Training grassroots pastors
Nelson Salviano
Date posted: 1 Aug 2021
Brazil is the fifth-largest nation in the world and the biggest country in South America. It has a population of more than 214 million, of whom around 31% are evangelical Christians. Brazil has extremes of wealth: the poverty of the favelas contrasts starkly with the beautiful mansions of the super-rich.
The Protestant church in Brazil is growing rapidly and chaotically, with small, unorganised groups breaking away from established denominations. People with limited knowledge of the Bible and no formal education often lead the small independent churches. The by-product of this phenomenon is the growth of churches where members do not understand the gospel and have a low view of Scripture.
New ‘Mercy Ship’ is world’s largest
Iain Taylor, Mercy Ships
Date posted: 1 Aug 2021
Global health charity Mercy Ships has taken possession of its brand-new vessel at an event at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard, China. The Global Mercy, which is 174 metres long and displaces 37,000 tonnes, is the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.
Mercy Ships has been working on this new project for more than eight years. Contracts were signed in 2013, and the keel laid in 2015. Sea trials were successfully completed in late April this year. The Global Mercy will now sail to Antwerp where it will be fitted out with IT and medical equipment. The ship’s volunteer crew will also start to arrive then, before it will be presented to sponsors, future volunteers and the media in early 2022.
Joel Edwards dies aged 70
Iain Taylor
Date posted: 1 Aug 2021
Joel Edwards has died from cancer aged 70. The first black man to lead the Evangelical Alliance (EA), he leaves behind an inspiring legacy of unity in diversity, social engagement and Christ-centred service.
After serving as a probation officer and as a pastor in east London, Joel became the General Secretary of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, where he worked to show the transforming power of Christ in communities, bring predominantly black churches together, and build bridges between the organisation and UK churches.
everyday evangelism
Is evangelism to blame?
A Buddhist critiques our
lack of godliness
Glen Scrivener
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
On the Speak Life Podcast, Paul Feesey
and I have been discussing
the various
scandals rocking the evangelical world —
particularly those of Ravi Zacharias and
Jonathan Fletcher.
While some have questioned our focus
on these topics (when we’re meant to be
inspiring evangelism), one listener had the
opposite observation. Writing as a Buddhist
he had
some blistering criticisms of
the
evangelical church – a critique which I think
is very worth considering.
10,000 view latest Co-Mission film
Adam Malooly of the Co-Mission church planting movement writes: With 2020 being what it was, this Christmas was a particular opportunity to share a message addressing the loneliness and isolation many were feeling.
This was at the forefront of our minds when we released our latest Christmas film The Lonely Dinosaur. The film is the story of a toy dinosaur shadow that comes alive on Christmas Eve and finds himself alone. In his search for friends, his journey leads him to understand the truth about the Christmas season and what ‘Immanuel’ truly means – God with us. The film has been seen by over 10,000 people and downloaded by numerous churches.
UCCF: online CU mission
Milla Ling
Date posted: 1 Jul 2020
In March, as universities shut and most students dispersed back to their homes, the Christian Unions (CUs) were suddenly faced with questions that they never thought they would need to ask. How would God’s mission continue?
Could they operate online? What would the future of evangelism among students look like? Over the last two months, these questions have been answered. As the CUs have begun using online platforms to share the gospel – running quizzes, hosting apologetics talks and sharing testimonies – they have seen encouraging fruit. New people have connected with the CU, others are continuing to ask questions and, wonderfully, some have come into new life.
‘Get ready for mission in
2022’, Rico tells churches
EN
Date posted: 1 Jan 2021
Rico Tice (pictured) has launched
the 2022 Passion for Life mission
with 2 Timothy 1:10, reminding
everyone that Jesus has destroyed
death.
In a short video he says: ‘I know the pandemic has been brutal, but
it has opened things up. [People]
are
looking
for answers. We’ve all been
rocked. How can we help people to go from
hunger and spectating, to actively following
Jesus? Let’s come together as we seek to answer that question.’
A Passion for Life took place
nationwide
in 2010 and 2014.
Tice says the hope is that ‘life and
immortality will be brought
to
light as we proclaim the gospel of
Jesus to all corners of the UK.
‘So many
are
talking
about
this being a reset. Surely there’s
no better time for us to gather
together again and proclaim Christ … put
March and April 2022 in the church diary,
and begin praying and planning for a Passion
for Life.’
Co-Mission: REVIVE Sunday
Co-Mission
Date posted: 1 Aug 2020
Normally at this time of year, Co-Mission churches would have been reflecting on another cracking REVIVE weekend – the annual Co-Mission festival.
We’d have been thanking God for over 2,000 people squeezed into a big top for excellent Bible teaching and singing; we’d have been reminiscing about late nights chatting around blazing fire pits, about packed kids’ programmes, about silent discos, about soul-nourishing seminars and about sipping something cold under the stretch tent as the sun sets.
history
David Zeisberger’s zest for spreading the gospel
Michael Haykin
Date posted: 1 May 2021
When William Carey drew up his paradigm-changing book An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens in 1792, he included a mini-history of missions.
He cited examples of missionaries passionate for the expansion of the rule of Christ. In this mini-history, he referenced a remarkable missions-minded community, the Moravians. Carey’s words about this 18th-century body of believers are tantalisingly brief, but indicative of their influence upon him. ‘When I came to evangelism and missions,’ Carey noted, ‘none of the moderns have equalled the Moravian Brethren in this good work’.
Is this the road to Namugongo?
Neil Barber
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
‘And what,’ we hear you cry, ‘is this picture all about then? And who are these people? And, well, er, just… why?’
