They could never have imagined...

They could never have imagined...
During the past week, the 75th anniversary of VE Day has been much in the news and I found myself wondering about how much the world has changed over those years in ways that survivors of WW2 would never have imagined.

The ability to travel around the world by jet aircraft would have been unimaginable, not to mention space exploration and satellite technology.  Computers were more of a concept than a reality and were mechanical rather than electronic.  So being able to carry a sophisticated computer in our pockets or handbags would have been thought to be fiction, even if it could have been imagined. Automated washing machines, domestic freezers, and microwave ovens would not emerge for many years.

TV  broadcasting was embryonic when war broke out, so the idea of multi-channel colour TV would have been well beyond comprehension.  Long after the end of the war most people still had to go out to a booth to make a phone call.  Then there's artificial intelligence..... The list goes on and on.

The big dream after the war was for world peace, but millions have died in conflicts since then. That too would have been unimaginable.

Alongside these reflections, I have been pondering the significant cultural changes since I wrote my first book on rural evangelism in 1990.  At that time there was still a marked contrast between suburban and rural life, though the population movement from towns and cities into the countryside had begun to drive change.  Today, the boundaries between suburban living and rural lifestyle have been almost entirely eroded in some parts of the country, and to some degree in almost all the remainder.

Today, as we continue the struggle with a pandemic, we find ourselves wondering what kind of a world will we emerge into after lockdown.  I live in a country town that has been growing over the past ten years.  Through the past months I have benefitted from the kindness of neighbours who have helped with shopping and passed culinary delights over the garden fence.  Meanwhile I have heard the daily chatter across gardens as people suddenly find they have time, and that it's good to talk.

Churches have risen to the challenge brought when we were not able to meet in buildings.  Now, with many more people attending online services than used to come to church, we are wondering what the pattern after lockdown should look like.  We need to ask some hard questions and do some imaginative thinking if we are to grasp the opportunities that societal change has brought.  

Intriguingly, it makes rather prophetic, the piece I wrote several weeks ago about churches being fit for the future.  Could we have imagined, even then, what church would look like today?  So how are you and your church grasping those opportunities to share your faith? Have you told your neighbours about the online services in which you are sharing, and why you are watching and listening to them.  Or is that meant to be a secret?

What the first Christians could never have imagined is how easy it is today to communicate with millions of people all over the world through the use of Facebook, WhatsApp, Zoom, Emails, etc.  The early Christians had the enthusiasm but not the technology.  We have the technology but not the.......  

That, they could never have imagined!

Barry
Rev Barry Osborne
CEO,Rural Mission Solutions
9the May 2020

Opportunity Knocks

It is almost 30 years since this early broadcast talent show aired its last programme, so it’s probable that some of those reading this will not remember it.  I was amazed to discover that it began in 1949 - 70 years ago! I think Opportunity Knocks was a great name for a show that opened a door to a career for Les Dawson, Paul Daniels, Pam Ayres, Su Pollard, Freddie Starr, Mary Hopkin and many more.

But the title also speaks into two New Testament verses that speak about opportunity knocking (Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5).  In the Authorised Version it is translated as “redeeming the time” and more modern translations use “making the most of every opportunity”.  Opportunities knock for every Christian on a regular basis.  The trouble is that most of us fail to recognise them before it is too late.

The classic illustration from the Hebrew Scriptures is the story of Esther.  The Jews scattered among the Babylonian, and later Persian Empires were threatened with extinction.  One woman was the only person with a unique opportunity to change this. Having won an international beauty competition she had been appointed as Queen to King Ahasuerus.  However, grasping that opportunity could have cost her life.  Seeing the uniqueness of the opportunity as a gift from God, her cousin says to her, “... who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4 NKJV).  Esther stepped up to the mark and brought about a great deliverance.  She made the most of the opportunity.

I have always found the foundation for the great Hebridean Revival an inspiration.  Two ladies, housebound, had been interceding for the salvation of others when God revealed to them that a village evangelist from the Faith Mission should be sent for to conduct special meetings.  Despite at first seeming impossible, the women remained steadfast that Duncan Campbell should come. He did and the revival that changed the lives of thousands began. It might have been a different story had not the two women not have grasped the opportunity that limited mobility gave them to spend much time in prayer.

