This much discussed subject came up at dinner with friends last night when I was asked the same question.
The underlying concern was that it appeals to our vanity and sense of worth trying to gain following.
This was not an accusation against me, but rather a general comment.
And the more I think about it, the more I kind of agree.
When I started this blog I wanted it to be me making an honest assessment of my own journey in Church leadership.
In it I have tried to be real about some of the more personal elements of my life, while also celebrating the great things God is doing in and through our Church.
I don't want to use this as a medium to throw stones at others, as some bloggers sadly do.
Nor do I want it to be a one sided propaganda tool for either my own ministry, my Church or my movement of Churches.
"Hey, everything is amazing and we are brilliant" is never the whole story.
I want it to be real.
And then for times I don't write much, because I don't really have anything to say.
Then at other times I may have a specific subject or situation I am working through.
The more I read other people the more I think people are either just trying to provoke a reaction or gain traffic. I don't want to fall into that trap.
We had 389 bums on seats across our two services on Sunday. I don't know them all. Not properly. I could give you the names of every one of our 275 adult members, but not necessarily all their children. Nor do they know me.
My friends know me. The people I work closely with know me. My midweek group know me. But as the Church grows and new people join I find my blog is actually a useful way to allow people to get inside my head and see the kinds of things I think about and stand for. New people regularly view it as they research our Church, and it does not seem to put them off, in fact they feel they know me better because they have found out more about my life and personality than they could do in normal circumstances.
So all in all, I am confident in what I am doing writing this, and ever more confident in why I don't write more.
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
Not blogging as much
With a 4 month old daughter, an amazing Church and a few hobbies I have not been blogging much recently.
Which I guess the bishop of Shrewsbury would approve of?
I was at the launch of our Street Pastors initiative and the Bishop Mark Rylands made these remarks...
"More words have been used since the years 2000 than all history before. This is because of the vast overload of information, fuelled by the internet, and people churn out more and more and more.
We are too busy writing blogs and uploading things to websites that we don't have time to listen.
We have less time to actually do things.
And because of that our words have become devalued.
God sent His one and only Son to live with us. He did not send a memo!"
Which I guess the bishop of Shrewsbury would approve of?
I was at the launch of our Street Pastors initiative and the Bishop Mark Rylands made these remarks...
"More words have been used since the years 2000 than all history before. This is because of the vast overload of information, fuelled by the internet, and people churn out more and more and more.
We are too busy writing blogs and uploading things to websites that we don't have time to listen.
We have less time to actually do things.
And because of that our words have become devalued.
God sent His one and only Son to live with us. He did not send a memo!"
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
New Media Awards
This blog has been shortlisted by Premier Christian Radio for their New Media Awards within the "Most inspiring Leadership Blog" category.
I am chuffed with that.
Simply because if this blog is a blessing to people then it is doing what I set out to do.
Looking at the shortlist in my category I can see different Christians from around the country all using blogging to encourage others. In doing so we all make a small contribution.
It is interesting to see the different styles: some of us are blogging about preaching specifically, others, like this one, is more a diary entry/things going around in my head kind of effort.
Last year people like Dave Gilpin and Adrian Warnock were shortlisted, which kind of makes this blog look like a primary school kid scribbling on a scrap of paper, but there you go!
There is an awards ceremony in London for the top two in each section which sounds quite exciting.
Whatever happens moving forwards it has been a real encouragement.
I am chuffed with that.
Simply because if this blog is a blessing to people then it is doing what I set out to do.
Looking at the shortlist in my category I can see different Christians from around the country all using blogging to encourage others. In doing so we all make a small contribution.
It is interesting to see the different styles: some of us are blogging about preaching specifically, others, like this one, is more a diary entry/things going around in my head kind of effort.
Last year people like Dave Gilpin and Adrian Warnock were shortlisted, which kind of makes this blog look like a primary school kid scribbling on a scrap of paper, but there you go!
There is an awards ceremony in London for the top two in each section which sounds quite exciting.
Whatever happens moving forwards it has been a real encouragement.
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Reading my blog
A lady came up to me on Sunday morning who has been living abroad.
I did not know her that well, but she seemed to know me!
It turns out she reads this blog, and has read it, pretty well all of it while being away.
And has recommended it to friends.
Yet again my series on miscarriage appears to have been a blessing, and has been shared with others.
I set out writing this blog in the hope of allowing people in our Sunday congregation of 300 or so to see inside my mind a little bit more and get an impression of who I really am.
I also wanted to chart my ups and downs in my journey in Church leadership for some of my peers who know me across the country.
And to blow away some of the misconceptions by being as open and down to earth as I possibly can.
It is a real priviledge when a real person with a real life comes up and says reading this blog was a real blessing to them.
The great danger of blogging is that either you are talking to yourself, or you are trying to stir up a debate to get readers.
