Signs of Life

Something that has become plain to me this last week is that my appointment is largely unknown by the North Lincoln Methodist Circuit. ‘So What?’ you might ask. Well the reason is that from the beginning of this year I started working for the self-same circuit as their Circuit Mission Enabler. I could, if I wanted an easy life, just leave it that way but I think I really should let folk know who I am and what I am there to do. So here goes a bit of info on me and then a short bit about the work I am trying to do.

I am married to Sally, who is a probationary presbyter with the Methodist Church and stationed in Sherburn-in-Elmet where we live. Some of you may know Sally from her involvement with the Journey into Wholeness group.

We have 5 children, three of whom, Jo, Jon and Chris, are still technically at home although they are all at university (Sheffield, Lancaster and Cliff College) but descend upon us during the holidays. The eldest two have left home, Paul our eldestson, is married to Louise and lives in King’s Lynn and have three Children. Emma lives in Gateshead and teaches music. We also have two recently acquired cats.

Prior to moving to Sherburn last August we were working in the West Norfolk Methodist Circuit as outreach workers (job share) and studying theology part time in Cambridge. Prior to that I was employed as an electronics design engineer and was an elder of a Congregational Church with a specific ministry as an evangelist.

Currently I am candidating for the Methodist Diaconal Order and have District Interviews (York and Hull) in a few weeks time and hopefully Connectional interviews in the 3rd week of March. If succesful I should start training in September/october this year, which fits in nicely with tis work as the contract will complete at the end of August.

So what am I supposed to be doing? Well I have been given three specific tasks and I feel at liberty to disclose two of them. First is to create and lead a training programme for the circuit in Personal Evangelism with practical training and application; the second is to help the Circuit Leadership team revise the Circuit mission Strategy. In addition to these two tasks I have also to Preach frequently in the churches in the circuit.

This is all underway and so far things are going to plan.  The first course I have organised is not specifically about personal evangelism but is more ‘visionary’ in nature. I believe that first of all we need to recapture a sense of the Kingdom of God and the place of mission in the life of the Church. Evangelism, personal and corporate, to be effective needs to be natural and the best way for that to happen is when we are at home in our skin as Christians – secure in our identity. ‘The Kind of People we are’ is really about understanding our identity, who our lives, our mission and our message is shaped by the character of God.

The other task mentioned has begun with gathering of information on each Church and the Circuit. As I go along I am able to help Churches identify how they can be more effective with their mission – sometimes with simple things like how we present ourselves through our notice boards and websites. hopefully this blog will be a source of ideas and things to consider so please do visit often and please do ask questions and I will do my best to find answers.