I have thought for a while, “What do you write in the Messenger (church mag) that will continue to be distributed after you have left?” My problem is that I haven’t really come up with an answer. There are several options that face me:

Do I write about some of the good things that have happened including all the baptisms, weddings and children we have given thanks for? That would be a good thing to end on, reminding you of some of the exciting things that have happened and the fun we have had becoming a church where people find out what the message of Jesus is all about. My sincere hope and prayer is that those things will continue to happen and that you will continue to “leave the 99 and look for the one that is lost” (to borrow a phrase from Jesus!).

I could write about some of the things I experienced in my first few years, the disgraceful political infighting, the attempts to control the church (and the minister), the threats of resignation (which I always accepted!) and the way in which we had to draw new people into the church leadership in order to leave all that behind us. It is my sincere hope and prayer that you won’t return to such poor behaviour. However, that would be a bit of a dull and depressing end, so I had better avoid that!

Perhaps I should write a little exhortation drawing on a verse like 1 Peter 5:7 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness.” It gives us a little reminder that God puts the hope of heaven into us, making sure that we have everything we need. You don’t need a Minister, you don’t need me! God has given the church EVERYTHING it needs for the future. When I look round the church I see a bunch of highly talented people, full of Gods wisdom and grace. I pray sincerely that God will develop the gifts and talents in the church. That people with wisdom will emerge and the good news will continue to be spread!

The truth is, I’m not totally sure how to end, or what to say. The last seven years have been challenging and fun! Sometimes incredibly sad, sometimes incredibly happy. I’ve made some mistakes and I’ve learned heaps (from the most unexpected of people and places). There is no doubt I will never forget my time in Morecambe. Your names and faces will be etched on my heart and memory for the rest of my life. Thank you!

I hope that many of you will stay in touch. Feel free to keep e.mailing, facebooking, DM me on twitter, IM me through MSN, text me, phone me (you could even write) and I promise to reply and stay in touch. AND, if you’re ever passing through Reading call in and tell the children how much they have grown!

Thanks, G.

How can I be sure?

Malachi and a mirror

Imagine you are your favourite action hero. Not sure what is round the corner she edges towards the corner of the corridor she clutches the butt of her pistol, ready herself and pounces round the corner ready to blast the living daylights out of anything that exists. Not being sure of something changes the way we act. During a time of major change in the way people lived their lives Malachi looks on and can see them asking how can I be sure?

This five week series will give us the opportunity to hold Malachi up like a mirror. As we ask our Questions Malachi reflects them back through 2500 years of history:

1. Can I be sure if God exists he loves me? Aren’t all vicars are pedophiles?
2. Why do the good die young and evil people last forever?
3. Jesus was a good bloke, do I have to believe he was God’s messenger or son?
4. Does any good come out of giving your life to God?
5. I enjoyed watching “War of the Worlds” but I don’t believe it. Why should I believe in Christian Apocalypse?

Daniel and the Lion (with eagles wings)

Why did my Sunday School Teacher never tell me about chapters seven to twelve?

We all know the story of Daniel in the lions Den. We have probably heard of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walking through a firey furness. Why is it that our teachers never told us about the Lion with eagles wings and a beast with four heads and four wings? The book of Daniel is the stuff that nightmares are made out of, so its probably a good thing no-one ever told you about it when you were five. However now you are a bit more able to cope with such graphic images, perhaps now is the time to take a closer look at what the Sunday School stories are preparing the way for later in the book.

This longer series will refresh our memories and inspire us with tales of God who is active in history.

1. Dogmatic belief in the midst of belief in anything
2. Dedicated belief in the face of opposition
3. A Ram and a Goat fight it out
4. Gabriel flies in with a message
5. Daniel is lost for words (so he listens instead)
6. A Time, Two times and half a time.

I started with the music:

“We have an organ, of course“.

Of course we have an organ, everyone knows churches have organs,

“but we also have a Drummer, a squeeze box, a clarinet, a cornet, a bass guitar and an ordinary guitar. Have I missed anything? Oh yes, a piano“.

It’s not until you say it out loud that you realise exactly how many instruments we do have. I watched their eyebrows raise.

Then, as they had children, I thought I would talk about them:

“There’s quite a few children, it varies a little each week, depending on who is away or there. We have a couple of little areas near the front with a few toys in for the younger ones“.

Is this normal? I don’t know I’ve been part of it so long that conducting the church service in the middle of a crèche is quite normal to me, but would you expect it if you were visiting?

“I know what its like to have children in church, so we do our best to help them stay happy“.

God willing, I’ll never forget what it is like having a two year old in a church, there have been days when I have felt like every eye in the building has been watching me try and stop a two year old have a paddy.

