Gospel-centred life
Principle: Eternal glory offers more than this life.
Consider this
Sitting in the dentist’s waiting room, Lucy flicks through House & Garden magazine. She loves the photo shoots of beautifully restored homes. She dreams of a country cottage. But she and her husband have decided to serve God in the city. Looking at the antique furniture and cottage garden of some rural idyll in the country, she begins to wonder whether it’s worth it.
Letter from America
Letter from America
Josh Moody
Date posted: 1 Aug 2010
Let me talk about an important book bearing on the American scene.
Sebastian Junger’s War (New York, 2010) is a specifically non-religious book, but with great relevance to assessments of the effects and experience of war in Afghanistan for American troops. Junger ‘embedded’ himself with the ultimate front line troops in a far flung outpost of Afghanistan to experience daily life in combat.
60 years of ministry to children
Jennifer Haaijer
Date posted: 1 Jun 2010
‘This is the story of how a powerful and extraordinary God uses ordinary people to accomplish his purposes.’ This is how Sam Doherty summarised the work of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Ireland during the past 60 years. He should know for he was there at the beginning!
In November 1949, Sam Doherty was a recently qualified teacher and a brand new convert to Christ, with no gospel background whatsoever. He took the words of his spiritual father, Fred Orr, seriously: ‘God always saves people for them to do something; you’d better ask God what he wants you to do’. Sam and his wife Sadie began to pray for God’s direction.
What's in a name?
Robert Dale
Date posted: 1 Jun 2010
‘Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet’ (Acts 4.36-37).
In May 2008 there was a Number 1 song: ‘They call me Stacey, they call me her, they call me Jane, that’s not my name’. Barnabas could also have said, ‘That’s not my name’. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, and that is how he was always known.
Cloud of ash to cloud of witnesses
Nigel Gordon
Date posted: 1 Jun 2010
Sometimes spiritual triumph arises out of natural disaster. Few had ever heard of the volcanic tongue-twister that is Eyjajallajokull before April 14; now we know that its ash crippled European airlines for a week, costing the aviation industry over £2bn, stranding 300,000 passengers and its effects have been ongoing.
One of its more remarkable spiritual consequences, however, was that the eruption deprived Medias, Romania, of a team of American evangelists who were to run a major outreach under the auspices of the Luis Palau Association's (LPA’s) Next Generation Alliance programme. In so doing, it propelled local churches into taking full responsibility for the mission and forced local pastors to bring the gospel themselves to their friends and neighbours. The result of being made to step out in faith, in these apparently unpromising circumstances, was a rich harvest of souls for Christ.
Mission field on the doorstep
Colin Johnson
Date posted: 1 Aug 2009
I know of a woman living in a large town who is suffering from terminal cancer, has few friends, no family close, is very isolated and in need of friendship and support.
I am sure that every true Christian would want to reach out to her to offer friendship, prayer and the encouragement of the gospel. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Sadly, this lady lives in a small bedsit just around the corner from a large shiny new church and they know nothing of her or she of them! Are there many others like this lady on our doorsteps who are not reached? What can be done?
So good, let's do it again
Matthew Cresswell
Date posted: 1 May 2010
A Passion for Life, the UK-wide mission which culminated at Easter, has been hailed a resounding success with another possible mission planned for 2014.
Hundreds of events saw unchurched people hearing the gospel for the first time, with many churches reporting professions of faiths. Churches of differing denominations came together and, working in groups, helped reach their local communities with the message of Easter.
Cold water in Jesus's name
Scott Sabin
Date posted: 1 Jul 2010
On a precarious slope, Etienne digs into the dusty soil with a small hoe, planting beans in hope of the rains. In recent years these rains have become unpredictable. Miles away, his wife is returning from the forest, a bundle of firewood on her head. She was up before dawn carrying water from the spring, her only source of water, nearly an hour’s walk away. The young baby on her back is sick with intestinal parasites from drinking this water she has worked so hard to provide.
The global context may be lost on this family, but they live out its consequences on a daily basis. In the United States, frequent headlines warn of what is happening to the earth and its ecosystems, but because the impact on Western life is minimal, the predictions are largely ignored.
