Transforming Presence. Embodied Instruction. Constructive Community. The three go together, like three
primary colours. All three are necessary for the Church, the organic body of Christ on Earth and the instrument
of His Kingdom, to fulfil her mission and ministry.
In developing local Church, some are convinced that bigger makes for better, releasing economies of skill and efficiencies in ministry. Others are equally persuaded that small is best, allowing closer accountability and more interpersonal activity. Either way, we need people who are being transformed by the presence of God and carry that transforming presence to others.
Issues of justice, inclusion and tolerance are critically important in our contemporary society. But for us, both the definition of these terms and how they are pursued and expressed needs to be filtered through the narrative of Scripture and the prism of Jesus Christ: Christians expressing God's embodied instruction in their lives together.
A commitment to meaningful ministry will form motivated mission. If 'the medium is the message', then how we go about communicating - and what people see when they look at us - is vitally important. Church means community. Community has to be constructed. Hard work but basic to our baptist way.
Ministry means meeting together. The Bible the book we share. Making 'then' into 'now', relating 'this' to 'that'. Learning through listening to one another. All of us looking to listen to God, learning from His Word. Bible Study for Baptists cannot be but a personal pursuit. It takes both humility and 'servant spirit' to try to hear God both communally and clearly.
Deliberately reaching out. Mission doesn't 'just happen'. It may take different forms. And as evangelist Chris Duffett points out, it begins in the heart. Born of our big-hearted God.
Because of this, our present mission strategy begins with sharing encouraging stories of what is supernaturally happening among us in a natural way. Real stories. How big-hearted ministries birth meaningful mission. How, in present day Scotland, our churches are - and they are - finding effective means of communicating love and truth in Jesus' name to folk around us. And getting others inspired to do the same. Watch out for videos from our churches. Check the Baptist Union Facebook account and website. Look for the stories that will appear spelt out and written down about what God is doing among us and through us. I see lots of people getting on with it. Especially in engaging the question, 'How can we meaningfully serve, in Jesus' name, our neighbours and communities?'
Overseeing the development of Mission and Ministry involves engaging with both Board of Ministry and the Mission Initiative Group. These groups continue to develop, how to encourage and facilitate mission and ministry from our present congregations as well as making space for pioneers. These challenges become opportunities to be explored and embraced.
Our Conflict Resolution Team continues to form, ready to fight the fires. But it is also there to teach how conflict, when managed and controlled, can be turned into a positive and maturing experience.
Our accredited ministers are people you have recognised, through the Board of Ministry, as fitted for leadership roles across our churches. This doesn't mean they don't struggle or stumble at times. We are thankful for a growing team of Regional Pastors, mature ministers, to bring care and counsel when called upon.
Now, completing a second year in office as your Mission and Ministry Advisor, I am increasingly excited by witnessing what God is doing among our churches. The privilege of visiting congregations and working with ministers throughout the land, as well as relating to and working with colleagues in neighbouring Unions in the UK and Europe, allows the honest observation that our Baptist Union is being blessed by God and that His Spirit is wonderfully active among us. Of course challenges arise: that's normal. Sins seep out: that's how it is for sinners. But the bigger picture is that the Baptist Union of Scotland, holding to the Holy Scriptures and looking only to Jesus, is a good and blessed community of which to be a part.
In developing local Church, some are convinced that bigger makes for better, releasing economies of skill and efficiencies in ministry. Others are equally persuaded that small is best, allowing closer accountability and more interpersonal activity. Either way, we need people who are being transformed by the presence of God and carry that transforming presence to others.
Issues of justice, inclusion and tolerance are critically important in our contemporary society. But for us, both the definition of these terms and how they are pursued and expressed needs to be filtered through the narrative of Scripture and the prism of Jesus Christ: Christians expressing God's embodied instruction in their lives together.
A commitment to meaningful ministry will form motivated mission. If 'the medium is the message', then how we go about communicating - and what people see when they look at us - is vitally important. Church means community. Community has to be constructed. Hard work but basic to our baptist way.
Ministry means meeting together. The Bible the book we share. Making 'then' into 'now', relating 'this' to 'that'. Learning through listening to one another. All of us looking to listen to God, learning from His Word. Bible Study for Baptists cannot be but a personal pursuit. It takes both humility and 'servant spirit' to try to hear God both communally and clearly.
Deliberately reaching out. Mission doesn't 'just happen'. It may take different forms. And as evangelist Chris Duffett points out, it begins in the heart. Born of our big-hearted God.
Because of this, our present mission strategy begins with sharing encouraging stories of what is supernaturally happening among us in a natural way. Real stories. How big-hearted ministries birth meaningful mission. How, in present day Scotland, our churches are - and they are - finding effective means of communicating love and truth in Jesus' name to folk around us. And getting others inspired to do the same. Watch out for videos from our churches. Check the Baptist Union Facebook account and website. Look for the stories that will appear spelt out and written down about what God is doing among us and through us. I see lots of people getting on with it. Especially in engaging the question, 'How can we meaningfully serve, in Jesus' name, our neighbours and communities?'
Overseeing the development of Mission and Ministry involves engaging with both Board of Ministry and the Mission Initiative Group. These groups continue to develop, how to encourage and facilitate mission and ministry from our present congregations as well as making space for pioneers. These challenges become opportunities to be explored and embraced.
Our Conflict Resolution Team continues to form, ready to fight the fires. But it is also there to teach how conflict, when managed and controlled, can be turned into a positive and maturing experience.
Our accredited ministers are people you have recognised, through the Board of Ministry, as fitted for leadership roles across our churches. This doesn't mean they don't struggle or stumble at times. We are thankful for a growing team of Regional Pastors, mature ministers, to bring care and counsel when called upon.
Now, completing a second year in office as your Mission and Ministry Advisor, I am increasingly excited by witnessing what God is doing among our churches. The privilege of visiting congregations and working with ministers throughout the land, as well as relating to and working with colleagues in neighbouring Unions in the UK and Europe, allows the honest observation that our Baptist Union is being blessed by God and that His Spirit is wonderfully active among us. Of course challenges arise: that's normal. Sins seep out: that's how it is for sinners. But the bigger picture is that the Baptist Union of Scotland, holding to the Holy Scriptures and looking only to Jesus, is a good and blessed community of which to be a part.
