On Thursday night Penny and I typically meet with a group of young adults to discuss some of the basics of Christianity. This weeks topic, as the schedule would have it, was baptism. It was a very good meeting with lots of good discussion, which you know, if you work with teens, can be hard to come by. All of the young people there were believers, more or less, but none of them had ever been baptized. At the close of the meeting Penny, John Pressdee, and I all had the sense that God had really been pressing on one or two of them, telling them that baptism was in order. None of them said as much, we simply got that impression in the Spirit, as it were.
The irony bit comes in here: Sunday morning is a baptism service at Green Street Green, though these two events were not planned to coincide. And although John is only planning on baptizing one person from the congregation tomorrow, he said he was going to leave the pool open and invite anyone who feels lead to receive baptism on the spot.
If our sense was correct, that God really was convicting one or two of the young people Thursday night, then I'm praying that they follow through on it on Sunday. Whether someone volunteers for it or not, though, I guess I wouldn't be surprised. But come on, that would be pretty cool.
7.21.2007
7.20.2007
The Future of Youth Work in Green St Green
I had mentioned the other day that GSGBC was holding a church meeting to discuss the borough council's suggestion that they spearhead the area youth work. The meeting was held Wednesday evening and though it was a lengthy meeting, it went well. Primary concerns for the members of the church centered on two areas: (1) additional money and volunteers most likely could not come from GSGBC itself (they're already stretched to capacity), and, more importantly, (2) that if the church took this charge and money from the community for this effort they could not afford to compromise their Christian emphasis and purpose in working with the young people.
The second of these issues has become exceptionally important in recent days here in the UK. Earlier this week, Britain's highest court ruled against Lydia Playfoot, who was forbidden by authorities in her secondary school from wearing a ring on her finger to symbolize her commitment to sexual purity (by the way, the UK is highest in the world in teen pregnancy rates). Furthermore, there is still outstanding in Britain a case involving Exeter University's Christian Union, which has been suspended from the student guild and has had its bank account frozen on the basis that they unfairly discriminate those of other faiths from membership and leadership of the Christian organization.
What this means for GSGBC is that if they elect to discriminate in their selection of volunteers or leadership in their efforts to help the area youth, which the people of the church believe they must if they are to maintain a sense of Christian mission in their youth work, then it is not difficult to imagine a secular organization accusing the church of operating unfairly in their policies. Still, GSGBC must be straightforward and very clear in their intentions if they are to expand their youth work in the community, especially if it is at the request of secular organizations like the borough council and the police.
For Christians worldwide, particularly those of us in the West, these are significant issues that we must be thinking on and preparing for. Though this kind of "persecution," if I can call it that, is not necessarily persistent or common in the UK and the US at this point, it is neither uncommon. We need to be clear on our beliefs regarding the difference between proper and improper discrimination. We need to know which is which and, therefore, when to acknowledge an injustice and when to stand firm.
The second of these issues has become exceptionally important in recent days here in the UK. Earlier this week, Britain's highest court ruled against Lydia Playfoot, who was forbidden by authorities in her secondary school from wearing a ring on her finger to symbolize her commitment to sexual purity (by the way, the UK is highest in the world in teen pregnancy rates). Furthermore, there is still outstanding in Britain a case involving Exeter University's Christian Union, which has been suspended from the student guild and has had its bank account frozen on the basis that they unfairly discriminate those of other faiths from membership and leadership of the Christian organization.
What this means for GSGBC is that if they elect to discriminate in their selection of volunteers or leadership in their efforts to help the area youth, which the people of the church believe they must if they are to maintain a sense of Christian mission in their youth work, then it is not difficult to imagine a secular organization accusing the church of operating unfairly in their policies. Still, GSGBC must be straightforward and very clear in their intentions if they are to expand their youth work in the community, especially if it is at the request of secular organizations like the borough council and the police.
For Christians worldwide, particularly those of us in the West, these are significant issues that we must be thinking on and preparing for. Though this kind of "persecution," if I can call it that, is not necessarily persistent or common in the UK and the US at this point, it is neither uncommon. We need to be clear on our beliefs regarding the difference between proper and improper discrimination. We need to know which is which and, therefore, when to acknowledge an injustice and when to stand firm.
