Poor | Feeding 5,000 is no picnic...

07Dec 2017 by Nigel Ring

Building Churches in deprived areas – Day Conference

Saturday February 10th 2018. 10am - 4pm St Peters Baptist Church, Eden Close, Worcester, WR5 3TZ This day conference is aimed at those who either are thinking of or are in the process of planting a Church or congregation in a deprived area in the UK. The day will be hosted by Jim Harper and Colin Baron. The speakers are Martin Charlesworth and Nick & Christina Hoult. Martin is the co-author of 2 books “The Myth of the Undeserving Poor” and “A Church For The Poor”. Martin will be speaking from his vast experience from being the senior pastor of Barnabas Community Church in Shrewsbury, to his role as team leader of Jubilee+ and his extensive research from his latest book “A Church For The Poor”. Nick…

29Nov 2017 by Nigel Ring

Stop Child Witch Accusations

Child abuse, Children, Poor, SCWA, Witch, Witchcraft accusations

The issue of children being accused of being witches would be way outside the experience of most of us. Yet, in some parts of the world, this phenomenon is widespread. What makes the situation worse is that the resultant child abuse through various ‘deliverance’ practices is often carried out by church leaders, although there are also many church leaders who are working hard to address and stop this form of abuse. Susie Howe, wife of one of the elders of a Newfrontiers church in the UK, came across this practice while ministering to vulnerable children in Africa. A previous posting tells you about that work. Since she became aware of this practice, she and others she is working with have expended immense energy in trying to stop the practice and to teach…

21Nov 2017 by Nigel Ring

Zimbabwe – a Day of Change, a call to Prayer

News, Poor, Prayer, Zimbabwe

Remarkable changes are taking place in Zimbabwe. Let’s look at recent events. Recent history Tuesday November 14th According to a post on Scott Marques’ Facebook page church leaders ‘had the joy of being lead by the President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Dr Shingi Munyeza - at the national AGM - in what felt like extraordinarily sincere repentance by the church. We turned away from all trust in man, all trust in money, all idolatry, all hatred, all corruption, all greed, all bitterness, and all sin which has had devastating sway in the church, let alone the nation as a whole. We cried out to God that He would work out His purposes WITH US, and then THROUGH US to the nation. I was greatly inspired by this…

17Nov 2017 by Nigel Ring

Empowered and buzzing – Jubilee+ conference report

Jubilee+, News, Poor

The annual Jubilee+ conference is one of the first dates in my diary each year. It combines helpful impartation of knowledge with worship, vision, networking and a time of prayer. This year’s conference in Cambridge lived up to my expectations. During the week running up to the conference, one of Natalie Williams’ friends at King's Church in Hastings had said to her that she felt that Jubilee+ has been like a deep-sea oil rig, pushing deeper and deeper, sometimes through rocks that were hard to budge, but that this year's conference would be as if we had finally struck oil. (Natalie is one of the core team of Jubilee+.) That accurately reflected the day. During the conference, delegates were coming out of main sessions and seminars saying how profound they…

24Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

A Church for the Poor

Books, Church culture, News, Poor

How 'accessible' is your church? If someone from a local run-down housing complex in your area walked into your church would they come a second time? Many churches have become so ‘middle class’ that they represent an unwelcoming environment for those from different socio-economic levels of society. The authors of ‘A Church for the Poor’ come themselves from very different backgrounds. Martin Charlesworth was educated at a private boarding school whereas Natalie received free school meals. In their very disparate backgrounds lies their authenticity and credibility in joint-authoring such a book as this, a book that fills a unique place in the plethora of books about how to build church in our generation. Analysis Presented in two distinct parts this book first analyses the causes of poverty and gives a…

12Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

Helping Marginalised Children in Africa

Bethany Children's Trust, Children, HIV, OVC, Poor, Zimbabwe

There are millions of marginalised and vulnerable children in Africa. A few years ago Susie Howe, the wife of an elder in a Newfrontiers church in London, found herself in Zimbabwe due to her husband having an assignment there with his job. Professionally Susie had been an HIV/AIDS nurse in one of the large London teaching hospitals and, when approached to help with the needs of orphaned children, she felt that children were not in her area of expertise. But God had other ideas. In this first part of a conversation I had with Susie she is transparent about her walk with Him and how she launched a very effective initiative, now called The Bethany Children's Trust, that is helping churches to address the needs in several African nations. She has also helped thousands of…

Category: Poor