Partnership
Alan Purser
Date posted: 1 Apr 2010
Ray Porter’s recent article on Missionary Funding (EN, November 2009) raises important issues.
But it leaves the reader with more questions than answers. How then should long-term, international cross-cultural gospel work be funded? What is the responsibility of those who set their hearts on doing this kind of work? What is the proper role and function of a mission society, and how ought such organisations to be funded today? What is the biblical model for the relationship between churches and would-be mission partners? Ray’s concerns arise out of his long and distinguished personal experience of global mission and his undoubted passion to see proper provision made. However, a statement like ‘there is no biblical justification for burdening missionaries with fundraising’ frames the argument in a way that does not help any of the parties to grasp the biblical model of gospel partnership, which is an essential piece of the biblical picture.
Migration and ethnic conflict
Samuel Escobar
Date posted: 1 May 2010
In 50 years as missionaries, my wife and I have become familiar with immigration laws and offices in the countries where we served: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the United States and now Spain. As recently as 2007, in Valencia, we were standing in line for hours, filling forms and asking God for patience to cope with bureaucratic slowness. In those queues you hear amazing stories of joys, tragedies, dramatic expectations and disappointments for migrant people.
Churches in Spain have had to face the challenge of a massive wave of migrants from Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe. It is a missionary challenge, forcing churches to go to the roots of their faith.
Singing the Lord's song in strange lands
Joel Van Dyke
Date posted: 1 Apr 2010
The Psalmist writes, ‘How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?’ (Psalm 137.4).
This is a beautiful question springing from the heart of a poet struggling to live out in a strange land (Babylon) what he knows to be true in a more familiar context (Jerusalem). This question has stimulated missional communities of grassroots leaders in Latin America under the banner of the Center for Transforming Mission (CTM).
Let's pass on the passion
March will see an explosion of missional activity carried out by Christians around England.
Under the banner of A Passion for Life, hundreds of churches are conducting evangelistic programmes until Easter. Well known speakers and evangelists, such as New York’s Dr. Tim Keller, Australia’s Bishop Al Stewart, Rico Tice and Roger Carswell, will join in with church missions in major cities and regions. A Passion for Life could be the biggest evangelistic push in the UK since Billy Graham visited in 1984.
Daylight in prison
Dr John Scott
Date posted: 1 May 2010
Stephen found himself in prison after becoming addicted to and dealing in heroin.
He faced a long sentence inside and felt as if life had lost all hope. Then a prison visitor introduced him to Jesus Christ. Stephen looked at the gospel for himself, realised his need of a Saviour and became a Christian in prison. He saw his life transformed by the Lord Jesus as he began to live for him. Stephen served the remainder of his sentence, overcame his addiction and after release decided he wanted to share the good news of his Saviour with other offenders.
Spotting the signs of a church heading for trouble
Hugh Hill
Date posted: 1 May 2010
Throughout church history, from the New Testament onwards, there have always been churches in trouble.
From my observations, churches heading for trouble invariably suffer from poor leadership. This does not mean poor Christians, but we need to remember that doctrinal soundness is no guarantee against trouble. Nor is it a character fault in those leading troubled churches, for it is self-evident that many churches heading into difficulty are led by really nice folk who love the Lord Jesus.
David Watson: a legacy
Tom Marshall
Date posted: 1 May 2010
Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the death of David Watson, one-time vicar of St. Michael le Belfrey, York, pioneer behind the Renewal movement within Anglicanism during the 1960s-80s, and much-loved international evangelist.
In Matthew 22, the Lord Jesus rounds on the Sadducees, telling them: ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God’. In these words, Jesus encapsulates the basic, two-fold requirement of Christian discipleship: to know and love the Word of God; and to live in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. It could be argued that evangelical leaders through the years have usually stood on one or the other side: they are either remembered for their ability to expound the Scriptures eloquently, or for their advocacy of a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered Christian life. David Watson is remembered for both. As such, his memory and work should be treasured by so-called ‘conservative’ and ‘charismatic’ evangelicals alike.
India: breaking the dependency cycle
Paul Barnes
Date posted: 1 Feb 2010
The Letters page of the January issue of Evangelicals Now (p.23) included a call for help from a pastor in India.
