Category: mission

Generational Distance

Photo by Kerde Severin on Pexels.com

I recently participated in a workshop looking at Christians and the environment and one of the big themes was the need to engage on the topic due to its relevance to younger people. Three things stuck out for me.  First, we looked at data showing high proportions of young people expressing concern and even fear… Continue reading Generational Distance

Equipping people for urban mission will need more than an alternative to seminary

Regular readers of Faithroot.com will know that I’m particularly passionate about seeing people equipped to pastor and plant in our urban contexts. This means that we need to be able to identify, call, train, send people from urban backgrounds, from working class and estate contexts, from different ethnic groups. It will mean encouraging and equipping… Continue reading Equipping people for urban mission will need more than an alternative to seminary

A vision for urban West Midlands Church planting

My current focus is on encouraging church planting into the Urban West Midlands. My desire is not to see one church growing big but to see a city that is full of churches bringing Gospel light to needy neighbourhoods. My specific concern is for those areas that are often less reached with the Gospel.  This… Continue reading A vision for urban West Midlands Church planting

Please keep praying for Bearwood and Smethwick

Whilst we are moving on and excited about what God has in store with us next, there has been some sadness as we’ve said goodbye to our home and community in Smethwick. We spend 12 years here and grew to love the area. Bearwood and Smethwick will also have a significant place in our hearts.… Continue reading Please keep praying for Bearwood and Smethwick

Don’t forget who the real enemy is

Back after 911, there was a particularly intense period when anyone of Asian or middle eastern appearance was at risk from backlash.  Not only did people conflate the attack by Islamist extremists with an attack from all Muslims but also people who were not even Muslims but rather Sikhs and Hindus were conflated with the… Continue reading Don’t forget who the real enemy is

Local Church Matters

I’ve just been reading a few things about the importance of local churches serving their communities and the benefit of being part of a church which gathers within walking distance of your home. There’s nothing controversial there and I’m not seeing any body arguing for non-local church. I’m not about to attempt to make that… Continue reading Local Church Matters

The other effects of the pandemic

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

We know the horrendous cost of the pandemic through death, bereavement and serious sickness. However, there have been other consequences too. I recently ran a twitter poll in order to get us thinking about some of these things. First, I asked about how the pandemic has affected your relationship with God. I’m assuming that the… Continue reading The other effects of the pandemic

The Both and of Mission

One of my personal passions and priorities is to see people get involved in urban mission, making disciples who make disciples in communities where there is practically no gospel witness at the moment. That urban focus means that we have a particular concern for poor/deprived neighbourhoods and working-class people. It means that we have a… Continue reading The Both and of Mission