Dear reader, we shall tell you. These three are (left to right) Neil Barber, vicar of the evangelical St Giles, Normanton, Derby; Will Eley, the church’s ‘planting curate’; and Liz Cox, minister for women and community.
Mission of God
Joseph Boot
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
Dear Sir
In July’s en, a full-page piece appeared
about my published work,
theology and
associations,
with
particular
attention
given to The Mission of God 2016 (MoG).
Misleadingly deploying partial truths, ana-baptist social activist James Paul Lusk – a
retired career bureaucrat determined to save
Britain from a so-called ‘Christian Right’ –
sadly fails to engage the thesis of the book:
the meaning of the Lordship of Christ and
Kingdom of God in light of God’s total law-word. More balanced reviews of MoG were
published in the UK by Prophecy Today and
Affinity.
‘Theology of ageing’ encourages seniors
Keith Rigg
Date posted: 1 Jul 2021
‘It was so encouraging to be reminded that old age is a blessing from God.’ Organised as a collaboration of Keswick Ministries with Faith in Later Life, over 80 people attended a three-day online seminar on ‘Faith in the Second Half’ in May.
A church leaders’ day saw: Dr David Field exploring the Theology of Ageing, which was a new concept to many; Dave Fenton encouraging the equipping and empowering of seniors for ministry; and Professor Keith Brown, The Revd Roger Hitchings and Pippa Cramer giving Biblical and practical ways of pastoring and supporting seniors.
news in brief
PM quotes Psalm 14
Boris Johnson has quoted Psalm 14 when asked by a reporter whether he believed in God.
Asked by ITV’s Robert Peston, the Prime Minister initially said: ‘I don’t discuss these deep issues, certainly not with you.’ But he then added: ‘The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God.’
‘Leopard Skin Chief’ in S. Sudan peace bid
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 1 Jul 2021
MAF’s peace-promoting planes are helping
the aviation organisation’s partners to visit
some of the most war-torn regions in South
Sudan.
According to the UN, the first five months
of 2020 saw a 220% increase in incidents of
intercommunal violence
in South Sudan’s
Jonglei State compared with the same period
two years ago.
John Stott: Abrahamic and apostolic?
Chris Wright
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
Chris Wright suggests the scale and scope of Stott’s ministry were epic
‘I am a great believer,’ John Stott would often say, ‘in the importance of B.B.C. Not the British Broadcasting Company, nor Bethelehem Bible College, nor even Beautiful British Columbia. But “Balanced Biblical Christianity”.’ In my own assessment of John’s life and ministry I suggest a Biblical balance of Old and New Testaments by saying that the scale and scope of John Stott’s significance within the global church has been both Abrahamic and apostolic.
Matthew Hill
Malcolm Lane
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
1939 – 2021
Matthew
Hill
became
widely
known
as Home
Secretary
of
the
Spanish
Gospel
Mission
and
did
much
to
raise
the profile of
the
Mission
amongst
churches.
Born in the New Forest, he was converted
in his teenage years and his life was Christ-centred from that point onwards. It was not
long after leaving school that he was accepted
to study at Birmingham Bible Institute and
on leaving there, he (and Jean, who he had
known from their teenage years and who he
had recently married) left for the unknown
territory of Stockton-on-Tees to take over
the running of the Quayside Mission. This
was a place of refuge for the homeless and
a gospel ministry was also carried on there.
‘I think it’s all true, I’m a Christian now!’
This term has marked the beginning of the annual mission week season for the Christian Unions: weeks of high-profile events designed to reach the wider university with the gospel. In the absence of marquees and lecture halls, they used a range of tools to speak of Jesus: social media, Zoom, podcasts, post and even radio. But this year, it was their most unassuming and understated tool that proved to be the most powerful: friendship. Milla Ling reports:
After a CU member arrives at university, they have a three- or four-year window to witness to the students they meet. During these years of friendship they can demonstrate the reality of what is spoken about at evangelistic events. And, in the context of loving relationship, can gently challenge where a visiting speaker may not be able to.
Urgent dash to avert war after romance ends in death
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 1 May 2021
When Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Pilot Nathan Fagerlie landed in the remote village of Mokndoma in Papua, Indonesia last year, he could tell something was wrong.
‘Can you help us?’ asked Tim Ingles, a missionary serving there. ‘We have a situation.’
Steaming on
EN
Date posted: 1 May 2021
A
new
chaplain
has
joined
the
Railway
Mission
–
an organisation
founded in 1881 to
provide pastoral care
and support for staff
on trains and in stations.
Helen Lewis (see photo) is the new Railway
and British Transport Police Chaplain
for
South and Mid-Wales. Helen came to faith in
Christ at the age of 14 and re-committed her
life to serving God while at university.
When God says ‘go!’ and you say ‘no!’
David Nixon
Date posted: 1 May 2021
Has there ever been a time when God has called you to ‘GO!’ and you’ve replied ‘NO!’? If you’re anything like me, then the honest answer will be: yes.
But not because you were wanting to be disobedient, but rather because you were feeling disabled by inadequacy. In those moments the soundtrack playing inside your head is like Robbie Williams’ hit track ‘I love my life’ played backwards. You don’t hear the words: ‘I am wonderful, I am magical, I am free’; instead you rehearse the lyrics: ‘I am weak, I am sinful, I am unable’.
Remembering unsung heroes this summer holiday
If you are able to enjoy a holiday this August, why not give a thought to the unsung heroes of the last year.
As I write, the news is full of the resignation of the Health Minister, Matt Hancock, for breaching the Covid guidelines; no one seems to me much interested in his breaching of the seventh commandment on adultery, though I hope he will become repentant about that as well.