Category: News

Happy New Year

Wishing all of you a happy New Year. May you know God’s peace, presence and joy in 2023. Thank you for taking time, not just to read this blog in 2022 but also for the many of you praying for and supporting the work of encouraging and equipping urban mission. love from Dave and Sarah

Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation

Well another Prime Minister has gone. I just popped upstairs for a few minutes to wrap Sarah’s Birthday present and came back downstairs again to find it was all change. Here are a couple of initial thoughts. First that response of anger and sadness at the utter mess is right. The people harmed most by… Continue reading Responding to the Prime Minister’s resignation

Where did it all go wrong for Kwasi Kwarteng -and what can we learn from it?

o, Kwasi Kwarteng’s short and eventful time in office as Chancellor of the Exchequer is over.  How did it go so wrong?  Here was a man who was both a close friend of the Prime Minister and was united with her in a shared vision for how to take Britain forward economically.  That vision was… Continue reading Where did it all go wrong for Kwasi Kwarteng -and what can we learn from it?

Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

The short answer is “no.”  In today’s speech, according to reports Vladimir Putin did two things. The first is that he extended the mobilisation and conscription of people into the Russian armed forces.  Secondly, he is reported to have said:  “Those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the prevailing winds… Continue reading Has Putin just threatened to nuke us?

Her Majesty … Our Queen

Yesterday evening it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had died aged 96.  I was in the city centre when the official news came through.  Even though we knew she had been increasingly frail and even though we had known through the afternoon that there were health concerns for her and her family were gathering… Continue reading Her Majesty … Our Queen

Hope for the City: Urban Subversive Fulfillment

Well, I’ve finally got round to completing the first draft of “Hope for the city.” This was a little project I kicked off whilst on sabbatical back in 2018. I wanted to think a little more deeply about how we approach mission to our urban contexts. Back at Oak Hill when I was studying there,… Continue reading Hope for the City: Urban Subversive Fulfillment

Introducing Church in a box

One of the things you’ve probably heard/seen me keep talking a lot about is the need to do better at planting churches in communities where there isn’t a meaningful Christian witness. At our church’s recent weekend away, Jonathan Bell talked about us planting “swifter, smaller, simpler.” How are we going to do that? Well, actually… Continue reading Introducing Church in a box

Commonwealth Games outreach (prayer update)

Just a quick update on plans for outreach during the Commonwealth Games.  The Commonwealth Games arrive in Birmingham this week with the Queen’s Baton (kind of the alternative to the Olympic Torch) arriving on Sunday and the official opening ceremony on Friday evening.  The Games will conclude on the 8th August with a closing ceremony… Continue reading Commonwealth Games outreach (prayer update)