“The younger children often dance in a corner at the front during the songs“.

Now, what would you expect to wear if you were going to church for the odd service (but they are not that odd surely)?

“I suppose if you were looking for a dress code, smart casual would sum it up“.

But would it? Some people wear more formal clothes and some people don’t, goodness whatever you wear no one would look twice at you. Well… perhaps that’s not quite true. Why did I raise this issue?

“Not many people wear ties, and I don’t wear one that often“.

Do they know that Baptists don’t wear dog collars? Perhaps now is not the time for that discussion!

Tucking into a toasted Panini filled with Spinach, Bacon and Brie gave me an opportunity to reflect on a busy couple of days. I’ve spent yesterday tucked into an airless room devoid of natural light. That aside it was an inspiring, invigorating and challenging day.

Monday I travelled down to London to stay over at my brothers (he is now vicar of St. Marks and St. Luke’s in Deptford), the train journey takes a while from Morecambe to London but it is a good opportunity to sit and catch up on things that need time. This time I edited a chapter of my friends book (more of that another time). It was nice to see Steve and their new house (I didn’t see Jenny and the kids until the morning). The house has obviously under gone a major transformation since he posted some pics on his blog. Catching up with Steve and co. was an added bonus, the real reason for my trek down to London was to go to what is rather grandly called “The BMS Council of Reference“.

When I think about B.M.S. (the Baptist Missionary Society to the uninitiated) I get both excited and nervous. I get excited because of the fantastic stuff they do all over the world. I get nervous because of the scale of the organisation, and its resources. I’m sure you know what I mean, big organisations sometimes exist in their own big organisation vacuum and the need to control the message of the organisation takes away its spontaneity and personality.

One of the things I love about B.M.S. is that the team that the trustees have running the charity are forward thinking and much more familiar with their post-modern landscape than their official speeches and documents lead you to believe. Another great thing is that the five strategic themes that influence their practice echo the life and ministry of Jesus. “OK Gray cut the blither.” I hear you saying.

The council of reference exists to:

• Appoint Trustees.
• Eat delicious lunches.
• Feed back to the Trustees how the churches in our area are perceiving the work and life of the charity.

To my surprise it does seem to work! We are particularly good at doing the first two things, and the trustees and senior staff are very good at listening to the discussions. They appear to hear what is said and include it in their discussions about the future.

I have been paying a fair amount of attention to the B.M.S. since I moved to Morecambe and one of the things I have noticed is that they are a progressive organisation. They are:

• Influenced by the best of the current trends in Missiology.
• Changing as an organisation away from the western “we know best” approach of the past.
• Allowing themselves to be influenced by the needs of the churches that provide their income.

One of the most interesting things I heard today was about their work in India. They have significantly changed their approach and have noticed that the best missionary practice is happening on the fringes of the organised church. Indigenous people are training others and releasing them into mission among their peers. The really great news is that B.M.S. are directing some cash at supporting those indigenous mission projects. It’s FANTASTIC! I am particularly interested in this subject because from my limited observations I think that the best Missionary practice in Britain is happening on the margins of the church.

I am left with two particular questions as I return home:

• Although the organisation is influenced by current Missiological and Theological trends, how much space is created for them to think Missiologically and develop in their thinking beyond being influenced by the current tends? There is a training section called “The International Missions College” which does a great job of preparing individuals for cross cultural mission. It’s not intended to be an academic institution but does it create space for thinking and writing rather than mere reaction?
• B.M.S. are taking more people from non Baptist backgrounds as missionaries and volunteers, I wonder how those churches are represented within the structures. The church up the road from us (Carnforth Free Methodist Church) have released one of their members to serve with B.M.S. I wonder if those who stand outside our peculiarly Baptist structures but have a significant investment in the Society have any way of feeding back into the organisation.

Today we sent out an e.mail to every one we can think of within and outside of the denomination that might be interested in church planting inviting them to visit the web site and participate in the Network. Hooray! it feels like we have reached a milestone. If you’re interested pop over to the site and have a nose. Suggestions are always welcome.

For the record the site is built round some ace open source software.

• Joomla powers the site.
• OpenWordPress powers the podcasts.
• Community Builder provides the social networking aspects.
• YANC provides the mailing.
• Joomlaboard provides the discussion forums.

The site is hosted on its own dedicated server, so it should never fall over (mmm… we will see!).


