2017 | Feeding 5,000 is no picnic...

24Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

A Church for the 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…

18Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

Fulfilling the call to Cross-Cultural Mission

Africa, Bethany Children's Trust, Cross-culture, Equipping, Mission

Recently I had a conversation with Susie Howe, wife of one of the elders of a Newfrontiers church in London. In the first part of our conversation, posted last time, Susie shared how the Bethany Project had started and about how she helped to equip churches to support and empower marginalised children in Africa. In this second part of our conversation I asked Susie how she would advise anyone who feels a call to work in cross-cultural mission. In this video she gives some very helpful and practical advice about testing your call and preparing to go, and about relating appropriately and helpfully with those you are seeking to serve. https://vimeo.com/233174277

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…

04Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

Elders and Administrators working together – Part 3

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping

In this final part of responding to a question about the relationship between Elders and the Administrator I shall address four particular features that are important in this relationship. 1. Friendship Jesus had great friendship with the disciples. It is worth watching some of the excellent word-for-word videos of the gospels – such as that of Matthew – to get a flavour of the reality of this; watch about 40 seconds of this short clip illustrating Matthew 11:1-2 (although the whole video is well-worth watching). We know that he shared his life with them and that they were party to major decisions he made. Although there was misunderstanding on many occasions the friendship was sustained; he did not speak down to them but treated them as friends in his day to day…

27Sep 2017 by Nigel Ring

Elders and Administrators working together – Part 2

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping

Last time we saw how the gift of administration is often not fully utilised due to a lack of understanding of how it should operate. This denies the church from benefitting from all that the gift has to offer. Here I will try to give some practical tips. The Practice Underlying the question I am often asked is the genuine desire to know how elders and an Administrator should relate together. This is where I will now focus our thinking. Recognise the gift Success depends on first recognising the gift, as we learnt in the last posing. If an eldership team sees administration merely as a necessary part of the running of the church they will tend to use it only in responsive mode, giving the administrator and his or her…

20Sep 2017 by Nigel Ring

Elders and Administrators working together – Part 1

Administration in the Church, Administrative Skills, Equipping

From time to time I am asked my opinion on matters that affect the smooth running of a local church, particularly related to administration. During the next few weeks I shall address some of these matters as a Q and A series. If others wish to contact me with other issues I would be happy to build responses into this series. It will not run as a continuous series but will punctuate other material I am planning to present. Question How should elders embrace the gift of administration? What is the role of the Administrator and how does he or she relate to the elders? Answer The relationship between a church’s leadership team, particularly the governing Elders, and the Administrator is arguably one of the most important relationships in…

Year: 2017