we be church

[Sore Thumbs] Engage the Culture Edition

Build it and they will come attitude to church doesn’t work, it requires a bit more effort. Don’t get me wrong, Sunday meets are essential for fellowship and provide a rudder to a church group but in this age people rarely pitch up at random. Instead you have to go to where the people are. Go fishing! Really the clubs, schools, universities, shopping centres have done all the hard work at gathering people so why not make use of it?? Here are a few examples of radical Christians taking Jesus to the people.

Prayer Caravan on University Campus!

They used to have a tent on the University of Surrey campus but it was rather old so the 24/7 Prayer Team there decided they needed something new. They landed on the crazy idea of having a mobile caravan and launched it at freshers week. “Over the course of five days well over 200 students must have spent time in the ‘prayer caravan’ as it had now been named. It could well have been two or three times that figure, we just don’t know. During the nights particularly, the caravan was packed – people kept coming in and asking questions, asking to be prayed for and doing artwork and prayer requests on the walls. The people we met and stories we’ve heard are too numerous to tell” Read some of the stories

Church in Trendy Bar

The Chapel. Sunday evening – 7:30pm at Baa Bar. Free drinks for visitors, Worship and Teaching. Recently I’ve been following Tim Simmond’s adventure in Manchester of starting a meeting in a trendy bar. It’s a project of Newfrontiers Church, Christ Church Manchester. “Our aim is to love God, love the city of Manchester and love each other. With this in mind, we run a meeting on Sunday evening (The Chapel) in Fallowfield because we want to see many people in this city discover Jesus and join a church.” Go to the Chapel or Read Tim’s Blog

Bridal Boutique on High Street

Closer to home, our own Church in Northumberland meeting in Bedlington is setting up a shop on our High Street. We are not 100% sure at this stage how it’s going to be used to reach people but God told us to go for it. After a prophetic word about dressing in fine act – righteous linen as bride of Christ Rev 19:8 we thought that renting the shop space formally called “JCs Bridal Boutique” was an obvious sign from God that we should be renting the shop. I’ll keep you updated!

---

Sore Thumbs is a irregular post mainly of short encouraging links that stick out. If you have come across a link or resource that you think would fit on this blog then why not email it to dlee at webchurch.com

God Arrives in Disneyland – Teen Healings!

I guess the title is rather deceptive, the fact is God was always in Disneyland. However these young adults went for some healing fun in the theme park and many  youth invited Jesus to arrived in their hearts. Thanks to Uncle Phil for the link!

Warning. Major faith building and major challenging if your not sure about healing in public places. Notice the ease of inviting people to know Jesus. Makes a change from the constipated alter calls we can sometimes give. THIS is what we are meant to be stepping out in guys! This is the kingdom breaking in! “Freely you have received, freely give” Matthew 10:8. Jesus truly rocks! There is no assault courses to knowing Jesus, all you have to do is to drop false Identity and to accept his freely given one! Below is part 1 of 4 with links to the other parts.

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

First Night for Ignite – Changing the Landscape

So we have our first Ignite this Friday for our youth group called “Level-x” at County Church. Ignite is basically a youth service where we have a short game, worship and a talk with the youth having a chance to hang out at the end. We have about 20 young people coming regularly now, which is fantastic, with more lads which has been a answer to prayer. We have previously been meeting in the living rooms of generous people but have just moved to a hall on an housing estate which means our youth have more space but also means that we have a consistent place for our youth to meet which is near to them.

We have been living with the theme of Identity and have a series of related talks lined up. Some of our older youth have begun taking responsibility for leading in various ways which is mega awesome and I have been really proud to see them growing in this area. The growth we are experiencing means we need more practised leaders with time to serve, particularly a female leader for our young girls, we are praying and seeking someone who is called in this area.

As it’s our first event we are still learning what will work and wont work but in a typical youthful passion we are going for it! My prayer is that God meets with our youth and that it becomes a highlight in the monthly calendar for our young people. I continue to hold on to what James says “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” there is absolutely no reason we can’t encourage our youth in this way. You can find out what is happening with our youth on our Level-x facebook page.

Don’t Waste Your Sexuality

When you realise that all your life is for God, belongs to God it really changes your view. To waste you sexuality is to think that it is only about this moment… Joshua Harris

Watch the video for the full quote below. Joshua has also written books about young people in Godly relationships which are really helpful. I have just recommended book “Boy meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship” to our youth group.

