The Power of the Cross

Then [the other criminal] said, 

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 

Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’ 

(Luke 23:42,43)

At the prison choir practise this week we had a change from rehearsing the items for our next concert and sang a couple of Taize songs including "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom".  The singing lacked feeling so I reminded the choir members where we read these words in scripture.  Silence fell as they listened attentively.  I pointed out the incredible faith that the dying criminal had.  He clearly believed who Jesus was and that his death would not be the end and that there was a glorious future.  There was wonderful hope, even at the point of his own death.

Then one of the members of the choir commented on the response of Jesus.  Not only 'you will be with me in paradise' but TODAY.  We can hardly imagine what that must mean.  But even more wonderful was the fact that this assurance was given to a man who was a self-confessed criminal meriting the death sentence.

The men who shared in these moments of quiet reflection were all serving life sentences.  We sang the words again, repeating them a few times, only this time with feeling.

We have also been practising 'All in the April evening' which focuses on Jesus as the Lamb of God - our sacrifice upon the cross.  Please pray for those choir members who are not yet Christians as they engage with these concepts.

Thank you for your prayers for our ministry this week.  After the prison ministry on Tuesday Doreen and I set off for Blackpool and the meeting of the Congregational Federation's Inter-Church Board.  It was a useful two days and concluded with meeting with local Christian leaders who had come to talk with us about local inter-church cooperation in mission.  It was good to hear of some of their existing initiatives.  We were then able to suggest other ways in which the good news can be shared.  Mission is the central purpose for ecumenical relationships.

On our way home we took some personal time to share a meal with one of Doreen's sisters before journeying on to pick up some papers and bid farewell to Terry Martin, one of my fellow trustees in Action for Christ.  Terry leaves the UK on Tuesday for his homeland in the USA. The complicated entanglements left behind after the years of theft and poor management are steadily becoming disentangled.  We have three issues for which we still need prayer in Action for Christ. These are

(a)  The need to find some additional trustees.

(b)  For an amicable settlement of a situation with a finance company.  The charity, having lost a large amount of money through theft cannot now afford the instalments on a multi-functional printer.  Sadly, at a time back in 2010 when the equipment could have been purchased outright for just over £6,000 the person acting as a kind of CEO took out financing with a gross cost of over £11,000.

(c) Action for Christ was set up to continue the ministry of Mission for Christ (the mission I joined as a young man and in which I worked for 25 years).  In 1979 a former trustee of Mission for Christ left a property to the Mission in his Will but in trust for the benefit of his daughter during her life time.  At the present time it is in trust separate from Mission for Christ and Action for Christ.  I was originally an executor and trustee under the will.  Both the current trustees have indicated they wish to retire from that position and we are in the process of appointing new trustees under the terms of the will.  I will become one of the new trustees.  This is a complex situation and we ask your prayers for wisdom.

From This Week's Diary

Sunday 28th - 10.45 Morning Meeting at Yelvertoft to be followed by the interment of ashes of Jim, one of our past members.  There will be a number of relatives, and perhaps some friends, attending the morning meeting.  I pray that God will guide my thoughts and words on this occasion.

Monday 29th - 9.00 - 5.00 Administration*.

7.00 Church Meeting at Yelvertoft.  A fresh look at our vision and mission.

Tuesday 30th - 1.30 to 3.30 HMP Gartree

Wednesday 1st - 9.00 to 5.00 Administration*

Thursday 2nd -  Bible Discussion Meeting at Yelvertoft (Hebrews 11). Pastoral visits.

Friday 3rd - Morning and afternoon - Training related to the Equalities Act 2010 and how it relates to chaplaincy ministry.

7.00 CF Area Committee meeting, Ashby de la Zouche.

Saturday 4th -  Attending a Gideons' Meeting in Birmingham.

Sunday 5th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church.

*Administration on Monday will include some work for Action for Christ, but the main work will be related to Sunrise Ministries and Rural Mission Solutions.

Please join us in praise and thanks to God for his guidance and blessing through the past weeks activities especially times of ministry.  Praise God also for the progress in resolving Action for Christ issues.

Please pray through the week for the various activities, and that everywhere I will be ready to give a reason for the hope within me.

Wherever you will be during the next seven days it will be the front line in mission, for that starts with who you are and where you are.  Shine brightly.

