history
Reformers and mission II
Michael Haykin
Date posted: 1 Aug 2018
Last month we begin to think about the argument that the Reformers had no missionary vision or passion.
This month we continue to ponder this important theme by looking at John Calvin’s thinking about the missionary advance of the church.
Uganda: moral leadership in church and society
Chris Sugden
Date posted: 1 Sep 2019
Theologians from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda gathered as the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion Theological Resource Network.
They met in Kampala, Uganda from 10-13 June to consider developing moral leadership in church and society. They also studied Paul’s emphasis on nurturing character in young leaders based on the biblical gospel of Jesus.
20 schemes: a season of summer fruit
20schemes
Date posted: 1 Sep 2019
A lot has happened with 20schemes over the course of this summer, from holiday clubs to conferences to new partnerships. God is always at work in all things, but over the past few months 20schemes have seen Him do many big things.
On 20 June, the church-planting network hosted ‘Sing Scotland’ with Keith & Kristyn Getty and John Piper. The day began with a day conference where over 300 Christians from across the UK gathered. Topics focused on how we sing corporately and the preaching of God’s word.
The joy of repentance
Wallace Benn
Date posted: 1 Sep 2019
Former area Bishop of Lewes, Wallace Benn, reminds us of the delight to be found in turning back to God
When the Lord Jesus began his ministry he proclaimed: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’ (Mark 1:15). Repentance is central to the Christian message and cannot therefore be downplayed or abandoned.
history
Rule Britannia?
Michael Haykin
Date posted: 1 Sep 2019
Remembering the life of H M Gwatkin and the British Empire
The name of Henry Melvill Gwatkin (1844–1916) has long been a familiar one through his standard examination of the Arian heresy, Studies of Arianism (1882), which remains a classical study of this ancient heresy.
history
Reformers & missions III
Michael Haykin
Date posted: 1 Sep 2018
Calvin is insistent that believers must actively employ
their strength to bring God’s
salvation to others.
In his sermon on Deuteronomy 33.18-19
Calvin can thus argue that it is not enough to
be involved in God’s service. Christians need
to be drawing others to serve and adore God.
Specifically, how does God use the strength
of Christians? Calvin’s answer is that it is by
their words and by their deeds.
Prioritising mission
Andrew Marsay
Date posted: 1 Jul 2017
Dear Editor,
John M’s article,
‘Mixing mission’ (en
May), highlights concerns about churches
no longer prioritising missions as they used
to. While this concern is understandable, the
power of the plea is diminished because no
biblical analysis of the problem is offered.
Remembering Frances Whitehead
Julia Cameron
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
Frances Whitehead brought unusual energy and passion to her role as John Stott’s secretary – ‘a most understated job title’, as Hugh Palmer made clear in his opening remarks at her thanksgiving service in All Souls, Langham Place.
It is widely agreed that the reach and extent of John Stott’s ministry was doubled by Frances. Days were long and full. She handled an enormous correspondence, typed Stott’s books from longhand, and oversaw the infrastructure of each of his endeavours until it could be handed on. Their partnership was unequalled; and they would become known around the world as ‘Uncle John’ and ‘Auntie Frances’.
The extraordinary Jesus Christ for ordinary people
Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
Didcot is England’s most normal town. Statisticians reached that conclusion after crunching the numbers in 2017.
With a working-class population connected with the railway and power station, a sizable benefits class in social housing, alongside large numbers of nuclear scientists and biotech research labs, and huge new housing developments that are more affordable than Reading and Oxford, Didcot is an interesting microcosm of English life. It is set to double in size by 2035 as a ‘Garden Town’ with 10,000 homes being built. It is also home to the Baptist Union headquarters, but, given its rapid growth, not overwhelmed with churches, particularly on the new estates.
ACNA: a call to faithfulness
Charles Raven
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) returned to Plano, Texas, 17-19 June to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its formation under the leadership of Archbishop Bob Duncan.
The Assembly theme was ‘Discipleship: Renewing Our Call to the Great Commission’ with cross-cultural mission and church planting very much to the fore. Over 1,100 attended, including ten Anglican Primates, Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria and General Secretary of GAFCON, and representatives from some 23 countries.
From darkness to light: the rise of the Iranian church
Afshin Ziafat
Date posted: 1 Aug 2019
Robert Bruce, a Scottish missionary to Iranian Muslims in the late-19th century, wrote home to his supporters: ‘I am not reaping the harvest; I scarcely claim to be sowing the seed; I am hardly ploughing the soil; but I am gathering out the stones. That, too, is missionary work; let it be supported by loving sympathy and fervent prayer.’
For many years, Iran was one of the most difficult regions of the world to reach with the gospel. In 1979, with the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the ruling monarch Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was overthrown. In his place an Islamic Republic was birthed, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Sharia law became the law of the land, and Muslim clerics became the heads of state.
news in brief
Shaping up UK’s response
The Bishop of Truro’s final report published
on
8
July
on worldwide Christian
persecution, made recommendations
for
religious literacy training in the UK Foreign
Office. It also said mechanisms are needed
to facilitate immediate responses to atrocity
crimes, including genocide.
Jeremy Hunt said he would adopt all 22
recommendations
from
the report noting
that Christians are
the most persecuted group in the world.
