Capital Gains
The invisible mission field
Graham Miller
Date posted: 1 Nov 2015
Reading through Scripture I am struck by Christ’s commitment to those on the margins of society.
I feel challenged that he didn’t use clever strategies to aim first to reach the best and brightest from the Jerusalem temple school so that they could be useful for his efforts. Instead, Jesus spent time with lepers, tax collectors, fishermen, women and Samaritans. In recent years the movement to revitalise the church with new plants and initiatives has sometimes focused on the young, the bright and the mobile. If we are to be faithful to the Great Commission we must be careful that our outreach doesn’t leave out large segments of society.
Oxford’s 25 missions
Andrew Atherstone
Date posted: 1 Feb 2015
In February, the Christian Union at Oxford University launches a major mission to students: Andrew Atherstone delves into the archives.
Tim Keller and Os Guinness are in town.
The Third Degree
CU Spring missions
Kate Duncan
Date posted: 1 Apr 2015
‘For the first time, I have begun to understand Christianity.’
So said a student at a London university following an evening of Sixties’ style festival fun and a talk on ‘The God who Loves us’. She had joined hundreds of other students for one of the joint London Christian Unions’ (CU) city-wide events during their mission week in January. It was a week of creative and persuasive evangelism with lunchbars, Text-a-Toasties, question boards, free cafés, photo booths, questionnaires, Grill-a-Christian, Meals with a Message, art exhibitions, musical performances, testimonies and dramas.
OMF: ‘staying aligned’
Julia Cameron
Date posted: 1 Dec 2015
Julia Cameron on the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship
A spoof of the Bee Gees song ‘Staying Alive’, was sung by senior leaders at OMF’s 150th anniversary, as a gathering in July celebrated its beliefs, vision, mission and values.
Taking every opportunity
Daniel Shwe
Date posted: 1 Dec 2015
How Christmas invitations led to conversions of Chinese students
My name is Daniel Shwe.
The working class and Christ
David Binder
Date posted: 1 Dec 2015
David Binder interviews SixtyEightFive founder, Ian Williamson.
Many have argued that the evangelical church in the UK has been largely dominated by the middle class.
Is our leadership wasting talent?
Catherine Cowell and Sean Kennedy on releasing the enthusiasm of church members
‘No, the church won’t be able to support your project, because it’s not part of what we do,’ said the Revd Simon.
The Third Degree
IFES World Assembly
Kate Duncan
Date posted: 1 Oct 2015
What do you get when you gather 1,000 evangelicals from 148 countries in a Mexican resort?
Nothing less than una fiesta grande: a plethora of culture and a little foretaste of Revelation 7.9: ‘…there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb…’
Work in Progress
Being a big noise?
Roger Loosley
Date posted: 1 Oct 2015
Subject: Dr Phil Harper, CEng MIMechE MInstNDT PhD MEng, who runs his own company in Sheffield making ultrasonic measuring and monitoring equipment for engineering applications. Married with two children.
Age range: 30–40.
Interests: Food, cooking, DIY.
RJL: Were you were brought up in Sheffield?
Phil: No, I was brought up on a farm in Kilkenny in Southern Ireland.
When is failure faithful?
Dr Mike Ovey
Date posted: 1 Nov 2015
Dr. Mike Ovey asks if current evangelicals are in denial about some important matters
A week ago I was at a major Church of England jamboree as a friend was installed in a new and more senior post.
Capital Gains
Regular visiting
Graham Miller
Date posted: 1 Aug 2015
We live in a shallow world of internet ‘friendships’.
In contrast to this, the London City Mission perseveres with the long-term commitment and depth of relationships that we find described in the Bible.
‘I always want to win!’
Graham Hooper
Date posted: 1 Oct 2015
Graham Hooper asks if Christians should be competitive
‘The trouble with the rat race is that even when you win you’re still a rat.’ (Lily Tomlin)
World Cup – give it a try?
Neal (Paddy) Patterson
Date posted: 1 Oct 2015
Paddy Patterson invites us to make the most of the opportunities that the Rugby World Cup offers
This next few weeks are a great opportunity to reach anyone in Britain with a sporting bent now that the Rugby World Cup has arrived on our shores.
Africa is turning the tables
Those reached by Western missionaries are now becoming missionaries themselves
Over the last several years Operation Mobilisation has been developing an exciting new Missions training centre in Zambia.
Work in Progress
Curl up and dye?
Roger Loosley
Date posted: 1 Aug 2015
Subject: Liz Lewin, a hairdresser from Leeds who is married with one child.
Age range: 50-60.
Interests: work, church, walking and friends.
RJL: How did you become a Christian?
Liz: I had left home and was living alone. My business as a mobile hairdresser took me to visit wealthy clients in big houses – I thought I had made it! I started asking meaning of life questions. I was visited by Jehovah’s Witnesses and talked to them, but I had a problem with their views on blood transfusions. After I left home my parents had become Christians and when I had to have an operation they were praying for me.
Rethink your church strategy
Ian Buchanan
Date posted: 1 Aug 2015
Ian Buchanan recommends that we now need to think in terms of intergenerational ministry
I’ve been thinking about 20th-century church growth logic.
Where’s the Scottish Church?
Andy Hunter
Date posted: 1 Jul 2015
Andy Hunter investigates the causes of spectacular spiritual decline north of the border
Christian identification in Scotland has now fallen below that in England.
Nones on the rise
Dr James Emery White
Date posted: 1 Jul 2015
Martin Salter interviews Dr James Emery White for en
James Emery White is senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and founder of Serious Times, a ministry which explores the intersection of faith and culture and hosts ChurchandCulture.org. Recently he authored the book The Rise of the Nones about people with no faith.
Bedside table
Ruth Williams
Date posted: 1 Jul 2015
What’s the last thing you do at night? Ruth Williams sets us a challenge
What does your bedside table look like?
Capital Gains
Courageous perseverance
Graham Miller
Date posted: 1 May 2015
One of the greatest joys of gospel ministry is to hear stories of lives transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ.
However, the Bible warns us that for every seed planted in good soil, there will be others that land on stony ground or among thorns. For LCM missionaries working among the Muslims of Newham or the council estates of New Addington it is necessary to be patient. It can take several years to see a contact come to church, so we cannot give up on a ministry for lack of fruit after 18 months. Instead, we teach evangelists the biblical value of courageous perseverance; courage to reach the difficult, unreached people groups, and perseverance to keep going through the disappointments and daily sacrifices of gospel ministry.
‘Unstoppable’ at this year’s Bible By The Beach
Emily Lucas
Date posted: 1 May 2015
What is every Christian’s prayer?
Surely it is for the message of Christ to spread to every corner of the world and transform lives.
And the winner is… nationalism
George Moody
Date posted: 1 Jun 2015
George Moody reflects on the outcome of May’s General Election
The voters have spoken. Yes, the Conservatives are back, but it is in no small part due to the rise of nationalism.
From pulpit to pavement
John Hawley
Date posted: 1 Mar 2015
John Hawley of the Open Air Mission provides us with 20 quotations to challenge us to get out with the gospel
1: John Wesley
‘It is no marvel that the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I. I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit. But where is my zeal if I do not trample all these underfoot in order to save one more soul?
Evangelist at the docks
Steven Loader seeks to provide a safe harbour for seafarers
Bristol docks were once the powerhouse of the British Empire.