04Dec 2014 by Nigel Ring

Book Review – The Myth of the Undeserving Poor

Books, Equipping, News, Poor
Do the poor deserve to be helped? I have greatly enjoyed reading this book and strongly recommend it. My attitudes were challenged, and I was liberally marking and underling passagesas I read it. It has already caused me to adjust my thinking about a particular ‘live’ situation I am facing. Although the book is centred on the UK, its history and current situation, there are many Biblical and practical teachings that any reader can apply. Poverty in Britain Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams, two of the key players in the Jubilee+ initiative of the Newfrontiers family of churches in the UK, begin by laying a historical foundation. Taking the reader through the effects of the Poor Laws of 1601 and 1834 they trace how the relationship between church and state has…
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25Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

To help you engage with real issues…

Books, Jubilee+, News, Poor
Here are two resources I strongly recommend - a book (The Myth of the Undeserving Poor) and a conference. Both come from the Jubilee+ initiative of Newfrontiers in the UK which helps individuals and churches engage with the needs of those who are poor or disadvantaged. First I will tell you about the conference. Faith + Justice Conference. Milton Keynes, UK. Saturday February 7th 2015   What is your real attitude to politics? Do you find them a turn-off? In the UK, Christians tend to be more likely to vote in elections or even be members of political parties than the average member of the public. However, many Christians would say they don’t ‘get’ politics, don't care about them, or simply don’t understand the difference between the political parties. They may hold strong views on education…
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20Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

Guinea update – Pt 3. Helping the Poor

Guinea, News, Poor
This is the final part of a recent Newsletter, updated as appropriate. Koukoudé, a fishing village Koukoude is a very poor village a few hours from Conakry. Junior and FM, the 2 leaders are under a lot of pressure but they are holding on. They did their 4 first baptisms this year. The school is still carrying on. It sent its first pupils to the NPSE (National Primary School Exam) May 2014. Because of financial difficulties, the building project is frozen and the building we are now renting is getting more and more expensive. With only €5,000 we could build our school in Koukoudé.  Jubilee School, Conakry - 'Education for all in an atmosphere of love and respect' In spite of all our difficulties, the school is doing well. We have…
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12Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

Guinea Update – Pt 2. The Church

Guinea, News, Poor
Nicolas Thebault continues to bring an update on the situation in Guinea. The Church is growing at a steady pace (approximately 30% every year for the past 4 years) Baptisms, baptisms and more baptisms... We passed the threshold of 100 baptisms between September 2010 and June 2014.  There are visitors every Sunday. We have a dozen house groups against 2 four years ago. The church is now predominantly Guinean. The challenges are therefore for us to be able to help all these new Christians to become Jesus’ disciples and to form new leaders. Weddings and Marriage We celebrated our first Christian wedding in Koukoudé. Since then, we have celebrated 6 weddings in 2 years. This is a main challenge for a lot of our young Christians who have to get their…
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06Nov 2014 by Nigel Ring

Guinea Update – Pt 1

Guinea, News, Poor
For many Guinea in West Africa was an unknown nation until recent weeks. Now with the outbreak of ebola it has become headline news across the world. But there has been a Newfrontiers church in Guinea for many years, originating out of the civil war in the 90s and early part of this millennium in neighbouring Sierra Leone which caused many to flee across the border to avoid the fighting. Some will know Nicolas and Elaine Thebault from Newfrontiers leadership events. I have recently received a Newsletter which I shall post in slightly edited form over the next few weeks. Nicolas writes... It has been two and a half years since we have sent a newsletter. Since the Brighton conference finished (Together on a Mission) we have lost contact with many of…
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28Oct 2014 by Nigel Ring

Moving on – some reflections. Part 5 – My own situation

CCK, Newfrontiers, News
The Poor Since this is a personal reflection on the past decades it is important to mention a sermon preached by Simon Pettit in 1998 at the Leaders Conference which deeply affected my life and the lives of many others. Simon spoke from Gal 2:10 ‘Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do’. Through this he exhorted us to see that ‘remembering the poor’ was an apostolic mandate. No sphere or church should ignore the plight of the poor if it is to fulfil its Kingdom role to its community. No one who was present could have failed to have been impacted by that preach. God had clearly spoken to us as a movement. Act 2000 The result was the launch of a one-year initiative, Act…
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