LCM: love that crosses the divide
Graham Miller
Date posted: 1 Jun 2019
Despite the anger and vitriol that fills the front pages of our tabloids, there is good news on the streets of London…
Let me tell you about my friend Ilyas Ayoub, who works in one of the most diverse parts of our capital – Forest Gate in East London. Ilyas works at a mission centre, sandwiched between a temple and a mosque, where he partners with local churches to love the community and by sharing the gospel message.
Field of dreams
Student sport mission field
Mike Harris
Date posted: 1 Oct 2018
All over the country, freshers are starting their first year at university.
Anyone who has been a student knows the challenge of trying to live for Jesus in those early weeks where everyone is grappling for a sense of belonging, an identity, image, reputation and a group of friends.
Reaching London’s Lost
Co-Mission
Date posted: 1 May 2019
In January, Co-Mission, a network of local churches in London, launched a film We Plant Churches to Reach the Lost.
Through a series of testimonies the film explains why the network does what it does. Co-mission seeks to follow Christ’s command in Matthew 28:19: ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’
From truth to fear and intimidation
Christian Concern
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
A vicar and Oxford biology graduate resigned from the Church of England and from his role as a school governor in May. This occurred after transgender ideology, endorsed by his diocese and taught in the CofE school where he was a governor, silenced him as a scientist and a Christian.
During a training session on transgender issues run by Mermaids, John Parker was told by the headteacher: ‘This is training, John, it’s not your time to share your view-point.’ This followed his request to raise some different perspectives. The training session was recorded, and the audio clearly demonstrates that his request was shut down by the headteacher.
news in brief
Algeria: ‘God is sovereign’
Authorities closed another church building and its Bible school on 22 May.
Citing a law that requires authorisation for non-Muslim places of worship, gen-darmes locked the doors of the evangelical church building in Boudjima. Pastor Youcef Ourahmane said that the permit has been applied for, but the government commit-tee that approves them has never met. Ourahmane said they are praying for the authorities whilst recognising that ‘God is sovereign and is in control of this situation and all circumstances’.
Students finding new life at Word Alive
Daniel Stafford
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
Every Easter, hundreds of CU students descend upon Prestatyn as an integral part of the Word Alive conference, run in partner-ship with UCCF. Word Alive has furthered the discipleship of thousands of CU leaders, who return to their campuses nurtured by the teaching and by growing in their faith together.
In recent years we have been encour-aged to hear of CU students bringing their unbelieving friends to Word Alive. There is a growing trend for students who have attended CU events, but not yet made a pro-fession of faith, attending as a next step to exploring Jesus. But why is this happening?
No good tree bears bad fruit
Richard G Buckley
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
The 30th meeting of the Scottish Reformed Conference took place on 11 May at Hamilton College.
The Revd Professor Sinclair B Ferguson (4th from left) and Dr Robert Murdock (3rd from left), Principal of the Faith Mission College in Edinburgh, spoke to about 450 people from different Reformed churches and denominations.
Burundi: the advancing role of the Anglican Church
Bishop Seth Ndayirukiye
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
Burundi is a country of 12 million people
to the south of Uganda and Rwanda. The
Anglican Church of Burundi was started
in 1935 by the Church Missionary Society
and Ugandan and Rwandan missionaries.
It is known for standing on three pillars :
evangelism, medical services and education.
The Church, now numbering about 1million
members, has been able to grow and make
an impact from its foundation up to today
because of the influence and fruits of the East
African Revival Movement. This movement
emphasises the love of God and love of one
another, salvation, walking in the light with
one another, and staying
in fellowship as
brethren.
Taking time out to Thrive
FIEC
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
Every year, FIEC provides two retreats exclusively for women. Thrive is for women in ministry and the Ministry Wives’ Retreat is for those who are married to men in full-time pastoral ministry.
It’s an opportunity for women to spend time away from the busyness of church life and be encouraged in their service to Christ.
July outreach: Jesus for Jewish people
<span></span>en
Date posted: 1 Jul 2019
With a mission to Jewish people taking place in London in the summer, en interviewed Richard Gibson, Director of Ministry for Christian Witness to Israel (CWI), about the need for Christians to share Jesus with Jewish people.
en: Evangelism to Jewish people can be controversial for some Christians, so tell us a little bit about that, and why we shouldn’t shy away from doing it.
Gardner Helps Healthy Planting
2020birmingham
Date posted: 1 May 2019
‘How do we plant healthy churches that grow young disciples of Jesus?’ This is one of our questions within 2020birmingham.
2020birmingham is a collaborative church-planting movement in Birmingham. We began in 2010 with a vision to see 20 churches planted by 2020 and have grown to prayerfully seek another 30 by 2030. We exist because we believe that the spiritual need and opportunities for mission in our city are too big for us to meet on our own. We are evangelical churches seeking to be together for the city.
‘They ate together with glad and sincere hearts.’ Why don’t we?
New homes are being built near us, as in many places up and down the country. I can see them from our bedroom window.
I can only dream of living in one of these places – they’re completely out of my price bracket, but still, I couldn’t help but have a nose around the show home. I got ready for this exciting excursion by looking up the details online. After all, if you can’t afford something, it’s reassuring to know how much you can’t afford it.