Over the years in my work of running India Link Ministries (a UK registered charity), I have received dozens of letters pleading for help.
Third Degree
Charlotte Petra
Date posted: 1 Mar 2010
Christian Unions are made up of students, led by students and exist to reach students. Who is in a better position to reach students with the gospel of Jesus than those they live with, go to lectures with, spend time with and share lives with. Students are best placed to reach students and that is why Christian Unions exist and why they are led by students.
Student leadership is not only beneficial for the mission of CUs, but it can have a lasting effect on the student leaders themselves. CU leadership is more than standing at the front during the weekly main meeting; it involves service, servant-heartedness, time, planning, organisation, co-ordinating and working with others, sharing responsibility, knowing the goal and being passionate about working for it.
Scandalous
Apparently Jesus had been flogged earlier, as part of his interrogation. Immediately after sentence of crucifixion was passed, Jesus was flogged again (v.26).
This was standard procedure; it was customary to flog prisoners before taking them out to be crucified. But what takes place in verses 27 to 31 is not standard procedure. It is more like barracks-room humour.
Memorabilia
Joy Horn
Date posted: 1 Jan 2010
Famous books
John Knox’s book, God’s Eternal Predestination, was published in Geneva in 1560.
The Geneva Bible was published late in 1560 by a group of English people who had been exiles there during the persecution of Queen Mary I and led by William Whittingham. A handsome quarto volume, convenient for personal and family use, it had illustrations and marginal explanatory notes. It became the most widely used Bible of the English Protestants.
Beards and burqas?
Amanda Pilz
Date posted: 1 Feb 2010
Martin Goldsmith was born in 1934 in England to a German Jewish family.
He attended public school and, through a miraculous answer to prayer, became a Christian at age 15. He qualified as a Russian interpreter in the Navy then studied Modern Languages and Russian Political Thought at Oxford. There he felt called to mission and, after training in theology in Bristol, worked as a missionary with OMF in SE Asia for ten years. He lectured at All Nations Christian College for 24 years and now engages in a full-time international speaking ministry. He has authored many books, the latest being Beyond Beards and Burqas (IVP, £7.99), in which he introduces the reader to a wide variety of Muslims, relaying conversations about Islam and Christianity he has had with them during his many years of Christian service.
A hole in the fuel tank?
Marcus Honeysett
Date posted: 1 Feb 2010
Several months ago I was on a train which came to an abrupt and terminal stop. We waited for half an hour before the announcement: ‘Ladies and gentlemen please disembark as there is a large hole in the fuel tank’.
This became obvious from the overpowering smell of diesel that hit us as soon as we were outside. I liked being on the train. It was comfortable and they served refreshments. But it wasn’t going anywhere and from inside it was impossible to see why.
Jesus: where East meets West
Tim McMahon
Date posted: 1 Feb 2010
God loves to use the weak and despised of this world to show his power and glory.
He particularly loves to have the glorious treasure of his gospel shine out of broken clay pots. There is a region of the world where God has been doing this in the most remarkable way over the last ten years.
Sheena Gillies, 1948-2009
A thanksgiving service was held on November 2 to celebrate the life of Sheena Gillies, who died suddenly on October 16.
Sheena’s interest in mission began in her early family and church life and led her to study at All Nation’s Christian College and then to UCCF in Scotland as a full-time staff worker. She went on to serve as a teacher and trainer at Capernwray Bible School in Lancashire, at London Bible College (now London School of Theology) as Director of Training, and at All Souls Church, Langham Place, where she worked as a Senior Associate Minister for 11 years. She also taught at events and conferences.
Can we manage God?
Stephen Ridgeway
Date posted: 1 Jan 2010
So, what’s your personal vision statement for this coming year? You don’t have one yet? But we’re on the brink of 2010!
OK, what about your ministry aims? Can you outline them to me in the space of three seconds without breaking into a sweat? No?! Alright then, let me loosen the noose a bit: can you present the projected outcomes of your personal discipleship programme (preferably using bullet points) for the next three years? What do you mean, you can’t even see beyond the coming week you PowerPointless wonder? Take me to your seminar leader — on the double!