TIME TO ARISE

The HTB Network 48TIME TO ARISE " DON’T EVER FORGET, I AM IN THE BUSINESS OF BRINGING DEAD THINGS BACK TO LIFE. "

Amid challenges and complexities, Sarah Jackson, CEO of CRT, reminds us that where we may see decline and death, Jesus sees the potential for vibrant life.

Even as a born optimist, I was dismayed to read the results of the 2021 Census showing that less than half of England and Wales population are Christian. When I look at the national data of church attendance, the absence of teenagers, the lack of diversity, the tsunami of isolation, and longing for community in our streets and neighbourhoods. I had one of these ‘low’ moments recently, but I was reminded of a time when I attended a global church leaders conference. As people spoke out, it became clear that the consensus was that the institutional church had had its day and it was time to look for innovation in other places. As it came to my turn to introduce the work of CRT within the Church of England, I felt a lump in my TIME TO ARISE throat, wishing I could be skipped. I represented everything they saw as past its sell-by date. In that moment, as clearly as I have ever heard the Holy Spirit speak, I heard him say, ‘Sarah, don’t ever forget, I am in the business of bringing dead things back to life.’ This truth hit me with force – how could I have ever doubted? Where we see decline and death, Jesus sees potential for a vibrant life. Jesus says in John 10:10, ‘I have come that they might have life and life in abundance’. In that moment I remembered, Jesus IS the bringer of life. Everyone Jesus ever touched was healed, restored, and liberated. Everyone who encounters Jesus encounters resurrection power and new life. Death doesn’t have the last word, in our lives, our families, our churches, our workplaces, our communities, our cities or our nation. We the church have the very same resurrection life pulsating through our veins and not even death can stop the kingdom advancing. We are at a Lazarus moment – where some are mourning the slow death of the church, I am reminded that it is never too late for Jesus. I picture Jesus standing in front of the tomb, crying ‘Come out Lazarus’, ‘Come out Church’. It’s time to arise, as the same power that resurrected Jesus from the grave floods our churches with new confidence to step into this broken world and shine a light so bright that the darkness is dispelled. In this season Jesus is asking us: where do we need his touch? What areas do we need his power to bring life to? Do you need his resurrection power to empower a breakthrough, transform a difficult relationship, bring healing, or inspire new beginnings? You and I can ask him, because he is in the business of bringing dead things back to life! I am encouraged that God is on the move. Across the CRT network of 140 UK churches and 6 global hubs, the resurrection power of Jesus is springing up everywhere. The circumstances are unquestionably tough and challenging yet, there is new life; Ukrainian Alpha courses running for refugees; Farsi and Arabic groups for asylum seekers; 40% of our church plants are lovingly serving in low-income estates tackling systemic deprivation needs; Love Your Neighbour is helping train hub churches to be more effective in supporting the most vulnerable in our society; 100 diverse men and women are in ordination training on the Peter Stream; 300 people are on the waiting list for the Caleb stream; 21 churches were commissioned at Focus with 25 more young women and men on the Accelerator training preparing to launch new churches next summer. The church is very much alive, and the Holy Spirit is on the move. Please join us as we dare to pray that in every estate, in every village, in every town, in every city, a Jesus-centred, Holy Spirit-filled, worshipping community is empowered – one so radical, countercultural, and loving, that they offer invitations of abundant life to every single person in our nation.

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Thank you to our writers and contributors, and our feature writers Sarah Wynter, Jane Kirby and Sarah Olowofoyeku.

Front cover: Love London Campaign by HTB Back cover: SAINT, Hackney Image credit: Thom Hobbs