A beautiful gospel hub in a broken world

 

Hi Friends,

We landed in Poland yesterday. Our desire is threefold. 

1) Say thank you to our Polish friends who have been so awesome in providing aid, sending encouragement and receiving friends to and from Ukraine.

2) Be an encouragement in an area so in need of church planting and help to share the gospel amongst the next generation.

3) Link up like minded gospel friends as we seek to follow Gods global plans for mission together.

Today especially has been both beautiful and humbling as we have observed what God is doing. The highlight was meeting five friends from Dnipro who relocated due to the conflict. They have found a home here which enables them to have appropriate accommodation for their disabilities. We had a great laugh and connected over many things as we ate ice cream and swapped stories. Three of these friends having come to Christ, have also been recently baptised. The church here is doing an absolutely outstanding job, making friends, supporting, treasuring those who have been through so much.

We have explored some properties as we seek what God may be doing. We would love to do more for our friends in this crisis, but also follow God;s lead to share the gospel amongst many teenagers here who are so in need. One wonderful project set up to work amongst young people teaches music. and affirms them through understanding biblical truth. In a world and culture which tells young people they are rubbish, the good news of Jesus and the affirmation that they are made in the image of a God (who treasures them) is proving truly transformational. We had a wonderful presentation from a talented 18 year old (in excellent English), who found solace in the foundation project and is now working for it. God is majestically good, and those who share his love in this context are truly beautiful. (Isa 52:7, Romans 10:15).

I will share more on return but for now, pray for these wonderful brothers and sisters. Thank you, and The LORD bless you in your praying and partnership.  

Boaz's field on Austrian Airways

 That moment when you sit down (in your rearranged seat) and discover the man next to you is also a mission director from another organisation and is heading to Poland to help networks of Ukrainian believers / plant churches. What are the chances ?

In God's providence nothing happens by accident. Every microsecond of our lives is under his sovereign control. In his orchestration all sorts of things which were intended for harm can work out for good. Here is a brother in Christ a missional gospel pastor. Travelling with him a Ukrainian mother and child excited about their return to Ukraine to see husband and Dad respectively who is also a pastor. Under the protection of a group of believers all are being taken care of for tearful reunions. God is good. Our Father has ways of looking after those displaced, hungry, lonely and in need. Ruth 2:8 reminds us that his eyes and hands are especially working for those who trust in him. As Ruth just happened to find herself in Boaz's field, with the provision of her redeemer, so in our conversations relating to two gospel groups of believers in the same redeemer, we discovered more and more of God's provision in our happenstance meeting. Our times are in the hands of the one who provides. Thank you for your prayers which have resulted in so many extraordinary instances of God's grace. Our God is working, we continue under the care of his loving and providing hands. 

Ruth 2:11

So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.

Very kindly our Polish brothers and sisters have ordered British weather to make us feel at home. However, wherever we go on this planet - we find a home amongst the radiant people of God who shine brightly regardless of circumstances.

Do keep praying for those who are returning to Ukraine and neighbouring countries to be reunited with loved ones, many also in pastoral ministry who remain under God's protection. 

All good things come to an end (for now and until the next time).

After a "ram packed" weekend, we have a few minutes to take stock. I will post.a full report to prayer supporters in due course of the amazing new relationship with gospel partners at a critical time by God's orchestration. In simple summary "WOW ! what a great God we have". Throughout our time in Serbia there has been a sense of God's smile, a sense of privilege joy and blessing as we've worked with a network of believers to take the gospel to those not yet reached. Today 4 services, many sermons, testimonies, songs and encouragements at every turn. The personal highlight for me was our time this afternoon with Seleuš (Селеуш). A Roma congregation, with full hearts and a full church which is impacting the community with the gospel. Started by a woman who returned to her village with a strong beating burden for all unreached, her prayers are no answered with a full congregation of young people, children and families. It was such a refreshing privilege to meet our precious sister and spend time with her. There was great liberty in preaching the gospel of Jesus and great joy in worship of the Lord of all peoples. May everyone and all peoples bless the LORD. There are some small needs in this fellowship which we would love to share with you at the appropriate time. God will provide all that is needed for this faithful and growing congregation of missional love and grace. This is just one church in many we would love to encourage in various ways, the network relationship has many exciting possibilities as we work together.

