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What concerns you?

Read a cool quote on TallSkinnyKiwi that I wanted to share: 'The church is so often like, or perceived to be like, the person who gets invited to a party and only talks about himself.' It's a cool quote because I agree with it and also feel its sting.

As a leader there are things in our life as a church family that take my focus and attention. Depending on whether they're good or bad, these things can have me worrying or thanking, as I think through the various situations, challenges or achievements. As a leader I also want to be able to focus our collective attention on particular things in different seasons, so that we can learn, grow and walk together.

Unless we're careful this can drift into naval-gazing and we forget about the world that God loves and the more pressing and important challenges that need our efforts and prayers. I can get caught up in something and miss the truly important. We can get caught up in something and miss the truly important. We can get sucked into thinking or complaining about minutia when the world is facing big challenges that we're somehow less bothered about. When this happens we become like the person who gets invited to a party and only talks about himself... When this happens this is tragically ironic because the Christ we say we follow came to rescue the cosmos (there is no bigger concern than that), and gave His all to achieve that rescue (there is no greater demonstration of concern than that).

What things can distract us? What issues in the world would be helped by our concern?

It's official

Congratulations to Reverend's Simon Cragg and Wayne Alexander for not falling on their faces, coming out with heresy or embarrassing Pembury Baptist Church at the recent Residential Selection Conference. We both got letters saying that we passed the process and that we're now officially 'Newly Accredited Baptist Ministers'. I understand if this doesn't give you a warm gooey feeling, but its good news. Trust me.

Finished!

I'm done. Exhausted. Happy it is finished. Thankful for getting this far. Thankful that God has led me where he has. Really looking forward to seeing my beautiful wife and daughter who I missed very, very much; ministry is a partnership with Jem and yet these few days have been about me, which has felt strange. Can't wait to see them soon. And sleep.

Candidates and Selectors

So here I am, with about 10 other candidates, at the Baptist Union (BU) residential selection conference in Hothorpe Hall. I've had about eight interviews in the last 24 hours, with two more to go. The aim of the conference is for representatives (known to us scarily as the 'selectors') of the BU to discern God's call on our lives and particularly whether it is for accredited national leadership within the Baptist Denomination. If we're successful we will be enrolled onto Register of Covenanted Persons Accredited for Ministry. We're being observed the whole time we're here (so I hope my table manners hasn't let me down) and interviewed using one-to-ones and group interviews. By the end of the three days, we will have covered the following topics:

• The Accreditation Process: the easiest session and mainly a conversation around practical matters concerning the 'learning contract', pension, disciplinary processes, mentoring and so on.
• Theological Awareness and Teachability: a one-on-one with a theology lecturer from university talking about theological issues (not easy at 8:15pm last night!)
• Pastoral Calling and Denominational Commitment: a one-on-one around our sense of calling, our practice of ministry and our views and learning around the strengths of the baptist approach which include the Baptist focus on believers baptism, the autonomy of the local church, the primacy of scripture in all matters, the individual competency and believer priesthood, and the separation of church and state.
• Personality and Relationships: a one-to-one about self-awareness and how we relate to others (our emotional intelligence and so on)
• Understanding of Ministry and Reflection On Preaching: A one-to-one on my preaching style and method, as well as my habits and action in ministry. 
• Pastoral Situations Group: three of us working through complex pastoral case studies 
• Contemporary Issues Group: three of us working through the theological and pastoral consequences of contemporary issues 
• Church Awareness Group: three of us working through wider church issues and their implications.   

The pace has been intense but the whole experience has been one of formation in Christ. I've met some great people in different ministries around the country, and it has been good to be here with PBC's very own Simon Cragg. He is encouragement personified. I could have been at this stage about 5 years ago, but the year of interregnum at PBC and becoming Pastor at PBC has kept me busy!

One of the great strengths of this process is that we've come to give an indication to the Selectors who we are, what we know and our approach to ministry, but in fact I've received so much too. The devotions that begin and end the day have been very moving, reminding us of the graciousness of God in calling us to ministry and his promises that he will use us in our weakness: Peter leapt out of the boat and sank, not because Peter lost faith in Jesus but because Peter lost faith in how Jesus could equip him to do what Jesus did. The Rabbi that calls us will enable us to minister like him.

When I return from this conference, hopefully I will be a Newly Accredited Minister. But more immediate to me than that is the fresh reminder and encouragement this process has been of how God has used me and grown me in the last seven years at PBC, and the fresh challenge to grow in new areas in the coming years. I look forward to the adventure of finding what those areas will be.

I'd better go - I've got my last two interviews!

