Updated Posting - from Basingstoke Mar 13

Hi, again,

We’ve been very busy and no time to write except very late at night. So will try to recap what we’ve been doing.

First off, thanks, David and Joey, for getting Pat’s blackberry up and working. We were thinking we needed to contact you when we got the text message from you, Joey. It’s been great to be able to receive e-mails from home.

Diane, we were close to Nottingham, but no time to go sightseeing while up north.

Thursday, 3-08-07-2nd day of Salt & Light European Leaders Conference
We heard about Ultimate Intention for 18-25 year olds. They have conferences every other year. There are also opportunities to serve on short-term mission trips (1-2 weeks long.) This may be what you saw on the website, Crystal. There are also opportunities for 11-17 year olds. The following websites have more info: www.saltlight.org/youth, www.saltlight.org/ultimate, and UI@myspace.

In the morning we heard Jo Bray speak about the challenges she’s faced as God has called her husband and her to plant churches. They are currently planting a church in Warwick, UK. She challenged leaders not to settle. Because of remembering the cost of moving, i.e., giving up incomes, the dishevel, leaving behind friends and family, it can cause us to be unwilling to sacrifice. She referred to the story of Elisha receiving Elijah’s mantle (II Kings 2:1-15), and said we can cope with change with either faith or fear. She gave examples of how Elisha coped in faith.

Also, Steve Thomas, the leader of the Salt and Light family in Europe, talked about What Leaders should be Talking About. We can either be half-hearted or whole-hearted - managing what is or dreaming about what isn’t. Some of the things we should be talking about are: mission, training, those God is blessing or blesses, and faith.

During lunch we heard about an outreach to those who don’t know Christ created by Rob Harley from New Zealand called Journeys. It’s a 5-session DVD based course – real life stories of people who have been changed. They also have follow up courses called Life Stories and The Big Ask (some of life’s toughest questions addressed by Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, and Rob Bell.)

In the afternoon Sandy Millar, an Anglican bishop who helped start the Alpha course, shared about Alpha and the 6 principles it’s based on that have helped it be effective.

The international guests had supper with the European Salt and Light Team, and Barney Coombs spoke after the meal. I didn’t have my notes, but the things that stood out to me were the importance of maintaining right relationships, working through misunderstandings and miscommunications, and being loyal to one another over the long haul.

In the evening service, Sandy Millar shared from Ezekiel 37:1-14. He referred to the dry bones story as God’s 2-point plan for the redemption of mankind: [1] Speaking the Word of the Lord (prophesying to the bones), and [2] Praying (prophesying to the wind.) He talked about how vital intercession is. He also said we need to recover: [a] a new understanding regarding the lostness of people, [b] a new confidence in the gospel of God, [c] a new conviction of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ, [d] a new urgency about evangelism, and [e] a need for a personal experience of the Holy Spirit.

Saturday, 3-10-07
In the morning Ngwiza Mnkandla (part of the Salt & Light international team and president of DAWN) spoke about Church Planting in Europe. (For more info on DAWN, check out dawnministries.org.) He talked about what is happening in the UK, what is happening in Europe as a whole, and the Islamic element. He talked about the decline of the traditional church and the increase of simple churches. He covered a lot in a short amount of time. It was very encouraging and we were left hopeful, because even though people are leaving the church they are still in search of the spiritual – they just haven’t found it in the traditional places. Planting simple churches is easier since it just requires someone to open their home and heart to let people gather. He said it’s not one way or another, but it will take all of these ways together – traditional, on and beyond the edge – to reach the lost.
He also said it’s exciting to go somewhere for missions, but what about reaching our neighbors. The nations are in our neighborhoods, so we should begin with them. We can reach out more to those from other countries and help them integrate more easily.
Regarding Islam, he said there’s both a decline and a resurgence of the Islamic faith. Miracles are happening that we don’t hear about on the media.

