together WINTER 2014
FIEC.ORG.UK
THE MAGAZINE OF FIEC
PRAYER – POWERHOUSE OF THE CHURCH ALSO INSIDE: The changing face of an inner city ministry Supporting women’s workers Reaching the world through the local church
WELCOME... Welcome to the winter 2014 issue of Together.
Together is published by FIEC, 39 The Point, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU. 01858 434540 fiec.org.uk admin@fiec.org.uk fb.com/theFIEC @theFIEC INSERTS/ADVERTS For all enquiries about advertising in Together please email admin@fiec.org.uk EDITOR Andrew Nicholson 01858 411566 andrew.nicholson@fiec.org.uk DESIGNED BY AH Graphic Design www.ahgraphicdesign.co.uk ah@ahgraphicdesign.co.uk 07500 465753 Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations taken from HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®. Copyright by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society®.
When I left FIEC in 2008 after seven years as Conference and Event Manager, it never entered my thinking that, one day, I might return. My new role, which I started earlier this year, involves planning and providing the infrastructure and support needed for the Directors to deliver, in God’s providence, the agreed objectives for FIEC central. Those objectives were outlined at the recent Leaders’ Conference and are encapsulated by our new Mission Statement: “FIEC exists to help our family of independent gospel churches to go and make disciples for Jesus Christ in every community.” I also noticed something different about FIEC this time around. No longer is it seen as just an organisation to belong to but, increasingly, church leaders and members are realising that it’s a movement to be part of. This was brought home to me as I visited an FIEC pastor recently. He told me that the church leaders had agreed to bring a proposal to the next members’ meeting to move their annual FIEC contribution from being an administrative overhead, to part of their missions outreach budget. Spot on! So, enjoy this issue of Together magazine and read about some of the ways in which our new Vision Statement is being realised: “A growing family of healthy and thriving churches planting churches and going to make disciples in every community.” Andrew Nicholson FIEC Operations Director
CONTENTS 3
Prayer – powerhouse of the church
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Serving women
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Church revitalisation
12 News in brief 14 A contagious summer 16 Building ministry relationships
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18 News from our churches 22 From mufflers to sarees 25 Confesssions of an ungrateful pastor 28 Mission beyond 30 Book reviews 32 New affiliations
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PRAYER – POWERHOUSE OF THE CHURCH Tope Koleoso was one of the main speakers at this year’s FIEC Leaders’ Conference, teaching on prayer in the life of the local church. He is lead pastor of Jubilee Church in north London which meets in a variety of cinema venues and reaches out to over 70 nationalities. Here he tells us about his life and work:
spoke to me. Although I had a lot of Bible knowledge, I was not saved. In my first year at university in Lagos, I accompanied my sister to a church that held its meetings in a cinema. I was sure that she
needed the gospel because, a bit like a Pharisee, I tended to look down on her. I didn’t realise that I, too, needed the gospel and to receive Jesus. When the call for salvation was given, my sister walked to the front to receive Christ, but I remained where I was, feeling pinned to my chair. I thought I already knew God but now realised I didn’t. In
I was born in Nigeria and moved to London in 1990 where, with my wife Kemi, we started attending a small Newfrontiers church plant in south London. Later we joined a team planting Jubilee Church in Enfield and in 2004 I became lead elder, responsible for preaching and vision. It is also now my privilege to be involved in supporting other churches nationally and internationally. Both our two young adult sons serve in our church worship band.
Challenged by the gospel As a boy, I was interested in and fascinated by the Bible. I retained a lot of the things I read and I remember arguing with many evangelists who fiec.org.uk
TOPE KOLEOSO
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discipled. I’m also thrilled to see how God is leading us to serve the most vulnerable in our community.
Growing through prayer We thank God and give Him the glory for all that He has done and is yet to do as the church continues to grow. God chooses to use His people for His purposes and we are constantly learning to rely on Him for direction and guidance at both the spiritual and practical level. We have had to make many practical changes, all for Kingdom advance.
that moment it was clear that God had brought me to a decision point. I had to decide to live for Him or not. I decided to live for Him and gave my life to Christ and something radical, gutwrenching and real happened to me that day. Afterwards, all the Bible stories that I read recreationally as a boy started to come alive to me.
Church planting in London Jubilee Church London is a joyful and multicultural church. It was planted in 1994 and after meeting in different schools and community halls for about a decade, the Lord
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led and opened the doors for us to meet in a large cinema complex. We were about 100 when we began to meet in the cinema in 2005. Now we have four services across three different locations in London – Enfield, Ilford and Wood Green – gathering around 1,500 in total each week.
Further encouragements I am really encouraged by – and constantly thank God for – the unity we have in the Leadership team and beyond. I’m also very grateful for the number of people who respond to the gospel on a weekly basis and I rejoice in seeing them
PRAYER IS VITAL TO KNOWING GOD’S SPECIFIC WILL FOR US AND SO EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE HAS COME ABOUT THROUGH PRAYER. Prayer is vital to knowing God’s specific will for us and so everything we have done has come about through prayer. We seek the Lord for His will and commit everything we do to Him. We do not always get it right but we desire to only do that which He has called us to do. If the Lord is not in it with us, we will just labour in vain. fiec.org.uk
Looking back on the FIEC Leaders’ Conference, John Stevens (FIEC National Director) asks Tope to reflect further on prayer: Why do you think that prayer is so important? I often refer to our weekly prayer meetings as the powerhouse of the church. There is no substitute for prayer. Jesus prayed. The early church prayed. The apostle Paul exhorts and urges us, the Church, to pray. If there’s anything that the church of today needs it is not more money, or more management styles, it is prayer because that is where we are most likely to hear the voice of God. How can we make sure that our churches and their members are committed to prayer? Teaching on prayer is vital because it brings understanding. Not everyone knows how to pray or why we should pray, so we all need to
THE HUB
be taught and to continue to learn. There are always greater depths in God that we can go.
