This is a longer blog than usual. It is the content of a newsletter sent out to friends over the past few days by snail mail.
It
has been an extremely busy summer and I have tried to keep as many of our
prayer partners as possible informed via emails. However, there are many who do not have email
addresses at present and we need all the prayer we can encourage.
Before
I share news of recent and forthcoming activities I would like to share with
you a major challenge that we face. In
2008 when the credit crunch began, few would have realised that we would still
be caught up in global financial difficulties this far down the line. My immediate concern at that time was the
impact the crisis would have on overseas mission work so I was keen to
encourage Christians to be faithful in their giving through difficult times –
especially supporting any overseas mission work. However we have not been immune from financial
problems.
Despite
the fact that there are millions of people in rural UK who have yet to hear the
gospel clearly presented, the vast majority of Christians in this country do
not see rural evangelism as a priority.
Because we usually work with small numbers that do not grab the
headlines, it can seem insignificant.
However, proportionately things are very different. For example, the church I serve as part-time
minister has seen 25% growth in attendance over the past year, and 500% growth in
less than six years!
For
the last few years both aspects of the work of Sunrise Ministries (i.e. Monica
Cook’s activities and mine) have been running with an annual deficit. Here in the East Midlands we are now moving
into a critical stage. Because Doreen
and I do not draw a stipend from the mission our operating costs are relatively
low. The church at Yelvertoft provides
us with a two fifths stipend which we are able to supplement with pension. God has always met our personal needs and we
are thankful to him. Our concern is to
cover the costs of our activities and we are busier than ever.
Ministry at Yelvertoft
Setting
up Bible Discussion Groups in the village has been encouraging as they have
been well attended by enthusiastic participants. We are currently working through 1
Corinthians, having already completed Philippians as well as a themed
series. This is our 350th
anniversary year and we have various events planned during October. We are also carrying out building work to
make the premises accessible to those with disability. Our 500% growth has brought us from four to
twenty. Pastoring a village church 14
miles from where we live, and on a two days a week basis brings challenge, but
we have much to thank God for both in the commitment of our members and those
who share in ministry.
Action for Christ
Since
mid-June a large amount of my time has been spent in urgent work related to
this
organisation,
previously known as Mission for Christ. I joined MfC straight from school, trained
and then went into full time work, remaining in the organisation for 25
years. By the time I left it had an
evangelistic team, a national network of associates, a training programme, and
much more. Some later unfortunate circumstances
led to decline but the organisation was seeking to make good use of financial
resources supporting three ministries and engaging in what looked a promising
ministry in Yorkshire. In June this year
I received an unexpected request to become a trustee as the organisation was
facing some difficulties. However, the
true picture only emerged in the following weeks. The charity was in a critical situation and
various urgent actions had to be taken.
Even now its future is somewhat uncertain and I value your prayers for
wisdom for the small team of trustees as we seek to manage what remains and
seek God for a vision for the future.
The
whole story cannot be shared here but if you wish to know more please let me
know.
Ireland
In
a few weeks’ time I will be making my first ministry visit to Ireland at the
request of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
I will be speaking in Belfast on rural ministry and mission at a
gathering of their rural ministers. I am
also in touch with friends in the Republic who would like to take advantage of
my visit. I am delighted with this
opportunity.
Germany
A
university in what was East Germany has been working with us and re-publishing
some of my writing on rural evangelism.
There is a great need for evangelism in the rural areas of Germany and I
hope to follow up on the work already undertaken to see if we can help develop
similar indigenous ministry there.
Research into Rural Evangelism
You
may be aware that I enrolled as a research student with Winchester University
with the aim of undertaking a substantial piece of academic work exploring how
evangelism is understood and practised in rural England. My first year had to be spent reviewing
related studies (though nothing exists directly related to the topic) and completing
essential training in research skills. I
have now had to interrupt the programme because of the extra pressure of recent
months, but hope to pick up on this again in the New Year. Meanwhile I will be meeting with key church
leaders to develop the research in ways that will bring the maximum benefit to
others.
Rural Evangelism Network
Much
has changed in rural Britain since this network was established in 1982. It was established to create a forum for
sharing insights and experiences in rural evangelism with representation from
the Churches and mission agencies. Many
of those who had the vision and passion for this network have moved to other
ministries or retired. I would love to
see some new life brought to the network and will be working with colleagues on
this. Meanwhile I have been undertaking
various speaking engagements and maintaining the Network’s website at
www.ruralevangelism.net. We have a
special rural mission consultation this autumn in Cornwall when I will be
joined by my good friend, Gordon Banks.
New Trustees
We
welcome three new trustees to Sunrise Ministries. The Rev’d John Bradley is a Methodist
Minister and a long term supporter of our ministry. John now works for Churches Together in
England. The Rev’d Jim Mullin is a
Baptist Minister from Cambridgeshire. He
and I met up when he used a sabbatical to study the relationship between larger
town churches and smaller rural ministry.
Chris Knott has been a supporter for some time and runs a Christian
ministry called Starfish Malawi. He and
Monica have worked together.
We
have bidden farewell to former trustees Alan Tarling and Ron Baker both of whom
have contributed significantly to the ministry.
Our long-serving Chair of Trustees, Stan Acland will retire in November. We are so very grateful to all three and pray
that the Lord will continue to bless and use them. Tim Woodward and the Rev’d Graham Wise are
our continuing trustees.
Please
pray for our trustees and the two management teams that look after and support
our two centres of rural ministry.
Other Spheres of Influence
As
part of my work within the Rural Evangelism Network I am part of the Editorial
Team for Country Way, which is an
excellent magazine about life and faith in the countryside. I am also Chair of the Churches Rural Group
which is the official ecumenical representative body in England (though we have
folk from Scotland as well). I am also
part of the Rural Round Table run by Fresh Expressions.
As
a minister within the Congregational Federation I represent it within the
Churches Group for Evangelization (another network group) in addition to being
on a few boards and committees either nationally or regionally. Part of this involvement has to do with
encouraging others into ministry, which is extremely rewarding. It also creates a platform to encourage a
vision for rural ministry.
Practical Needs
At
the start of this letter I shared with you that we have been operating with a
deficit for the last few years. We look
to the Lord to meet our needs personally and as a ministry. Some churches and organisations we serve
donate towards or to cover the costs.
But this leaves a natural shortfall that can only be made up through
donations from those who share our concern for effective and appropriate
evangelism in rural Britain.
We
are very grateful to all who support the ministry in prayer or with donations
(whether occasional or regular). Please
make this practical need a matter of prayer.
Internet
If
you use the internet but have not been receiving our regular weekly emailed
newsletter please let us have your email address.
We
maintain two rural ministry websites at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk and
www.ruralevangelism.net. You can also
find us on Facebook and Twitter. We get
high levels of visits to the websites not only from the UK but around the
world. These are important aspects of
ministry that also need regular prayer support.
On a personal note
Doreen’s
peripheral neuropathy now makes walking difficult and she has also had to give
up driving. However, she remains very
active, undertaking a supportive and enabling role. My own health is generally good enough for me
to be as active as ever. Your prayers
for us personally are really appreciated, especially when you pray for our walk
with God. Success in ministry comes not
from overworking – but from overflowing!
I
pray that the Lord will abundantly bless you and use you for his praise and
glory.
Yours
sincerely in Christ,
Barry
Barry
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