Author: faithrootsdw

COVID and church risk management update (31/12/2021)

We go into 2022 with COVID cases high primarily as a result of the new Omicron variant. Case numbers recorded daily have been at eye watering levels with records broken daily. Currently the expectation is that cases will peak sometime in January but at exactly what level we cannot be certain yet, although it does… Continue reading COVID and church risk management update (31/12/2021)

Do we take the Bible seriously enough?

The other day, Eddie Arthur shared a blog article titled “Issues with my tribe.”  He is there referring to evangelicalism and he highlights two particular concerns, namely that despite our protestations, we don’t take the Bible or our doctrine seriously enough. Clues towards those conclusions are found in our Sunday services. In terms of taking… Continue reading Do we take the Bible seriously enough?

What would vocational training for pastors/planters look like?  (Part 2) Syllabus/Curriculum

I’ve been sharing a little bit more about my desire to see churches planted and replanted in urban contexts. My own particular concern is for the urban West Midlands including north and east Birmingham, The Black Country and Wolverhampton. I believe that such an effort is going to need a lot more people from a… Continue reading What would vocational training for pastors/planters look like?  (Part 2) Syllabus/Curriculum

Who’s engaging

One of the things I’ve done throughout COVID is run occasional snap polls on twitter to gage the views of those who tend to interact with me and faithroots on social media. I frequently give a health warning that the results are not representative. The reason for this is that a twitter audience doesn’t necessarily… Continue reading Who’s engaging

Free (Simeon’s Song – Luke 2:29-31)

Do you remember the film, “Braveheart”? There’s a scene in the film where the Scottish army are frightened by the English and suspicious of their own generals.  They are about to desert.  William Wallace rallies them with a stirring speech. He finishes with those now famous lines “They may take way our lives but they… Continue reading Free (Simeon’s Song – Luke 2:29-31)

What might vocational training look like (assessment)

I’ve talked frequently about the need for vocational/in context training for Gospel ministry. This arises out of A local vision to see people planting and replanting churches into the urban West Midlands A belief that we need to be on a mission footing rather than in maintenance mode across the UK. These things both lead… Continue reading What might vocational training look like (assessment)

Finding Jesus and Finding God (Matthew 2)

Where do you expect to find God?  Some people look to church buildings as special holy places where they feel closer to God, especially if the building is old and beautiful with lots of stained glass windows. For others, God is felt in the countryside as they enjoy the beauty of nature. But is that… Continue reading Finding Jesus and Finding God (Matthew 2)

Because Jesus has come we have joy

What gives you joy and delight? I’m a Yorkshireman from Bradford in West Yorkshire. So, it gives me great joy every Christmas to get people singing a carol (Christians Awake) sung to the hymn tune “Yorkshire.” Thank you for making my joy complete every year! More seriously, and more joyfully. For some of us, we… Continue reading Because Jesus has come we have joy

Christmas Eve

You know how they say that a picture is worth a thousand words? This is that picture. Eve who with her husband brought death into the world became the mother of life. She was brought under the crushing curse of sin and death but her descendent the promised seed crushed the serpent’s head. Here in… Continue reading Christmas Eve