Welcome

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my page. This exists to be a source of information about what I am up to.

Please take some time to check out the different pages on this blog.

“I will descend into the pit,           

if you will hold tightly to the ropes”

Before he set sail for India, the famous missionary William Carey recruited his close friends to support him. Carey was willing to give his life away to reach the lost if his support team would pray, give and encourage through correspondence.

This is my challenge today: How does this look for me in my culture, with my friends?

I have been involved with a number of really exciting projects and ministries over the last 10 years. I have been able to use creativity to share ideas and stories. And I have loved all this. (Do see the gallery page for examples of things I have lead or been involved with).

For the past year and (just over) a half, I have been involved with Third Space Ministries. We are about demonstrating God’s love in the Third Spaces of society (ie: the leisure industry). Some of you have already generously supported me and I am so grateful. Some amazing things have happened during this time!

I felt that it was an important to time to put together an update for you and for others who may be interested. I am currently in reflective mode and a bit of a juncture after a 2 month stay in Ibiza with 24-7 Prayer and so I have been wondering what God wants from me next.

I feel God is saying a number of main things:

Trust me as you step out of the box

What is in your hand?

I am so inspired by Jesus’s prayer for his disciples in John 17 where he asks the father not to take us out of the world but to protect us from the evil one while in the world (while fulfilling this command to go!)

I am also inspired by one of my favourite quotes: “When
Jesus
told
his
disciples
they
were
the
light
of
the
world,
where
did
he
want
 them
to
shine?
(Matt
5:14)
As
more
beams
of
light
that
make
the
light
shine
blindingly
 bright
upon
itself,
or
as
strobes
of
illumination
flashing
radical
alternative
lifestyles
 across
the
darkness?
Do
you
blame
the
dark
for
being
dark,
or
the
light
for
not
 shining?” – Steve Stockman – The Spiritual Journey of U2

What a challenge.

Over the past 8 years I have been given a number of words relating to being in ministry: Build the church, seek to encourage people to discover their gifts, build relationship, use creativity to communicate God’s story. As I learn more about my passions, interests and giftings I have discovered that I want to do this full time.

Through the vision of Third Space Ministries (and with the support of church family) I feel that I have a partner and community from which to work from.  Sharing the love of God by using the resources and passions that God has blessed me with. I want to learn new skills and keep growing personally and spiritually.

I want to see Christians having an impact in nightclubs (by acting differently, and by impacting the music that is played), and in pubs and cafes. Our presence is powerful (we enhance the tangible presence of God who is already there!). I want to encourage others to be able to impact our culture with our faith. I am passionate to see Christians “out there” rather than just forming our own safe subcultures.

I woke up on January 1st 2016 with the words: “Wake up church” in my head.

Matthew 5: Salt and Light (The Message)  13 “Let
me
tell
you
why
you
are
here.
You’re
here
to
be
salt‐seasoning
that
brings
out
 the
God‐flavors
of
this
earth.
If
you
lose
your
saltiness,
how
will
people
taste
 godliness?
You’ve
lost
your
usefulness
and
will
end
up
in
the
garbage.
 14‐16 “Here’s
another
way
to
put
it:
You’re
here
to
be
light,
bringing
out
the
God‐colors
 in
the
world.
God
is
not
a
secret
to
be
kept.
We’re
going
public
with
this,
as
public
as
a
 city
on
a
hill.
If
I
make
you
light‐bearers,
you
don’t
think
I’m
going
to
hide
you
under
a
 bucket,
do
you?
I’m
putting
you
on
a
light
stand.
Now
that
I’ve
put
you
there
on
a
 hilltop,
on
a
light
stand—shine!
Keep
open
house;
be
generous
with
your
lives.
By
 opening
up
to
others,
you’ll
prompt
people
to
open
up
with
God,
this
generous
Father
 in
heaven.

I now feel an urgency in my call to missional work but need support more than ever. In addition to 21 hours with Third Space Ministries I will be involved with a local Independent Coffee House, occasional nannying work and occasional events work. I will also be trying out some creativity (encouraging gifts and inspirational quote related items) and if that goes well I will seek to sell at occasional craft fairs and potentially online. We shall see how that goes – watch this space!