Lessons from little things

Way back in the 1960s the mission team in which I worked used to visit a Canadian pastor and his wife who were very hospitable.  Before we left their home there was a tradition of taking a dip in a "Promise Box".  For the benefit of those of younger years or less evangelical traditions these were small cardboard boxes tightly packed with tiny pieces of paper rolled up and on end, with a pair of tweezers to extract them.  On each was written a verse of scripture.  While some might have foolishly used them as a form of discovering divine guidance the real intention was just to bless people by letting them take a dip into God's word.

The problem relating this particular promise box was that not all the dips into the box brought out a heart-warming promise.  One particular item we always sought to avoid if we could was a quote from Proverbs 6 verse 6 "Go to the ant thou sluggard"!  This was definitely to be avoided in a Christian culture that allowed no time for rest or relaxation!

While the context of this verse is definitely an exhortation against idleness, the complete sentence is profound understanding of entomology (you can look it up later if necessary!).  Here is the whole sentence from the NIV.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

7 

It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 

yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Ants are the most prolific creatures on planet earth.  Their combined weight (there are 12,000 different species) outweighs the total human population.  They are not only industrious, incredibly fast and strong, but they are also well organised.  Different ants in a single nest will have specific jobs.  Some serve the queen and her brood, others collect and store food, some are soldiers with systematic patrols, and some are responsible for refuse removal and the transport of the dead to a burial place.  

But these efficient communities exist without any kind of hierarchy, exactly as Proverbs 6 verse 7 proclaims (how did the writer know that?).  Like the kingdom of God there are no "lords" to dominate others; there is mutual respect and assistance.  They work together as members of one body or superorganism.  One particularly interesting feature is how they forage for food.  As they go out they lay down a scent trail that others can follow.  If they find a good supply they add to the scent trail on their return.  This stronger trail attracts others with each ant adding to the strength of the trail.

The parallels with the principles of the kingdom of God are amazing.  Secular organisations are almost always organised in a hierarchy but Christians within the body of Christ - and I suggest our churches - are supposed to be organised differently.  We all have particular functions within the body of Christ but we are all necessary and mutual respect is vital.  We might place different values on the various functions but we should value all people the same.  An ants nest would become a hazardous place were it not for those that clear away the rubbish and dead bodies.  But the ants doing the clearing up would be in trouble if there were not soldiers on duty.

But I love the bit about laying down a trail for others to follow.  Shouldn't we be doing something similar in our walks of faith?  When we discover something that enriches our spiritual lives, or a better way of getting closer to God, shouldn't we then so demonstrate this that it provides a  pattern of discipleship for others to emulate?  If we were all so modelling a walk with God, others coming into the faith would quickly grow.  The trouble is that we adopt the hierarchical model and look to professional ministers to do the teaching.

One of the better kings of Judah was Amaziah who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord ...and followed the example of his father (2Kings 14). Paul writes to the Corinthians, "Follow my example, as I follow Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1).  Timothy was encouraged to "be an example" (1 Tim. 4:12).  The greatest Christian leaders are not those who have exercised authority over others but those that have followed the example of Christ, walked in humility and left a clear trail for others to follow.

Just occasionally ants get it wrong and miss the right path.  The consequence of this is that they end up going round in pointless circles.  This can happen to an individual ant following its own trail or it can happen to hundreds of ants that collectively hurry on relentlessly in a spiral of death.  The tragedy is that they just don't realise what a dreadful mistake they are making.  Perhaps that sounds like some churches too!

The vision presents many challenges about how we relate together as part of God's mission.  What might prevent our functioning efficiently without the need for someone to organise and instruct us?  What would church look like if we were bold enough to become a 'superorganism'?  How would that impact our overall mission?

Looking back on the past week
There is much to thank God for.

The operation last Friday went well and I have taken out time over the past seven days to let my body recover.  I am now well on the way and I am grateful for the prayers and messages received.

I had some good news and answers to prayer at the beginning of the week.  Several things happened on Monday that have helped move things forward for Mission for Christ/Action for Christ.  This seemed way beyond coincidence and the pattern has followed through the week.  Thank you for praying.  We are not there yet but have made big strides this week.  Please keep praying about this situation (see previous posts).

Requests for copies of "Time for Action" have continued to come in. But there are far too many who have not read this important book that is so helpful in understanding how abuse can happen in churches, how to prevent it, and how to care for those who have been victims.  Well informed churches and church leaders are safer than those who say "It could never happen here".

Requests for support and advice on rural mission have increased during the week.  Again, this is all about our core vision being fulfilled so please keep praying.  We try to lay down a good and safe trail for others to follow.