Hopefully I do neither, but just for the record, why are you reading this post today?
I can see my blog statistics and can see almost everyone who reads it does not comment.
But on this post alone, please reply!
I did not know her that well, but she seemed to know me!
It turns out she reads this blog, and has read it, pretty well all of it while being away.
And has recommended it to friends.
Yet again my series on miscarriage appears to have been a blessing, and has been shared with others.
I set out writing this blog in the hope of allowing people in our Sunday congregation of 300 or so to see inside my mind a little bit more and get an impression of who I really am.
I also wanted to chart my ups and downs in my journey in Church leadership for some of my peers who know me across the country.
And to blow away some of the misconceptions by being as open and down to earth as I possibly can.
It is a real priviledge when a real person with a real life comes up and says reading this blog was a real blessing to them.
The great danger of blogging is that either you are talking to yourself, or you are trying to stir up a debate to get readers.
Hopefully I do neither, but just for the record, why are you reading this post today?
I can see my blog statistics and can see almost everyone who reads it does not comment.
But on this post alone, please reply!
Friday, 8 April 2011
Jubilee Plus
The lead elder of our Church, Martin Charlesworth, has started blogging at Jubilee Plus, "Where justice & mercy meet".
This is part of his new role within Newfrontiers helping to develop social action and political engagement.
As always, a new team has been formed. There are no one man bands.
It is really interesting to see how something which was stated as a value is being turned into a reality. It will be really exciting to see the progress of this new venture.
This is part of his new role within Newfrontiers helping to develop social action and political engagement.
As always, a new team has been formed. There are no one man bands.
It is really interesting to see how something which was stated as a value is being turned into a reality. It will be really exciting to see the progress of this new venture.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Five people
In the last few days 5 different people have looked me in the eye, face to face, and thanked me for my recent series on Miscarriage.
Communication is an interesting thing.
On the one hand, I genuinely don't know if I could have spoken the way I could write about the subject.
On the flip side they all said that they did not feel they could leave a comment on the blog but wanted to tell me when they saw me.
I think both those things are valid. There are some things you want to share but don't know how to share them. There are other things you want to respond to but not via the method you have received them.
I guess that is why blogging under my own name, with people from my Church, and other local churches, who know me, reading it, makes for an interesting mix.
Not only does it keep me accountable for the things I say about myself and about others, it also means some of my readers have walked the journey with me and then the effect of reading what I write goes that much deeper.
Communication is an interesting thing.
On the one hand, I genuinely don't know if I could have spoken the way I could write about the subject.
On the flip side they all said that they did not feel they could leave a comment on the blog but wanted to tell me when they saw me.
I think both those things are valid. There are some things you want to share but don't know how to share them. There are other things you want to respond to but not via the method you have received them.
I guess that is why blogging under my own name, with people from my Church, and other local churches, who know me, reading it, makes for an interesting mix.
Not only does it keep me accountable for the things I say about myself and about others, it also means some of my readers have walked the journey with me and then the effect of reading what I write goes that much deeper.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Back from Brighton
It has been a real whirlwind weekend following my return from Brighton on Friday.
Saturday was dominated by a lie in and then a wedding which I greatly enjoyed, at which Esther & I led the prayers.
Sunday started with a baptism service which I greatly enjoyed, which I led.
Then a post-baptism party, which I greatly enjoyed.
Then a birthday barbecue, which I greatly enjoyed.
Then visiting a young man from our Church in intensive care in hospital. This, I did not "enjoy" in the same way. However, seeing the grace of God resting upon his parents during this dreadfully difficult time was a most profound experience.
I then went to the gym, did some seriously overdue housework, and then roll on Monday!
I need to sit down and have a real ponder about what God has been saying. At the moment these are a few aspects I know have clearly spoken to me.
I think Joel's talk was absolutely spot on, there is a lot for me there.
Stef & Mbonisi were quality, and I felt are really speaking to "my" generation.
I went to my training track on John Calvin with an open heart and found it a really eye opening experience.
I also feel the way Terry Virgo has responded to the challenge brought by Mark Driscoll last year was really spot on.
I have a few suggestions for aspects of the conference I feel could help increase its effectiveness, but those can wait for a future post.
Saturday was dominated by a lie in and then a wedding which I greatly enjoyed, at which Esther & I led the prayers.
Sunday started with a baptism service which I greatly enjoyed, which I led.
Then a post-baptism party, which I greatly enjoyed.
Then a birthday barbecue, which I greatly enjoyed.
Then visiting a young man from our Church in intensive care in hospital. This, I did not "enjoy" in the same way. However, seeing the grace of God resting upon his parents during this dreadfully difficult time was a most profound experience.
I then went to the gym, did some seriously overdue housework, and then roll on Monday!
I need to sit down and have a real ponder about what God has been saying. At the moment these are a few aspects I know have clearly spoken to me.