Barry

Hold the line

It was Thursday morning and I was doing a last minute pastoral check by phone on various members before setting off for the Bible discussion meeting.  Alan was due to come out of hospital a couple of days earlier and I wanted to check how he and his wife Jean were.  The dialling tone was interrupted by the phone being picked up at the other end.  But instead of Jean's usual "Hello" instead I got a computerised message, "Please hold the line".  Then again, "Please hold the line".  Then suddenly Jean and I were connected.

The strange thing was that I had just been preparing for our discussion on Hebrews 10.  If there is one word that sums up the message of the Letter to the Hebrews it would be 'persevere'.  The writer was clearly concerned that they would hold to the new faith they had found and not slip back to the old way of works.  They were to stand firm, or we could say they were to hold the line.  My mind went to the classic film "Zulu".  Hopelessly outnumbered a small band of British soldiers held the line against wave after wave of attacking Zulu warriors.  The battle conclude with mutual appreciation for the courage each side had shown.

I grew up in Hastings and knew the site of the famous battle in 1066.  The Saxons under King Harold held the higher ground.  Try as they might the Normans could not get through their lines.  Then some of the Normans looked as if they were running away and some of the Saxons failed to hold the line, and instead pursued them.  The battle was lost, King Harold was mortally wounded, and all because some men failed to 'hold the line',

Ephesians 6:11 speaks about the schemes of the devil against which we are called to hold the line.  The Greek word translated scheme is the word from which we derive 'strategy'.  Our enemy probes to find our weakest point.  Paul encourages us to have courage and stand firm, clothed in spiritual armour.  We need to hold the line - don't give him so much as a toe hold.

The verses that follow immediately after the description of the armour we are to wear turns the focus to prayer and intercession - especially for the ministry of God's word and the gospel.  It is said that when Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that greatly used Baptist, preached a small group of men met in a room below the pulpit praying.  I identify with Paul's sense of need to repeat the call, "Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel". I am thankful if you have been holding the line with me through recent days.

In addition to various ministry engagements through the week I have been busy following up on the important meetings related to Action for Christ.  We continue to make progress but there is much to be done and we need wisdom.

This week I will be going to Blackpool to meet with other members of the Congregational Federation's Inter-Church Board (ICB).  This is a small team that represents the Federation and its churches in relations with other Christian denominations in Scotland, Wales, England, Europe and inter-faith aspects.  It is not usually the most exciting of aspects of Christian work but it is important and we seek to bring our distinctive perspectives in our relationship with others, as well as being open to learn from what God is doing across the Christian traditions.

Sunday 21st  Yelvertoft Congregational Church

Tuesday 23rd HMP Gartree and afterwards travel to Blackpool

Wednesday & Thursday 24th & 25th ICB meetings in Blackpool

Sunday 28th Yelvertoft Congregational Church.

Please also remember my colleague, Monica, currently ministering in Malawi and Kenya over the next several weeks.  Please also remember two Congregational colleagues, both named Elaine, who were both recently diagnosed with cancer.

Ministry on Sundays at Yelvertoft is currently from the Song of Songs.  This Sunday we will be thinking about how her love and longing for him impacted on others around.  I pray that your love and longing for God will also impact others.  The apostle Peter wrote about giving a reason for the hope that is within us to anyone who asks.  If they haven't been asking much recently what haven't they been seeing?  What might make them take notice of our faith and devotion to Jesus?

May the Lord abundantly bless you and many others through you this week.

Barry

Being Specific in Prayer

On behalf of my colleagues within Action for Christ I would like to say a big thank you for your prayers for us during the past week.  We now have much for which to be thankful.  But before more about that I wanted to share with you my conviction that we often miss out because we fail to be specific when we pray.

Do you find yourself simply praying "Lord, bless...."?  I imagine God scratching his head and wondering what exactly do you want him to do!  It might be a spiritual, physical, financial or indeed any kind of blessing.  There are so many different kinds!  Of course, you could claim to be praying in a way that allows God to act sovereignly.  After all he knows the person or activity you are praying for, so you don't need to be specific.  But if you follow that logic through you might as well never pray.

