It has been another eventful week here across the sea. Probably the most important note about this week is that I have now passed the halfway point of my time in Wales. I can't believe that I've been here for just under a month now. By the end of the month I will be back in the States. While I will have a lot to reflect on from my time here (and already am reflecting on), I realized recently that in some ways this time is like a sabbatical for me. Not that I've really been working long enough to have a sabbatical. But many of the things I've been focusing on while here (prayer, journaling/reflection, "visioning," etc.) are sabbatical type activities. This time is so important (as I've probably said before) as I prepare to enter a very different, long-term type of ministry and context in Newport.
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| Bristol Ship Building (Not My Picture) |
An important conversation I had this past week towards this preparation was with the preacher/evangelist of the Bristol Church of Christ (Jason Snethen) just down the road in England. This was actually one of two trips I made to Bristol this past week, the other being a Friday night trip for their evening youth group. Along with attending their "coffee morning" (a more-or-less social gathering in which they drink tea :)), I spent the day getting to know Jason, talking with him about my experiences in Newport, and his 10+ year work with the Bristol Church. Among other things, the Church in Bristol has grown from 30 to about 90 in the last 10 years and has broadened their ministry leadership base (Jason worked with another evangelist named Trevor Williams until fairly recently). It was really good to talk with Jason and hear how Bristol has grown and how that same growth could be possible in Newport. That being said, I know Newport is not quite the same thing and I am sensing more and more that my role there will be different than Jason's in Bristol. Still it was good to talk with a fellow American ministering in the UK (I forgot to mention that Jason is from Oklahoma).
Thank you, by the way, for your prayers on behalf of my preaching this past Sunday. I think it
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| Near Bristol University (Not My Picture) |
went pretty well and I got generally positive feedback. I've been invited to preach again this Sunday night in Bristol. Please continue to pray for me as I try to decide what to preach there and what God wants to do with that. I've decided that preaching is not an easy thing and is best done when God has placed something before you to consider and then preach (which doesn't normally happen every week). "What is the Gospel" is something God has had me considering since the time I got here, and so I felt pretty clearly from the outset that this is what I ought to preach.
One more thing I've been reflecting on the last couple days. I spent some time listening to a two part lecture from ACU's Summit lectures done by a preacher named Grady King entitled "When the Church Comes Between You and God" (dealing with disillusionment in Church). While the title is intended to be provocative and it is addressed mainly towards ministers, it would certainly be worth a listen for anyone in a ministry leadership position (you can download it for free from iTunes U). I don't feel like I'm in a place of disillusionment right now, but I know it is a real problem in ministry and something I will probably face at some point because of the unique challenges present in Newport. Grady King makes the point that we need to focus on our own spiritual witness and growth, rather than be discouraged by the position a Church is in (1st Timothy 4). He reminds ministers that they cannot change the Church on their own, but rather recognize that we serve Jesus as He works in His Church. Finally, it is important that ministers don't blame themselves for the "failure" they may see in the Churches they serve, especially when you consider that so much is expected of ministers now (CEO, CFO, Vision Leader, Organizer, etc.). Just some interesting food for thought. Hope you are well and thank you for your prayers!
Sincerely in Christ,
Chris
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