2007-01-14
Graham Doel: 18:24:07
Hay, I got your messages but only as I turned on the computer to conduct the evening service!!
Graham Doel: 18:24:38
must go now, I'm stood at the front of church ands it starts in 5 minutes...
D: 18:25:36
Cool,
Say one for me and S
We went to SB Baptists this evening to find nobody at home. Comunications are not our things
Graham Doel: 18:26:06
you could listen to this...
Graham Doel: 18:26:26
if we do a call, and I turn my sound down!!
Graham Doel: 18:26:52
don't know what the quality is like?
Graham Doel: 18:26:56
ha ha ha
Graham Doel: 18:26:59
I can see you
Graham Doel: 18:27:06
you look perplexed.
Graham Doel: 18:27:14
smile!!!
Graham Doel: 18:27:34
can you hear it?
Graham Doel: 18:27:37
the piano?
D: 18:28:16
Yes I can hear it sounds good to me, S says Hi
Graham Doel: 18:28:19
If I had my cam down here you could see, but I didn't think of that.
Graham Doel: 18:28:23
Hi S!
Graham Doel: 18:28:35
feel free to disconnect when you have had enough,
Graham Doel: 18:28:43
we are doing amos tonight!
G: 18:29:06
Immortal invisable, faithful one, and then the lords my shepheard
D: 18:29:15
I will listen for a while, in loo of not getting tonight
Graham Doel: 18:29:33
right I'mm off to look like a minister...
D: 18:29:47
Amen
D: 18:44:41
It is a pleasure to be with you tonight. To be able to join in by listening. Sound is not great over the net, but it works i can hear you. Vocals are very clear.
Graham Doel: 18:52:09
just collecting the offering! can't do that virtually!
D: 18:52:28
Do you take paypal or visa?
Graham Doel: 18:59:02
i hope u reading!
D: 19:10:15
Amos speaks to afluent, the rich and powerful. He could and is speaking to our society today. We are the fat cows of Bashen, our society and our people will be punished if we do not listen to the message of the prophets. Come to the Lord and live. Hate evil and be just.
D: 19:10:59
It is alvie the bible is a work in progress!
D: 19:22:18
Punishemtn
Graham Doel: 19:22:48
judgement?
Graham Doel: 19:23:00
what about justice?
D: 19:23:28
Yes that to
but they dont jump up to me tonight
D: 19:24:13
I like that God runing out of patience
D: 19:36:04
Fairtrade
Organic and local farm produce
Green trading
Ask where the teashirts were made
D: 19:38:22
Amen
Graham Doel: 19:38:50
I'lll call you when I get home (bout 9)
D: 19:40:29
I have very much enjoyed bing with you this evening. It has been a real pealsure. SBB was closed for a reason. Bless you
D: 19:41:07
I will see if i can listen next week


So in the unlikely event you want to listen to a service via Skype, send me a chat message to my Skype account and I’ll include you in a conferance call! (Unless your coming anyway, don’t want to give you an excuse to stay away).

Mine are:

• When I was involved in front line mission in the uk as a church planter (I still am involved in front line mission but I have become more of a facilitator in my role as Minister at Stanley Road in Morecambe) I felt lonely and inexperienced. I would have loved to have been part of or had a network of people in a similar position with whom I could relate to and discuss the unique opportunities for mission that existed in Long Whatton.
• Having had that experience I would willingly sacrifice my own time to help other people who are now in that boat.
• Being part of a group who are investing their time in trying to explain the basic elements of the Christian faith is massively envisioning. I see what they are doing, sharing partly in their journeys gives me encouragement in mine.

One person said “In this group I feel normal.” I echo those sentiments!

This year we invited John and Olive Drane to join us for the weekend. Though I have never met John before his books have had quite a profound effect on my own spiritual journey. One book in particular (Faith in a changing culture) helped me look differently at a number of things I took for granted. The weekend they spent with us was quite helpful and I have had a number of conversations with people about some of the issues they raised since.

Olive’s rather unusual approach to Sunday morning worship involved changing herself into a clown and encouraging us to see the world as God sees it. I think it is possible that the serious message she left was lost on some because they were unable to see past the clown. That was a shame really because the world (not to mention the life of the church) would be a far better place if we could all take the time to try and think of it as God might.

John’s main message in the evening was taken from Acts chapter 10. He showed us that Peter, although a devout follower of Jesus, had to change his attitude towards mission (you might even say that he repented of his attitude). John and Olive also left some slightly different ways to think about prayer and worship which I personally found very helpful.

During the week that followed I went to spend a few days with people who are involved in starting new churches across the country. To be honest I’m a bit of an imposter. I’m not involved in church planting at the moment (although I was part of the team that started the church in Long Whatton). They are an inspiring Group to be involved with. The dedication of the people who have given up so much in order that they can share about Jesus with people is both humbling and inspiring. I got involved because I have a long term interest in church planting and mission but also because Peter (one of the organisers got wind of the fact that I am a bit of a geek and I might be able to help with the website.

Thanks to Mark, for telling me.