The two videos below will give you a sense of everything else. Now it is time for rest before the travelling to Poland tomorrow. Bless you for your love, encouragement and prayers. Is was lovely to great our friends in Serbia with the greetings of people all around the world. If you would love to encourage, why not post a greeting (in Facebook linked to this blog).

Love and appreciation. God willing - talk to you from Poland. 

P

A network of small new communities reaching out to the next generation

 Hi Friends,

Thank you for your prayers which are treasured more than you know. We have spent the last 48 hours visiting numerous churches and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. In each location there are lovely young people and children who attend, listening and engaging. We are so grateful to those who are working with them (whether through football, or regular youth outreach, friendship or just invitations and refreshments). It is a beautiful thing to see such a desire to reach many who need to know the one who brings eternal joy and freedom from Sin. 

Something special is happening. This is a glorious opportunity. In this place there is a true sense of community. Serbia does not suffer from many of the barriers (and broken community issues) we see in the UK especially when it comes to sharing faith through invitations to church or guest events. There is a sense of freedom, as we declare the one who knows the worst about us but loves us anyway. Yes, this culture knows hardship (there is rural poverty and economic hardship), and for some that means hard heartedness. Yes, there is a religious (satanic) superstition which manifests itself in a lack of faith or readiness to respond to salvation in Christ alone, but there are also those who are listening, responding to his voice, and are emerging under Godly youth pastors and couples who lead youth ministry. I believe a new day could clearly be around the corner for many churches here. A next generation could clearly emerge on fire for the gospel. Pray hard. May God open the door to overflowing. We would love to see how we could encourage these fledgling youth ministries with partnerships connected to the UK, Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro (and maybe further afield). In this there would be many mutual benefits. There is a great beauty and simplicity in this culture, a refreshing connection with people and our deepest needs.  We are praying for 16 churches (10 Romanian speaking and 6 Serbian), the hub also which connects them all.

Please pray about this. Please pray too for those who were deeply moved by the declaration of the gospel tonight and last night. Would God open their hearts to receive him and not just be moved. Please pray also for our strategic day tomorrow with leaders of many churches in this network. May we all be flexible to the mission of God, and surrender to his glorious purposes as we hear his loving voice. May there be a joy and unity in surrender as we fit in with his glorious plans together. May the next generation see great days ahead as we obey, serve and sacrifice in order that they would be increasingly fruitful in his purposes.

Thank you again for your partnership.

Glory to the one who saves, brings a new day, restores people, gifts leaders, and saves communities.

 

Super day understanding, learning and sharing a little more.

Hi Friends.

Thank you for your prayers, We had many privileges afforded to us today. Pastor Trajan gave us the inside track on two aspects of this amazing place. First the history and culture, the way people have been impacted by what has gone before. History is so important, it forms our identity, instinctive perspectives, fears and hopes. We feel like we understand a little more of the way friends in this part of Serbia may think as they approach life and faith. The second aspect is the growth and challenges of God's new community here, where the church is and how it might be fruitful in the mission of God. 

We covet your prayers in this especially, in a desire that we might better help, encourage, share the good news of Jesus Christ and support the efforts of those seeking growth to impact the region for Christ. 

The standout highlight for me was our time serving together at the invitation service this evening and the young people glued to the good news of Jesus.  The day was  peppered with joy and filled with golden nuggets of good times of fellowship. Praise God for the many faithful workers here, those who have served for many years and those who are working hard in the next season of mission. There is no shortage of young people here who need the life change that only Christ can bring. We are praying hard about the next steps here, and a youth camp seems a great option given the facilities, team, resources and needs. Would you be up for helping in this critical situation and ministry ? Pray hard, and especially for the next generation of gospel leaders here and their mission amongst young people.