Copies of Country Way have arrived and will go out to members of the Rural Evangelism Network next week.  The current issue includes a feature on mission through art. This magazine is a brilliant resource and sadly underused.  A year's subscription is just £9.00 and includes postage or it is available in an e-reader version on line for £7.50 per year.  Please pray for more subscribers.

Also some sad news as one of the two Elaine's went to be with the Lord on Thursday.  For her it is far better.  We remember her family, friends and church at this time.

The coming week and items for prayer

Sunday 23rd - Yelvertoft Congregational Church

Monday 24th - School Assembly, Lubenham Primary School.  

There is also an international conference planning meeting in London that I am unable to attend on this occasion. Please include this in your prayers.

Tuesday 25th - regular visit to HMP Gartree (first after an excellent concert by the choir)

Wednesday 26th - teaching at the Salvation Army Training College, London on their Safe & Sound Course.

Thursday 27th - we start a new series for the village Bible Discussion meetings as we delve into Isaiah.

Sunday 30th - HMP Gartree and Yelvertoft Congregational Church.

Barry

It's all about team work

I am posting this a little early as I am unsure that I will be able to write it tomorrow.  This afternoon (Friday) I have to go to hospital for some minor surgery.  Although it is minor and will be dealt with on a Day Surgery Unit it requires a general anaesthetic and I have been advised to take it easy for the following several days.  I have therefore cleared my diary for the whole of next week.

So on this occasion there is not biblical reflection and nothing particularly about my activities so I can stand back and ask for prayer on a wider basis.  So here are some broad outlines and a glimpse into the wider ministry circle.

Congregational Colleagues
Although the Congregational Federation is a relatively small denomination there is so much to be thankful for including the support staff in our offices headed up by our General Secretary, Michael Heaney.  I am especially encouraged by the investment that has been made in encouraging and enabling mission.  So much to thank God for.  But I ask your prayers for two colleagues in ministry, both called Elaine, and both battling serious forms of cancer.

Rural Evangelism Network
Please give thanks for our new committee and pray for us.  I have to arrange a committee meeting soon from which we will be developing an agenda in accordance with decisions of our members.  There are other matters that arise out of REN.

Country Way
This is such a fantastic magazine and it is a privilege to be part of the editorial group.  We started out many years ago as an independent magazine produced collaboratively and REN was one of the partners.  I was the first Chairman of the publishing company and chaired editorial meetings over several years.  During this time we felt that it would be best to gift the magazine to the Arthur Rank Centre (ARC) but continue to publish it on a collaborative basis.  The ARC have really carried the work and costs since its beginning.  The current editor is Jill Hopkinson, the national Rural Officer for the Church of England.  Her predecessor and the original editor is Jeremy Martineau.  Both Jill and Jeremy are really great people.  Please give thanks for the editorial team and the success of this fantastic magazine.  Please pray as we are developing an on line version and would love to see the number of subscribers (both printed and on line versions) increase substantially.  It is a key resource for information, ideas and inspiration.

Rural Ministry Colleagues
I have so many good friends and could not possibly mention all buy name, so here are just a few for your prayers.  Simon Martin a staff member at ARC who has been unwell with various issues over recent months.  Jerry Marshall who now heads up the important ministry of the ARC.  Graham Jones who is the Methodist and URC Rural national Officer also based at ARC.  Stephen Cope and Ron Spillards who both recently lost their wives after long periods of illness.

International Congregational Fellowship
Do please look up the website at www.intercong.org.  You can also find us on Facebook.  Four years ago I was appointed as its Communications Officer and I also convene a Structures Commission.  There is not a great deal of work normally but this has intensified as we have a quadrennial international conference 29th July to 2nd August at Brunel University, West London.  Please pray for Val Price and Phaedon Cambouropoulos our Co-Modrators and for Geraint Tudur who will take over the role from the Conference.  Give thanks for all who are working hard behind the scenes to make this a successful event.  Please pray also for enthusiastic and able people who will take over my roles.

Yelvertoft
When Doreen and I left Herstmonceux, East Sussex, we wondered if we would ever find such a wonderful ministry experience.  Ministry at Yelvertoft Congregational Church, though different to Herstmonceux, is an equal blessing.  The whole congregation is like a ministry team, the village has welcomed us and our work, the church has grown spiritually and numerically and we have such good friends in other churches in the village and area. For your prayers we are just starting to establish a new aspect in the life of the church and ask your prayers for wisdom.  Give thanks for those who take some of the services in my place, Gordon Temple, John Harris and Angela Berry.  Gordon will be there this Sunday.

