The Time Is Short
Jesus is coming back. When he does, he has promised to welcome his friends into the unhindered joy of his presence and to banish his enemies from it (Rev. 221:6–8). We know that his coming is soon (Rev. 22:12). We don’t know precisely when (1 Thess. 5:2). We are to be on our guard, ready […]
Risk is right
In 1976, Ron started a company with two of his friends. Just two weeks after starting the company, Ron became impatient about whether this whole startup thing was worth his time. His two friends were big on ideas but knew nothing about business. Their startup was in a garage, not in a trendy warehouse conversion. […]
Both-And: Good Work and Gospel Work
Aged six, I’d decided that I was going to be a firefighter. I would fight fires during the week and – after a family holiday to Switzerland – I decided my weekend job would be driving trains up the Swiss mountains. I have not yet been a firefighter or a driven a train. I have […]
God Isn’t finished With You Yet
Graham Fairbairn shares his story. For many Christians, the desire to investigate full-time gospel service is probably most strongly felt in their teens, twenties and early thirties. This is a time in life when anything seems possible and a more settled period of life with weighty family, work and financial responsibilities has not arrived yet. […]
Why We Should Train Women for Ministry
Someone told me: “There’s really no point in training women for ministry – they just leave when they get married and have babies.” “There’s really no point in training women for ministry – they just leave when they get married and have babies.” I really heard this… from a woman… at a 9:38 conference. I think I […]
Fruitful Ministry
How do you lay the ground for a fruitful ministry? Spiritual fruit was certainly what Paul longed for in the visit to Rome he was planning. He’s very clear about his motivation or the trip ahead: ‘in order that I might have a harvest among you…’ (Romans 1:13). And the first fifteen verses of his […]
A Very Full Christmas
Christmas is often a time of fullness. Our diaries burst with festive events: Christmas socials and family get-togethers abound. Each person’s to-do list seems to double at least: there are presents to buy, cards to write and a sharp upturn in opportunities to serve. (When else do we attempt to buy our own body-weight in […]
When Feet Almost Slip
Christian ministry is a life of service – of that there can be no doubt. We follow a crucified Saviour: the one who was willing to come from heaven to lay down his life for those he loves and we are called to emulate that Philippians 2, sacrificial, other-centredness in all we do. When we […]
Gospel Needs in Scotland
Readers of the 9:38 blog know well that ‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’ The latest global statistics continue to challenge us and drive us to our knees. The Joshua Project website tells us that of the 16,862 people groups in the world, a staggering 6,996 are ‘unreached’ (defined as a people […]
Coming on a Student Conference
Louise Roche is a first-year Ministry Assistant at Emmanuel Bristol. About a year ago, at the start of my final year at university, I went to the 9:38 South West Student Conference. Now working as a Ministry Assistant at my church in Bristol, here are some of my reflections for those considering attending this year… […]
Gospel Needs in Ireland
‘I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from the unbelievers…and many persecutions…I am prepared to give my life without hesitation and most gladly for his name.’ (Patrick Confession) We still need ‘Patricks’ to come to Ireland! Patrick did preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and saw thousands […]
Developing a Training Church
Most people reading this will be familiar with the model of ministry Paul gives us in Ephesians 4. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ […]