08Feb 2017 by Nigel Ring

Around the Newfrontiers apostolic spheres – Relational Mission

Edward Buria, Kenya, Mike Betts, Newfrontiers, News, Relational Mission
From time to time I have published interviews with the various men leading the new apostolic spheres following the transition of the Newfrontiers family of churches in 2011 from one to multiple spheres. Here I talk with Mike Betts who leads the sphere ‘Relational Mission’. We were able to have a discussion about what his vision is and how the sphere has developed since the transition. Relational Mission – meaning and outworking Having given insight to the name ‘Relational Mission’ Mike shares some of the ways in which his vision and values are being outworked: a Leadership Conference, Clustering churches for local fellowship, Church Planting, Leadership Training and ‘extraordinary’ Prayer. Book Many of the values and practices of Newfrontiers have been updated and redefined in the book ‘Relational Mission – A Way…
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04Jan 2017 by Nigel Ring

Leading a church to minister with the Poor pt 1. Changes in practice for gospel impact

Church culture, Equipping, Newfrontiers, Poor, Simon Pettit
Happy New Year! As we begin a new year I want to share with you over the next few weeks videos I made during a discussion with Andy Cottingham. Andy has been in church leadership both in the UK and South Africa for many years. Churches in which he has been based have always had significant ministries to reach out to those who are poor or in need. In these discussions I asked him to share wisdom from his experience which may help other church leaders, though his responses will be of interest to anyone involved in ministering with the poor since they address underlying values. In this first interview (there will be three more) he addresses some matters to help make the practices of the church more accessible to 'outsiders'. Change If we…
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08Sep 2016 by Nigel Ring

Succession in Newfrontiers and a visit to Westpoint

Church Planting, Commission, Guy Miller, New Ground, Newfrontiers, News, Terry Virgo, Westpoint
What happened when Terry Virgo ‘handed over’ Newfrontiers? Recently I was speaking with someone who had contact with another stream of churches. That person was commending Terry and Newfrontiers for the way in which succession had been handled when Terry handed over the responsibility for the Newfrontiers family of churches in 2011 to about 15 men who had demonstrated apostolic gifting and ministry. He said that, as a result of what they had observed, his stream of churches was adopting a similar philosophy of ‘sons’ growing up to become ‘fathers’ who would lead the next generation. On arriving home I found this interview in my inbox. Terry had been invited by David Holden to speak at the ‘Newground’ Leadership Conference and shares his perspective on the process and developments over…
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13Jul 2016 by Nigel Ring

Jubilee Plus and an interview with Martin Charlesworth

Jubilee+, Newfrontiers, Poor
How did it start? Several years ago Martin was invited to set up an initiative to help UK-based churches to engage more effectively with those who are poor or in need in their local communities. Adopting the vision statement - To see the Church in the UK be a champion of the poor and a means to healthy communities across the nation - Martin and a core team have worked tirelessly to develop strategies for Social Action, Social Justice and Social Enterprise. In many ways they have ‘punched well above their weight’; they have developed a network across many streams and denominations, have entry into places touching national strategy for the poor, and have served many churches directly or indirectly in helping raise the excellence of their ministries. Communication This…
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05Jul 2016 by Nigel Ring

A new website for Newfrontiers

Books, David Devenish, David Holden, Downs Bible Week, Guy Miller, New Ground, Newfrontiers, News, Regions Beyond, Steve Oliver, Terry Virgo
Gains and losses In recent weeks I have sought to give an overview of some of the apostolic spheres. The feedback has been very encouraging. People clearly seem to enjoy catching up with other members of the Newfrontiers family. So I was particularly delighted to learn recently that a new website has been launched. The transition five years ago was essentially positive – to see Terry Virgo’s reflections on this go to my last blog – but it did also have some negative aspects. Particularly, ‘decentralisation’ and the necessary closure of the Magazine resulted in easy access to news from around the world substantially evaporating. A hunger for news This desire for information from across the spheres still existed in the hearts of many people who have enjoyed the international fellowship. So,…
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28Jun 2016 by Nigel Ring

Terry Virgo reflects on the Newfrontiers transition

Newfrontiers, News, Terry Virgo, Together on a Mission
The start of it all In 1980 Terry Virgo was urged by a friend, Bryn Jones, speaker at our second Downs Bible Week, to draw together a team of men around him. Terry was beginning to travel widely within the UK from his base on the south coast, Seaford, and needed others to share the load and complement his ministry.     A team is formed [caption id="attachment_5249" align="alignleft" width="260"] L to R: David Holden, Richard Haydon Knowell, Henry Tyler, Ray Lowe, Alan Vincent, Terry Virgo, Nigel Ring[/caption] In September that year a team of seven met for the first time. A name was required; ‘Coastlands’ was agreed. The prophet Isaiah uses ‘coastlands’ to denote the ends of the earth, a reflection of our heart to fulfil the Great Commission. But,…
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