7.18.2007
Strangely Sad to See it Go
Last night we hosted our last Tuesday night youth club for the summer. The kids end school this week, and many will be away on holiday at different times during the summer. Actually, many of the leaders will be away on holiday too. So the end result is no more youth club. (If you'll remember, the kids who showed up on Tuesday nights were neighborhood kids with little or no church background. The youth clubs are a way to get kids off the streets where there are few options to occupy them but getting into trouble. The hope also is that good relationships will form between those in the church and these young people, resulting in good conversations and opportunities for evangelism down the road.)
So last night we hosted a BBQ for them. Thirty or so showed up and it was a good time. It's funny, I really felt like it took up till now for me to really feel comfortable with them (last night I shot pool with several of them) and now it's over. Bummer.
If you read this today, please pray for GSGBC and Penny, the youth worker, because we're holding a church meeting to discuss youth work in throughout the area. The Bromley (the area surrounding Orpington and Green Street Green) Council has recognized (1) a significant problem with young people and crime throughout the area and (2) that those don't appear to be as big a problem in GSG/Orpington, especially on Tuesday nights. As a result the Council has asked GSGBC if they'd consider spearheading the area youth work. Tonight the church meets to discuss proposals by Penny on how the church might move forward in this matter, if at all.
Please pray that the church receives guidance from the Lord regarding the young people in the area and the church's role in that work. Pray also that the congregation would become of one mind on the subject.
So last night we hosted a BBQ for them. Thirty or so showed up and it was a good time. It's funny, I really felt like it took up till now for me to really feel comfortable with them (last night I shot pool with several of them) and now it's over. Bummer.
If you read this today, please pray for GSGBC and Penny, the youth worker, because we're holding a church meeting to discuss youth work in throughout the area. The Bromley (the area surrounding Orpington and Green Street Green) Council has recognized (1) a significant problem with young people and crime throughout the area and (2) that those don't appear to be as big a problem in GSG/Orpington, especially on Tuesday nights. As a result the Council has asked GSGBC if they'd consider spearheading the area youth work. Tonight the church meets to discuss proposals by Penny on how the church might move forward in this matter, if at all.
Please pray that the church receives guidance from the Lord regarding the young people in the area and the church's role in that work. Pray also that the congregation would become of one mind on the subject.
7.13.2007
A Day at the Beach...Sort Of
I've just come back from a wonderful day in Hawkinge, near Dover along the coast. John Pressdee had invited me along with several others from Green Street Green to pray with the vicar in Hawkinge, a friend of his named Robert.
Robert, an Anglican vicar, has felt called to plant a church in Hawkinge apart from the Anglican church already in the village. As he does so, he is also overseeing the church currently in existence there. His new congregation, he says, is already beginning to blossom after just six weeks and this is where he believes God will be working in the future of this community and where he is called, personally.
Yet the Anglican congregation, St Luke's, is a sad old place. A big part of the reason John was called down was because Robert had been finding details of previous vicars who had been grossly unfaithful to the gospel. Rob said that after preaching one Sunday morning a gentleman from the leadership of the church told Rob that Rob had just shaken his faith greatly. "How so?"
asked Rob. "Well, you've just told us that Jesus was the Son of God..." Furthermore, Rob has been finding more and more items scattered about the church that represent ancient idols. While visiting the church before taking over, he did not recognize what was being read from the "scriptures" only to find later that it was actually from the Koran. Rob also had a deep sense that there had been a spirit of abuse (perhaps sexual abuse) in the vestry (the pastor's office), and the rectory (parsonage) had a hidden room with a bed stashed away in it. Essentially, he had come into a parish that had a strong history of disobedience to God, a strong history of idolatry and abuse.
So John was called down to help him pray over the place. It was really quite powerful, as we felt that God was really moving and working in loosening the grips of some of these spiritual powers over the place. I don't know exactly how to describe it. If you've done this sort of thing before, you know, but it's hard to explain exactly what was going on for those of you who may not have seen or heard of this kind of thing. I guess it's like praying for healing over a physical place like we would pray for healing over a person. It's as if Satan gets a grip on a piece of property (because someone let him long ago) and he has control over it (and the people there) as long as he's not ordered out in Jesus' name. Our job today, then, was calling him out and freeing the Holy Spirit to do what God has been wanting to do in that place. I hope that makes sense.