I think Joel's talk was absolutely spot on, there is a lot for me there.
Stef & Mbonisi were quality, and I felt are really speaking to "my" generation.
I went to my training track on John Calvin with an open heart and found it a really eye opening experience.
I also feel the way Terry Virgo has responded to the challenge brought by Mark Driscoll last year was really spot on.
I have a few suggestions for aspects of the conference I feel could help increase its effectiveness, but those can wait for a future post.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
One whole year: the Bad News
12 whole months. A year.
A steep learning curve.
There really have been some great bits.
On the flip side:
It is certainly a calling not a vocation though. If this was my job it could feel different. But it is not. Service of God is a gift from Him. Serving in a leadership role is a gift from Him. A year of living within a gift from God is a gift to behold and be grateful for.
A steep learning curve.
There really have been some great bits.
On the flip side:
- I don't like the way some new people treat me differently because I have a title. I never want to be institutionalised an elder. Frankly, I don't act differently because of it so why should you?
- Interesting to see where some people draw their line in the sand and nothing can pass that line. Amazing to see how other bloggers quote you, discuss you, oppose you and get hot under the collar about you. Come, sit with me, eat with me, meet my wife, then let's talk.
- Divisiveness is a poison in the life of a body. It is just ugly.
- Being in elder is quite lonely. It is interesting how your friendships change, and how people invite you to less stuff, especially if they are planning on having a few ales.
- Leprosy: Yep, whoever you say "minister of religion" to, insurance companies, the dentist, whoever, you might as well say "Hi, I have leprosy". Being involved in Church leadership is "street cred" suicide. Good job I never had street cred!
It is certainly a calling not a vocation though. If this was my job it could feel different. But it is not. Service of God is a gift from Him. Serving in a leadership role is a gift from Him. A year of living within a gift from God is a gift to behold and be grateful for.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
One whole year: the Good News
Have I really been an elder a year?
My goodness, time flies!
12 months onwards on my road to elder "ado" and here is the good news
My goodness, time flies!
12 months onwards on my road to elder "ado" and here is the good news
- God answers prayer: He really does. Gift days, staff appointments, and the day to day stuff. Jehovah Jireh: God certainly provides
- People finding Jesus: yep, just taken 11 people from the Alpha Course through the Freedom in Christ Course. There is nothing greater than people finding Jesus.
- Loving Jesus: There is nothing else is there? I mean, really, is there? I have less time for Church politics, less time for theological sabre rattling and just want to serve my Lord, more than ever, deeper, further, an adventure following my saviour.
- Vision: If I had much more vision I think I may pop! Reaching the lost here. Growing a big Church here. Being part of a wider body of Christ. Churches working together here. Shared mission here. Reaching a town and region for Christ. It is not what we do that concerns me that much, it is the harvest that has not been reached yet.
Monday, 1 December 2008
A Manifesto for Simple Living
A couple of months ago I explained how a sermon by my friend Phil had changed my life.
In it I posed many questions that were raised in me. (I think the best sermons often pose as many questions as they answer. Not what do we now know, but what need to now change!)
Phil has responded to this by going through the questions and putting forward some more thoughts.
In my opinion, he is not far off having compiled a very useful Christian MOT in the area of living simply. I would love to see this be the basis of some sort of little booklet, with each chapter posing a different question.
I was doing a session with our year project students about money and possessions and used my blog post and then Phil's responses to open up a discussion about our own attitudes and ideas. I talked to the students about what I would regard as "conversational" theology. Where one statement or suggestion sparks others, and so the message becomes clearer that God is speaking. We had a fabulous discussion that easily swallowed up the two and a half hours I had set aside for it. We wrestled with these issues.
What about living simply then? What about it?
- what about the consumer dream?
- what about the environment?
- what about consumption?
- what about the way we label success?
- what about generosity?
- what about the desire for ownership?
- what about sharing?
- what about the goal of our lives being the accumulation of wealth?
- what about how we approach debt?
- what about trade justice?
- what are the desires of our hearts?
- what about community?
- what about our security?
- what about the future?
Somehow I don't think I could have expressed what I wrote in spoken word. Somehow I was more free to write it, to blog it. That appears to have evoked a response in Phil that this message needs to be heard and the word is coming alive in people's hearts through his challenge and encouragement.
Now he does not just have a slightly emotional blog post from a friend thanking him. He has a manifesto for simple living to continue to build upon.
I have not got too far into Proverbs yet, but when I get to chapter 27 this will have a bit of extra meaning and I shall think of Phil.
" 17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another."
In it I posed many questions that were raised in me. (I think the best sermons often pose as many questions as they answer. Not what do we now know, but what need to now change!)
Phil has responded to this by going through the questions and putting forward some more thoughts.