Counting down the days

Here in the office at PBC we're really excited that Jennifer Roberts will be joining us as our full-time Administrator from next Monday. Jennifer's experience, capacity and vision for the role is very exciting and I'm confident will enable PBC with strong administrative support and systems that enable more effective ministry.

I know personally I'm proud how the team has coped these last two months without an Administrator, but I can't wait to step into this new season. So much of my days has inevitably drifted even more into administration and it's going to be exciting to see someone far more skilled than I am pick up some of these challenges and allow me to get on with the things that I must do.

Click here to read Rosie, our former Administrator, share her thanks and thoughts about her time at PBC.

October 12th - concert in the evening

 

Equally thrilled that Tara Jackson is coming to PBC to perform a concert at our evening 6:30pm cafe service. She is highly recommended by Mike Rayson, will be performing at the huge Central Methodist Hall in Westminster during her UK tour as well as Premier Radio. Tara has an exceptional, powerful singing voice and songs that will touch the heart. Her bubbly personality and humour and ability to connect with people make this an ideal event to invite friends to. For more information, click Tara!

October 12th - Special Sunday

 

So thrilled that Mike Rayson is coming to us again on October 12th in the morning. This time he'll be preaching in our new Hebrews series. I'm looking forward to his typical wisdom, insight, humour and authenticity. Click on the picture for more information

New Series this Sunday: we are family

   

The journey is as important as the destination; how we relate to one another and demonstrate the reality of Jesus' love in our relationships with each other as we move forward is a wonderful challenge. Are you up for it?

Great books

I've just discovered a great series of books written by Tony Morgan (A pastor and the Chief Strategic Officer at Newspring Church where he develops creative solutions for communications, technology and NewSpring Ministries) and Tim Stevens (executive Pastor at Granger). It's a series called 'Simply Strategic', with three books so far, one on administration/systems, another on volunteering and another on growing. Both Tim and Tony have helped transition a small church into a very large church, and know the continued development and flexibility required of systems and strategy. They're easily accessible and written for us stressed out Pastors taught theology deeply but not how to continue to develop systems that facilitate and not stifle a growing church. I've got copies whizzing their way to Elders and staff for us to go through them together. They're a little like the 'for dummies' series... I'm not ashamed to admit I'm one of those on some of this stuff. Thanks Tim and Tony!

Make the most of every day and everyone

Steven Curtis Chapman's song 'With hope' has been a real help to me during times of grief in years gone by. The Chapman family have recently experienced a devastating tragedy and speak about their faith in the midst of their grief in this inspiring American Newsclip

Just in case you think our staff team is getting too big

Newspring is an inspiring church - here's a helpful example from them about their daily check-in meetings with just one of the church's deparments

Album of the moment - Beth Rowley

Duffy who? A female singer songwriter called Beth Rowley has produced a great album: Little Dreamer. I heard a song on good old Radio 2 a while ago and it was one of those moments when a voice makes you stop what you're doing. I then read a really positive review of her in the Times a few months back. I bought the album in Stratford during our break and I'm so glad I did. Commercially she's beginning to do really well, but there's a gospel edge and faith element to the songs that I obviously love. Her voice is awesome, the lyrics are great and the varied songs keep the album flowing nicely. It 'fits' together. She's written some with Ben Castle, son of the late Roy Castle and someone I had the privilege of bumping into a few times during my student placement at Gold Hill Baptist Church. She also covers some classic songs, including Dylan's 'I shall be released.'

Here's an excerpt from an Independent review: 'Ask whether her parents' missionary work, prompted by their deep faith in God, subsequently inspired her to become a gospel singer, and she will screw up her nose and shake her head, as if fearful of being tagged a female Cliff Richard.

"Not really. By the time they came back to this country, my father wanted a change of career," she says. "He still preached from time to time, but he started working as an electrician, then a financial adviser. We'd go to church on Sundays because it was what we always did, but they are very laidback, my parents, and when I stopped going during my teenage years, they were perfectly cool with it. My faith is always there, somewhere in the background, but I'd say the biggest influence religion has had in my life is getting me seriously into gospel singers like Mahalia Jackson. I've read a lot about Mahalia. It sounds like she was on a mission with her music. I like to think I am too."

Definitely worth buying!

Fresh bread and a nightmare part 2

A great friend of mine read my post below and sent me this poem he wrote inspired by Psalm 27. I wanted to pass on the blessing to you that it was to me:

I need your courage to strengthen my heart.

I need belief so we’re not kept apart.

Your’s is the path where there’s nothing to fear.

When Satan attacks I know you’ll be near.

 

To dwell in your house is all that I need.

You’ll hide and protect me from hunger and greed.

I’m set on the rock, you have lifted me high.

My enemies stumble - you heeded my cry.

 

You’re my salvation, my guide and my light.

