Mission of God
Joseph Boot
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
Dear Sir
In July’s en, a full-page piece appeared
about my published work,
theology and
associations,
with
particular
attention
given to The Mission of God 2016 (MoG).
Misleadingly deploying partial truths, ana-baptist social activist James Paul Lusk – a
retired career bureaucrat determined to save
Britain from a so-called ‘Christian Right’ –
sadly fails to engage the thesis of the book:
the meaning of the Lordship of Christ and
Kingdom of God in light of God’s total law-word. More balanced reviews of MoG were
published in the UK by Prophecy Today and
Affinity.
‘Theology of ageing’ encourages seniors
Keith Rigg
Date posted: 1 Jul 2021
‘It was so encouraging to be reminded that old age is a blessing from God.’ Organised as a collaboration of Keswick Ministries with Faith in Later Life, over 80 people attended a three-day online seminar on ‘Faith in the Second Half’ in May.
A church leaders’ day saw: Dr David Field exploring the Theology of Ageing, which was a new concept to many; Dave Fenton encouraging the equipping and empowering of seniors for ministry; and Professor Keith Brown, The Revd Roger Hitchings and Pippa Cramer giving Biblical and practical ways of pastoring and supporting seniors.
‘Leopard Skin Chief’ in S. Sudan peace bid
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 1 Jul 2021
MAF’s peace-promoting planes are helping
the aviation organisation’s partners to visit
some of the most war-torn regions in South
Sudan.
According to the UN, the first five months
of 2020 saw a 220% increase in incidents of
intercommunal violence
in South Sudan’s
Jonglei State compared with the same period
two years ago.
news in brief
PM quotes Psalm 14
Boris Johnson has quoted Psalm 14 when asked by a reporter whether he believed in God.
Asked by ITV’s Robert Peston, the Prime Minister initially said: ‘I don’t discuss these deep issues, certainly not with you.’ But he then added: ‘The foolish man has said in his heart there is no God.’
John Stott: Abrahamic and apostolic?
Chris Wright
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
Chris Wright suggests the scale and scope of Stott’s ministry were epic
‘I am a great believer,’ John Stott would often say, ‘in the importance of B.B.C. Not the British Broadcasting Company, nor Bethelehem Bible College, nor even Beautiful British Columbia. But “Balanced Biblical Christianity”.’ In my own assessment of John’s life and ministry I suggest a Biblical balance of Old and New Testaments by saying that the scale and scope of John Stott’s significance within the global church has been both Abrahamic and apostolic.
Matthew Hill
Malcolm Lane
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
1939 – 2021
Matthew
Hill
became
widely
known
as Home
Secretary
of
the
Spanish
Gospel
Mission
and
did
much
to
raise
the profile of
the
Mission
amongst
churches.
Born in the New Forest, he was converted
in his teenage years and his life was Christ-centred from that point onwards. It was not
long after leaving school that he was accepted
to study at Birmingham Bible Institute and
on leaving there, he (and Jean, who he had
known from their teenage years and who he
had recently married) left for the unknown
territory of Stockton-on-Tees to take over
the running of the Quayside Mission. This
was a place of refuge for the homeless and
a gospel ministry was also carried on there.
‘I think it’s all true, I’m a Christian now!’
This term has marked the beginning of the annual mission week season for the Christian Unions: weeks of high-profile events designed to reach the wider university with the gospel. In the absence of marquees and lecture halls, they used a range of tools to speak of Jesus: social media, Zoom, podcasts, post and even radio. But this year, it was their most unassuming and understated tool that proved to be the most powerful: friendship. Milla Ling reports:
After a CU member arrives at university, they have a three- or four-year window to witness to the students they meet. During these years of friendship they can demonstrate the reality of what is spoken about at evangelistic events. And, in the context of loving relationship, can gently challenge where a visiting speaker may not be able to.
Urgent dash to avert war after romance ends in death
Gary Clayton
Date posted: 1 May 2021
When Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Pilot Nathan Fagerlie landed in the remote village of Mokndoma in Papua, Indonesia last year, he could tell something was wrong.
‘Can you help us?’ asked Tim Ingles, a missionary serving there. ‘We have a situation.’
Steaming on
EN
Date posted: 1 May 2021
A
new
chaplain
has
joined
the
Railway
Mission
–
an organisation
founded in 1881 to
provide pastoral care
and support for staff
on trains and in stations.
Helen Lewis (see photo) is the new Railway
and British Transport Police Chaplain
for
South and Mid-Wales. Helen came to faith in
Christ at the age of 14 and re-committed her
life to serving God while at university.
When God says ‘go!’ and you say ‘no!’
David Nixon
Date posted: 1 May 2021
Has there ever been a time when God has called you to ‘GO!’ and you’ve replied ‘NO!’? If you’re anything like me, then the honest answer will be: yes.
But not because you were wanting to be disobedient, but rather because you were feeling disabled by inadequacy. In those moments the soundtrack playing inside your head is like Robbie Williams’ hit track ‘I love my life’ played backwards. You don’t hear the words: ‘I am wonderful, I am magical, I am free’; instead you rehearse the lyrics: ‘I am weak, I am sinful, I am unable’.
Disarray grows
in Free Church
of England
Josep Rossello / Emmanuel Anglican Church
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
Leading evangelicals have announced they
are quitting the Free Church of England
after the denomination appeared to descend
into chaos.