Rural Mission Solutions
Although this is the major part of my ministry I will not write much at this time.  Please pray for my colleague, Monica Cook, still not 100% recovered from her accident during ministry in Malawi recently.  Give thanks for a good team of trustees.  Please pray for the East Midlands Support and Management Team as our Chairperson has now left to take up a new and exciting ministry within the Congregational Federation.  Our prayers go with Suzanne Nockells.  We give God thanks for increased income (much needed) at the start of the year.  Prayer and financial support for all aspects of this ministry is needed and many of our supporters are ageing and have limited income.

YOU!
I firmly believe that all members of the Body of Christ are of equal importance and value.  God has made us to be interdependent.  We need one another.  Some that receive this via email or who look it up on the internet pray earnestly.  Some pray very early in the mornings; others pray late into the night.  Some pray every day; some pray after receiving the news.  However you pray and whatever you are able to do practically to help - you are a vital part of my life and I give God thanks for you.

Barry

Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly

I wonder what your response was to the news story this week about Geoffrey Bettley.  Bettley is the school teacher who, having been arrested and cautioned by the police for possessing a large number of child porn images on his computer, had been in formed by a professional conduct panel that he could return to his work.  It has been interesting to see the response of the media and of MPs.  It found quite a prominent place within the news so it is unlikely that anyone reading what I am writing will have missed it.  But how did you respond?

Clearly the popular response was that he should not be allowed to return to teaching.  Many are left wondering how the panel involved could take the matter so lightly.  However, my experience in working in the area of child and vulnerable adult safety in churches leads me to suspect that many Christians would have taken a lenient attitude.  The kind of comments I tend to hear are, "Are we not people who believe in forgiveness?  Doesn't God give second chances, so shouldn't we so the same?"

We read in Micah 6:8 that God expects us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.  Loving mercy does not mean being soft on sin; being soft on sin would mean a failure to act justly.  The whole issue of repentance and forgiveness is one of the areas on which I teach in various aspects of my own regular involvement in helping churches and Christian leaders to understand the nature of sexual abuse, the practise of grooming and abuse, ad the pastoral care of those who have been victims.

I am aware that there are sometimes 'grey areas', but on the Bettley situation and the evidence of what was stated in the press I would certainly not want to see him back working with children.  I am glad to see he has stated clearly that he will not do so.  The high profile of his case is likely to make it impossible anyway.

An act of sexual abuse can have a serious and long lasting impact on the primary victim, as well as impact many others.  For that reason careful management is vital.  Risk should be avoided which is why past offenders, no matter how minor their offence are flagged up to potential employers or those who run voluntary organisations involving children or vulnerable adults.  Occasionally the system might not bar someone but draw attention to a past incident on record.  It is on these occasions that a decision has to be made by a panel, whose difficult task is to seek a just outcome.  It is not easy.

What should be done, for example if the offence might appear to have been less serious, a once only offence a very long time ago - perhaps during the time when the offender was a juvenile or still immature?  Where the offender admitted what was done and taken their punishment at that time, and clearly repented, is it right that one slip should mar their future lives and employment or service prospects?  For Christians there is the added dimension of combining legal requirements with our own understanding of forgiveness.  But there is a significant misunderstanding about forgiveness.

My own understanding is that no third party, other than God, can forgive someone for what they have done to another person.  If A offends against B what right has C to decide to forgive them?  But in many of our churches that is precisely the situation; C decides that A should be forgiven and presses B to do so also.  But I do not believe that God forgives unconditionally.  He requires repentance, so shouldn't we also?  But many victims where abuse has taken place in a Christian context never see evidence of real repentance let alone an apology.  Real repentance means a humble and open acknowledgement of the wrong, a full apology, and an acceptance of its consequences.

All too often, where an abused person has chosen to forgive their abuser it has provided an opportunity for the abuser to repeat his or her crimes with others.  Sexual abuse can often become habitual and even addictive behaviour.  Bettley had visited child porn sites more than once over a period of time.  So in my view this is not a grey area.  However, grey areas do exist and serving on a panel that seeks to act justly while managing risk to others will remain a difficult task. Each situation requires an informed judgement and in most cases that information will remain partial.  But what is formally required of an appointed panel sometimes comes informally to church leaders and sometimes whole congregations.  Refusal to judge is a judgement itself, and  the quality of our judgement is something that will be judged by God.

If you want to explore the subject further you can order copies of Time for Action from me for £7.95 post free.  For Anglicans there is another title on which I also worked, Responding Well, available from Church House Bookshop and is downloadable.  I am always ready to provide confidential advice or to offer helpful sessions for churches, clergy groups, and similar.

News in brief

We had an encouraging trustees meeting for Sunrise Ministries (the charity within which my rural ministry and mission is conducted).  Although faced with some difficulties the trustees maintain a confident attitude that is very enabling to my colleague and myself and those who work alongside us.