Anyway, it was wonderful, and we could really sense that God was in the work. For those of you who aren't accustomed to hearing about this sort
of thing in Christianity, it's nothing new, though probably it's not common enough in most churches. It's not about being superstitious about demons, but simply ordering them out where they had been invited in. There are places in the Bible that talk about real curses on particular plots of land like Jericho, for example (see Jos 6:26 & 1 Kgs 16:34) and this is simply believing that such is still the case in certain places.
Regardless, it was a fine day. And I even got to dip my feet in the English Channel.
Robert, an Anglican vicar, has felt called to plant a church in Hawkinge apart from the Anglican church already in the village. As he does so, he is also overseeing the church currently in existence there. His new congregation, he says, is already beginning to blossom after just six weeks and this is where he believes God will be working in the future of this community and where he is called, personally.
Yet the Anglican congregation, St Luke's, is a sad old place. A big part of the reason John was called down was because Robert had been finding details of previous vicars who had been grossly unfaithful to the gospel. Rob said that after preaching one Sunday morning a gentleman from the leadership of the church told Rob that Rob had just shaken his faith greatly. "How so?"
asked Rob. "Well, you've just told us that Jesus was the Son of God..." Furthermore, Rob has been finding more and more items scattered about the church that represent ancient idols. While visiting the church before taking over, he did not recognize what was being read from the "scriptures" only to find later that it was actually from the Koran. Rob also had a deep sense that there had been a spirit of abuse (perhaps sexual abuse) in the vestry (the pastor's office), and the rectory (parsonage) had a hidden room with a bed stashed away in it. Essentially, he had come into a parish that had a strong history of disobedience to God, a strong history of idolatry and abuse.So John was called down to help him pray over the place. It was really quite powerful, as we felt that God was really moving and working in loosening the grips of some of these spiritual powers over the place. I don't know exactly how to describe it. If you've done this sort of thing before, you know, but it's hard to explain exactly what was going on for those of you who may not have seen or heard of this kind of thing. I guess it's like praying for healing over a physical place like we would pray for healing over a person. It's as if Satan gets a grip on a piece of property (because someone let him long ago) and he has control over it (and the people there) as long as he's not ordered out in Jesus' name. Our job today, then, was calling him out and freeing the Holy Spirit to do what God has been wanting to do in that place. I hope that makes sense.
Anyway, it was wonderful, and we could really sense that God was in the work. For those of you who aren't accustomed to hearing about this sort
of thing in Christianity, it's nothing new, though probably it's not common enough in most churches. It's not about being superstitious about demons, but simply ordering them out where they had been invited in. There are places in the Bible that talk about real curses on particular plots of land like Jericho, for example (see Jos 6:26 & 1 Kgs 16:34) and this is simply believing that such is still the case in certain places.Regardless, it was a fine day. And I even got to dip my feet in the English Channel.
7.11.2007
Gone Fishin'
From the start of my time with GSGBC, I've been helping with the Tuesday night youth club, in which several neighborhood teens, typically between the ages of 11 and 16, drop in to hang out, shoot pool, play table tennis, etc. The church started opening its doors a year and half ago because these same kids were vandalizing the property (now there's an idea: "these kids are tearing our roof apart...let's let them in"). By now, the kids have tested their boundaries and they know GSGBC to be a safe place for them, where they're given a level of freedom, but their watched and cared for. The long-term goal is to build up relationships with several of the young people and allow for open conversation that would hopefully lead to spiritual matters.
Over the past several weeks, this youth club has been somewhat frustrating for me simply because there are too many kids to talk to any one of them (at least, I feel that way since I'm not as sociable as some). I just haven't felt very comfortable. Last night, however, the weather was wonderful and, as a result, only a dozen or so kids showed up. For the first time, then, I really felt like I could get on with some of them and interact with some of them rather than just watch them. It was a small step, but it felt great.
