Signs of Life

Over the next few weeks I will be writing a report for the circuit. Mark has asked me to write about a page on each Church looking at its mission and how it might be developed, also giving some thought to how the circuit can develop its overall mission strategy. This does mean is that posts to this blog are going to be a little in short supply but I do welcome members of the North Lincoln Methodist Churches (and others) to contact me with their thoughts or questions about the mission of their church or that of the circuit.

I will be presenting the report at Nettleham Methodist Church on Tuesday 11th August, 7:30pm and I believe the meeting is open to all. I won’t attempt to go through the whole thing in detail but will present a few key ideas and answer questions but, and this is most important, I want us to pray together for the churches and their mission and also for the circuit. I want us to prayer for the staff and the stewards of each church and the circuit. I want us to pray. I don’t think we pray enough. We need to pray.

I would like to remind the circuit that I have one more training session left which takes place on Tuesday 3rd August, 7:30pm at Saxilby Methodist Church and is looking at the use and development of buildings for mission. A bit of film, a few thoughts on the issue and some discussion so that hopefully those that attend are better equiped when thinking about their church buildings and how they could be used, adapted, updated, replaced to suit the needs of the mission.

Prayer: the powerhouse of mission

In this modern age the internet has become a primary source and conduit for information, services and products. No company or organisation that seeks to do business with or interact with people in our society would ignore this modern means of communication.

However it would seem that many Churches have not recognised this phenomena which is strange as we are primarily in the business of communicating the most important message the world has ever needed to hear – The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I know that many in the Church few if any members have an understanding of the workings of the internet or websites and this has been a major barrier to Churches developing their own website. There are other reasons as well including cost and just a general lack of awareness of the potential of the web.

The good news is that the development of internet technology has spawned a number of website design tools that enable those of us with just basic computer skills to develop perfectly good websites that will do the job nicely (this blog being one example).

If a website is to be effective it should be designed with the end users in mind and consideration given to the kind of information they are looking for. Then, just like advertisers, thought should be given as to how the essential message that we want to convey and engage them with should be presented such that visitor wants to know more. Good planning and careful designing pay dividends in the finished design. It is a good idea to write a requirements specification to identify the needs of the website visitors and the message of the Church and so guide the design to meet the needs.

One useful website that offers a service specifically for Churches is: http://www.church123.com who even give some good advice on website design but there are many other similar services available, some may even be cheaper.

The Methodist Church has also produced some advice of Church websites worth checking out.

Can I suggest that if your Church does not have a website that you might bring it to the attention of the Church leadership and ask them to consider the possibility of the Church making it happen.

The very fact that you can read this via the internet means that you are probably sufficiently capable to take on the task of designing and building your Church’s website! It is a valid and valuable ministry as you are presenting the Church, its message and ministry to the world through the medium of the internet and such a ministry conducted in a prayerful and thoughtful way can greatly enhance the life and ministry of the Church. You don’t have to do it alone as others can also contribute – it is ripe for a team ministry and in fact it will work better if there are two or more involved.

Think about it! Pray about it.

The BBC have reported on the impending sale of a Methodist Church in Barnsley and there is uproar among the users of the building who consider that it is not the circuit or the local Church who has the right to sell it, they insist that the Church was paid for and built by the people for the people, past, present and future and as such it should not sold for redevelopment.

Has the Church (or circuit) got it wrong?

Of course we are not in possession of all the facts, we do not know the other pressures for mission on the circuit; maybe they need to sell the building to realise funds for another mission that is starving for lack of funds.

But it does raise an interesting question of the argument of keeping a building open even when the congregation is too weak to sustain it. Is there a case for a circuit mission that uses the building in a new way with a mission focus? How do we enable such a mission? Who staffs it? Who pays for it? Does it have to have a regular worshipping community or is it ripe for something new?

What would you do?

If you were to keep the building and its function as a community facility how would you fund it and make the most of the opportunity?