In my opinion, he is not far off having compiled a very useful Christian MOT in the area of living simply. I would love to see this be the basis of some sort of little booklet, with each chapter posing a different question.
I was doing a session with our year project students about money and possessions and used my blog post and then Phil's responses to open up a discussion about our own attitudes and ideas. I talked to the students about what I would regard as "conversational" theology. Where one statement or suggestion sparks others, and so the message becomes clearer that God is speaking. We had a fabulous discussion that easily swallowed up the two and a half hours I had set aside for it. We wrestled with these issues.
What about living simply then? What about it?
- what about the consumer dream?
- what about the environment?
- what about consumption?
- what about the way we label success?
- what about generosity?
- what about the desire for ownership?
- what about sharing?
- what about the goal of our lives being the accumulation of wealth?
- what about how we approach debt?
- what about trade justice?
- what are the desires of our hearts?
- what about community?
- what about our security?
- what about the future?
Somehow I don't think I could have expressed what I wrote in spoken word. Somehow I was more free to write it, to blog it. That appears to have evoked a response in Phil that this message needs to be heard and the word is coming alive in people's hearts through his challenge and encouragement.
Now he does not just have a slightly emotional blog post from a friend thanking him. He has a manifesto for simple living to continue to build upon.
I have not got too far into Proverbs yet, but when I get to chapter 27 this will have a bit of extra meaning and I shall think of Phil.
" 17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another."
What does God "hate" about blogging?
I am continuing to read and digest Proverbs (slowly), and I found these well known verses in Chapter 6 of particular challenge for the blogging world.
" 16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
"haughty eyes": eyes that are assuming, cavalier, conceited, contemptuous, detached, disdainful, distant, egotistic, egotistical, high, high and mighty, hoity-toity, imperious, indifferent, lofty, on high horse, overbearing, overweening, proud, reserved, scornful, sniffy, snobbish, snooty, snotty, stuck-up, supercilious, superior, uppity
"a false witness who pours out lies": Do we fall into this trap accidentally when quoting someone else when we have misunderstood them? Do we fall into this trap when we discuss what is happening within the Christian world and end up passing on gossip? I know I fell into that trap here and Peter Kirk brought a timely challenge which helped me see an error (in the comments of that post).
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers: That does not say a man who disagrees with others. Or a man who challenges others. Or a woman who does either. But I do wonder sometimes if some "discussions" have a deeper agenda.
Please tell me, at any time, if I am sounding or looking as though I have "haughty eyes"
Tell me if anything I say is gossip or a blatant misunderstanding.
Tell me if you feel I am stirring up dissension amongst brothers.
And with your permission, may I do the same for you?
" 16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
"haughty eyes": eyes that are assuming, cavalier, conceited, contemptuous, detached, disdainful, distant, egotistic, egotistical, high, high and mighty, hoity-toity, imperious, indifferent, lofty, on high horse, overbearing, overweening, proud, reserved, scornful, sniffy, snobbish, snooty, snotty, stuck-up, supercilious, superior, uppity
"a false witness who pours out lies": Do we fall into this trap accidentally when quoting someone else when we have misunderstood them? Do we fall into this trap when we discuss what is happening within the Christian world and end up passing on gossip? I know I fell into that trap here and Peter Kirk brought a timely challenge which helped me see an error (in the comments of that post).
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers: That does not say a man who disagrees with others. Or a man who challenges others. Or a woman who does either. But I do wonder sometimes if some "discussions" have a deeper agenda.
- Are we looking for something to criticise?
- Are we looking for something to be offended by?
- Do we find it easier to blog about other people than to dialogue with them?
- Do we issue a judgement before we issue a question?
- Do we engage or retreat?
Please tell me, at any time, if I am sounding or looking as though I have "haughty eyes"
Tell me if anything I say is gossip or a blatant misunderstanding.
Tell me if you feel I am stirring up dissension amongst brothers.
And with your permission, may I do the same for you?
Monday, 29 September 2008
10 Blogging Commandments...
The Evangelical Alliance have published their "Ten Blogging Commandments" which came out of the recent "Godblogs event in London.
The Times have picked up the story here and commented here
Some people aren't impressed, such as Dave Warnock with some interesting criticisms while some who were at the event are a bit confused as to what was published.
Personally - I can see how this started out as a good idea but I am unsure the Times article is actually good PR. It feels a little bit too much like airing our dirty laundry in public without actually adding much to help.
I am relatively new to blogging. I have been a moderator of a football messageboard for 5 or 6 years now, which has over 500,000 posts on 47,000 topics in 4 years, but only recently entered the blogging world having been interested by the blogs of both my brother Jon and Phil Whittall.
Here are a few of my personal observations, and if I am honest, disappointments:
1) I have been surprised at the strength of criticism on some blogs. It seems very odd, that less hurtful things are said by rival football fans trying to be offensive, than fellow Christians trying to represent a different viewpoint. In fact, it appears that some blogs / bloggers only exist for the purpose of running down other people / ministries / theological positions etc.