On Saturday, I'll be going with another of the guys who helps out on Tuesday nights to take four of the young guys fishing. I expect that in a smaller group and in a far more serene environment, there will be more opportunity to get to know them and to chat candidly. Please pray for us as we go. I'll be going with Ken, the gentleman from the church, and four boys: Dan, Ben, Aaron, and James. A report and pictures to follow, I'm sure.
Over the past several weeks, this youth club has been somewhat frustrating for me simply because there are too many kids to talk to any one of them (at least, I feel that way since I'm not as sociable as some). I just haven't felt very comfortable. Last night, however, the weather was wonderful and, as a result, only a dozen or so kids showed up. For the first time, then, I really felt like I could get on with some of them and interact with some of them rather than just watch them. It was a small step, but it felt great.
On Saturday, I'll be going with another of the guys who helps out on Tuesday nights to take four of the young guys fishing. I expect that in a smaller group and in a far more serene environment, there will be more opportunity to get to know them and to chat candidly. Please pray for us as we go. I'll be going with Ken, the gentleman from the church, and four boys: Dan, Ben, Aaron, and James. A report and pictures to follow, I'm sure.
7.06.2007
A Week With My Best Friend
My best friend has been here all week seeing where I'm living and what I'm doing. Kate and I had a wonderful time together. It's been great to see her and spend nearly every minute of the last nine days with her. I had missed her quite a bit.
We spent a couple of days in London, walking everywhere and seeing whatever we could. We took a walk through Regent's Park, which is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places ever. Then we went down to the Thames and caught a river tour where we could see and hear about some of the more important places in the city. Then in the evening we worked our way back to Regent's Park for the Open Air Theatre and a performance of "Macbeth."
Sadly, it was raining quite often while Kate was here (by the way, we have had the strangest weather - here it is the first week of July and it's been 50 degrees and raining every day). Ten minutes into "Macbeth" a downpour hits and the show was canceled. The tickets are valid forever, more or less, so I can always go back with someone, but unfortunately Kate missed something she had really been looking forward to.
The next day we buzzed through Harrod's briefly and then met up with Paul Moore, a friend
from Lakeside who lives and works in Edinburgh. He was in town just for the week and had asked if I too would be in the city. Interestingly, Kate also ran into someone she used to work with from the North Shore who now lives in London. We had a great time catching up with Paul and his friends over a couple pints and some pub food. That afternoon, Kate and I took a trip on the London Eye, which is basically a giant ferris wheel on the Thames. At the peak, you're on one of the highest points in the city, so it's an interesting perspective on the town below.
As we prepared to return home Tuesday evening, we noticed everyone flooding out of the tube station and announcements evacuating the underground. Not knowing what was happening exactly, we hailed a cab to get us to the train station so we could return to Orpington. Arriving there, the taxi driver was told he couldn't enter the vicinity of the station and when we went in the trains were all awry and the station was absolutely packed with people staring at the boards waiting for trains to arrive. Now, for trains to not run on time in Britain is a big deal. Evidently, we learned, someone had left a backpack somewhere along the transport line, causing things to halt all over the city. It turned out not to be anything, but terror alerts in the UK are at their highest. And, as July 7 is the anniversary of some bombings that happened a couple years ago, people are on alert these days. Please pray for the UK and London, specifically.
At any rate, Kate and I spent the last couple days locally. On the 4th, we celebrated Independence Day by hiking to the Wilberforce Oak, where William Wilberforce swore before God that we would work in Parliament to fight Britain's slave trade. The Oak is dead now - just a stump with a new, smaller tree growing beside it, but it's an inspiring place (very quiet and naturally peaceful). There's something wonderful about standing in a place in which someone in the past has stood up for something valiant and good, where someone did something that could legitimately be called righteous. Such is particularly noticeable next to the monuments throughout the area that commemorate and honor war heroes (and probably rightfully so). Nevertheless, the Wilberforce Oak would be easy to miss if there weren't a small sign next to it and a tiny laminated 3"x5" card attached to the fence telling very briefly what had happened there. It's quite unassuming and a great lesson towards a "quiet" Christianity that shakes the earth without the use of grand trumpets and clanging cymbals.