IF THERE’S ANYTHING THAT THE CHURCH OF TODAY NEEDS IT IS NOT MORE MONEY, OR MORE MANAGEMENT STYLES, IT IS PRAYER How could we pray for you, for your ministry and for the church? Please pray that God’s hand continues to be upon us all, leading us for Kingdom advance in north London and wherever else He would have us go. It is all about Jesus. May we always be about Him. For more info: Check out ‘Hope Reborn’ by Tope Koleoso and Adrian Warnock, reviewed on page 31.
CONFERENCE2015 For those on their journey into ministry
16-18 JAN
FIND OUT MORE AT FIEC.ORG.UK/HUB2015
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THIS YEAR’S ‘THRIVE’ CONFERENCE
SERVING WOMEN
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Richard Underwood gives an update on an exciting development for FIEC supporting women in ministry.
heartening to see a rise in the number of women’s workers being employed across our family of churches. This is an indication that church leadership teams are increasingly taking women’s ministry seriously.
Within church life it’s all too easy to underestimate the strategic significance of ministry amongst women. Maybe that’s because much women’s ministry takes place informally and behind-the-scenes; or maybe church leaders take their eye off this particular ball amidst the many other priorities they’re trying to juggle. Either way, the truth is that more than half of our church members are women. And, in many cases, women bear the lion’s share of a whole range of different church ministries. It is for these reasons I have found it
IN MANY CASES, WOMEN BEAR THE LION’S SHARE OF A WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT CHURCH MINISTRIES.
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As a Fellowship we do invest time and resources into promoting the spiritual health of the women serving in our churches. But there is a need for us to do more.
Thrive conference Our Women’s Ministry Team has been in fiec.org.uk
existence for 11 years now, producing resources for women in ministry and offering advice. Their impact has been amplified in recent years with the introduction of ‘Thrive’; our annual conference for women’s workers. Thrive has been such a blessing in building supportive relationships between women ministering in FIEC churches, as well as providing tailored teaching and encouragement (for more information see page 17). Another encouraging move forward has been the decision to invite pastors’ wives to our programme of Pastors’ Network conferences. We want wives to understand that we highly value their input and the (often unnoticed and uncredited) ministry they do. We also want to invest in the lives of ministry couples.
Women’s ministry coordinator I’m delighted that we are now taking another step by appointing Elisabeth Smyth to fulfil a newly created role as Women’s Ministry Coordinator. Elisabeth is well-known to, and greatly appreciated by, many pastors in our Fellowship through her input over the years into the Pastors’ fiec.org.uk
Network. She, with others, has also been instrumental in pioneering Thrive. Her remit will include promoting gospel work carried out amongst women and by women in FIEC churches, and in the equipping and encouragement of women’s workers. I asked Elisabeth how she feels about this new role, and this is what she told me: “Excited and daunted, in equal measure, best describe my feelings! But I’m also grateful to God and to the FIEC Directors for the privilege of being given time, support and opportunity to invest in the lives and ministry of the women in our churches.
I’M SO ENCOURAGED THAT FIEC IS RECOGNISING THEIR VALUE IN THIS NEW WAY. “Involvement with Thrive, in particular, has given me a deep appreciation of our churches’ women’s workers. These are godly women devoted to the Lord and
ELISABETH SMYTH
to their calling and I’m so encouraged that FIEC is recognising their value in this new way. Your prayers for them, and for my work amongst them, are much appreciated.” I know that the women’s workers of the Fellowship will especially be delighted at this news and they will be wonderfully well served by Elisabeth in the days to come. I am glad to commend her to the prayers and good wishes of the Fellowship as a whole. If you’re a women’s worker in an FIEC church who hasn’t had contact with Elisabeth, or if you know of one, then we’d love you to get in touch. Richard Underwood, FIEC Pastoral Ministries Director
For more info: Contact Elisabeth at elisabeth@fiec.org.uk Thrive 2015 takes place Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 May 2015 at Holland House near Pershore, Worcestershire.
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“Dați-ne uneltele și vom face noi lucrarea!” (“Give us the tools and we will do the work!”) Over the last 60 years we have found the most effective model of mission in Eastern Europe to be the equipping and supporting of national Christians so that they may reach their own people with the Gospel. Can you help us in this?
The Church is growing in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine … The Gospel knows no boundaries. It overcomes every barrier. Although small, despised, and persecuted under communist tyranny, Christ’s churches continued faithfully in their witness to Him. When the communist system collapsed churches began to reap a harvest of countless precious souls. Thousands of churches have been planted in villages, towns and cities throughout Eastern Europe and the work continues today.
Local leaders for local needs Peter has an extensive Gospel ministry in Moldova which the Lord is blessing. However, he experiences constant practical and financial pressures. SGA’s sponsorship scheme is designed to enable men like Peter to continue in ministry and provide for their families. Could you sponsor a leader such as Peter and become a Gospel partner?