As an encouragement to be more specific in prayer I would like to share a personal testimony, with apologies to those who have heard or read it before.  Many years ago when I was just a teenager I was privileged to become a full time evangelist, but had to trust God to meet most of my needs as the organisation in which I worked could only pay a very nominal subsistence allowance.  I had one suit.  It was blue, didn't hold the creases in the trousers, and attracted bits of cotton and other items that showed up badly.  I needed something different.

As I prayed privately about this I asked the Lord if he would supply a nice smart clerical grey suit.  About a week just such a suit turned up but it was being worn by Alfred, a fellow evangelist living by faith.  How cross I was about this.  "It was me Lord who asked.  How come Alf has got my answer to prayer!" (Of course it is very probable that Alf had a need and was also praying for a suit, but I was feeling sorry for myself).  A few weeks later I was in  Wales, staying in the home of a Christian couple, when the lady's brother arrived on his way to the airport.  He told me that he was going on holiday and that as he was packing his bags he came across a suit he hadn't worn for a long time and no longer fitted him.  It was also hardly worn and in mint condition.  He went on to explain that as he wondered what he should do with it, my face came into his mind.

"I don't want to embarrass you," he said, "But would you accept a gift of this suit?".  I couldn't help myself and immediately enquired about the colour, and ...... you've guessed it.  It was grey and it fitted me perfectly.  Sometimes we have to keep praying and wait on God patiently.

Buoyed up by this experience of praying specifically, when that suit started to look worn out I prayed again for a suit.  This time I wanted a striped navy suit.  I remember how I prayed.  "Lord, you know the pattern that is in my mind.  Please would you supply a navy suit with just that pattern.  But, Lord, I will accept whatever you want to provide".  I'm not sure whether the last part was me being spiritual about God's will or whether I was giving God a get out.  What I do remember was that as I got off my knees I groaned, "That's done it.  You know he has a sense of humour.  You'll end up having to wear a pink suit!  But just a week or so later I received two separate gifts.  Each one was a suit.  I could have worn the jacket of one with the trousers of the other and no one could have noticed.  Both were navy with stripes!

It was great to get phone messages, texts, and emails this week assuring me of specific prayers for our meeting with people from the Charity Commission on Wednesday.  Some of the messages even arrived during the day.  My fellow trustees, our administrator and I met with three representatives from the Charity Commission.  This important inspection was the result of illegal activities by John Coltman, a former trustee.  Gradually it seemed that the folk from the Commission began to understand how John had managed to obscure important information from the trustees.  They ploughed through files of minutes, accounts and much more.  Finally they confirmed that they could see that the governance of the charity since John's departure was good, and we parted on good terms.

The trustees now have a clearer understanding of how to address several problems.  This will involve hard work and the need for continuing wisdom.  Please also pray for the Commission staff that are dealing with these problems with us as some of the situations left behind by John are complex.  Please pray also for John that he will start trying to put things right.  He took around £26,500 unlawfully from the charity and left us in a precarious position.

On Thursday we were able to adjust our use of time as the Commission enquiry did not need a second day as had been expected.  I used the time to call in on Monica as she set off for ministry in Malawi and Kenya.  I also visited some good Christian friends in East Sussex.  Elizabeth Ingram and I had another important business meeting which we were able to bring forward from Friday.  It was time well spent.  Later that evening I managed to get some personal time and called in on relatives in Hastings.

On Friday morning Elizabeth and I met with a Christian solicitor in Eastbourne who has offered to help us find our way through the tangle of complications left by John.  Bit by bit the way is beginning to become clearer.  We are so thankful for the help we are receiving at last.  On the way home from Eastbourne I received a text message from Philip Stainer, a friend and former member of staff of Mission for Christ (this is the former name of the charity).  He was with his son in south London.  Sam is an audio-visual engineer who has done some good Christian work in this field.  Some of the now surplus equipment from action for Christ was at our church in Dunks Green, near Tonbridge.  A quick couple of phone calls and the church leader met us at the chapel, so enabling me to pass over some of the equipment and ensure its continued usefulness in the Lord's work.

Today I typed up my summary of the various meetings and a schedule of over twenty activities that are now required as we seek to resolve the various situations.  Some actions also took place today but it will be a busy week ahead.  While I was at the offices in Bodiam, East Sussex I was encouraged to hear of some donations received, but there is a need for specific prayer on that topic too so that we can keep the ministry there active while we resolve the legal difficulties.  As things are right now the trustees are having to pay all their own expenses, but who knows what God might do as we pray specifically!

