What a week! Monday and Tuesday contained a 24 hour residential for the Churches Group for Evangelization at High Leigh, Hoddesdon. Then back to Market Harborough for my weekly visit to prison. Wednesday was Churches Rural Group in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, Thursday was session two in the series on Friendship Evangelism I am helping to run. Then we were off to a Farm Stay B&B in Bromsgrove and an evening gathering with some of my cousins who live in the area. Friday morning I had personal business to attend to in Kidderminster and then off to Doreen's visit sister in Preston, Lancashire, stopping off to visit Sheila (a former colleague) at Crewe on the way. On Saturday morning we helped Doreen's sister sort out some of the things she no longer needs since the passing of her husband, packing the car out with lawn mowers, power washer, garden hose, garden seats, tree lopper......etc! On the way back home we stopped off to spend time with Alfred and Sylvia Lavender, eventually arriving home Saturday evening amazed at how much we had managed to pack into two days (not to mention how much we had packed into the car!
The title of this news post comes from the agenda of the residential at the start of last week. Is evangelism just a mechanical process or does it have roots in some form of genuine Christian spirituality? As part of this discussion I made reference to the 'Values Statement' I introduced at Yelvertoft. The thinking behind this Statement was to define the life and work of the church in some other way than using dogma and doctrine. It has become a mission statement, both informing ourselves and using a language that communicates to those outside the church. Here it is:
We value all individuals, young and old, male and female, regardless of wealth, ability, or standing in society. We value communities in which individuals care for one another. We value the kind of love that puts other people’s needs before our own.
The title of this news post comes from the agenda of the residential at the start of last week. Is evangelism just a mechanical process or does it have roots in some form of genuine Christian spirituality? As part of this discussion I made reference to the 'Values Statement' I introduced at Yelvertoft. The thinking behind this Statement was to define the life and work of the church in some other way than using dogma and doctrine. It has become a mission statement, both informing ourselves and using a language that communicates to those outside the church. Here it is:
We value all individuals, young and old, male and female, regardless of wealth, ability, or standing in society. We value communities in which individuals care for one another. We value the kind of love that puts other people’s needs before our own.
We value justice for all people and long for a world
where there is greater fairness and equality.
We value truth. We value kindness
and compassion. We value deeds more than
empty words.
We value the peace that comes from respect for other
people who might be different from us in some way. We value the kind of unity that can also
celebrate diversity. In other words we
value the kind of world about which Jesus taught and for which he gave his
life.
The week ahead
Monday 17th Meeting with the new CEO of Rural Ministries
Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th Study days (no prison visit this week)
Thursday 20th 10.30 Bible Study Group at Yelvertoft; 2.00 Home Group on Friendship Evangelism at Market Harborough (I have now written three sessions and starting on the fourth).
Friday 21st Collect portable baptismal pool from Northampton. Setting it up on Saturday.
Sunday 23rd believer's Baptismal Service at Yelvertoft. Please pray for Catherine and members of her family.
Please also pray for a very special friend, Alan, who has known me since early childhood and supported and encouraged me in my ministry. He is unwell in hospital where he is also grasping every opportunity to witness for Christ.
Barry
The week ahead
Monday 17th Meeting with the new CEO of Rural Ministries
Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th Study days (no prison visit this week)
Thursday 20th 10.30 Bible Study Group at Yelvertoft; 2.00 Home Group on Friendship Evangelism at Market Harborough (I have now written three sessions and starting on the fourth).
Friday 21st Collect portable baptismal pool from Northampton. Setting it up on Saturday.
Sunday 23rd believer's Baptismal Service at Yelvertoft. Please pray for Catherine and members of her family.
Please also pray for a very special friend, Alan, who has known me since early childhood and supported and encouraged me in my ministry. He is unwell in hospital where he is also grasping every opportunity to witness for Christ.
Barry
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