New Season of mission in Montenegro

As we pack our cases for the next leg, we are off to the capital to share with God's faithful family who have been working hard in Podgorica. This has been a wonderful few days. Being with the men early doors yesterday for prayer, was one of my highlights. Children's clubs yesterday morning, and spending times with church leaders would also be joint top.

There are so many issues of dynamic growth to pray for here. It will be such a privilege to see how we as Uk churches and ACTION globally can serve and encourage. Growing churches are always stretched. Issues of leadership progression, training new disciples, engaging with unreached subcultures on our doorstep, multiplication and satellite ministries, cultural specific applications of the bible are all constant issues. 

Praise God for the good foundations laid by faithful workers.

Pray for the next generation of leaders and especially the reaching and preparation of indigenous workers and leaders.

Pray for our role in providing helpful recourses in evangelism, social media, discipleship and leadership development. 

Pray that new churches will be planted in God's timing and that Hub's will be helpful prototypes to hand on the baton within this culture. When any new gospel frontier is reached, it is easy to "plug and play" what is already known from a different culture. However this is always a beautiful time to reform under the authority of Christ and His word and explore unchanging eternal truth in this new generation and variegated society. Change is part and parcel of gospel ministry. Flexibility to fit in with the mission of God, to go where he sends and when he sends, to speak with in ways understandable and with hearts which communicate authenticity through love are at the juncture of every new frontier.

Praise God for such leaders here, and the growing expectancy of what God will do by his strength and provision in the next chapter.

May the inter-country network emerging here continue to display the unity of God's people coming together to honour the name of Jesus. There is nothing more beautiful than the orchestration of God moving as the unreached become reached. Thank you for your prayers which are rich in heritage for the next generation, strategically critical at this pivotal time and profoundly effective.

Bless you for your faithful partnership.

BLOGSKI 

(Serb translation) (In Ukraine "Blogski", in Serbian "Blogski", In Albanian "Bloggi"). In Poland we will ask Martin to write and then he can sign off as "Martini".  

The right friend to know.

 Have you ever walked around a strange place, but becuase of who you are with everyone greets you kindly with a smile. This has been our experience today. In supermarkets, city, cafe, and historic landmarks our friend is the guy to know. Why is this? Well he is one of them, not by birth .,, but now they call him "brother". He is one of them, not necessarily because he ran a kids club for their children that they loved (although he has done many of those) but in numerous other instances because he was involved in rescuing them or a family friend when their adult life was in such a pit. Such a man who lives amongst you, gains a reputation for being good, upright, honourable to all parts of society as a man full of love for people is always accepted... well by the majority anyway. This was not always the way, Even in the best of communities others have their agenda. Some spread lies and sow doubts on a man's character or reputation, but God reveals truth and even uses those who oppose to show the integrity of his people.

In a dark place people make a lot of money from vulnerables remaining unrescued, on dugs, in satanic practices or being radicalised. All of it is calculated cynical manipulation, a view of humans without seeing their true value as those made in the image of God and remade in the perfect image of Christ. So when an outsider arrives, and over many years is tested, and only love and sacrifice is found... people can do nothing other than appreciate and welcome as their hearts are softened, In every society there are the marginalised, those talked about derivatively. However, when a man full of the Holy Spirit arrives and values those individuals, (the vagrants, the travellers, those of ill reputation) ...something powerful happens. As gospel ignition tajes place, stand well back and see the explosive power of love, revolutionary love, Christ's love, as it percolates change in enemies and cynics, the rich and the poor, the young and old. 

In a small square of land several mosques, Catholic churches, Orthodox churches and occult practices look through the windows at each other. Each have their agenda and each are happy to marginalise. What is certain in this beautiful city of confusion is the unmistakeable search and desire to explore truth. People are hungry for the new true community.  People are looking, and seeking something bigger. I know a man who can help and he will be walking nearby.Thank God for such men who walk with the love of Christy shaping their hearts and lives.

Tomorrow is a big day as we share good news with friends. May our time of fun and community see some find the one who this city is desperately looking for.

