we be church

On FP Impact, Two Car Accidents in One Day

FP Impact has now started and all the North FPrs have had a great first two weeks of training in the Newcastle base. Lots of practical and foundational teaching from an array of Newfrontiers leaders along side some fantastic social events including go-karting and enjoying sunny days in the north, which is is very rare indeed. We have been recording the seminars and teaching from the last two weeks and I have permission to publish them here for our friends in New Zealand doing FP, the aim is to get them up by the end of the week and you will be able to subscribe via iTunes.

During the week Mike Springer taught on Life Style Evangelism with us then got us doing some surveys with people in Newcastle. Mike highlighted the need for us to have God Stories as it builds faith the Church, so I want to share our group’s (me, Dan & Ben’s) experience doing the surveys in the heart of Northumbria University during freshers week.

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Treasure Hunting on Brighton Pier

Upadate: Looking for a photo of Brighton Pier? You may want to check out this church also Church of Christ the King Brighton.

You may have read my previous posts on treasure hunting, if not let me briefly explain. Basically Treasure Hunting is a new name for having divine God scheduled adventures, something that Christians have been doing for centuries. In small teams you pray that God gives you pictures, visions (the clues) which you then write down on some paper (treasure map) and then head out looking for the people (the treasure) who match the clues. These clues can be placed in all sorts of categories including appearance, aliment, names, locations and the just plain odd. So far I have been on three treasure hunting expeditions but wanted to share the last one I went on in Brighton in a Treasure hunting seminar we did at Mobilise.

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No Longer Easter but 12 Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus

So while everyone was blogging on the resurrection I was doing something else, enjoying a weeks holiday. But it doesn’t have to be an Easter week to consider the amazing gift of freedom that’s tied up in Jesus’ death and coming back to life. I thought I would present a list of evidence for the resurrection for those not so convinced and for those looking to present the case for Jesus being alive today. Taken from John Youngs ‘the case against Christ’

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Amish Paradise Lost or Paradise being Found?

Today I wandered over to the BBC iPlayer and landed on an insightful documentary on the Amish Community near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the US titled “Trouble in Amish Paradise” the blurb reads as followed;

When two radical Amish men, Ephraim and Jesse Stoltzfus, start to question some of the most fundamental aspects of their Amish culture, they face excommunication from their church and total rejection by their friends and family.

Setting the scene Ephraim’s and Jesse’s families hold their own prayer meetings, express their faith with those who are not Amish and a study the Bible in a language that they can actually read, not the antiquated German which is meant to be used. The local Amish church which they are apart of is threatening excommunication for these activities as it is against the rules. Eventually both men are excommunicated.

Really what the BBC have published, perhaps rather unwittingly, is a story of church persecution in the Amish community. At one point Ephraim’s daughter gets diagnosed with leukemia right after they had sold their house and given all their savings to those in need. They are people who live the gospel and hold shining faith that is dependent on Jesus. They want to hold on to the Amish way of living off the land but recognize that it has been corrupted by petty rules grown out of a legalistic religion.

The documentary ends with Ephraim struggling to find and relate to a new church that fits them culturally but I have to say from what I saw of him he had more charisma than many charismatics I have met. We might just be looking at the start of a true renewing of many Amish minds in terms of what is of God’s word. Revival in the Amish culture would be a wonderful thing to hear about, so I’m going to pray for it.

You can watch this on BBC iPlayer (only published for a short period). Also if you did not know, I used to attend a Mennonite church in Canada when I was a kid, apparently it was part of my parents training as missionary for Malawi. They were brilliant at BBQs and made mean corn on the cob.

Sharing Your Faith on Facebook – BE BOLD

Recently I have been in contact with Roger Van who will be leading a seminar on internet evangelism at Agape’s Fire Seed Conference for Students held in Nottingham. Facebook is going to be a large focus as many students will hold existing relationships on that social network. Facebook is like a mirror for every day activity, why not faith sharing too? While in New Zealand I came across a great acronym for sharing your faith relationally “BOLD”. I adapted it slightly to “BE BOLD” and shared it with Roger to use in the seminar. I thought I would post it on this blog too.

1. Be who God made you to be – so many young Christians feel overbearing pressure to share their faith. So what is a noble deed tends to be born out of frustration and legalism. Rather you need to be able to share your faith under the knowledge of God’s lavish grace. Understanding that he is for you, that he called you and has given you his power to share His Story. Ephesians 2:6-10

2. Edify – If we are to be who God made us to be then we were made to spend time with God in the Spirit, enjoy being with him, read your Bible and listen to what He is saying. Enjoy His love, peace and joy. Philippians 4:4-9

3. Be on the lookout – (for the right situation) Get to know people through common passions and hobbies. Luke 19:5 is a great example of Jesus being on the lookout and basically inviting himself round to Zacchaeus’ house to chill out.

4. Ordinary conversation – Again don’t put yourself under pressure to share Christ 5 people a day, God is not interested in that. Also listen, do a lot of listening. How can you expect someone to listen to you if you don’t listen to them? Eventually you will be able to…

5. Leap in with the Gospel – Share who Jesus is and what has done and why he is significant to you personally. This is a great opportunity to also demonstrate your faith by praying for people to be healed and leading them in a prayer them selves or to receive the Holy Spirit.

6. Don’t give up – keep speaking to them, keep answering questions, keep serving them, keep listening and finally keep praying for them when your alone with God.