A Picture of Our Relationship with Our Father

I want to share an encouraging prophetic picture of how we need to approach and be with our Heavenly Father, Childlike. This is a photo of JFK with.. John Jr. playing under his father’s desk in the White House. (Thanks Gaz!)

President Kennedy, working late at his White House office, wears a slight smile on his face, indicating perhaps he is not completely unaware that his son, John Jr., is exploring under his desk in the Oval Office in the White House in 1963. John Jr. called the spot under the desk “my house” and was peeking from behind the “secret door.”

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”. Ephesians 2:6

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.

Continue reading…

New Adventures: FP Impact in Northumberland

Next week I start FP (Frontiers Project) Impact at County Church Northumberland. For those who don’t know FP is a opportunity run by Newfrontiers to give yourself to work for a church for a typical student year. As well as getting experience in a church environment by taking on projects you get theological training and undertake mission both in the UK and overseas. As far as I know, no one has yet began to document their experience of FP in the blog medium, I might be the first..

My aim is to give some helpful insight to other young people what it is like, the fun, the challenges and the learning with a view to inspire some of those reading to consider doing FP themselves. I would be keen to know what questions you have as I’m entering this new phase and I’ll try and answer them as I blog along. If you have a question please leave it in the comments below.
At some stage I want to invite a few voices that I respect to write some guest posts. I find that blogging aids learning so it would be wonderful to publish some gospel gunner’s  living lessons. Check back for more updates.

Book Review: Great Revivals – When God Moves in Power

As author, Colin Whittaker, explains ‘I am aware that I have only managed to dip my teacup into the boundless oceans of the Holy Spirit’s refreshing‘ the book Great Revivals is a great introduction to some of the major revivals that have occurred in the past centuries. Each chapter provides historic accounts of the various major “Awakenings” located around the world. These included 17 century revivals in places like England and New England (America) involving such figures as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield and John Wesley. This third edition of the book has also presented Colin’s delving into more recent revival in places like China, Korea, Indonesia, Africa and Latin America.

Continue reading…

[Sore Thumbs] In the Face of Death Edition

In this edition of Sore Thumbs I wanted to highlight three testimonies from three women who have all faced death in various ways. These testimonies are amazing because despite all their difficulties they continue to rely on God and to know his love and presence.

Lucy Mason

Lucy is a personal friend of my own family and who died recently from cancer. She shares what God was doing within her last months. I think one of my best memories of Lucy was when I was a we nipper, I was holding her hand walking from a park and I had a runny nose. To my mum’s horror I preceded to wipe my nose using Lucy’s hand. “Dan!” Mum exclaimed. But Lucy was fine with it and laughed, that was the kind of lady she was, so full of grace. (you need to search “Lucy Mason” in the speaker drop down menu after following the link). Listen to her testimony

Rachel Barkey

Rachel an entrepreneur, writer, mother and wife is also suffering from terminal cancer but states that God is still her salvation. Watch her testimony which she has named “death is not dying“.

Jill McCloughry

A singer in Hillsong she gave birth to her first son who was born prematurely and soon after died, she reveals that despite our own circumstances God is still on the throne and bigger than anything. You can watch her video below.

---

Sore Thumbs is a weekly post mainly of short encouraging links that stick out. If you have come across a link or resource that you think would fit on this blog then why not email it to dlee at webchurch.com

City on a Hill – What do the Prophets Say?

I really enjoy being part of the Church, the different ages, the different races. It’s a community that is united in their love for Jesus. I also really value what the Bible says about Church in Matthew 5:14. “You are a city on a hill”. That’s pretty immense. There we have Jesus confirming what the prophets of the Old Testament predicted would happen, a multitude of people entering the community of the redeemed.

In the Old Testament this is portrayed as nations gathering to Jerusalem. Isaiah 60 is a wonderful example, I encourage you to read the whole chapter. The below videos represent this very City which is upon us now. It is for you too, by putting your faith in Jesus, that he has removed your sin!

I have heard pastors launch stats that place a point of death time on the Church, fortunately God has something else to say…

The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the LORD;
in its time I will do this swiftly.

Isaiah 60:22