Also, Chris Stoddard, director of Reaching the Unchurched Network (for more info check out www.run.org.uk) shared about this network of 850 churches, which come from several denominations. It provides opportunities to envision, resource, and learn from each other. There’s a yearly fee. He suggested reading/watching Church on the Edge (a book and DVD.) He said just under the surface people are searching, we just have to have eyes to see what God’s doing. He shared how some churches are approaching evangelism in different ways, and looking for opportunities in the culture to share the gospel.

During lunch, Salt & Light leaders Mark Harland and Rich & Kate Colbrook talked about different ways to reach out into the community. They said it’s important to: [1] know your vision (which includes works and the gospel), [2] know what the needs are in the community (don’t assume, but research it, [3] develop a vision, [4] start both small and as you mean to go on (It’s better to start small & slow, under promise & over deliver. If you start and stop it only leads to disillusionment in the church and community.), [5] go on to the next stage (if needed, but it isn’t always necessary.), & [6] bridge the gap between the church and the world cultures. They suggested some websites and publications on a hand out to check out.

In the evening David Devenish (part of the international apostolic team of New Frontiers) shared about God’s Heart for Church-Based Missions. He’s written a book on the same subject entitled, What on Earth is the Church For? Using Romans 1:5, 15:18, 16:26, he stated that our calling or job is to make disciples (or bring to obedience of the faith) from every nation for His name’s sake (or glory) through grace and apostleship. The church should be a community sent into the world, just like the Father sent the Son into the world. He talked about how you have to see the church community lived out. (Trinity in us, unity among us, & love for one another) to accomplish the mission (that the world may know.) The message is meaningless without a picture of the church. For example, the church is where you see offences forgiven, the “one another” verses lived out, etc. Regarding church planting, people hear from God about where they’re to go. They may have to go to a neighboring country until the one God’s put on their heart opens up. We need to work until the glory of God fills the earth.

Sunday, 3-11-07
In the morning service Ngwisa Mnkandla shared about DAWN (Discipling a Whole Nation.) He said their vision belongs to the whole church (Matt. 28:18-20.) Their ministry seeks to help the Body of Christ fulfill its mission/vision/the Great Commission. Their strategy to accomplish vision is through the Saturation Church Planting Movement, which is intended to reach everyone. Since it’s more possible for someone to get saved if a church exists within walking distance so they can hear the gospel and see Kingdom life in their own language lived out. They’re shooting for multiplication rather than addition, as in, church plants planting churches.
He went through Nehemiah’s example of how to affect our nations, as well as steps to take. He said the task of discipling our nation is our responsibility and that to do this, intercession is vital.
After the conference we rode back to Basingstoke with John and Marilyn Denning, with whom we are staying this week.

Monday, 3-12-07
Today was a free day so everyone in our group (except Doug, who was in meetings) went to London. Haakan joined us.
We rode the train from Basingstoke to London. Some of the sights we saw were the Eye (a giant, extraordinarily slow type of ferris wheel that gives a bird’s eye view of London right on the River Thames. It’s from a former World’s Fair exhibit.), Big Ben (which we learned is the bell, not the clock), Parliament, and Buckingham palace. Then we walked through a couple of beautiful parks, the St. James (which has a lake in it) and the Green Park. Both had lots of daffodils and other beautiful flowers in bloom. The hyacinths smelled wonderful! We couldn’t have had a better day for sightseeing. In fact, the weather’s been great the whole time we’ve been here.
Then we rode the tube (subway) to Covent Gardens – a nice area for lunch and shopping. There were musicians playing and people performing stunts.
After hamburgers J for lunch, we rode the tube to St. Paul’s Cathedral, staying for the service, and then rode the tube to the Tower of London. We didn’t have time to tour it on the inside, but it was very impressive. Afterwards we rode the tube to the train station, and then returned to Basingstoke – a very nice day!
The next two days we’re in meetings, so will write again as time allows.
Hope you’re all doing well!

Love,
Pat & Theresa

P.S. Josh, Jen, Heather, Kristen, & Stephanie, we miss you lots! Hope you’re all doing well. Jen, thanks for e-mailing things we need to know and take care of. We appreciate it a lot! Love you all,
Dad & Mom