Thank you for praying with us.

146 A multinational church growing in demanding days.

As the plane lands in blue skies and barmy 30 degrees, the eyes are captivated by the beauty of God's diversity displayed in creation. In one simple snapshot the terrain is from the master artists palette, and ranges in extraordinary beauty. From snow capped mountains, to blue coastline, rock and beach to  rich green vegetation and deep colours of olive groves, farms and terracotta roofs. Montenegro is an extraordinarily beautiful place from sky, land, and sea.

 All this pales however in comparison to a group of new community believers gathering for prayer on a normal Thursday evening. In a divided world there is unity in the one answer to our world. Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Serb, and the native characters (and pasty brits who have dropped in) are all one in Christ Jesus. The Pastors' heart encourages from Acts 12:1-5 (ff) the nature of God's readiness to answer the big prayers of his family. Surprising answers come to those who cry in faith, and the presence of this community is the providential masterstroke of a Father who loves the city. We believe he has many in this place yet to discover him in close relationship. 

There are many needs laid at the feet of  The Father, including the husband fighting on the frontline, the displaced family seeking employment, the music therapy breakthrough with autistic child asking about the gospel, the many needs of accommodation for those seeking a home away from home. Then there is the yet to be converted husband, the provision for those who are entering uncertain days ahead. In all these things the new community is a home of joy, grace, extraordinary kindness, peace,  and richness in the expression of Christ to a needy city. Today we have not left home, we have just discovered another place which expresses the home of the gospel.A rainy Gatwick cannot compare to a new community shining so brightly in a country yet to reached. In all these things God is good. 

Please pray as we explore God's purposes in our partnerships tomorrow (Friday) and plan for a gathering of some 85 mostly non Church friends (on Saturday). 

Thank you for coming with us in prayer and partnering with those on the frontline of a nation in need of massive gospel growth. 

P, M and S  

145

 

Praying for friends in Lisichansk, Severodonetsk, Popasnaya. Photos show destruction in the last 24 hours.

Locals testify that buildings are broken but characters remain firm. The eternal investment in Christ is never destroyed. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.."

KRAMATORSK: The air and missile strikes yesterday were aimed at the heart of those who are helping the region. 

A world without boundaries ?

 The trajectory and cost of self definition.

We live in a culture where self definition is so positively viewed it is a marketing tool. Take for example the Virgin Atlantic TV ads.  The current campaign tells me to express myself by "seeing the world differently".  Virgin has loved this line of communication for a number of years, capitalising on the mantra of the age, "be the best version of me". The logic goes something like this... 

 "I cannot be myself if I have to conform, if I am fitting in with another person's definition". "True joy in life is when there are no boundaries, therefore I can fly anywhere I want to, do anything I want to, be who I want to be, and this is what makes the world a happy place."

 Virgin have sought for the last several years to build their identity on this pseudodreligpous mantra of "freedom". Inherent in this is the way I chose to express my sexuality, and the championing of LGBTQ, with many adverts opening up Virgin's keenness to employ and serve those who are transgender and breaking sexual / cultural boundaries. Does this logic stack up though? Is this not ironically actually  an imposing declaration ? (that you cannot be truly happy or "alive" unless you fit in with our definition of happiness). Is it possible to define and redefine yourself without any cost to others? Can I fully express who I want to be without any boundaries and still make the world a happier place ? By defining myself, will I get to the place where everything makes sense, not only for me but for all people ? Is it possible just to keep adding definitions to redefine ourselves without things losing a sense of sense (LGBTTQQIAAP+ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Allies and/or Pansexual ) ? 

"Boundaries", "rules"  and "authority" in our culture are dirty words. We dare not define life or wisdom claims for another when for many the goal is to break boundaries and do "more". Take for example how lockdown in the UK affected people's sense of righteous indignation about confinement. First the rocketing of home streaming as people try to break the boundaries of entertainment. Did having 6 or more streaming platforms and trillions of unlimited  box sets to "binge watch" on satisfy you? Was there a cost to this? The bubble was short lived with Netflix's subscribers and share-price tumbling off a cliff this month. 

