Baptisms @ re:gen :)

Tonight's evening service at re:generation church was just inspiring! We had a special baptism service where 7 new/newish Christians were officially baptised into the faith. I was asked to be one of the sponsors and it was just such a privilege and  a blessing to be a part of it.

The testimonies that we heard about the struggles that God had rescued them out of were very emotional, but just such an amazing reminder of the mess that God has rescued each Christian out of and the incredible power He has to continue to do the same in the lives of others. I am really particularly bad at remembering this, which is part of why I often struggle to witness to others: I think I have to do it in my own strength and totally forget that I can't and that God will do it in His!

Seeing all these people's non-Christian friends and family sit in church and be a part of the service just really reminded me of the importance of witnessing to others and getting them to church so that they have to opportunity to hear the Word and encounter God for the first time. I am determined to invite more people to church and to be braver in my evangelism! I encourage you to do the same! We heard tonight how one person's  evangelism (aged 16 at the time) saved so many lives (3 of which were baptised tonight!) and it really puts me to shame!

My resolve is: do what God puts on your heart, speak to who He directs you to, say what He asks you to say and He will do the rest! 

Blessings!

Ronell x

"⁴ Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day." {Acts 16:4-5}

Eric Delve at re:gen

Tonight Eric Delve came and spoke at re:generation church. It was really encouraging, as he really focused on the fact that Christianity should not be viewed as a ‘religion’; and we shouldn’t describe ourselves as ‘religious’.

I know that might sound strange, but he was talking about the fact that Christianity should not be seen as a tick list of dos and don’ts, but that the focus should be on relationship. Saying you are a Christian should be a reference to the relationship that you have with God, rather than being some sort of balance sheet of doing ‘good’ things vs doing ‘bad’ things.

Eric spoke about the many men and women of God who have died for their faith and died while fulfilling the calling that God placed on their lives. He also discussed the fact that we are members of the same church as the apostle Paul, or John Wesly, or missionaries such as Amy Carmichael. It was a serious challenge to me about how I am living out God’s call on my life. Am I doing it justice? Am I making a difference?

Even if you don’t know what God’s specific call or purpose is for your life, He has given us clear guidelines of what living a sold-out Christian life should look like in Isaiah 61v1-3:

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
 and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
 They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

And also in Isaiah 58v 6-7, 10-11:

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
 To undo the heavy burdens,
 To let the oppressed go free, 
And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
 And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry 
And satisfy the afflicted soul, 
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, 
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,
 And satisfy your soul in drought, 
And strengthen your bones; 
You shall be like a watered garden, 
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

So if you would describe yourself as a Christian, I hope that these passages are as challenging to you as they have been to me. There are all kinds of ministries and calls that are encompassed by these verses (e.g. prison ministry, fighting against human trafficking, or visiting the elderly), so find the charity or calling that weighs heavily on your heart and support that in whatever way that you are able to!

Blessings!

Ronell x

Urban Saints : Investing in Young People

Friday nights at 7pm, we do a youth night (Pulse) at my church (re:generation church) in Gidea Park. It is still a relatively new venture, but all the leaders and volunteers are enthusiastic and hopeful for a big impact in our local community!

Tonight was a fantastic night at Pulse in particular. The atmosphere/ vibe was just the exact right blend of energetic and chilled out and the children and helpers were interacting and relating far more genuinely and naturally than I have seen before. On top of that, we have several new children who came to Pulse for the first time tonight, some of which were invited from prayer rooms that were held in local schools! What a blessing it is to witness/be involved with what happens at Pulse!

Today’s post is about another organization that aims to reach young people with God’s message: Urban Saints.

Since 1906 Urban Saints (formerly known as Crusaders) has been reaching out to children and young people with the good news of Jesus Christ. They are passionate about working with children and young people who have no church connection, helping them to realise their full God-given potential as they journey from childhood to adulthood.

Young people (aged 5 to 18+) connect with the movement in a variety of ways, including weekly youth groups, special events, holidays, community projects and training programmes. These activities are led by thousands of volunteers who are comprehensively trained and supported in order to help them work effectively and achieve the highest possible standards of youth work practice. Whilst much of Urban Saints’ work is in the UK and Ireland, increasingly they are helping indigenous churches within countries in the developing world to set up and run outreach work among un-churched children and young people.

Underpinning all of their work is the strong belief that the Christian faith works today and that Jesus Christ was speaking the truth when He said that He offers the very best, most fulfilling life. To this end, our passion is to see young people…

• Come to faith, and then share that faith with others

• Experience the greatest hope, and then become bringers of that hope to their peers

• Respond to the love of God, and then become activists in their world through the practical demonstration of that love

Young people can become Urban Saints – God’s agents of change in the world – living like Jesus lived, with lives full of: Compassion, Endurance, Humility, Integrity, Wisdom and Commitment.

Whilst not every young person might become a Christian, Urban Saints do believe that Jesus Christ’s life and message, as revealed in the Bible, is challenging and inspiring to young people today as they seek to understand their value and purpose within 21st century society.