2) "Christian bloggers" seem to have a subculture of their own, and within that culture there are very definite groups or further subcultures so it is far too easy for new people to be dismissed. I deliberately look at blogs that differ from my own position on subjects to be stirred on the issues and engage with thinking that is different to my own. Some blogs appear to be , or are moderated to look like exercises in backslapping by a particular clique and anyone outside of that sphere gets run down too quickly.
3) It appears that many bloggers don't want to discuss things, they just want to prove their own rightness. A fantastic example of a blog that does not fall into this trap is complegalitarian which really has become a place for genuinely effective discussion.
4) "Unity" is used as both a bomb shelter to hide in once a fight has been started and also a tool to prevent further discussion. To some it is a trump card to play once you have had your ounce of flesh. You can say whatever you want then hide behind "unity" - but only after breeding disunity through false accusation or deliberate misinterpretation of someone else's viewpoint. It appears that people want you to respect their right to believe what they do and therefore uphold unity, while withholding the right to say whatever they want about your position without any negative reaction, which would of course, be you bringing disunity... So "unity" becomes a means of bullying rather than the foundation of a conversation, which is no unity at all.
5) Blogs don't really allow for personality in the same way that speech does. People say things in a way or with a strength way beyond what they would say to someone's face. People know me as a pretty easy going, humorous, fairly sensitive chap. At uni my nickname was "Jolly Dave". I wonder if that has made it across into cyberspace.
This is a humorous take on the ten commandments that brings a bit of joy back into the conversation.
On a more personal level, these are the basic presumptions I want to move forward with:
1) Hear the person - not their background, denomination, church background etc.
2) Not to use inflammatory language. It just does not help whatsoever.
3) Guilt by association is not guilt at all.
4) Don't question their motivations - even the person who is the most wrong on a subject needs to be engaged with as a fellow believer trying to get it right. I hold that because one day I may find myself as the most wrong - even though I know I am trying to get it right.
5) Don't write off 99% of what someone stands for on the basis of the 1% you disagree with. Most of us have more in common with each other than we think, and even where we disagree, we can still learn how it works for someone who holds that view.
Forgive the fact there are only 5. I may add more, but that will do for now. More to the point, forgive the times I stray from my own list.
The Times have picked up the story here and commented here
Some people aren't impressed, such as Dave Warnock with some interesting criticisms while some who were at the event are a bit confused as to what was published.
Personally - I can see how this started out as a good idea but I am unsure the Times article is actually good PR. It feels a little bit too much like airing our dirty laundry in public without actually adding much to help.
I am relatively new to blogging. I have been a moderator of a football messageboard for 5 or 6 years now, which has over 500,000 posts on 47,000 topics in 4 years, but only recently entered the blogging world having been interested by the blogs of both my brother Jon and Phil Whittall.
Here are a few of my personal observations, and if I am honest, disappointments:
1) I have been surprised at the strength of criticism on some blogs. It seems very odd, that less hurtful things are said by rival football fans trying to be offensive, than fellow Christians trying to represent a different viewpoint. In fact, it appears that some blogs / bloggers only exist for the purpose of running down other people / ministries / theological positions etc.
2) "Christian bloggers" seem to have a subculture of their own, and within that culture there are very definite groups or further subcultures so it is far too easy for new people to be dismissed. I deliberately look at blogs that differ from my own position on subjects to be stirred on the issues and engage with thinking that is different to my own. Some blogs appear to be , or are moderated to look like exercises in backslapping by a particular clique and anyone outside of that sphere gets run down too quickly.
3) It appears that many bloggers don't want to discuss things, they just want to prove their own rightness. A fantastic example of a blog that does not fall into this trap is complegalitarian which really has become a place for genuinely effective discussion.
4) "Unity" is used as both a bomb shelter to hide in once a fight has been started and also a tool to prevent further discussion. To some it is a trump card to play once you have had your ounce of flesh. You can say whatever you want then hide behind "unity" - but only after breeding disunity through false accusation or deliberate misinterpretation of someone else's viewpoint. It appears that people want you to respect their right to believe what they do and therefore uphold unity, while withholding the right to say whatever they want about your position without any negative reaction, which would of course, be you bringing disunity... So "unity" becomes a means of bullying rather than the foundation of a conversation, which is no unity at all.
5) Blogs don't really allow for personality in the same way that speech does. People say things in a way or with a strength way beyond what they would say to someone's face. People know me as a pretty easy going, humorous, fairly sensitive chap. At uni my nickname was "Jolly Dave". I wonder if that has made it across into cyberspace.
This is a humorous take on the ten commandments that brings a bit of joy back into the conversation.