Your’s is the armour I need for the fight.

Fully equipped running this earthly race.

Knowing in heaven we’ll meet face to face.

 

Teach me your way Lord,

Teach me your way.

I wait upon you Lord,

I wait upon you.

Whatever you say I willingly do,

Your servant is waiting on you.

Fresh bread and a nightmare

If you went at 8am to the village store in Blockley, the Cotswolds, during this last week, you'd have found me on most days buying a few fresh-out-of-the-oven croissants. Fresh bread. People came far and wide for this bread. Lot's of smiling faces. It wasn't the only fresh bread I had on my holiday...

One aspect of my devotional life when I was on holiday was trying to learn as much as I could of Psalm 27. Maybe it's a hang-on from my old acting days, but learning bigger chunks of text just seems to feel more natural than learning a single verse here and there. I really enjoy the challenge and the deeper listening to God and learning through his word that such a discipline brings. Not only are you stretching the old 'grey matter' (who needs a Nintendo DS?) but you're also feeding the depths in your soul and nourishing a growing relationship with God.

One night during our stay in the Cotswolds, I had a terrible nightmare. It's really rare for me to have bad dreams and this one was pretty bad. I didn't want to wake up Jem and I didn't have to: in those minutes of anxiety when I awoke I was able to immediately feed and calm my soul and mind with the truth from Psalm 27.

Nourishment. Fresh bread. Try it. More thoughts will come this week on the simple method I use for my devotional life and enjoying fresh bread through the mentoring of the Holy Spirit and the use of scripture.

Happy moments

Happy times on holiday. I don't know where Grace gets her theatrics from...

Spiritual gift evaluation

During my time away I had opportunities to share and live my faith amongst people who don't know the joy of following Jesus. I had a precious time with one particular family who have just been through a personal tragedy and we just shared stories and thoughts for a good couple of hours. At times we covered theological or philosophical questions and I felt so alive in sharing my thoughts and perspective with them. It's another indicator to me of something I've known for a long time; my spiritual gift in evangelism. Put me in a place with people who don't know Jesus and I'm in my element. Do I sometimes have nerves? Of course. Do I make mistakes? Of course. But deep down is a confidence and an 'aliveness' that always exists for me in sharing my faith with people who don't follow Jesus.

When we become Christians, we are given a 'new birth' by the Holy Spirit, including receiving spiritual gifts. It's been my joy since being a Christian to discover and grow in mine (leadership, teaching and evangelism), and now its my joy to help others discover theirs. There is an 'aliveness' that many people do not know because they are missing the joy of being who they were made to be in an area that really makes a difference: no riches can buy such joy. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that 'we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' We have been created for a unique purpose; you have a role in his great adventure. You are critical and valuable to God's plan. God has given us gifts; our responsibility is to receive, identify, develop and use them. (If we aren't particularly gifted in one particular area, it doesn't 'get us off the hook' meaning we don't need to do them! We are all called to be merciful, some have the spiritual gift of mercy).

To help you in this, we've made available a spiritual gifts evaluation form on our church website. Simply click on the logo and print out the form. If you need help with doing it, just call the office or speak to your Small Group leader. You will probably want to follow up the experience with chatting and praying about it. I'd love to help, or Claire Davis, our Serving Coordinator is available too. To see the form, click here.

Life, but not as I know it

I return to 'active duty' on Sunday after a couple of weeks off for time with my family. More posts about that later. I've been quiet on the blog because I've been away, but I've lots of thoughts to share over the coming weeks. I'm beginning to allow myself to reflect about returning and what I'm returning to (I've purposefully not thought about my responsibilities during my holiday to truly rest) and the first thought is that Rosie, our Administrator and a great support to me, has retired. Rosie was a joy to work with, developed the role tremendously, served sacrificially and its hard to imagine the office without her. Our search for a new administrator continues in a bigger, expanded role as the needs of the church grow (deadline for applications on Friday 15th), but for now I'm just missing Rosie. Here are a couple of photos of her last day. Click on each image to see a bigger version.

 

Summer evenings

Summer Sunday evenings are going to be awesome. It's a brilliant DVD resource with material that will growth faith and mature listeners, excellently shot, and the evenings will feature facilitated discussion and acoustic performances (if you'd like to perform please e-mail Simon at PBC or the office). The evenings will be equally suitable for people unfamiliar with church as they will be for Christians seeking material to helpl them grow in their faith. I'm excited abut this one. For more information, please go to PBC's website. The late late Selwyn Hughes considered this key teaching to be his legacy to future generations. In coming to these evenings you will gain:

• A more positive outlook
• Greater perseverance
• Kingdom priorities and a much greater sense of God's presence and power in your life.