SPONSOR A LEADER
How can you help? From £10 a month you can sponsor a Christian leader and become a Gospel partner in the work of God in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For more details contact:
01323 725583 www.sga.org.uk
Slavic Gospel Association, 37a The Goffs, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1HF
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CHRISTCHURCH REDBOURN
CHURCH REVITALISATION Many gospel churches are small, with up to 45% of churches affiliated to FIEC having 25 or fewer members. A significant proportion of those churches are in slow decline. Asking for help can be difficult, especially for Independent churches. It may be seen as a sign of failure or even of compromising commitment to the independence of the local church. Sometimes accepting the help that is on offer is harder still, especially where this involves significant change. Two stories demonstrate what God has done in challenging situations:
ChristChurch Redbourn Ten years ago, Redbourn Baptist Church in Hertfordshire was a faithful, gospel centred fiec.org.uk
church that had gradually dwindled to a small core and seemed to be heading towards closure. The leaders approached ChristChurch Harpenden, an FIEC church three miles away, and asked for help. However, they were hesitant with the response – ChristChurch proposed a fresh start under their leadership – and decided to faithfully continue. However, after a further two years of a declining congregation, the original proposal was accepted as the best way to ensure a continuing gospel witness. A group of 30 adults plus children moved from ChristChurch Harpenden to the FIEC Together Winter 2014
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relaunched work, renamed as ChristChurch Redbourn. Chris Smith was called as assistant minister by ChristChurch Harpenden but with a brief to focus on Redbourn. The original Redbourn congregation saw wideranging and challenging change as traditions disappeared, services began to include newer songs and the premises were modernised. There were encouragements as new people were attending and the younger arrivals learnt much from older ‘prayer warriors’. For the first four years the two churches operated under a ‘one church; two congregations’ model with a joint evening service and
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ChristChurch Harpenden taking financial responsibility for the work in Redbourn. Gradually ChristChurch Redbourn became an independently constituted church, affiliated to FIEC, with Chris Smith as minister.
THE CHURCH THAT WAS ONCE A DOZEN ELDERLY PEOPLE HAS NOW OUTGROWN THEIR BUILDING AND MOVED TO THE VILLAGE SCHOOL. God has continued to bless the work and the church
that was once a dozen elderly people has now outgrown their building and moved to the village school. The church has a full range of activities going on throughout the week, has taken on an apprentice and is seeking to reach the village and beyond with the gospel.
New City Church, Milton Keynes Milton Keynes has grown rapidly since it was founded in 1967, with significant projected population growth in the coming decades. However, strong gospel witness has not kept pace in the town (referred to as a city by its residents) where the average age is 35, the
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number of residents born outside the UK has doubled over the last decade and other faiths are expanding.
THERE IS A WONDERFUL SENSE OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT ALL THAT THE LORD IS DOING AND COULD DO THROUGH THIS SMALL CHURCH. Planted in 2003, Britten Grove Baptist Church was one of several FIEC churches in Milton Keynes. Although some growth had been seen, the numbers weren’t enough to sustain the church going forward. So nearby Flitwick Baptist Church was approached for help, leading to one of the Flitwick elders being appointed an elder at Britten Grove. Given the gospel need it was soon realised that a fresh start was needed for the church. Four FIEC churches from the surrounding area
NEW CITY CHURCH, MILTON KEYNES
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(Flitwick Baptist Church, Grace Community Church Kempston, Hope Church Goldington and Christ Church Dunstable) came together and agreed to support a re-launch of the church and to finance a full-time pastor. So New City Church Milton Keynes was born out of the old church with a vision to reach the whole town through the gospel of Christ. Richard Wardman was appointed as pastor last year. In the short time since Richard’s appointment the church has almost doubled in size to around 80 adults and children. There is a wonderful sense of excitement about all that the Lord is doing and could do through this small church. The church recently spent a Saturday morning dreaming up creative ideas as to how they will make links with the local community and tell local people about the hope of Christ. There have been people coming to Christianity Explored courses, and several unbelievers in regular attendance on Sundays. New people frequently comment on the warmth of the welcome they receive and the excitement of joining a church focused on the gospel. The congregation is very diverse, reflecting the diversity of the city. FIEC is developing resources for church revitalisation, for launch in the second half of 2015. In the meantime, do share with us your stories of successful revitalisation – we’d love to hear from you. Please contact FIEC (admin@fiec.org.uk).
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NEWS IN BRIEF Church planting It’s encouraging to hear of a growing number of new congregations being planted by FIEC churches. Andy Paterson, FIEC Mission Director, reports at least 25 new plants either launched or in the pipeline during the past two years. On John Stevens’ Blog (john-stevens.com) you can read about a particularly strategic church plant, City Church Manchester which held its commissioning service in October. A package of help now exists for new plants, including access to expert legal advice from FIEC Practical Services and start up loans from FIEC. For more information contact Andrew Nicholson (andrew.nicholson@fiec.org.uk).
FIEC Training Fund Another significant donation of £250,000 was received in June for the FIEC Training Fund. The aim of the fund is to facilitate ministry training for men and women from Independent churches, both through grants for training courses and part-funded church training posts. The Grants Committee met again in October and agreed a number of new awards. For more information on the Training Fund please go to our website or contact Janice Bowman (janice@fiec.org.uk).
Independent Church: Biblically Shaped and Gospel Driven For over 90 years FIEC has encouraged and equipped local churches to go and make disciples for Jesus Christ in every community of our nation. Our churches share a common ecclesiology, which they believe is thoroughly Biblical and therefore most effective to supporting and advancing gospel ministry. This newly-released book, written by some of the leading pastor-theologians of FIEC, explains the theology, history, practice and vision of Independent churches. It will help
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those outside FIEC to understand our identity and purpose, and overcome some common misunderstandings about Independency. It will inspire those within FIEC, and in other Independent churches, to have confidence in our ecclesiological convictions, and urge us to work together even more effectively if we are to meet the massive missionary challenges of post-Christian Britain. This book costs £8.99 and is available from 10ofThose.com
Pastor well-being survey Over the summer FIEC conducted a well-being survey of serving Pastors’ Network members. The results will help inform us how best to care for those in the Network and shape our future thinking and programmes. Why not ask your pastor if he has joined the Network. There’s a shorter application process for those who have served in pastoral ministry for five years or more in FIEC churches. For more information on the Pastors’ Network please go to our website or contact Ali Davies (ali@fiec.org.uk).
FIEC Practical Services FIEC Practical Services continues to grow and for the past year has been able to conduct work for a wider range of evangelical Christian organisations, while still serving its core constituency of independent evangelical churches. Churches affiliated to FIEC receive 30 minutes of free advice on each individual query. For more complex matters which require substantial input, rates are significantly cheaper than private practice law firm rates. Our team, led by three qualified solicitors, have expertise in charity law and governance and all aspects of property law and conveyancing. For more information please go to our website or ask for the new Practical Services information leaflet. Contact Emma Shirtcliffe (emma@fiec.org.uk).