Many years ago, a dear Strict Baptist preacher, Mr Oliver from the village of Egerton in Kent, approached me to tell me that God had “given him a word to share with someone”.  He seemed to feel that might be me and I gladly received from him the message that had been given to Esther.  Knowing that you are acting within the purpose of God is a precious thing. At that time I needed assurance in my own ministry.  That encounter - grasped by Mr Oliver - has contributed greatly to my sticking with a vision for rural evangelism and I hope, one day perhaps, revival.

In recent months, my own ministry moved into a situation that limited me.  Like the women in Hebrides, my ability to travel far and wide has been curtailed by illness.  It is not my illness but that of my wife who now needs virtually 24/7 care. But this has presented an opportunity to be grasped.  We, in Rural Mission Solutions, had already begun using the internet to provide webinars, or online seminars. Following the first few faltering steps, and with the aid of my good friend and colleague, Gordon Banks, we are running an increasing number of these event, and steadily building a valuable library of videos that inspire and encourage a growing number of Christians in rural churches to boldly share their faith in ways that are simple yet effective.  Limitations physically have provided a fantastic opportunity to grasp.

At present every webinar attracts scores of people but we have capacity in our webinars to welcome up to 1,000.  Consequently, just one webinar lasting 30 to 45 minutes can (and is) reaching many more people that a face-to face seminar.  In addition to this there are all those who use our resources on YouTube. Just such an opportunity presents itself to you on Saturday 26th January from 9.00 to 9.30 when Gordon and I will be presenting a webinar on simple ideas for mission for rural churches (and others) during the months of Spring.  Already the number of people registering to attend this event (advance registration is essential) is steadily increasing. If you are not otherwise committed, please grasp this opportunity as it knocks in your life.

I welcome every opportunity to share the gospel message and teach the scriptures.  One special opportunity is in prison at HMP Gartree where for a few hours each week I work as a part time voluntary chaplain.  A few days ago fourteen men in prison for life, grasped the opportunity to spend 45 minutes drawing precious truths out of the letter to the Hebrews.  The spiritual hunger and enthusiasm is remarkable. As questions are raised, prisoners help one another to understand biblical truths. Many of the Christians explain to me that they were in slavery before their sentence but now they are free!  While fully acknowledging the seriousness of the crime that resulted in a life sentence, they daily grasp the opportunities God gives them to live out and proclaim the gospel that changes lives.

Every day God will give you precious opportunities.  Apparent setbacks and problems are only new opportunities if you look for them.  I know that many who read these words are already seeking to make the most of every opportunity.  I want to encourage you. If you have not been aware of the many opportunities God has been giving you, please pray that he will help you to see and to grasp them for every day in the rest of your life.  Who can tell what blessing this might bring. It could change your world.

Barry Osborne - 19th January 2019

"Who's afraid of the..."

He was young and inexperienced.  Those who knew him best had no confidence in him, and mocked him.  To everyone else it looked an impossibility.  What he was up against was an enormous challenge.  It was a threatening situation, and no one else was willing to face it.  But the main thing he had going for him was that he trusted in God.

Many of those who regularly read what I write come from small churches facing difficulties and challenges.  There is little to encourage us humanly.  It is easy to be gripped by a fear of failing, so often we have low expectations and endeavour far too little.  We dream of what it might be like if only our congregation was twice the size it is and the average age two decades younger.  We are all too aware of what we lack when we consider the challenges that face us and the task before us.

You may have heard it said that if you think that you or your church are too small to be significant, then you probably have never spent a night in a room with a mosquito!

Did you realise who I was writing about in the opening paragraph? It was David, while still a young man.  Day after day, Goliath had shouted out his challenge, taunting the army of Israel.  Day after day, the strongest and best in Israel’s army shrank back from the challenge.  Perhaps this was personal fear of coming against such a huge man with such an arsenal of weapons.  Perhaps it was fear of failure.  Perhaps it was the awfulness of the consequences of failure.  Whatever it was it immobilised them.

