other culture ... Fre

Post 1 - Thoughts on Mission 2020 Vision - Mission in times of uncertainty Eddie Arthur - Exile to Exile Thanks Eddie for provoking the grey cells ... I commend the message to you all! It raised two interesting questions for me ... on which I have the following thoughts. 1/ The place of the Church in UK Society. I have long held the opinion that whenever the Church (or any individual therein) holds, uppermost, the desire to be viewed as a popular and respected part of society there will eventually be a conflict of interest. viz. when that desire conflicts with the truth as presented in Scripture. Thus what we should hold as uppermost is faithfulness to the Jesus whatever the cost. There will be seasons where that will be viewed by society around as good and other times when it will be viewed as antagonistic, fanatical or even evil. We are indeed in a season where Christianity is not viewed positively, and our only response should be to continue to be faithful to Christ in all that we d

In Matthew 5 Jesus explains His radical agenda and describes the pratical outworking of the life that He makes possible ... which would otherwise be impossible. In vv3-10 of this chapter Jesus paints a picture both of the type of life we long for, what fulness of life looks like, ... and He also explains the means through which we might receive the expression of that life. In other words we need not bother praying for the type of life we want if we are not willing to commit to a life that seeks to express the means by which that life comes; Am I willing to be poor in Spirit mourn be meek hunger and thirst for righteousness be merciful be pure of heart be a peacemaker be persecuted because of righteousness This is such a radical agenda and pattern for life that whoever genuinely commits to living it will get a reaction everytime they interface with the 'world' that beats to such a different drum ... and every reaction gives a further opportunity for us to demonstrate the power

If you are British then the answer is probably NO! ... but if you were you will have enjoyed what seems to have been a blessed time - well done to all those who worked so hard to get there and helped it run so smoothly ... as usual George Verwer did what George does best! (http://www.christiantoday.com/article/george.verwer.makes.call.for.fulltime.mission.workers/29116.htm) If you don't follow @missionnet then can I encourage you to do so keep up to date with the follow up ... I trust that there will be a huge response to this event and that the Lord will raise up a fresh wave of people from Europe who are prepared to 'Go"! May all those who attended, and those they come into contact with when they return home, be inspired afresh with passion for the Kingdom. I would like to know how many people from the UK made the effort to go as historically these events are poorly attended by us Brits! Perhaps we are all Europhobes at heart, or perhaps we are saturated with other optio