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A CONTAGIOUS SUMMER During the summer over 500 young people joined 150 leaders in three centres for the week-long ‘Contagious’ and ‘Contagious Nano’ youth conferences in Perth, Ipswich and Kidderminster. Contagious Contagious Youth Ministries, now a registered charity in its own right, grew out of an FIEC youth initiative 14 years ago and this summer record numbers attended. Led by Andy Prime (Charlotte Chapel
Edinburgh), Pete Woodcock (Cornerstone Kingston) and Jonty Allcock (Bush Hill Park Enfield) the three Contagious camps looked at the doctrine of salvation under the title ‘Dem Bones: When God meets a dead man’.
‘Total depravity’, ‘foreknowledge’, ‘predestination’ and ‘justification’ might not be words that you think young people would be keen to understand more about, but these great doctrines came alive through preaching, discussions, seminars and music. The youngsters loved the opportunity to dig deeper into the Bible, ask questions, discuss, meet one-to-one with leaders and grasp something of the wonder of God’s grace and sovereignty in bringing life to dead people.
THE YOUNGSTERS LOVED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE BIBLE
CONTAGIOUS EAST
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This comment from a teenage girl is typical of many: “One of the biggest things I’ve learnt is that God chose us to be with him – when He had
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CONTAGIOUS SCOTLAND
no reason to! It’s amazing! I’ve come home from Contagious feeling more excited about going to church and more determined to tell my nonChristian friends at school about Jesus.”
Contagious Nano Meanwhile, at Ipswich and Kidderminster, two Contagious Nano conferences were held (for 11 to 13 year olds). Around 150 young people and 50 leaders were part of Nano this year and led by Trevor Pearce (All Souls London), Nathan Howard (Enfield Evangelical) and Nick Jackman (Beeston Free) they looked at the life of Paul in the book of Acts and were encouraged to get onboard the gospel train. Both Contagious and Contagious Nano are not just serious about the Bible but serious about giving the youngsters a great time. The excellent facilities at all three venues meant that a varied afternoon programme of activities – sports, crafts, drama, games, giant inflatables, film making competitions to name but a few – could be enjoyed by all.
TaskForce Alongside teaching the young people, a two
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year training programme for young leaders is also a key element at Contagious. The TaskForce training scheme gives an opportunity for those aged between 20 and 23 to serve practically during the week and also receive their own training on leadership. TaskForce aims not only to help train and equip future Contagious leaders but to encourage those on the scheme to be better servants in local churches. It was a great joy that 45 young adults served in TaskForce this year at the three centres. So with record numbers attending, two great new venues and exciting plans for the future, the summer of 2014 has been an encouraging one for Contagious. But best of all has been to see the gospel taking hold of many young people, bringing some to faith and deepening that of many others and encouraging them to share the good news with their friends. Jon Shulver, Contagious Development Director, and Trevor Archer, FIEC Training Director For more info: • Visit contagious.org.uk • Visit fiec.org.uk/news/article/bible-boot-camps which includes a video interview with John Shulver
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PASTORS’ NETWORK CONFERENCE
BUILDING MINISTRY RELATIONSHIPS In just a few years, Facebook has gone from nothing to a major phenomenon. Almost 400 million users access Facebook through mobile devices alone. Social networking has rapidly become a significant aspect of the lives of many people today. The apostle Paul was pretty committed to the major social networking medium of his day – writing letters. In these letters, he delights to mention as many of his ministry colleagues as he
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can. Not just the ones we remember such as Timothy and Titus, but some deliciously obscure ones like Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas and Hermas. More than that, he takes every opportunity to connect them and encourage them to serve together. Paul recognises the danger of ministry isolation. FIEC seeks to address this today through a number of ministry networks:
Pastors’ Network Through the Pastors’ Network, we promote the spiritual health and well-being of pastors and their wives. Few issues influence the health
WE PROMOTE THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PASTORS AND THEIR WIVES. of the church more than the health of the pastor and his family. The theme for this year’s programme of day conferences has been ‘How To Keep Going’. It has been both moving and encouraging to explore together the writer to the Hebrews’ clarion call to: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). fiec.org.uk
An email from a ministry couple reflecting on the day in Enfield says it all: “[We] were able to attend a recent pastors’ day down in London on ‘how to keep going’. We drove home thinking firstly what a special and important day it had been for us and, secondly, how brilliant the FIEC is.”
BUILDING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND REFRESHING EACH OTHER IN THE LORD JESUS CAN BE A MATTER OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AND DEATH. One of the big take-home lessons of this year’s programme is that we’re not competitors; we’re partners. In the Christian race, winning is not coming first; it’s crossing the finishing line. Losing is not coming second, it’s failing to finish. In Christian ministry, we’re in it together.
Thrive One growing expression of being in Christian ministry together is demonstrated by the numbers of our churches that are increasing their staff in order to develop pastoral teams. Many are doing this by recognising the gifting of particular women and setting them apart for pastoral or word ministry. For the past three years, FIEC has run ‘Thrive’, a conference for women who have been recognised in this way. Thrive has the dual aims of providing a time of refreshment and an opportunity for connecting with others undertaking a similar church-based role. Our women’s workers are often ministering in isolated situations – isolated geographically and isolated because they may be the only woman on their church’s pastoral team which, itself, is guided by a male eldership. Such circumstances make an event such as Thrive even more valuable, which these feedback comments reveal: “I met servant-hearted women, serving sacrificially in their churches, and relying on God. I came away with fresh ideas, helpful
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resources and new friends.” “From the minute I finally arrived … I knew God had brought me here to minister to me that I might be spiritually refreshed and equipped to serve Him better.”