Having total freedom in a pandemic world was our goal, after all why should Covid or any government have "the right" to stop us living life to the full? It this "threat" (daring to tell me right or wrong/ boundaries) the reason many got so angry at a government who chose to reduce our freedom for the reduction of infection rates. Why can't I live as I please even it does infect / harm another. 

 People got even more angry at a government who made boundaries for society and didn't stick to them personally. It prompts the question... can we set boundaries for others without living up to them ourselves? Is it only politicians who need to comply with boundaries? Are boundaries the real issue or is there something else intrinsically wrong with our world? Did the pandemic just reveal a deeper issue at the source and heart of humanity and society?

Then in covid times there was the rocketing view numbers for porn sites, paid sites becoming "free". "Get anything you want in high definition, when you want, it will make you happy as we open up a world to you of your choosing, without boundaries, anything you want from your definition - have it, serve yourself, you deserve it". Did it cost our society anything? Did it affect our relationships, not having any boundaries at all ? Do we need boundaries on who we  engage with, and how we engage with them ? What happens when my desire and definition of being the best and happiest me affects another human being (especially the one I live with, have said I'm committed to, or the children who became distant because I was more obsessed with getting my porn, (or extra booze, extra TV, extra snacks) rather than looking after their mental health during a pandemic? Is it surprising in our porn familiarised world with unrestricted "on demand" satisfaction guaranteed, that that rape is so on the increase (though prosecutions are increasingly difficult to achieve). Is it possible to have such a "freedom" world without others being enslaved (human trafficking, abuse, made to work in what is called the sex industry). How do you tell someone who is not used to hearing "no" that you are putting a verbal barrier up in a way that stops them ?  Surely in this instance boundaries are exactly what our society needs. Are boundaries not good when they protect the vulnerable and place a hedge of safety around the most manipulated.

During lockdown other things rocketed too; relationship breakups, the numbers of people taking anti depressants, the number of people taking their own lives, the number of people who were not happy doing their own thing in the privacy of their own homes.

THE WAKE UP CALL OF THE LAST 7 DAYS IN BRITAIN.

In the context of our sex crazy, no boundaries culture, this week revealed all. 

At the heart of our UK society where three debates 

1) A female MP who became the debate as we focussed not on her sharp professional talent, but about whether she should be defined by her legs uncrossing and crossing. 

2) On another side of the room was the MP everyone loved to hate... as we
debated that man of no name, the man of shame who decided to stream porn on his phone whilst sitting in the most important (public) office of the land. 

3) Then there was top man who leads  the country. He makes rules, and communicates rules for our good, but he loves to be the man without boundaries in his own life.

Let's take a step back for a moment. Why are people so angry ? Yes in many ways there are grotesquely degraded views of people / humanity going on at the heart of government and opposition, Yes there are issues of shame and lost dignity, lack of integrity you just want to turn your eyes away from... but is this cry for what "shouldn't be allowed" consistent with everything else we've asked for in an ultra-permissive society? Didn't we ask for greater freedom to express ourselves as we want? Are politicians not just normal people, representatives of the wider society, in what ways do they reflect ourselves, and the society of our making ? On what basis can we say this is wrong in a world which says no to absolutes and boundaries?

WHERE ARE LINES DRAWN ?

Should a man not be free, and be unrestricted so that he is allowed to chose to watch what he wants on his own phone? Isn't this the kind of freedom we chant for in our culture ? What if I chose to define myself as "curious" and am I not the the best placed to defined myself as doing what I want to do, and when I want to do it? In that world where everyone says I am free to do what I want, what have I actually done wrong other than observing  consistently what my wider cultural norms have been established. Am I not merely adopting the non-boundaries I have been given? Maybe my main error (in the eyes of many in the UK) is being observed doing this, and holding a mirror to a society which has made itself ugly, and promised something it cannot deliver. There is a perverse delight in our media at anyone "caught" in this way. 