Actually, apart from his confidence in God’s enabling him, David had several things going for him.  For a start, he was young and agile.  As long as he kept out of range he could probably avoid being hit by a spear.  He certainly was never going to put himself in range of Goliath’s sword.  Beside his spear, Goliath only had a short-range weapon, while David had a deadly medium range weapon which he could use with precision.  If it was an uneven contest, it was tilted in David’s favour.  Shepherds had plenty of time to hone their skill with a sling.  A typical stone might be the size and weight of a cricket ball, and would leave the sling at around 100 miles per hour.

David also had experience of past victories.  David testifies to past victories that encourage him to take on this latest challenge.  He had proved God to be faithful in past difficult times.

David was concerned for the honour of God’s name, and it was this that motivated him to volunteer.  David also had confidence in the power of God’s name, and it was in that name that he approached Goliath.  Frankly, Goliath never stood a chance!

Some years ago, I had the privilege of being one of two people representing churches in Europe in a conference on evangelism run by the World Council on Mission mainly for churches in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. During the week, each representative informed the others of their activities and outcomes.  We heard amazing things where Christians and churches experienced political opposition and oppression or where they were a minority faith surrounding by majority faith which sometimes were aggressive.  Despite all that opposed them they were bold in their witness of Jesus and were seeing conversions regularly.  My colleague from Holland and I were ashamed to share our story, where the only significant problem was to a post-Christian culture, but where apathy meant that so little was done by the churches to engage in evangelism.

Are we like the army of Israel; frozen in fear?  In these days when our faith is often ridiculed and few take us seriously, are we concerned for the honour of God’s name and therefore motivated to engage in Christian witness and missional activity.  Is it embarrassment or fear of failure that cause us to do so little?  Or could it possibly be that we have no confidence in God?

There is not one church that does not have the opportunity to do more for God.  In my experience, God piles these up faster than we could grasp them.  But surely, we could grasp at least one a week!  A man called David Wiiley wrote, “Too often, we miss out on opportunities in this life because we were too busy waiting for them to fall into our lap that we missed them tapping on our shoulder.”

Why not take some time each day this week to read afresh 1Samuel 17: 1-51, then, with the story fresh in your mind say, “And David’s God is my God”, then set yourself a missional task.

From the Diary

Last Sunday (13^th), Doreen and I went to Newark in Nottinghamshire where I took the morning meeting for London Road Congregational Church.  Several testified to God’s blessing that morning.

Monday to Friday (14^th – 18^th), I helped to lead “Holiday at Home” for the churches in Market Harborough.  This involved four half days of activities and more for older people in the community, many of whom would not normally have a decent holiday.  Those who came were effusive in their expressions of appreciation.  It is not an overtly evangelistic programme but another member of the team and I led a God spot each day and made clear why the programme had been arranged, and we shared the gospel on each occasion.

Saturday 19^th, I shared in a team meeting offering mission support for 32 churches in the East Midlands.  It was good to be able to share encouraging news and build plans for the future.

Sunday 20^th, Welby Lane Evangelical Church, Melton Mowbray.

Monday 21^st, I will share in a meeting in Market Harborough exploring how to make church more inviting.  Afterwards I plan to go to Leicester for a workshop on crowd-funding.

Tuesday 22^nd, HMP Gartree.  Please pray for the men I will meet with, and that my security clearance will be updated soon.

Thursday 24^th, I will be chairing a meeting for a small rural church with a historic building with a thatched roof in urgent need of repair.

25^th to 27^th – A free weekend!

Please keep praying.  Each day I am likely to be involved in writing or responding to phone calls to support rural evangelism.  Please pray for our financial needs in Rural Mission Solutions as recent changes to our bank have disrupted our already limited income.  Rural Mission is certainly a forgotten mission field, and we urgently need to grow our prayer base and supporter network.

Finally, if you find these Prayer & Praise News helpful in any way, please drop me a line at barry@ruralmissions.org.uk or post to The Centre for Rural Mission, 4 Clarence Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7NE.  Recently, some postings have led to people asking if they can use what I write in the context of their own ministry.  The answer is, “Of course”, but it is encouraging to know that it is valued by the readers.

Thanks for reading this.  Remember, David’s God is your God too.

Barry

19th August 2017