Thanks again to everybody for your prayers this past week. Having Kate here was refreshing. The people here loved her (of course) and many (including me) wished she could have stayed. If anyone else wants to come and visit (and Kate, if you want to come back), you're more than welcome. We'll find the space.
We spent a couple of days in London, walking everywhere and seeing whatever we could. We took a walk through Regent's Park, which is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places ever. Then we went down to the Thames and caught a river tour where we could see and hear about some of the more important places in the city. Then in the evening we worked our way back to Regent's Park for the Open Air Theatre and a performance of "Macbeth."
Sadly, it was raining quite often while Kate was here (by the way, we have had the strangest weather - here it is the first week of July and it's been 50 degrees and raining every day). Ten minutes into "Macbeth" a downpour hits and the show was canceled. The tickets are valid forever, more or less, so I can always go back with someone, but unfortunately Kate missed something she had really been looking forward to.
The next day we buzzed through Harrod's briefly and then met up with Paul Moore, a friend
from Lakeside who lives and works in Edinburgh. He was in town just for the week and had asked if I too would be in the city. Interestingly, Kate also ran into someone she used to work with from the North Shore who now lives in London. We had a great time catching up with Paul and his friends over a couple pints and some pub food. That afternoon, Kate and I took a trip on the London Eye, which is basically a giant ferris wheel on the Thames. At the peak, you're on one of the highest points in the city, so it's an interesting perspective on the town below.
As we prepared to return home Tuesday evening, we noticed everyone flooding out of the tube station and announcements evacuating the underground. Not knowing what was happening exactly, we hailed a cab to get us to the train station so we could return to Orpington. Arriving there, the taxi driver was told he couldn't enter the vicinity of the station and when we went in the trains were all awry and the station was absolutely packed with people staring at the boards waiting for trains to arrive. Now, for trains to not run on time in Britain is a big deal. Evidently, we learned, someone had left a backpack somewhere along the transport line, causing things to halt all over the city. It turned out not to be anything, but terror alerts in the UK are at their highest. And, as July 7 is the anniversary of some bombings that happened a couple years ago, people are on alert these days. Please pray for the UK and London, specifically.
At any rate, Kate and I spent the last couple days locally. On the 4th, we celebrated Independence Day by hiking to the Wilberforce Oak, where William Wilberforce swore before God that we would work in Parliament to fight Britain's slave trade. The Oak is dead now - just a stump with a new, smaller tree growing beside it, but it's an inspiring place (very quiet and naturally peaceful). There's something wonderful about standing in a place in which someone in the past has stood up for something valiant and good, where someone did something that could legitimately be called righteous. Such is particularly noticeable next to the monuments throughout the area that commemorate and honor war heroes (and probably rightfully so). Nevertheless, the Wilberforce Oak would be easy to miss if there weren't a small sign next to it and a tiny laminated 3"x5" card attached to the fence telling very briefly what had happened there. It's quite unassuming and a great lesson towards a "quiet" Christianity that shakes the earth without the use of grand trumpets and clanging cymbals.
Thanks again to everybody for your prayers this past week. Having Kate here was refreshing. The people here loved her (of course) and many (including me) wished she could have stayed. If anyone else wants to come and visit (and Kate, if you want to come back), you're more than welcome. We'll find the space.
7.01.2007
Megawatt Smiles
As great a time as I've been having in England to date, it's hard not to get a little homesick when so many things are just a little unfamiliar. But Thursday night a little piece of home flew over to visit for a week. Hooray! Kate is here and we've been having a fabulous time together.
She's already met several of the people from the church and the people I've been working with. I think she'd agree that there are many colorful characters here at GSGBC. For example, walking up the steps to the sanctuary this morning for church, John Pressdee (the pastor) stepped out and told her I had been barred from the church.
At any rate, this is coincidentally a rather slow week for me too, so we're having a good amount of time to ourselves to do some sightseeing around here and in London. We were there yesterday getting soaked (apparently, summer is nowhere in sight) and seeing whatever we could. We'll go back again tomorrow to do some more.
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