JESUS AT WORK
Wes Illingsworth
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
‘Questions for Life’ is a new initiative which will allow many office workers across Central London to hear about Jesus Christ from their own Christian colleagues.
Across the month of March, individual Christians, workplace Christian groups, and the ‘Gospel at Work’ Lunchtime Talks network are making a special effort to take Jesus Christ’s answers to life’s biggest questions into their workplaces.
Dick Saunders 1930 – 2018
Paul Barnes
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Dick Saunders, international ‘crusade’ and radio evangelist, Bible teacher and pastor, died 19 January, 2018 aged 87.
Richard (‘Dick’) Stephen Saunders was born in Hailsham, East Sussex, on 16 July, 1930, the son of a Strict Baptist lay-pastor, Alfred Saunders. He grew up surrounded by the prayers and godly example of his parents, and trusted Christ as his own Saviour at the age of 18. Soon after his conversion he married Betty (née Thomas).
news in brief
Word and Spirit
The Fellowship of Word and Spirit conference took place in late January.
Bible readings were from Johnny Juckes on the opening chapters of 1 Samuel, and from Dave Walker, Jason Ward, and Geoffrey Firth about the missio Dei from the perspectives of God, the world and the church. It was a great encouragement for so many people, patiently and faithfully serving the Lord in the churches where he has placed them, to join together in prayer at many times during the three days.
Priorities: God’s or ours
Steve Nation
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Looking at Acts 6.1-7, with Steve Nation
Thus far in the Book of Acts, it’s been quite a ride.
Rwanda: recovering the Great Commission
Charles Raven
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
In January two new Anglican Primates were elected, the Bishop of Maridi, Justin Badi Arama, as Archbishop of South Sudan and the Bishop of Shyira, Dr Laurent Mbanda, as Archbishop of Rwanda.
Both nations have suffered internecine violence, and by far the most notorious example remains the Rwandan genocide of 1994 in which an estimated 1 million people died. Given the long history of insecurity which predated South Sudan’s recent independence, internal strife was predictable, but Rwanda was an established kingdom well before the colonial era, in which different ethnic groups lived peacefully. Moreover, Rwanda was the home of a powerful revival in 1929 which spread spontaneously during the 1930s and became known as the East African Revival.
Planting: principles v pragmatism
Michael Farrier
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Michael Farrier tells us about his research into starting new churches
‘Here is the church, Here is the steeple, Open the door, And here are the people!’
175 years of witness
Christian Witness to Israel
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Christian Witness to Israel [CWI], one of the world’s oldest missions bringing the good news of Jesus to Jewish people, marked its 175th anniversary with a special event at St Aldate’s, Oxford on 27 January.
The event featured a number of missionaries including Igal Vender, who works with Jewish homeless people and drug addicts, and Aviel Sela, talking about his work with Holocaust survivors.
defending our faith
Excavating the truth
Chris Sinkinson
Date posted: 1 Mar 2018
Late last year Donald Trump declared that the US would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel.
For many tourists to the Holy Land this seemed fairly uncontroversial. Given that this is the location of the Israeli Parliament, many visitors always assumed Jerusalem was its capital. However, in practice Tel Aviv has been the internationally recognized capital with diplomatic missions located there. Trump’s plan to move the American embassy has created real friction on the ground.
Facing the finances
How’s the money in your church?
I hope there’s enough and I hope you pay your pastor adequately (1 Timothy 5.17, 18). Without a proper salary he will worry about his family bills and that is bound to affect his ministry adversely. Churches who underpay their preacher tend to suffer spiritually. The ‘keep him poor, keep him humble’ attitude in some churches is appalling.
But, visiting various places, I have become aware that some churches are facing financial problems – and they are not the type of church you would expect to be in difficulties. They are generally growing churches. I have heard it said that the optimum church size financially is one of around 80 members – one pastor to support and volunteers doing what they can. It is when churches go beyond that threshold that expenses per capita rise steeply. More staff may be required (not least for administration), maybe the building needs to be enlarged, or a new kitchen is required. Perhaps more people are offering themselves for Bible College or the mission field.