Google 'church' and in 0.34 seconds you'll get 1,030,000,000 results! Mostly the images show the standard traditional building one comes to expect when one hears the word church. Having been born into a clerical family and being a pastors kid I was used to Sunday being the day when we went to 'church' - for many years I went three times a day! When I turned my back on my faith as a teenager, the 'not going to church' thing was the hardest thing to shake off- old habits die hard! On hindsight I realise now that my 'faith' had become built around 'church' and the religious habit of 'worship' without the daily relationship and engagement with an awesome God who is in fact the creator and Father of all mankind.
Today things are different - Along with a hunger for gaining wisdom, understanding and revelation of God's love through the ancient book, there are many people who have been alongside me helping shape and influence the faith I hold to. These people make up the 'body' that is representative of Jesus on earth.
So today being Sunday I have a day of rest and my heart turns to worship and my heart is FULL and thankful! I've been pondering all the people and circumstances that have come my way to help shape my life and create the person I am so far. I want this blog to be my act of worship in thankfulness to God for who He has connected me with over the years and how they have impacted my life.
When I first encountered Father's grace and mercy and like the prodigal, returned to HOME to him, I was in Uni and it was the friends I made in the Christian fellowship that helped me engage on a day to day basis with a Father who was GOOD and GOD and wanted to share in our lives. I found a devotional book by Oswald Chambers whose daily nuggets fed my hungry heart and challenged my warped and often selfish thinking. I came across the worship of Keith Green whose music I listened to for days on end and which helped me learn to be a true worshipper. I read the book by his wife Melody after he was tragically killed in an aeroplane accident. I also read 'Out of the salt shaker' by Rebecca Manley Pippert and was hugely impacted by the challenge of sharing the good news.
Later when I married Brian we did 'officially' join a church - Our years with 'The Rainbow Church' were full and vibrant. Adrian and Pauline Hawkes were radical leaders for the 1980's and we were so blessed to walk alongside them and learn from them. I remember a message preached at the beginning of one new year where Adrian laid out a 'manifesto' - how we can influence every sector of society. He encouraged the call upon many of us to be involved with education, retail, media etc and to dream BIG in God. Imagine that today - followers of Jesus who model His unconditional love and grace found across all sectors of society? This couple walked the talk and I credit much of our thinking today down to their model and influence. When we first got involved working globally with children at risk, it was the fact they had modelled fostering that enabled us to think in a micro / macro way and even consider becoming foster carers ourselves.
Once our girls were born we were released and 'sent' to go to Oxford to work for Viva and a whole other world of Kingdom relationships opened up. Patrick and Emily MacDonald were a young couple who were following the call of God and it was a pleasure to stand alongside them and other radical lovers of Jesus and children to serve their vision. We found a local church who were so supportive of us and the work we were involved with - Terry and Gwen Macmillan modelled such grace as leaders in enabling us to tuck under their wings, loving us, supporting and serving unconditionally. For them and others from 'Living Stones' we will remain always grateful. Although the church no longer meets as a 'church' officially, we still remain connected relationally with many precious ones who are part of God's HUGE family and we consider to be brothers and sisters.
Our time in Oxford has connected us relationally with many believers who we continue to meet with from time to time, often through divinely orchestrated circumstances. We have been so privileged to connect with Kingdom champions from around the world. There are too many to name individually but as I think of them now I pray for increase and blessings to govern their lives. The joy is that we observe great fruitfulness out of our friendships and Kingdom connections.
Now we are older we have the privilege of sharing our lives with other younger believers and for this I am also full of thanks. The 'Wellspring' group of artists, musicians, students and passionate lovers of Jesus who we've most recently connected with brings joy to my heart. It's not officially a recognised 'church' but our hearts and lives are becoming knit together with these precious sons and daughters who we seem to have the privilege of championing on in the faith. Interestingly this group of believers also connects us back relationally to our original 'sending' church and I honour and bless Dave and Sue Wisker and the New River church in Edmonton, London who we love to bits and who continue to love and encourage us too:-)
Finally, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the many ministries who we tap into for prayer, teaching and ongoing encouragements. The Prayer Foundation here in the UK with Rod and Julie Anderson, Glory of Zion in Texas with Chuck Pierce, Revival Fires, Bethel sermon of the week podcasts, IHOP Kansas City, Aslans Place with Paul Cox and The Sapphire leadership group with Arthur Burke.
Every Sunday when I speak to my mum she always asks me if I've been to 'church'.
This post is for you Mum! As I've recalled those to whom I'm thankful to God for, this has been my act of worship this morning - my heart if FULL of praise to a God who is raising up His ecclesia across the earth - (The Church)
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