I’ve just returned from an amazing couple of weeks in New Zealand; most of the time being spent in Christchurch; the largest (only) city on the South Island. I went as part of a sabbatical to see what Baptist Church life looks like in New Zealand; but also because we have built a link with... Continue Reading →
BMS Catalyst LIve: my impressions of #catlive
Yesterday I went to Catalyst Live in Manchester, a new event put together by BMS world mission. The day aimed to help Christian leaders think about the ‘Mission of the Mind’, bringing together speakers with backgrounds in theology, apologetics, science and culture. I’d been a bit wary of an event with so many different speakers... Continue Reading →
Hi from iquitos
I’m currently back in Iquitos, the heart of the Peruvian Amazon jungle, where I’ve been teaching and encouraging church leaders (well trying to anyway). But time here always prompts me to think of home and the differences between the church in the UK and here. Whilst there are many things people lack here, decent medical... Continue Reading →
New Baptist General Secretary
Today is the first day for the BUGB’s new General Secretary Lynn Green. Lynn is someone of great ability and I’m confident she will make a good impression in an often impossible role. Her experience of Union life, being a Regional Minister, as Senior Minister of Wokingham Baptist church and before that working for the... Continue Reading →
Lessons from ministry: church meetings don’t work
When I first worked this out it felt like a guilty secret; but over the last six months I’ve seen several comments and articles which show I’m far from alone. Yet, I’m a Baptist Minister so surely I should be committed to this distinctive pillar of Baptist life? But what is it that Church Meetings... Continue Reading →
Lessons from ministry: death of the hunter-gatherer
Early humans were hunter-gathers, a way of life that gave way to agriculture and settled modes of living. But whatever the advances this had for human history, it marks an unfortunate tendency in church life. Bluntly, most churches structure for comfort and stability. We like each other and like what we do, so developing an... Continue Reading →
BUGB the dreamliner denomination?
I’ve always been fascinated by aviation so have been interested in the progress of Boeing’s new 787 dreamliner aircraft. Maybe it has lessons for us: 1. It is designed to be cheaper to run. Boeing recognised that as costs rise they needed to design an aircraft which would be 20% cheaper to run than existing... Continue Reading →
Saving Baptists
Starting today, Incarnate Network are running a series of provocative posts / discussions looking at some key issues for baptist denominational life through five key questions. "Each week the question asked will explore a dimension of our Baptist life. What does our denomination need saving from? How can our associations, churches and union adapt for the... Continue Reading →
Some miscellaneous thoughts on leadership
Over the last month I’ve jotted down a few random thoughts about leadership as I've been musing on what God is calling me to do. 1. Listen and learn as well as lead. We’ve never arrived and never have a monopoly on truth and clear perspective, good leaders need others and pay attention to them.... Continue Reading →
Worship song in three minutes
I know this is doing the rounds on the web but it is too true to life to ignor.