Encourage your leaders When there’s so much to do and the important is always being threatened by the urgent, can we urge you to encourage your pastor and his wife and other gospel workers in your church to make the most of opportunities like these. In today’s hostile world, building supportive relationships and refreshing each other in the Lord Jesus can be a matter of spiritual life and death. Richard Underwood, FIEC Director of Pastoral Ministries, and Elisabeth Smyth, Women’s Ministry Coordinator For more info: Information on the 2015 program of Pastors’ Network conferences is available on the FIEC website (fiec.org.uk/events) The FIEC statement on Women in Ministry is available on our website. Follow the link from fiec.org.uk/about-us/beliefs
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NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES THE WEEK THE WORLD CAME TO GLASGOW A total of 71 nations and territories; 22 sports; one city; 10,000 gospels and hundreds of gospel conversations! That about sums up a week at Harper Church during this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We are located right next to many of the Games venues which made our church a natural base for gospel mission. A team of 50 people
was drawn from the church and around the UK. We worked with our partners from Gospel Literature Outreach (GLO), Open Air Mission and MAD Ministries to deliver a week packed with puppetry, circus skills, open air preaching and gospel distribution.
Openness to the gospel We were very encouraged, largely because many people
were very open to talk about the good news of Jesus as they went about soaking up the atmosphere and the sun. There was George, an older man, who knew he wasn’t a Christian yet still prayed and worried about his future; Lawrence just back from volunteering in Africa, shocked by the suffering and looking for answers; Zacharias who believed that God would just forgive him, because he’s a loving God; Ian, who wouldn’t take a gospel, but listened to the preaching for an hour; and Robert the left wing Palestinian protestor who had been brought up in a Christian home and yet renounced the faith. So many people, so many stories, such great gospel need and such a great Saviour.
Supported in prayer
OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS WITH THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES MASCOT
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Throughout the week we had ‘live prayer’ operating at the church premises with a team of people praying each day while the mission activity was going on. Gospel workers out on the streets would text prayer requests back to the prayer team who would pray through issues as fiec.org.uk
they came in. This brought a great freshness and urgency to our prayers.
The harvest is plentiful The need is great in our cities and the big thing I learned across the week is that there are many people who will happily stand in a busy street and talk about their lives, their thoughts, their feelings and their beliefs. There is no shortage of need, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” There are almost 600,000 people living in Glasgow. Pray for us in our mission to go and make and grow disciples of Jesus that Christ the King might receive the glory He is due. Or why not come and join us! Alan McKnight Pastor, Harper Church, Glasgow The article first appeared on the FIEC website. Also, Harper Church achieved national coverage when BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘New Every Morning’ Sunday programme was broadcast over two Sundays in August and September from recordings made at the church.
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GROUP AT INDUCTION, WITH DAVID WILKINSON (SECOND FROM RIGHT)
FORMER VICAR INDUCTED TO FIEC CHURCH Rainhill is famous for being the location of a pioneering competition to decide a suitable engine for use on the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway, one of the world’s first passenger railways which was routed through the village. The Rainhill Trials of 1829 resulted in the selection of Stephenson’s Rocket as the world’s first ‘modern’ steam locomotive. But something more significant took place on September 6th this year when David Wilkinson was inducted as pastor of Trinity Evangelical Church. David left the Church of England 11 years ago and was, prior to moving to Rainhill, a seller of antiquarian books and
pastor of an evangelical church in Kendal, Cumbria. The service, with a packed congregation of around 180, was led by Keith Dimmock, elder of the church. During the service David explained how he felt called to the church and the process of being called, which was very different from the Church of England process! Rainhill is a large village of about 12,000 people and is ten miles north of Liverpool. The church is located in a housing estate with a new complex of about 50 privately owned houses and a similar number of rented houses built opposite the church. Please pray for the work to flourish and grow under the new leadership.
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NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES GOING UNDERGROUND Earlier this year Wem Baptist Church in Shropshire opened its partnership church in Ellesmere, a town of 3,500 about ten miles away. The Cellar Church meets – yes, you’ve guessed it – in a cellar. That cellar is underneath the old town hall right in the centre of town and provides a fantastic venue which allows the church to be at the heart of the community. Don’t imagine dirty, cold and miserable – quite the opposite! Think more of The Cavern Club; the cosy venue where The Beatles played in their early years. Al Simms, one of the pastors at Wem, explains the thinking behind the launch of a partner church: We are very much seeing this as a partnership church, with one church in two locations. We believe this has many advantages over planting a totally independent congregation, which Wem Baptist did ten years ago. We are blessed with two co-pastors, which means Phil Wright can take the lead role on Sunday mornings in Ellesmere, leaving myself to continue in Wem on Sunday mornings. Then we all meet together in the evening. The partnership will offer all the advantages of push/pull resources, provide the new church fellowship with an identity and a great way of sharing the gospel in this new community. The initial response to The Cellar Church (TCC)
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has been encouraging and there are now around 60 people meeting each Sunday morning, with people of all ages, many of whom are unchurched and don’t do church, but like doing church in a very different way. The service is in the cellar, with the congregation sitting round cafe style tables, with tea and coffee available. The service is quite informal, with around 30 minutes kept for Bible teaching. The service includes songs, interviews, testimonies and even spending five minutes before the service reading the national papers to decide what we need to pray for. Two of the local pubs have agreed to take our beer mats advertising TCC (because pubs have to pay for these themselves!). We will also be advertising an evangelistic course we are planning to start in November. We would really welcome your prayers as we are acutely aware of the spiritual battle we are in. The great news is we have a God who delights in us trying to obey his commands and we know that, whatever battles we face, we do so in His strength and for His glory. This had been adapted from an article that first appeared on the FIEC website. For more info: Watch the church’s video on You Tube – visit youtube.com and search for ‘Introducing: The Cellar Church’
fiec.org.uk
word alive Prestatyn, Wales 28 March – 2 April 2015 2 April – 6 April 2015
Reviving hearts, renewing minds, refreshing lives Inspiring Bible teaching, great children’s work and a chance to come together for a relaxing holiday www.wordaliveevent.org
fiec.org.uk
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FROM MUFFLERS TO SAREES THE CHANGING FACE OF ONE CHURCH’S INNER CITY MINISTRY
It was to hide the lack of clean shirts and ties that ‘muffler meetings’ began in Glasgow’s Finnieston area in 1930. ‘Mufflers’ were scarves and were worn by the many unemployed men which Grace Street Mission sought to reach with the gospel through special services. Eighty years on and the same heart and flexibility to reach its community continues to mark out gospel work in Finnieston.