And what do you need prayer for?  Do feel free to inform us of your specific needs and concerns so that we can pray for you.

From this week's diary
Sunday 14th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church followed by a Blessing of Marriage service at Hothorpe Hall Conference Centre.

Tuesday 16th - School Assembly planning meeting in Yelvertoft when we will set out the themes for the term ahead.  In the afternoon I will be working in the prison as usual.  Please pray for 'T' who we have missed from the choir for two weeks following an external incident that cast a shadow over our activities.

May the Lord bless you.

Barry

Facing a challenging week

Thank you for your prayers and the expressions of prayerful support received through the week.  This week's Praise and Prayer News will focus on Action for Christ but I shall also value your prayers for ministry at Yelvertoft on the next two Sundays, and my regular visit to prison on Tuesday afternoon.

We had a really great Easter and much more for which to give thanks.  I hope that you also experienced God gracious blessing through the Easter season.

Action for Christ
I apologise for repeating some aspects of the story but we need your prayers and some explanation is necessary.

I joined Mission for Christ, as it was then known, straight from school and spent the first two years using all my spare time for the mission as I undertook some training.  It was a small organisation in 1963.  Through the 25 years that I spent in the Mission I was privileged to share in evangelistic outreaches and see many men women and young people come to faith in Christ.  I also saw the organisation expand with additional team members and a national network of associates.  We set up the first Training Base for those completing Bible College who felt a call to rural evangelism.  We undertook and published research into various aspects of rural evangelism, and shared in setting up the national Network for Rural Evangelism.

I and several others left in 1988.  A year afterwards an situation was discovered that cast a dark shadow over the organisation and that led to the eventual arrest and imprisonment of the Mission Director.  The  trustee who assumed leadership after this appeared to be a competent and trustworthy person.  Sadly, in early summer last year it was discovered that he had committed VAT fraud in which he had taken almost £30,000 from the organisation.  It was at this stage that I was invited back as a trustee.  This man had also managed the finances recklessly while deliberately keeping the trustees in the dark.  For the second time a leader from the organisation has come to Court and given a custodial sentence (in this case suspended for two years).

By mid-summer 2012 this organisation that had funds of around £500,000 two years before was struggling to survive.  This week there are a series of meetings that are likely to determine the future course for this organisation.  It is for this reason that I ask your prayers this week.

Give thanks

• for the offer of legal advice received in the last few days;
• for the trustees who have been working hard as a team to sort out the problems they have inherited.  I am thankful for Elizabeth and Terry;
• for those who are helping us fulfil ministry requests;
• for those from within past supporters who are standing by the organisation both in prayer and in donations;
• for Heather who is keeping the office open and at work.

Please pray for...

• safety in travelling as the team comes together from around the country late on Tuesday.
• for our meeting with officers of the Charity Commission which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday this week.  Because of the seriousness of what has happened the Commission will undertake a thorough investigation and audit of the charity.  This could be a difficult process.
• for an appointment with the legal adviser on Friday morning.  We need wise counsel as we have three major complex issues to address.
• for appointments later in the day related to a complicated trust indirectly linked to the charity.
• for at least one additional trustee to be willing to join the team at this time.  Terry is a USA citizen and returns to the States in May.  It is imperative that someone is appointed before that time.

The Bible speaks about seasons.  Although I look back on many years of fruitful ministry in that organisation, we cannot but wonder whether it is time to wind up this organisation.  If it is to continue then we need clear guidance as to its specific role within God's mission.  We no longer have the funds or the human resources with which the organisation was blessed in the past.  We need to understand what season we are in and what is to come.

It is inevitable that I will be preoccupied with this aspect during the week, though I will remain in touch with the office at home by phone each day.  Please pray that the Lord's hand will rest upon all aspects through this time.

Thank you.

Barry
PS  Computer Problem.  During the past week Microsoft updated some of the apps on my tablet computer and in the process severed the calendar link and erased some entries that had not been synchronised to my laptop. If anyone reading this is aware of a forthcoming engagement made during February or March please contact me as soon as possible.