Peter Sanlon and Josep Rossello have both
said they are
leaving the group, hard on
the heels of a dispute which also saw fellow
minister Jonatas Bragatto depart.
How a vision led Muslim Sakina to faith
Graham Miller
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
The most recent Annual Population Survey found 1.25 million followers of Islam in London – that’s one in eight Londoners.
If, by God’s grace, the gospel is to flourish among these people – Bangladeshis in East London, Arab-speakers in West London, and Turkish and Iranian communities – it will be due to ordinary Christians faithfully and patiently building relationships, breaking down misconceptions, living and speaking the teaching of Jesus.
evangelicals & catholics
Are we all ‘Children of Abraham’?
Leonardo De Chirico
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
Whenever we talk about lands tormented by decades of wars and violence, sometimes perpetrated in the name of religions, we must do so with sobriety.
This is to say that commenting on Pope Francis’ recent trip to Iraq (5-8 March 2021) can become a pretext for easy criticism if one does not try to enter the complexity of the situation. Therefore, it must be acknowledged that the Roman pope’s call to religious freedom, his appeal to respect for minorities, and his invitation to national conciliation were commendable.
ANiEthing is
possible!
Andrew Symes
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
The Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE),
approved
by
conservative
Anglican
network GAFCON last year, was formally
constituted and commissioned at an online
service in April.
It
was
led
by
Bishop
Andy
Lines
(see
photo)
with
Archbishop
Foley Beach as the
preacher. Music was
provided
by
the
Glasgow-based New
Scottish Hymns Band, and there were many
messages of support from around the world,
including, movingly,
from Stephen Than,
Archbishop of Myanmar.
And now, here is the BBC news…
Ian Bunker / en
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
Land purchased for just £60 in 1933 now boasts a 21st-century church complex fit for the future.
Broadstone Baptist Church has just completed its 13-year-long building project on York Road, Poole, Dorset.
politics & policy
Assisted dying: opening Pandora’s box
James Mildred
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
The starting pistol has been fired in the race to legalise assisted suicide.
After appearing before the End of Choice All Party Parliamentary Group, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock then wrote to the national statistician, Ian Diamond, requesting information on the number of terminally-ill patients who had killed themselves because of their diagnosis. Mr Hancock wants a new debate on the issue and there are plenty other MPs who want the same.
Waking up to the dystopian world of deepfakes
By Andy du Feu
Want to see Tom Cruise perform a magic trick, joke about ex-presidents, or tee-off?
‘Be prepared,’ Finnish leader warns Western Christians
EN
Date posted: 1 Jun 2021
A Finnish evangelical Christian leader who
is
facing court because of his orthodox
beliefs on sexual morality has spoken to en,
declaring that public opinion is on his side.
However, The Revd Dr Juhana Pohjola,
Bishop Elect of the Evangelical Lutheran
Mission Diocese of Finland
(ELMDF),
criticised what he called the ‘awkward silence’
of the established church in his country.
‘Man of character’ moves
to Langham Partnership
LCM / LP International
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
Global mission
organisation Langham
Partnership International has a new leader.
Tayo Arikawe will move from his post as
Director of Ministries at London City Mission
(LCM)
to
the position of
International
Director with Langham in April.
Co-Mission: pressing on and finding opportunities despite challenges and delays
Co-Mission
Date posted: 1 Nov 2020
London church planting network, Co-Mission, gives an update on some of its newest congregations:
‘Realistically, a few of the Co-Mission church plants in and around London might not come out of this alive. But so far – to the credit of our church planters, the resilience of their launch teams and the goodness of God – none of our recent church plants, nor any of our proposed church plants, have had to close or look like they’re facing imminent death. We pray that this will remain the case.
John Stott - what you should know
Julia Cameron
Date posted: 1 Apr 2021
The centenary of John Stott’s birth falls on 27 April 2021. As he died ten years ago, his name won’t be well-known to younger readers. This is one reason why we are holding centenary events, to introduce his name and his legacy to a new generation.
The breadth of John Stott’s influence is remarkable. Aged 29, he was appointed Rector of All Souls Langham Place, next door to the BBC. He wrote years later of how ‘dissatisfaction’ is a mark of a leader, and he showed it himself from early days. Decades before the term ‘fresh expressions’ was coined, he opened the All Souls Clubhouse, a church for the unchurched, in the poorer part of his parish. He started guest services, then unheard-of, beginners’ groups, and training courses for lay leaders. And he was a seer. So international students became a focus in the post-colonial 1960s as newly-established governments began sending their most able to the UK. The list goes on.
How equalities legislation can benefit us as Christians
When the Equalities Act was passed more than a decade ago, it seemed to limit the freedoms that Christians had long taken for granted.
It became unlawful to discriminate against others on grounds of religion or sexual orientation with the result that, for example, a Christian-owned hotel could no longer refuse a room to a same-sex couple. Similarly, a Christian could not serve as a magistrate and take the view that children were always better adopted by a heterosexual couple. New laws against hate speech meant Christians were more fearful of preaching the gospel in case they offended others; and they faced the possibility of disciplinary action in the workplace if they challenged transgender ideology. These changes reflected the fact that we live in a secular, post-Christian context. Christian views and values are no longer widely shared across society and deemed worthy of privileged status. Instead, government has to balance the interests of competing opinions in a multicultural society.