Eventually Grace Street Mission became the current Finnieston Evangelical Church, affiliated to FIEC, and situated in the ground floor of one the city’s tenement blocks not far from the new Glasgow Hydro and Clydeside. One of the missionaries to the area in those early days was Walter McAlister whose work was taken up by his son Gavin in the 1950s. Gavin and his wife Jean have been a constant ever since and at the age of 95, Gavin is very much the elder statesman of the fellowship.
GAVIN AND JEAN MCALISTER WITH PHILIP TEJI
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Growth of the Asian community In the 1960s areas like Finnieston were seeing the beginnings of what would become a large Asian community in Glasgow. Most were from Muslim or Sikh backgrounds but a number came from Indian and Pakistani Christian communities. The church was quick to open its doors to them and soon became a spiritual home for a number of families. Mr McAlister remembers one young Asian
FINNIESTON EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Christian who on getting his first pay-packet handed it to
his many duties in the church
the population. The fellowship
him unopened one Sunday. He
is preaching in Punjabi and
has contacts with other Asian
wanted to give the first-fruits
translating for visiting speakers.
Christian groups in the city
of his new job to the Lord.
Along with Mission Praise,
and they enjoy fellowship and
songs are sung from a Punjabi
occasional joint services. The
the church was seen in the
hymnal and services are always
church continues to attract a
willingness of the existing
followed by sandwiches,
number of new people from
congregation to adapt their
pakora and cake.
Hindu and Sikh backgrounds
The mission heart of
who attend from time to time –
services to be as accessible as possible to this new group. It has been an openness which has seen a number of converts over the years and enabled three generations of Asian families to find a spiritual home in the church.
Bi-lingual services Today the main ministry leader is Philip Teji, married to Sonitta,
IT HAS BEEN A CHURCH OPEN TO ‘STRANGERS’ AND PREPARED TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM WELCOME. The church is now
folks, Philip notes, who are very open to the gospel. However, their strong family and cultural ties make any change of allegiance very difficult for them to contemplate.
A cross-cultural mission field For Philip, one of the great needs of the fellowship is
whose grandparents were
predominantly Asian and is
to have a pastor who could
one of the first Asian families
a wonderful symbol in the
develop the work and help to
to settle in Finnieston. Philip
city of the gospel’s power
build up the believers. There is
himself came to Glasgow in
to cross cultures and its
a huge mission field in Glasgow
2005 from India and among
relevance to all sections of
among the 32,000 people
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from Asian backgrounds and
been joined by Chinese,
different – while unashamedly
a church like Finnieston has
Eastern European and Middle
holding on to gospel truth.
great potential to be a strategic
Eastern populations. Each
Andy Hunter,
centre for such outreach.
one is a mixture of faiths and
FIEC Scotland Director
no-faiths but all are looking for
IT IS THE MODEL OF A CHURCH ABLE TO BE CULTURALLY FLEXIBLE ... WHILE HOLDING ON UNASHAMEDLY TO GOSPEL TRUTH. Today Glasgow, like most
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a home and something better in life. The great example of Finnieston is that it has been a church open to ‘strangers’ and prepared to change in order to make them welcome. But Finnieston is a model not just for ‘cross-cultural’ mission but for every church seeking to engage with our constantly changing environment. It is the
UK cities, is a multi-ethnic and
model of a church able to be
religious melting pot. Since
culturally flexible, able to lose
the 1960s the large Pakistani
old ways of doing things, and
and Indian communities have
ready to embrace folks who are
FIEC Together Winter 2014
We are keen to know how FIEC churches are increasingly engaging with the multi-ethnic make-up of our local communities. If you have a significant story to tell do get in touch with us (admin@fiec.org.uk). The annual church data form for 2014/15 will also have a question about the ethnic make-up of FIEC church congregations.
fiec.org.uk
CONFESSIONS OF AN UNGRATEFUL PASTOR How thankful are you for your church? Steve Levy, pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Swansea, explains why thankfulness is such an essential characteristic for Christ’s people: Several months ago I was struck by three simple words from the Bible: “Be thankful always.” At first my conscience dismissed them. But then, as time passed, they began to feel like a pebble in my shoe. Everywhere I looked in the Bible there seemed to be a reference to ‘gratitude’ or ‘praise’. Even the letter to the church at Corinth – a church with serious problems – starts with gratitude: “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge – because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-6) At Mount Pleasant Baptist, I would say we strive as a church to be doers of the word and not simply hearers, yet I began to realise that we were falling way short in this area of ‘thankfulness’ – and I as a minister felt like the worst. Too often my first thought about church is to see the problems. It was like the old fiec.org.uk
Cowper hymn, “Have we no words? Ah think again. Words flow apace when we complain.” How far from the truth an ungrateful heart is! How far from what the Bible teaches!
A thankful Saviour Look at the life of our Lord Jesus. It’s hard not to be struck by how often He gave thanks. When He fed the five thousand, He first looked up to heaven and gave thanks. Remarkably, when it was the first Lord’s Supper, He gave thanks and said, “This is my body broken for you”.
