Carey: Roman takeover?
JEB
Date posted: 1 Feb 2017
Understandably, Luther and the great matters of the Reformation took pole position at the annual Carey Conference for pastors and wives and Christian workers this year.
Held at the Hayes Swanick, 3-5 January, there was quite a raft of different speakers. Paul Gibson, pastor at Wheelock Heath, roared away from the start with an excellent biography of Martin Luther that focussed helpfully on the great Reformer’s weaknesses. Anfechtungen became the buzz word! There were superb Bible readings from Rupert Bentley-Taylor on the power of the Word (Isaiah 55) and the power of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1) – very much Reformation concerns. John Benton spoke on lessons for leaders from the psychology of Samson. Linda Alcock did a brilliant job with the women’s track, leading the sisters through Titus, and Ian Fry gave a sparkling and yet very disturbing talk on the needs of children and the work among young people in today’s church.
Stitching together a new life with Jesus
Gospel For Asia
Date posted: 1 Feb 2017
Kavana, a 22-year-old in Asia, shared her story of God’s faithfulness in her life.
‘When I was 16 years old, my father suddenly passed away. After that, my mother and I became helpless. We had no work to earn money and meet our needs.
Nigeria: who will help us?
World Watch Monitor
Date posted: 1 Feb 2017
Christians in the south of Nigeria are failing to help their persecuted compatriots in the north, according to a veteran humanitarian campaigner, it was reported in late December.
Baroness Caroline Cox, who has made numerous aid missions to the country said: ‘My personal view is that many of those churches are immensely wealthy and I would hope they could do more to help those who are suffering in the north, particularly the internally displaced people who are left. They could work with churches [in the north] who know the needs to reach those most in need. From a Christian point of view, St Paul said that where one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. There is an obligation to help our Christian brothers and sisters.’
Vital necessity of the Spirit
Roger Hitchings
Date posted: 1 Feb 2017
The Reformation and Revival Conference in
Derbyshire, 14–16 November, was one of
close fellowship, times of prayer together
and good expositional preaching, the hallmarks of this annual conference.
Simon Clarke from Shepshed opened the
conference with an encouraging and challenging message
from Luke 11.13. His
theme was the vital necessity and glorious
promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit by
our heavenly father to those who ask. The word was refreshing and motivating as we
face the days in which we are living. How
we need to be asking for the Spirit.
Planted!
Kate Blanche
Date posted: 1 Feb 2017
On 8 January, Cowley Church Community
(CCC) voted to adopt its first constitution
and become a fully independent church.
Planted by Magdalen Road Church, the
new congregation has a vision
to reach
Cowley, on the east side of the city.
In Spring 2016, 30 adults and children were
commissioned by Magdalen Road Church
and began meeting every Sunday afternoon at
a community centre in central Cowley.