All over the UK the Church is doing an incredible job. We are running food banks...mentoring teenagers at risk...counselling those in debt... befriending the elderly...sheltering the homeless...running parent-toddler groups... homework clubs...music and arts workshops...healing on the streets...sports camps... working with prisoners...community choirs... It is wonderful, but there is a danger. The church may spend the next… Continue reading Is it the Church’s job to be the nation’s paramedic? – by Andy Flannagan
Re-discovering Narnia and rinsing out stale thinking about Christianity
I grew up in a Christian home as the son of a vicar. In retrospect it gave me loads of things that I am grateful for, but in many ways I disliked being the ‘vicar’s son’ in a large church. People treated you differently: Sunday school teachers really did say things like ‘I would have expected… Continue reading Re-discovering Narnia and rinsing out stale thinking about Christianity
Inspirational but OTT: review of ‘Dirty Glory’ by Pete Greig
The ambition to 'form a movement' is one I have heard expressed by many leaders over the years. Movements are perceived as exciting, purposeful expressions of collective will and spiritual energy. They often stand in contrast to the more mundane task of managing an organisation. Pete Greig is one of the few contemporary Christian leaders who can legitimately… Continue reading Inspirational but OTT: review of ‘Dirty Glory’ by Pete Greig
‘I am neither an optimist or a pessimist’ – the hope of Easter
"Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact? The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is more like the… Continue reading ‘I am neither an optimist or a pessimist’ – the hope of Easter
Finding hope when burnt out – by Corin Pilling
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com Those on the front line of church, community and care work can from time to time experience a ‘hope deficit’. The reality of dysfunction and poverty can easily start to outweigh the hope and energy that we can offer. We may be called to cultivate hope but the reality is often… Continue reading Finding hope when burnt out – by Corin Pilling
Prophet warning: a response to Matt Bird – by Justin Thacker
Matt Bird recently wrote an article titled Be for the poor, but not against the rich. According to Matt, God’s material riches of Solomon is evidence that ‘God is not opposed to wealth or the disparity of wealth’. He chastises a development charity for describing as ‘unacceptable’ the fact that the richest eight people in the… Continue reading Prophet warning: a response to Matt Bird – by Justin Thacker
A soft-touch? Why Christians need to stop being doormats
My recent article on Why Pope Francis is wrong about begging was re-posted on the popular Christian blog Psephizo and a number of church leaders commented on the challenge that this issue poses for them. It again reminded me of how churches, vicarages and manses are at the front line of this issue because of… Continue reading A soft-touch? Why Christians need to stop being doormats
The Lord’s Prayer – by Danny Kuhrt
This post is taken from a talk given by Danny Kuhrt, aged 13, at a youth-led service at Streatham Baptist Church in March 2017. Danny spoke on the first half of the prayer (Matthew 6:9-11) Firstly, I would like to ask everyone a question. And I want an honest answer. Who finds praying easy? It can… Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer – by Danny Kuhrt
Why Pope Francis is wrong about begging
This week I was at a church in central London, talking with the minister when a man came to the door asking for help. He explained that he was not from London but his wife had just been discharged from UCH (a London hospital) following an emergency operation. He said they had nowhere to stay… Continue reading Why Pope Francis is wrong about begging
How I became a Christian – by Andrew Ryland
This is the story of how I became a Christian. To some who know me, this may be a surprise. It’s no secret, I just haven’t been very open about it. Recently I have felt moved to be more transparent about my faith and how it has transformed me. I hope that this will help… Continue reading How I became a Christian – by Andrew Ryland
Grace + Truth 