I am being provocative of course. Deep down we all know that a world without boundaries doesn't work, protect or value humanity. Some will say "what you do in your own home doesn't matter, as long as you don't bring it into the workplace". However, doesn't the way we view people on our internet at home, impact  the way we view people in the street/make laws for people/ communicate with people in the House of Commons? Does our character really change when when our wireless connection does? 

People are truly angry but have forgotten that when we point the finger, three others are pointing back at ourselves. When we are defined by what we want, it does in-fact impact others, and our unrestraint has become horrifically damaging to society. As cringing and ugly as these incidents are, I am at least grateful on how they shine a spotlight on the depravity of our country and alert us to the alarming trajectory of our nation. When we  promote politicians who trade on personality, the ideas that flaws are funny/ endearing, and that true leadership ability is about riding crisis with a teflon quip, character and moral integrity will always be relegated, and our nation will pay the price. Self righteousness should not figure in our response though... 

Jesus said that none of us should be throwing (twitter) stones at the shamed individual or politician... (John 8:7 ) when we know ourselves to be moral failures. 

And as they continued to ask him, 

he stood up and said to them,

 “Let him who is without sin among you 

be the first to throw a stone at her.”

All have sinned and fall short, even if we are not as publicly caught out. Deep down we all know our true identity as those who miss the mark as image bearers of God in numerous areas of life simultaneously. So what is our appropriate response to this issues of moral crisis in society, and what God has shown us in the mirror of our hearts this week ?

1) Admit that I need boundaries in my life. To be the "best me" I need to admit that I am the worst me and in need my maker. A dismissal of God in my life, will end in shame and pain. The God who made us and loves us has boundaries driven by love, and we do well to see his wisdom and bow before it. One of the great beauties even of a fallen world is that God is faithful in keeping boundaries in place. There is a reason the sun is exact in it its distance from the earth in the cosmos... any closer we fry, any further we freeze... good job someone knew where it should be. Trust that he is God and you are not.

2) Ask for forgiveness: My natural thinking suggests to me that I know best. In thought at least I should  "rule" over others with arrogant self service (whether in the Houses of Parliament, houses of our own homes, or house of God's family) - Self expression without boundaries will cause pain for others. Each day I need to bow the knee at the cross and see where this leads humanity and repent of it. 

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart,

 this person's religion is worthless. 

James 1:26

3) Intercede for our nation: Without a radical humbling of our nation and its leaders, the trajectory is not good, but we are part of this nation and the nature of intercession is that we must take this mess on ourselves. Don't complain if you don't vote, do pray as you vote and consider God's way not just your own happiness. In many ways the church is failing our nation, and it is no surprise when our nation fails. (Matthew 5:13-16). Let's humble ourselves before God, before he does it for us. (James 4:10, 2 Chron 7:14)

4) Share the only reason for hope and transparently live under the authority and boundaries of Jesus Christ: The one who loves us and gave himself for us did it in total moral purity, total integrity, and true to himself. He was individually willing to pay the cost for countless many but was in no way individualistic. He was yet able to bring countless many into joy, eternal happiness and contentment through obedience and confinement to the glorious purposes of God. My life was defined by selfish rebellion, shame, mess-ups, hang-ups, foul-ups and self caused calamity... but praise God, Christ he comes to save us from ourselves. I am still a selfish moral mess without him, I need him every waking moment, I need him to redefine me in himself and not in my own eyes or by my own definition. There is only one hope for me, for the UK, for morality generally, for the identity of human beings and society across the world, it is Jesus Christ. The gospel is not a message of morality, but of a saviour of all things, over all realms and above all people. When we grasp this, we want his good boundaries in our lives, and homes, villages, towns, cities and countries are impacted. The gospel of Jesus is not about restricting people but opening up the only way of freedom to say no to sin. The ripples of knowing him, submitting to him, and living in his care (a safety of good boundaries) can make good waves in all cultures and societies in our world, it has a capillary effect far and wide.

ACTS 17:24-28:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,  that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. 

Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,  for 

“‘In him we live and move and have our being..."