20Jul 2016 by Nigel Ring

The Irresistible Revolution – book recommendation

Books, News, Poor
Holiday reading Looking for holiday reading? Recently a friend lent me a copy of Shane Claiborne’s book The Irresistible Revolution, first published in 2006 but which has now been updated and republished. Good move! This is well worth reading if you are prepared to be challenged about how radical you are in your walk with God. Off to India Shane Colborne is no ‘ordinary’ Christian (I wonder what one would look like?). But he does believe that living out the Christian life should be challenging and radical. Having been challenged by some of his college friends who used their spare time visiting people who were homeless in the city he set out to start his exploration of radical Christianity with a visit to Mother Theresa in Calcutta. Living and working…
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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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22Jun 2016 by Nigel Ring

Around the Newfrontiers apostolic spheres – Commission

Church Planting, Commission, News, Poor, Westpoint
  Days of Prayer I have recently had a chance to join yet another apostolic sphere of Newfrontiers, this time for a couple of days of prayer. What a joy! This pattern of prayer for leaders was established in the '80s by Terry Virgo and has been the engine room of much of the blessing that has been enjoyed both in and through the family of Newfrontiers churches for decades. I also took the opportunity to interview Guy Miller - see below. Around 120 leaders gathered in Bournemouth under Guy Miller’s leadership including leaders from Serbia, the Philippines and the Middle East. We were also joined on Skype by Mike Shore from Portugal who led us for a whole session in prayer for Portugal and Spain. It was exciting to…
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19May 2016 by Nigel Ring

Helping ‘broken people’: July 11th-15th 2016

Drug addiction, Encounter Camp, News, Poor
Encounter Camp Many churches are in touch with people who are ‘broken’ through addictions and life-controlling issues. I am impressed by Jim Harper’s vision to help them and the fruit of the last ten years. Maybe you know someone who could benefit? Here is some more about the Camp. Vision Some years ago, God spoke to Jim Harper (an elder of Hope Church, Worcester, UK) about gathering people together for supernatural breakthroughs.  “In the Spirit I saw addicts getting healed and set free, broken people being made whole...” says Jim. It is out of this that Encounter began.  Encounter is a five-day camp held in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside and has been running since 2006. People from all over the country attend; it is for adults who are…
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11May 2016 by Nigel Ring

Next stop….. Guinea. But can you help?

Africa, Guinea, Poor
Jubilee International School JIS in Conakry, Guinea (West Africa) has well over 300 students ranging in age 3-26, the older ones being anxious to catch up with schooling lost when schools have been closed through war, ebola and civil unrest. To view a short video click on the picture. Your help is needed In recent months we have collected resources for the school and church. A container of equipment for the church and school, from furniture to curricular, toys to microscopes, bicycles to wedding dresses, has been filling. We are now nearly there. But musical instruments, PA and other equipment are still needed. Specifically: Acoustic Guitars Bass guitars Electrical guitars Nine- or seven-piece drum set PA system – Amplifier, Microphones etc Projector screen Projectors light (light for filming) Are you able…
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23Mar 2016 by Nigel Ring

Pursuing Excellence in Ministry with the Poor – Pt 4. The Action Plan

Administration in the Church, Equipping, Evaluation, Good Practice, Poor
So far we have seen how to consider different issues related to the ministry and have captured ideas for improvement. We now need to take these forward to a finalised Action Plan. 4. Identifying and agreeing improvements to be made By the end of Day 1 many sheets of notes have been blue-tacked to the walls of the room. On Day 2 we take each of the issues discussed on Day 1 and dig deeper until we have specific actions that all can agree need to be taken. By this stage there is an ever-growing participation and enthusiasm from the team members. Often they have had great thoughts overnight and have further contributions to bring following reflection about the process. We start by prioritising the list of topics that we wish…
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