I MUST ALWAYS THANK GOD FOR JESUS. WITHOUT HIM THERE IS NO HOPE, WHATEVER MY CIRCUMSTANCES. The Head of the Church is a grateful Saviour. The Lord knows the state of our hearts; that we find gratitude a very difficult thing. Paul says it’s one of the reasons God’s wrath is being revealed (Romans 1:21). And dealing with unthankfulness takes sacrifice – a sacrifice of praise, putting to death the ungrateful nature and looking to our grateful Saviour for help. I must always thank God for Jesus. Without Him there is no hope, whatever my circumstances. FIEC Together Winter 2014
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I must always thank God for church. The apostle Paul thanks and praises God for church and I must do the same.
Much to be thankful for I do thank God for the number of people He has saved here through Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. There must be nearly two hundred in the last ten years. I thank God they turn up on a Sunday and to a prayer meeting. I thank God He has kept them. Every one is a miracle. I thank God that He restores backsliders. It is only when you have so many converted from the world with no Christian background that you realise all credit for church members going on in their faith goes to God.
WE HAVE SEEN STUDENTS, HEROIN ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, SCIENTISTS AND FORMER MUSLIMS COME TO FAITH. I thank God for their gifts. I thank God for their diversity. We have seen students, heroin addicts, alcoholics, scientists and former Muslims all come to faith. I thank God for their love of His word,
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that they accept it as it really is – the word of God. I thank God that in the last six years we have read through the Bible twice as a church, and the knowledge of Him grows more and more. I thank God that they teach me and see Jesus in His word. I thank God they love to give financially to other churches. We have helped (alongside FIEC) pay for an assistant minister in Cardiff and now we are helping a church pay for a pastor in west Wales. All the credit goes to God and we should praise Him every time we think of our church.
Giving thanks for others This touches on a related topic, and that is gratitude for other churches. The Bible says nothing of being grateful for Christian organisations, but almost every time Paul mentions a church he gives thanks for them. Very rarely do we hear people thank God when they mention a church. We have become accustomed to hearing “the problem with that church is”, but very little praise and thanks. That we live in a ‘Christian’ culture where we tear churches apart with words seems extraordinary. Don’t we realise that the Father gathers
each church around His Son and that they are temples of the Holy Spirit? I am grateful to God for every gospel church in FIEC. What a blessing they are! I am also grateful for every gospel church outside of it.
THAT WE LIVE IN A “CHRISTIAN” CULTURE WHERE WE TEAR CHURCHES APART WITH WORDS SEEMS EXTRAORDINARY. Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for every other gospel church! May our gracious God work in us by His Spirit to make us a thankful people. Steve was one of the speakers at this year’s FIEC Leaders’ Conference. The article first appeared on the FIEC website which is updated weekly with articles and news of interest to FIEC churches. For more info: Sign up to receive regular FIEC email newsletters by clicking on the link at the very top of the FIEC website homepage at fiec.org.uk
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MISSION BEYOND
ANDY PATERSON AT THE ‘LOCAL CHURCH, GLOBAL MISSION’ CONFERENCE
Andy Paterson, FIEC Mission Director, shares his passion for mission beyond our national borders. God’s mission is to rescue people from around the globe. And he calls us to be part of that. The great song of the saints, recorded by John for our encouragement, declares this glorious hope: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9–10) Indeed, we’re not limited to Revelation to get such a global perspective. From Genesis onwards the clear trajectory of the gospel is into all the nations.
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And here in this tiny corner of this tiny planet we’re so grateful that the good news about Jesus was brought to us as well. And now, having received, our call is to pass it on.
Every nation We do that by taking seriously our responsibility to areas of the UK where this message is not being heard. That’s why FIEC has been identifying and researching such areas, and why we are actively helping and encouraging local churches in their church planting ministry. The world has come to our shores, and we have opportunities to reach the world by engaging with our pluralist UK society. But gospel passion
can’t and mustn’t stop at national borders. God is still calling his people to go into cross-cultural ministry overseas, sharing the gospel and supporting indigenous believers as they do the same. And although FIEC is a family of UK churches, it doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be a serious concern for gospel ministry throughout world, especially amongst unreached people groups.
Local Church, Global Mission That’s why in June 2014 there was the first conference under the Local Church, Global Mission (LCGM) initiative at Cornerstone, an FIEC church in Nottingham. Very much the brainchild of Michael Prest, a missionary serving in south east Asia, LCGM drew fiec.org.uk
together various mission agencies, church representatives and interested individuals for a day of seminars and talks, where Jonathan Lamb (CEO of Keswick Ministries) and I were privileged to address the main sessions. Surprisingly good numbers joined us and there was a sense of movement and energy in what was being discussed. LCGM is beginning to develop overseas training and apprenticeships for people who would like to explore further their gifting and calling in this area.
Global Connections FIEC is also involved with Global Connections. This is an organisation that brings together over 300 UK mission agencies, churches and colleges to help provide resources, learning and representation. They seek to ‘serve, equip and develop churches’ so they might better fulfil the Great Commission, and use the strap line – ‘mission at the heart of the church, the church at the heart of mission’. Their members include organisations of all sizes, working in countries all over the world with a wide variety of projects. It is quite possible Global Connections could prove very useful to your church, as they: Help churches formulate policies that will
help keep world mission at the heart of church life. Respond to questions and link individuals to
specialist mission groups and organisations. They really are the ‘one stop info shop’ for all things relating to global mission. Organise specialist forums, bringing together
interested practitioners in a whole variety of areas – there are 23 listed on their website. Are solidly evangelical in outlook and
practice and are served by a committed and knowledgeable staff team, led by Martin Lee. Produce excellent materials that are made
freely available. All too often we, as churches, can try to duplicate work that already exists or complain about fiec.org.uk
information that we lack. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen in the realm of world mission and make use of this wonderful resource that is available to us.