On a more personal level, these are the basic presumptions I want to move forward with:
1) Hear the person - not their background, denomination, church background etc.
2) Not to use inflammatory language. It just does not help whatsoever.
3) Guilt by association is not guilt at all.
4) Don't question their motivations - even the person who is the most wrong on a subject needs to be engaged with as a fellow believer trying to get it right. I hold that because one day I may find myself as the most wrong - even though I know I am trying to get it right.
5) Don't write off 99% of what someone stands for on the basis of the 1% you disagree with. Most of us have more in common with each other than we think, and even where we disagree, we can still learn how it works for someone who holds that view.
Forgive the fact there are only 5. I may add more, but that will do for now. More to the point, forgive the times I stray from my own list.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Opening lines
To start a blog, at the start of an adventure like this is a bit intimidating.
So I will just copy and paste the interview I did for our church magazine.
Sorry it is a bit long, but hey, at least it covers the ground!
Can you give us a potted history of your life?
I was born in Birmingham in January 1979, and am 3 years younger than my brother Jon. My parents went to the Gambia in West Africa for two and a half years when I was still very young, returning to the UK before I started school. I think that is why I have so many freckles! We lived with my grandparents in Wrexham for 9 months or so then one of my Dad's old uni mates by the name of Andrew Pattison invited him to Shrewsbury to be a partner in a GP surgery here. We moved to Wenlock Road in 1984. We started attending a church called Barnabas Christian Fellowship, meeting in the Gateway centre near the station. Shrewsbury was home and Barnabas was church right through until the age of 18. In terms of my own faith it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint an exact moment when you have grown up in a christian family but I would say Spring Harvest in the early nineties, with a few of the lads my age from church, Dan Crack, Ben Pattison and others, taken by Jon and Karen Higgins - that was the moment where in my heart I knew Jesus had forgiven my sin on the cross. We sung the song "You have broken the chains, that held our captive souls" and I knew God had set me free. Even just writing that makes the tears well up.
Every summer we went to either Soul Survivor or later Stoneleigh bible week and that was also very influential, as was being part of a peer group in church. At 18 I went to Aston University to do a Management Studies degree, focussing mainly on marketing. I did a 14 month placement at Boots head office in Nottingham working on the Advantage Card Marketing team. After graduating I had a job with the Management Consultancy called Accenture to go to in Manchester but I wanted to come back to Shrewsbury to serve Barnabas for a year and do year project. So I rocked up in Shrewsbury again in 2001 after 4 years away, and never quite made it to Manchester!
Tell us about your wife?
I had known Esther since we were little. When I came back to Shrewsbury I could not help but notice this gorgeous young lady and saw that she was sold out for God. It was tough when she went to Cambridge for 3 years as that meant plenty of phone calls and driving the A14 more times than I care to remember. We got married when she returned to Shrewsbury, and it has been the best two years of my life.
When did you first feel God was calling you to Church leadership?
Good question. Wherever I went I found that people asked me to lead stuff. At Sixth form I was president of the Christian Union, and also was elected as College President. At university I was a christian union small group leader, and also on the Christian Union executive as evangelism secretary. Back in Shrewsbury I started leading a cell group, and gradually started overseeing other groups, as well as being involved leading the Destiny youth meetings with Phil Downward. I just always seem to have ended up leading stuff.
More specifically though when it came to the end of my project year God spoke incredibly powerfully to me through three seperate people on three seperate occasions about not going to Manchester and staying here.
I don't know if I can describe it as a calling to church leadership or a more like a deep burden to serve the Church here. My role seems to have developed further and I believe God spoke clearly to me about becoming an elder here. But I don't feel called to "the ministry" as such. I don't want to lead a Church anywhere else just in order to be a "Church leader". If God calls me I will obviously listen and obey, but I feel the call on my life right now is to serve the Church here and play my part in the future God has for Barnabas.
When I first started working here I was given a prophetic word about being the second row of the scrum. So many people in this world want to be top of the tree, but I felt God was asking me to look at Terry and Martin on the front row of the scrum, they are the ones stuck into the scrum and pushing forwards into what God has but it is tough work in there. I felt God ask me to come steaming in behind them like a player in the second row does and put my energy and ideas and commitment and gifts in behind where they were. 5 years on and it feels like God is asking me to join them on the front row.
How have you been prepared for leadership?
The deepest preparation has come from my own walk with God and going through the trials and challenges of life with him. Seeing him use me when I know my own faults and frailties has given me a good grasp of what grace means.
Being brought up in a Christian home and in a church family is such a priviledge. At university I was invited to various UCCF training such as a their biblical evangelism conference. During my year project I did a certficate in theology, and then did the word plus course. The different bible weeks and camps I have been to, as well as the Brighton Leader's conference have also been a real blessing.
