Looking Back With Gratitude: life as a ministry trainee
I spent two years working as a Ministry Associate at St Nicholas’ Church, Sevenoaks. As I look back I can already see the many ways in which God used the role to motivate, equip and strengthen me in my Christian faith, and draw me closer to himself. I’m really grateful to Him for the opportunity […]
Starting Well
Fresh from two years as a ministry trainee at St Mary’s Maidenhead, Tim writes… “I’m basically like a church celebrity. Everyone knows me. I don’t have a clue who anyone is. Those I know, I can’t remember their names. Is this really why I’m here? I don’t know how much I like this.” That was […]
Raising Up Godly Leaders
Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D.C. spoke about Growing Healthy Churches at a one-day conference at Duke Street Church, Richmond-upon-Thames. His final session focused on the importance of Raising up Godly Leaders. Mark has kindly allowed 9:38 to summarise his advice on identifying, training and growing godly leaders. As Mark explained, […]
The Other Lord’s Prayer
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is […]
Clarifying the Call
In summer 2005 a survey, conducted by Generation Next, of 400 men either in or considering word ministry showed significant confusion about what constituted a ‘call’. This is a practical and important question: how do I know that Christ has called me to “prayer and the ministry of the word”? Rather than start with ourselves, […]
How do I know I’m called?
When I was in my 6th Form I took a careers test. The results told me that I should consider becoming, in order of suitability, a barrister, a solicitor, a teacher and a minister of religion. I studied law at University, became a Christian in my final year, decided not to train to become a […]
Saved by Grace and not by Ministry
I’m pretty sure we all know what it feels like. We’re tired and stressed. We’re too busy and are not enjoying the work. In fact, nothing is fun. We’ve been prioritising serving the Lord Jesus – we’ve taken on all that’s been asked of us, and more besides. But we’re still not doing enough. It isn’t […]
Lessons about God’s grace in ministry
Have you ever read David in the Psalms saying things like, ‘Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin’, and just thought, ‘well good for you David! I’m not sure I can say that with such […]
Evangelism as a Pastor
I can remember a good friend telling me something he had recently learnt from an internship as a management consultant: “you’re only a leader if people are following you; otherwise you’re just taking a walk!” It’s a comic picture but it is as true for the church as in the business world. As a church […]
Evangelism as an Apprentice
Esther Vernon, apprenticing at Avenue Community Church in Leicester in 2010, gives us a feel for her experiences of evangelism in an apprenticeship. Is an apprenticeship in ‘full-time gospel ministry’ going to entail a slightly suffocating, shameful, step-back from non-Christians? Or is it potentially a brilliant opportunity behind the front line to begin to get equipped […]
Sustained Ministry – a long-term walk
Shortly before ordination I received a Bible from the man under whom I had found the Lord as a teenager. In the flyleaf was 2 Timothy 2:3 – “Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Perhaps Isaiah, too, had the ‘hardship’ factor in mind at the close of his famous chapter 40. But […]
Labour shortage at a large church
It seems to me that there will always be a labour shortage in a church when mission is at the top of the agenda. That is why the Lord Jesus calls disciples to pray for more workers. It is what keeps us honest and dependent before the Lord of the Harvest. He knew we would […]