Bulletin Number 113 ( 6th Oct 2007 )
Getting out more

Have you ever been in the situation where you’re sharing with a friend about how stale life has become and how the enjoyment has gone out of your life? Usually the advice we receive in situations like this is, “Well, you ought to get out more!” For some people, the same applies to their church life. They find themselves in a rut and their Christian life and Sunday worship have lost their sparkle.

I’m delighted that I see the church “getting out more” in a variety of ways. The photo above was taken last Friday (5th October) at the Brewhouse Theatre in Burton-on-Trent where the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Liz Staples was the guest of honour at the CARGO concert featuring Paul Field and organised by the Methodists of the Burton-on-Trent Circuit. I heard many stunning reports after the concert of how people had been challenged and stimulated by CARGO. The impact upon the planning team and backing choir was equally positive.

Just a week before (September 28th), I was at the Council House in Nottingham as the new Business Alpha course started. Frances Finn of BBC Radio Nottingham was the guest speaker and she gave an excellent talk on how being a Christian had made a difference in her life. Her honesty and enthusiasm for Jesus captivated those who packed into the room over lunchtime.

The following Sunday (September 30th), Christians from various churches in the Castle Donington area launched their new venture at the Whitehouse Hotel – Junction 24. Again, there was a packed hotel room and the gospel was conveyed in music and preaching in a clear and powerful manner. And then, at Grannie’s Tea Room, Cotgrave, last Thursday (October 4th), we were gathered together to reflect upon the healing ministry of Jesus.

All of these stories warm my heart because I believe that our faith takes on a new dimension and vitality when we do what Jesus did which was to “get out more”. Very few of the incidents in the gospels take place inside the synagogue or temple. Instead Jesus was constantly out and about, teaching on the hillside, healing by the lakeside, praying in the hills.

After John Wesley had received his “heart-warming” experience at the Moravian meeting in Aldersgate Street, he felt a growing need to “get out more” and was encouraged by colleagues to “become more vulgar” and preach outside of church. Imagine that – preaching in the market place or on the hillside! That’s not where respectable Christians would go. But that’s precisely the point. Neither Jesus, nor John Wesley went in search of respectable people (Luke 5:31,32). Their passion was for those who needed to hear the good news of the kingdom. What about you?

For more information on these bulletins and other matters relating to evangelism in the Nottingham and Derby District, contact Roger Johnson on 0115 923 5221 / 07913 252541 or email dee@ionian.co.uk