THE WORLD HAS COME TO OUR SHORES, AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH THE WORLD BY ENGAGING WITH OUR PLURALIST UK SOCIETY. Good links with other networks FIEC is not only busy building relationships through Global Connections and with other UK based mission agencies. We are also strengthening relationships in Europe through the European Leadership Forum and in America through The Gospel Coalition, Together for the Gospel and with groups such as Reach Global (the mission arm of the Evangelical Free Churches of America) and the Mississippi Baptist Convention (who send over many teams to work with FIEC churches during holiday periods.)
Why not get involved? A final thought. Perhaps your church would like to get involved in world missions but feel too small or financially stretched to contribute practically. Why not join with other FIEC churches in a similar situation so together you might have the immense privilege of sharing in the support of an overseas worker? We’d love to help you in this and chat over these issues. Feel free to drop me an email. For more info: • Contact andy@fiec.org.uk • Visit localchurchglobalmission.org • For an interview with Michael Prest visit fiec.org.uk/news/article/local-churchglobal-mission • Visit globalconnections.org.uk • Contact the FIEC office about teams from Mississippi Baptist Convention
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BOOK REVIEWS
We would like to say a big thank you to Jonathan Carswell and 10ofThose for providing these book reviews.
Galatians
How Can I Be Sure?
By Doug Moo
By John Stevens
Doug Moo is a world-renowned New Testament (NT) commentator, esteemed for his care, accuracy and clarity. His reputation and expertise makes anything he writes required reading for the student of the NT. This, coupled with the user-friendly format of the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT) series, makes this volume an attractive proposition. Moo provides a 60 page introduction followed by a further 340 pages of commentary. Both are thorough without being laborious. Throughout he interacts with the primary and secondary literature and, like other BECNT volumes, works from the Greek text. The introduction has several excellent discussions. The commentary itself is divided up into sections following the argument of the letter. Each section begins with an overview and outline. This is followed by the detailed exposition and exegesis. These sections reference the original languages but are still accessible to those who don’t know Hebrew or Greek. Each section is then concluded with additional notes for those who wish to pursue the more academic detail. On the back cover Frank Thielman describes this work as the “single best commentary now available on Galatians.” This reader would be hard pressed to disagree.
‘How Can I be Sure?’ by John Stevens (FIEC National Director) is a book we’d do well to have on our shelves to pass around those for which doubt is an issue. Here is why: At just over 92 pages it is short enough to be manageable for most people. It’s also not complicated. In reading this it felt like a friend helping his pal to understand something together. It’s warm, uncritical and genuine. It’s also biblically practical. The first third of the book helps the reader understand what doubt is with the latter two thirds getting practical. By this I don’t mean he gives the reader a list of things to do – but rather opens up the Bible and shows us how doubt can be overcome. Chapter five gives seven tips, which I think are the clearest and most sensible advice you can give someone doubting their faith. The book could be helped with some stories or humour, but I think this is a great resource, and one I’m going to encourage people to have ready to pass on to others. Reviewed by Jonathan Carswell 10ofThose.com
Reviewed by Martin Salter Grace Community Church, Bedford
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Hope Reborn
First Wives’ Club
By Tope Koleoso and Adrian Warnock
By Clare Heath-Whyte
Getting new Christians into the habit of reading good Christian books can be difficult – but it is worth it. This new release is one they should be encouraged to read. The writing style is not heavy, but the teaching is strong. The book takes you through the gospel, how you actually become a Christian, and then through some of the disciplines new Christians should adopt. The book begins by laying out our situation – one of sin, cut off from a holy, awesome God… yet one, which as we see in chapter two, loves, died and rose for us! Theology and clear doctrine is taught in an accessible way and the practicalities of the Christian life are helpfully explained. From church, prayer and a chapter on Bible reading – this is a practical book too, helping Christians roll up their sleeves and get to ‘work’ on their discipleship. It’s a good book to get new, but growing, Christians to read. John Stevens says about the book, “This book is ideal for those interested in understanding the Christian faith for the first time, for those new to the faith, or for those unsure of their faith.” He’s right!
Clare writes about the lives of six sixteenth century wives who lived during the Reformation. Each woman’s experience of marriage and family life was different and each experienced different hardships. But each sought to live their lives according to the Bible’s teaching rather than the culturally acceptable practices of the day. Some of the women are well known; some I hadn’t heard of before. A couple were exceptionally gifted; most were ordinary. Each enhanced their husband’s gospel effectiveness and has something to teach Christian women today about how to live whole-heartedly for Jesus in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Him. Clare portrays each character warmly and with appreciation for their strengths and struggles. She is honest about the failings of the wives and their husbands – some of the details are shocking! She challenges the reader to be obedient to God’s word and provides helpful Bible study questions that encourage further reflection on the issues raised. This book will inspire readers to stand firm in their faith and to maintain a gospel focus in their lives. I loved reading this book and recommend it as a valuable resource for personal encouragement or group study.
Reviewed by Jonathan Carswell 10ofThose.com
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Reviewed by Carolyn Lacey Woodgreeen Evangelical Church, Worcester FIEC Together Winter 2014
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NEW AFFILIATIONS Since the last edition of Together ten churches have joined FIEC: Cliffe Community Church, Rochester, Kent Formby Baptist Church, Merseyside Gwerrsyllt Congregational Church, Wrexham Harper Memorial Baptist Church, Glasgow Jersey Baptist Church, St Helier, Jersey Lower Ford Street Baptist Church, Coventry New Life Church, Middlesbrough Orrell Park Baptist Church, Liverpool Quennevais Evangelical Church, St Brelade, Jersey Osborne Square Church, Dagenham
fiec.org.uk fb.com/theFIEC @theFIEC 01858 434540 admin@fiec.org.uk Registered Charity No. 263354 Charity registered in Scotland SC040111
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