Joys and struggles

Phil became a Christian at university in Brighton. After meeting and watching another group of real Christians he realised that he wasn't one, despite attending Crusaders courses for years on the Isle of Wight. Phil is now the minister of a small church in Brighton, Calvary Evangelical Church. Jonathan Carswell finds out about his joys and struggles in a small church.

JC: Phil, how did you actually start in Christian ministry?

PW: I was taken under the wing of a local minister who helped me learn and experience teaching the Bible and working in a local church. Once I had finished university he asked me if I would like to join him as his assistant at his church. I accepted this role part time alongside a teaching job. However, after some time I left teaching and became full-time at the church. So I've been in Brighton since I started.

JC: How has that helped or hindered your work?

PW: I suppose on the one hand there have been gaps in my theological training, which I have needed to fill off my own back; but on the positive side I think that it is a good thing for Christians to try and 'put down roots' so they can have a long-term influence in their area. Obviously, others move away but we hope that our staying in one place for a prolonged period has been of some help.

JC: Over the years, what has been the greatest delight in your work?

PW: Well, two things... no, three things probably! Am I allowed three things?! One is the great thrill there is in talking to people about Christ one-to-one. The second is the enjoyment of showing people the gospel through evangelistic Bible studies; and a third would be teaching the Word of God to fellow believers.

JC: You're not a large church - does your work involve a lot of 'plodding'?

PW: It's true, we're not a large church, but compared to a lot of churches our church is normal. I don't know what the statistics are, but many churches around the UK are like ours. Yes, our manpower is small and we face discouragements from time to time; however, we just have to work out what we can sustain month by month, year by year and then get on with it by God's grace. A big frustration is when we don't see results from what we do, or, for example, seeing people not going on spiritually. In a small church it is difficult to be consumerist, because if you come, you're known and everybody matters - you cannot be just one of the crowd. There are many ups and downs and encouragements help a lot. An encouragement goes a long way in a small church.

JC: Last month in EN Hugh Palmer said that the hardest thing for his church in Fulwood to do was 'small church' - what is the hardest thing for your church?

PW: I think it is facing discouragement. We all face it, but we just have to keep reminding ourselves of the positives, which we have been doing at Calvary recently, as we have worked our way through Isaiah. The key is, though, to keep pressing on: to keep taking the initiative and making the gospel known. In a small church it is very clear that we have to depend on God. Our techniques won't do it, our financial muscle won't do it, and nor will our might, but a dependence on God will. Any church that is really being a church will have sleepless nights about finances or resources because they are at the limit of what they can manage. This is perhaps more obvious to a small church though.

JC: Are larger churches supportive enough of smaller churches, either financially or with their resources, or are small churches forgotten and neglected?

PW: We have had support from larger churches, though I think there is a way of thinking that says a good church has to be a big church and so if you're a small church you are doing or teaching something wrong. I think too, that big churches don't always understand what being a small church involves. To be a good church, you don't need to be a big church. God is not only interested in numbers, but also in the type of people we are becoming.

JC: What is the biggest distraction or hindrance your church faces when it comes to Christian ministry?

PW: The congregation at Calvary are a great bunch of people and are very prayerful, but what we need to do is be prepared to use the daily opportunities that arise to share the gospel. We have to do this, not in a way that was suitable centuries ago, but in a way that is accessible to people now. Statistically, Brighton is one of the ungodliest places in the UK and what we are teaching is biblical Christianity. It's not wacky or trendy and so, in a place like Brighton, you can sometimes feel like you're swimming against the tide. But the gospel of the Bible is the only gospel that really changes people. We have to get that out to ears that hear it, and pray that the Holy Spirit will take it home to people in an effective way.

JC: Five years from now, where do you hope that Calvary Evangelical Church will be?

PW: We are in a situation of uncertainty regarding the tenure of our building - which is a big concern to us. And at the moment we are not even sure we will be here in a year's time. But what we really want to see is more people hearing God's Word and more people coming to know him. We want to see the gospel spread; that is the thing we want most. We, at Calvary, need to look at ways in which we can help this happen. In the past we have perhaps been a bit lacking with regard to being part of the community, and this is something we are actively working on.

JC: What can readers of EN be praying about in the coming weeks and months for your situation?

PW: Three things:
1. For the church to be building bridges into the community and for the gospel to be communicated.
2. Please pray for the uncertainties over the tenure of our building to be resolved and for God to provide for us.
3. Please pray for the provision of resource in terms of labourers in the harvest, including finances.

Jonathan Carswell is the Student Editor of The Blurb magazine and studying at Durham University.

Calvary's website is www.calvary-brighton.org.uk

Footnote from PW:
In the last few weeks, since the interview was recorded, the situation over tenure has shown real signs of resolution, and two very generous gifts have been received to enable much-needed re-roofing work to be done.

© Evangelicals Now - December 2004
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