Year project helped because you had to muck in and get involved with everything and I think that shapes character and gives you a balanced view of the life of the church and of serving. Since 2002 I have been involved in elders meetings as the adminstrator and watched what happens in the life of the Church and saw how Martin, Terry, and until recently Andrew responded to stuff. I think we learn so much from watching God working through others. I do hope to do further formalised study of the bible and am currently looking at options.
What role will you have in the Church?
It will be much the same for the time being. My role as adminsitrator is becoming much more "hands off" with Sharon taking on more and more things and Cathy and Calvin running the centre so effectively. My role is more the management of things and putting systems in place that others can maintain. I chair centre management team meetings and centre strategy team meetings, and try to co-ordinate the issues on the ground and ensuring the trustees are fully involved.
I oversee cell groups and this involves cell overseers meetings, cell leaders meetings and cell training. We recently trained three lots of cell group leaders from the Beacon church in Whitchurch within our training programme and they now have three fully fledged cell groups whcih is really exciting! I believe we need to develop our cells to make space for ministry, pastoral care and personal witness within the Church.
I will be leading meetings and speaking as I currently do. Three out of four sundays in July I am either speaking or leading, so that will keep me busy. I am also part of our pastoral team who meet weekly on a wednesday and regularly meet up with people in the Church, especially those in my peer group.
I am also involved in wider stuff such as the Hope 08 initiative for Shrewsbury in some exciting projects and will be explaining those in more detail in due course.
What is your vision for Barnabas?
I could fill a whole magazine on just this question!
A non christian friend of mine asked me what kind of church Barnabas was but before I could answer another non christian friend of mine said "Barnabas is the kind of church where it is more about the faith of the individual rather than just looking after the institution of the Church". That absolutely thrilled me. He does not have a faith himself but he knows that we have faith, and he knows that our faith is what matters.
I want Barnabas to be a prophetic statement to our town and community about what happens when we follow Jesus and are empowered by the holy spirit. That involves so many things - it makes us a family together caring for each other, it makes us a body of people working together, it means we have a passion to share the gospel with people and it means we are commited to show love and mercy to our community.
I think my vision would be that we are authentic in our faith. That all we do points people to Jesus and his work on the cross. That the grace in us and amongst us is so prevailent that everyone feels accepted and yet no-one can stay unchanged. And my heart is that everything we do can be seen by those who do not know Christ yet. That we live lives so shaped by the grace and power of God that we really can truly say to people "Taste and see that the Lord is good" and they will!
I love the idea of us being ambassadors for Christ and living letters that people can read and that Christians can permeate every level of society in the town and be good news to people. So I want Barnabas to be a Church that focusses on the 166 hours a week when we are not "in church" rather than the two that we are gathered, and that in the two that we gathered together we are empowered and equiped to fulfill all God has for us in the 166, when we are salt and light in the town and surrounding villages.
So I will just copy and paste the interview I did for our church magazine.
Sorry it is a bit long, but hey, at least it covers the ground!
Can you give us a potted history of your life?
I was born in Birmingham in January 1979, and am 3 years younger than my brother Jon. My parents went to the Gambia in West Africa for two and a half years when I was still very young, returning to the UK before I started school. I think that is why I have so many freckles! We lived with my grandparents in Wrexham for 9 months or so then one of my Dad's old uni mates by the name of Andrew Pattison invited him to Shrewsbury to be a partner in a GP surgery here. We moved to Wenlock Road in 1984. We started attending a church called Barnabas Christian Fellowship, meeting in the Gateway centre near the station. Shrewsbury was home and Barnabas was church right through until the age of 18. In terms of my own faith it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint an exact moment when you have grown up in a christian family but I would say Spring Harvest in the early nineties, with a few of the lads my age from church, Dan Crack, Ben Pattison and others, taken by Jon and Karen Higgins - that was the moment where in my heart I knew Jesus had forgiven my sin on the cross. We sung the song "You have broken the chains, that held our captive souls" and I knew God had set me free. Even just writing that makes the tears well up.
Every summer we went to either Soul Survivor or later Stoneleigh bible week and that was also very influential, as was being part of a peer group in church. At 18 I went to Aston University to do a Management Studies degree, focussing mainly on marketing. I did a 14 month placement at Boots head office in Nottingham working on the Advantage Card Marketing team. After graduating I had a job with the Management Consultancy called Accenture to go to in Manchester but I wanted to come back to Shrewsbury to serve Barnabas for a year and do year project. So I rocked up in Shrewsbury again in 2001 after 4 years away, and never quite made it to Manchester!
Tell us about your wife?
I had known Esther since we were little. When I came back to Shrewsbury I could not help but notice this gorgeous young lady and saw that she was sold out for God. It was tough when she went to Cambridge for 3 years as that meant plenty of phone calls and driving the A14 more times than I care to remember. We got married when she returned to Shrewsbury, and it has been the best two years of my life.
