Olly’s lockdown ministry: ex drug addict goes online
London City Mission
Date posted: 1 Sep 2020
There’s a curious exchange between Jesus and the man who had the legion of demons driven out from him at the expense of a large herd of pigs. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you’ (Luke 8:38).
There’s every indication that he is committed and sincere about following Jesus, and certainly his life has been transformed. Yet he is turned down and told to go back home. Why?
news in brief
Passing the online plate
UK local churches are being offered a vital online-giving platform to help reverse the decline of income due to coronavirus.
Whilst some churches are starting to re-open their doors, the lack of collection-plate offerings is causing financial challenges for many churches. However, Stewardship is offering every church in the UK an online webpage and portal, which they can then customise for their church, thus creating a dedicated fundraising page to maximise
Peter Maiden 1948 – 2020
OM
Date posted: 1 Sep 2020
On 14 July 2020, our
dear brother
in Christ
Peter Maiden met his
Saviour
face
to
face.
With his passion
for
exegetical preaching and
his
shepherd’s
heart,
Peter leaves a legacy of
sharing God’s truth with
love
and
compassion
that will live on within
world missions.
As
the
International Director of OM
from 2003 to 2013, Peter emphasised the
spirituality of OM team members and the
importance of God’s word permeating the
entire life of Jesus followers. While leading
a life of total surrender to Jesus, in both his
public and personal life, he demonstrated
a quiet steadiness coupled with a visionary
passion for seeing the lives of people around
the world changed by Christ. Under his
leadership and guidance, new ministries
developed as part of OM’s growing holistic
approach to mission.
New online prayer gathering for London in November
A prayer gathering for London, which started last year, is going online this November. It is one of several exciting initiatives now being developed by the relatively new London Gospel Partnership (LGP). Richard Bray, incoming LGP Chair, reports:
One of the great encouragements of the past 20 years in the UK has been the growth in churches working together across denominational lines in regional Gospel Partnerships. These partnerships have provided training, organised missions, and seen the fruit of church planting.
New ministry refreshment network launched online
Paul Coulter
Date posted: 1 Sep 2020
We’re tired. Zoom fatigue, confinement, and heightened awareness of death, on top of personal needs, have wearied us.
Christian leaders have faced additional challenges. Lockdown forced an urgent development of new forms of church gatherings and pastoral connections. Emerging from lockdown with social distancing means another rethink, while no one knows yet what the ‘new normal’ for church will be. This is a time of rebuilding.
Robin Dowling 1946 – 2020
Geoff Gobbett
Date posted: 1 Sep 2020
Robin Dowling, a well-known former Grace Baptist pastor, missionary and theologian, departed to be with Christ on 31 July 2020.
He will be sorely missed as a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. He served his generation in the ministry of the gospel from the 1970s till fairly recently. Coming from Bristol, he was well known amongst churches there when he took on the pastorate at Salem Baptist Church in Kew, Richmond, Surrey in the late 1970s. He immersed himself in encouraging Grace Baptist Churches, serving the Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East).