Thank
you for your engagement in the prayer and discernment process regarding how God
is shaping us as a church and what we need in our Senior Leadership to support
this. Church council is processing what God is saying through your responses
and seeking clarity regarding future staffing for our Senior Leadership. Please
be praying for the council in this.
As
a church we have for a long time been shaped by the picture of church expressed
in Acts 2: 42-47. We represent it as follows:
I
am incredibly encouraged as I hear story after story of missional engagement
and quality care happening across this church because of the relationships and
support developed through our life groups, ministries and IFFF’s. What I hear
sounds more and more like the vision of church expressed above.
I
don’t have the space to give all the examples but let me share just some of the
incredible care stories that are happening:
family facing cancer and financial difficulty –
financial/practical and ongoing support given by group and church friends; long
term shut in – house and yard cleaned and major assistance with sale and in
moving to new accommodation; several people with cancer – deep friendship and
practical support; several people with anxiety and depression – deep friendships;
tragic deaths – ongoing support; premature baby with viral meningitis – support
for family; family difficulties – financial assistance and support through
court cases; operations/cancer – visits, transport assistance and practical
help; long term illness – regular visits and bible studies at their home; care
for aging family – regular contact and support; early dementia and stroke –
ongoing visits... These are just SOME of the stories of the way in which
people within AND beyond the church are experiencing God’s love through you.
Thank
you for “going for it”.
As
I write this I am also aware of a couple of situations where people have
“fallen through the cracks” and have not been well cared for by members of the
church. For this I am very sorry.
I
have often said that church is at its worst when it is regarded as an
institution with the “clergy” as the primary representatives. The church is at
its best when it is a group of people “doing life together” in Christ (loving
God, each other and those who don’t yet know Jesus). You are living this out.
May
we all be the church of Jesus Christ – faithfully, to God’s glory
Yours
in Christ
Graham
Keech