My time with the lads at HMP Gartree on Tuesday was another encouragement.  They worked hard and produced some wonderful outcomes as we look forward to the opportunity this coming week.

I spent Friday and Saturday with other line managers of mission worker and Area officers of the Congregational Federation.  It was time well spent and very good fellowship.  The same can be said for the Area Executive meeting on Friday evening.

Give thanks for so much encouragement.

From this week's diary

Sunday 9th  Yelvertoft Congregational Church

Tuesday 11th In the morning I meet with Rebecca, the Children and Families worker for whom I am line manager.  In the afternoon i will be working in HMP Gartree.

Wednesday 12th late afternoon/early evening the choir will be singing and acting plus two other musical contributions before an invited group of prisoners and various staff and voluntary workers.  This is the choir's opportunity to offer something good to others.

Friday 14th I am going into hospital for minor surgery and will than take the following week off.

As always please pray that our ministry will be guided by the Lord and that he will bless his word, drawing people closer to himself.  Please also pray that God will supply all we need spiritually and materially.  We give thanks for his great goodness.

Barry

Taking time to listen

Possibly the worst character trait that I have is jumping in when someone else is speaking.  Sometimes it happens if the person talking seems to be rambling.  But that's not the only occasion.  I am better at listening to someone with a speech impediment such as a stammer, and only interject if they signal they want my help. I'm not exactly sure what the cause of my bad habit is but whatever the reason there is no justification.  It would be my own fault if the other person felt that my bad habit was a sign that I didn't really care enough to listen.  I do care.

Having someone give time to listen to us is something we all appreciate.  Whether it's a child telling you a joke you have heard many times before, or a person rehearsing their medical symptoms, or someone trying to explain  how something works that we might think is not particularly relevant - the person doing the talking is seeking someone to listen.  When a person finds that no one wants to listen it can cause their personality to become closed.  Sadly, an aspect of our modern life seems to be all too few who will truly listen.  Listening is a skill.  If we are honest we know that all too often we stop listening at some point and start to think what we will say when we can get a word in edgeways.

Doesn't it thrill you that we have a listening God?  We can pour out our troubles.  We can talk about our delights.  We can explain our problems.  We can moan about anything.  And he will listen.  Even though he has the wisdom to know just what to say in response, he listens faithfully.  But he also longs that after we have finished speaking we would take time to listen to what he has to say.  That might come through scripture or simply a quiet conviction in our heart.  Sometimes he may remain silent but that won't be because he hasn't been listening.

Among other things we are celebrating this year is the Queen's coronation 60 years ago.  I spent that occasion in hospital having my tonsils and adenoids removed.  It was a rough time for me and I was in hospital for two weeks.  To make up for what we missed all the children on the ward were given a gift and mine was an autograph book.  I got it signed by my surgeon and some of the nurses.  I also asked the pastor from my church to sign it too when he visited.  He wrote "Whenever you are in a fix, look up Philippians 4 verse 6.".  Perhaps you know that verse: don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.

Let's give thanks for a listening God.  But let's be polite in response and listen carefully to him as well.

Items for praise and prayer
On Sunday I am taking the morning meeting at Yelvertoft where I plan to speak on "Who do you say that I am?"

On Monday we have our Sunrise Ministries trustees meeting in London.  Please give thanks for our trustees and the two management teams that provide oversight and support for our ministry at both mission centres.  Pray for wisdom in the meeting on Monday.  Thank you for your prayers as I have prepared for this.

On Tuesday I will be at HMP Gartree.  The men are encouraged that we have an opportunity to perform the songs we have practised for the benefit of some visitors from outside prison and some other residents.  The members of the choir love to be of service.

Give thanks for the response to the piece I wrote a few weeks ago about the need for churches to be well informed about the causes of sexual abuse, how to guard against them and how to provide appropriate pastoral care to support those who have been victims.  Often they have a need of a good listener.  Several copies of the book Time for Action were ordered.  More are available for £7.95 post free if you haven't received one.

It will be a busy weekend.  On Friday and Saturday there is an event at Nottingham I will attend as the line manager for two part time mission workers in the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation.  On the Friday evening the Area Executive Meeting is in Leicester.

Please give thanks for the Lord's provision for the ministry.  Earlier this year we received donations through a Christian stewardship organisation.  We do not know who sent them but we are very grateful. Please also pray that our needs will continue to be met.

Finally, most of the work in which I have been involved helping Action for Christ has been completed apart from two important legal items.  Please pray that all will be completed in good time to enable me to resume my research degree.

Don't forget that seven prayerless days makes one weak.  God says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  Jer. 33:3

Barry