When did you first feel God was calling you to Church leadership?
Good question. Wherever I went I found that people asked me to lead stuff. At Sixth form I was president of the Christian Union, and also was elected as College President. At university I was a christian union small group leader, and also on the Christian Union executive as evangelism secretary. Back in Shrewsbury I started leading a cell group, and gradually started overseeing other groups, as well as being involved leading the Destiny youth meetings with Phil Downward. I just always seem to have ended up leading stuff.
More specifically though when it came to the end of my project year God spoke incredibly powerfully to me through three seperate people on three seperate occasions about not going to Manchester and staying here.
I don't know if I can describe it as a calling to church leadership or a more like a deep burden to serve the Church here. My role seems to have developed further and I believe God spoke clearly to me about becoming an elder here. But I don't feel called to "the ministry" as such. I don't want to lead a Church anywhere else just in order to be a "Church leader". If God calls me I will obviously listen and obey, but I feel the call on my life right now is to serve the Church here and play my part in the future God has for Barnabas.
When I first started working here I was given a prophetic word about being the second row of the scrum. So many people in this world want to be top of the tree, but I felt God was asking me to look at Terry and Martin on the front row of the scrum, they are the ones stuck into the scrum and pushing forwards into what God has but it is tough work in there. I felt God ask me to come steaming in behind them like a player in the second row does and put my energy and ideas and commitment and gifts in behind where they were. 5 years on and it feels like God is asking me to join them on the front row.
How have you been prepared for leadership?
The deepest preparation has come from my own walk with God and going through the trials and challenges of life with him. Seeing him use me when I know my own faults and frailties has given me a good grasp of what grace means.
Being brought up in a Christian home and in a church family is such a priviledge. At university I was invited to various UCCF training such as a their biblical evangelism conference. During my year project I did a certficate in theology, and then did the word plus course. The different bible weeks and camps I have been to, as well as the Brighton Leader's conference have also been a real blessing.
Year project helped because you had to muck in and get involved with everything and I think that shapes character and gives you a balanced view of the life of the church and of serving. Since 2002 I have been involved in elders meetings as the adminstrator and watched what happens in the life of the Church and saw how Martin, Terry, and until recently Andrew responded to stuff. I think we learn so much from watching God working through others. I do hope to do further formalised study of the bible and am currently looking at options.
What role will you have in the Church?
It will be much the same for the time being. My role as adminsitrator is becoming much more "hands off" with Sharon taking on more and more things and Cathy and Calvin running the centre so effectively. My role is more the management of things and putting systems in place that others can maintain. I chair centre management team meetings and centre strategy team meetings, and try to co-ordinate the issues on the ground and ensuring the trustees are fully involved.
I oversee cell groups and this involves cell overseers meetings, cell leaders meetings and cell training. We recently trained three lots of cell group leaders from the Beacon church in Whitchurch within our training programme and they now have three fully fledged cell groups whcih is really exciting! I believe we need to develop our cells to make space for ministry, pastoral care and personal witness within the Church.
I will be leading meetings and speaking as I currently do. Three out of four sundays in July I am either speaking or leading, so that will keep me busy. I am also part of our pastoral team who meet weekly on a wednesday and regularly meet up with people in the Church, especially those in my peer group.
I am also involved in wider stuff such as the Hope 08 initiative for Shrewsbury in some exciting projects and will be explaining those in more detail in due course.
What is your vision for Barnabas?
I could fill a whole magazine on just this question!
A non christian friend of mine asked me what kind of church Barnabas was but before I could answer another non christian friend of mine said "Barnabas is the kind of church where it is more about the faith of the individual rather than just looking after the institution of the Church". That absolutely thrilled me. He does not have a faith himself but he knows that we have faith, and he knows that our faith is what matters.
I want Barnabas to be a prophetic statement to our town and community about what happens when we follow Jesus and are empowered by the holy spirit. That involves so many things - it makes us a family together caring for each other, it makes us a body of people working together, it means we have a passion to share the gospel with people and it means we are commited to show love and mercy to our community.
I think my vision would be that we are authentic in our faith. That all we do points people to Jesus and his work on the cross. That the grace in us and amongst us is so prevailent that everyone feels accepted and yet no-one can stay unchanged. And my heart is that everything we do can be seen by those who do not know Christ yet. That we live lives so shaped by the grace and power of God that we really can truly say to people "Taste and see that the Lord is good" and they will!
I love the idea of us being ambassadors for Christ and living letters that people can read and that Christians can permeate every level of society in the town and be good news to people. So I want Barnabas to be a Church that focusses on the 166 hours a week when we are not "in church" rather than the two that we are gathered, and that in the two that we gathered together we are empowered and equiped to fulfill all God has for us in the 166, when we are salt and light in the town and surrounding villages.
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