If you would like to celebrate the tremendous work that Urban Saints do, then please stand in the gap and pray! Three other ways of giving include:

1.   Giving – they cannot realise their dreams and goals without financial investment

2.   Acting – young lives will not be transformed without men and women volunteering

3.   Praying – spiritual transformation and change will not happen without prayer

If you would prefer to invest locally, find a church or organization that supports young people and exposes them to the true message of Christ and the effect that that has on our day-to-day lives. Donate to their cause or volunteer to be part of the youth work that they do.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’” {Matthew 19v14}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (16/21): make videos viral

I am unwell at the moment, I guess partly because I have caught a bug (virus), and partly because it is time for me to take a step back from the go-go-go of my day-to-day life and “stop, look and listen”, as I say to my Reception class at school. As frustrating as a long stint of being ill in bed is, it can also be a really great time for prayer, reflection and re-evaluation of what we do and why we do it.

To be completely frank, I have been challenged about how I am actively trying to change/improve the lives of others. Yes, I am technically campaigning by writing this daily blog and trying to put it into practise in my own life; yes, I work with the youth group at my church; yes, I get involved with outreach; but WHY? Have these things all just become a normal part of my life? Part of an ever-increasing schedule? Or am I being driven by a calling to make a difference? The answer is both, but a little bit too much ‘it is just what I do’ and not enough ‘it is what I am called to do’.

So during my forced time of reflection this week, I have been looking through YouTube videos from different charities, causes and about different people who really dedicate themselves to those causes to make a positive difference in the world. And you know what? I want to be one of those people. Not just someone who does enough to ease their conscience, or tick a box, but someone who so deeply loves and is so passionately called, that they are fully sold out to a cause. I am yet to find that particular cause, but I hope that this blog and this 365-day-long journey will be the key to doing that.

Anyway, to finally come to the ‘point’ of this post… number 16 of the A21 Campaigns 21 ways to help spread awareness of human trafficking and put an end to modern day slavery: make videos viral!

The A21 Campaign is passionate about spreading the word about human trafficking through visual storytelling. The best way to get the word out and gain momentum is by sharing the video with your friends, who will in turn share it with their friends, and their friend’s friends! A great example of this is a project undertaken by James Corben, who did a spoof ad to raise awareness for SightSavers UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goIDLArYsK0&feature=player_embedded. They also have this video that can be used in schools (maybe assemblies) to drive home the issue of human trafficking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYT3O8EN1T0&feature=youtu.be. This video, featuring Matt & Beth Redman and LZ7, shows the making of the music video for '27 million', referencing the 27 million modern day slaves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ15rbJUnNM&feature=youtu.be . Download the track on iTunes!

So grab a camera and some friends. Come up with a silly/funny/clever/totally serious video to promote the charity/cause of your choice (the suggestion here is A21 Campaign, but promote what YOU are passionate about!). You can help spread the word by making our videos go viral. Click here to see the latest videos from the A21 Campaign.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.” {Isaiah 58v1}

re:think – life skills at re:generation church

Last night was Life Skills (re:think) at re:generation church (every Tuesday @ 7.30pm: http://www.regenerationchurch.co.uk/). It was a truly thought provoking and inspirational session.

The night kicked off with an amazing Tajik woman who came to share about the incredible work that God is doing in Tajikistan through her and her husband’s joint work with Scripture Union (http://www.subi.org.uk/page14/page20/page20.html). They are putting themselves in danger, reaching out to the Muslim youth and families in Tajikistan, and spreading the Gospel.

I was really challenged by the amount of freedom of religion and speech that we have compared to the people of Tajikistan and how poorly we are using those freedoms! (this really tied in with the next section of the evening, which I will get into in a bit).

She asked us to pray for three very specific things, so it would be great if you could join us in praying for the following three things for our brothers and sister’s in Tajikistan:

1.   protection and safety for themselves, their family and all their volunteers.

2.   safety and courage for the children and young people who have heard about God from them, but are too scared to become Christians due to the potentially fatal repercussions from family and friends.

3.   completion of their camp on their newly acquired piece of land, on which they will finally be able to hold Christian camps, pray and preach the Gospel (not freely allowed on other premises).

The next part of the evening was a very thought-provoking talk on gossiping by Alicia. She has kindly forwarded me her notes, which I have adapted below. Please take the time to read this and seriously ponder on the gravity of the scriptures that she has included to illustrate her points. Before I get onto Alicia’s notes, I also just wanted to share two very relevant quotes that were posted on facebook today by two other friends of mine:

Jamie (@JamiePoch) wrote:

“I once read the following paragraph in a book by Catherine Marshall called A Closer Walk. It had a significant impact on my life. See what you think...

One morning last week He gave me an assignment: for one day I was to go on a 'fast' from criticism. I was not to criticize anybody about anything. For the first half of the day, I simply felt a void, almost as if I had been wiped out as a person. This was especially true at lunch...I listened to the others and kept silent... In our talkative family no one seemed to notice. Bemused, I noticed that my comments were not missed. The federal government, the judicial system, and the institutional church could apparently get along fine without my penetrating observations. But still I didn't see what this fast on criticism was accomplishing -- until mid-afternoon. That afternoon, a specific, positive vision for this life was dropped into my mind with God's unmistakable hallmark on it -- joy! Ideas began to flow in a way I had not experienced in years. Now it was apparent what the Lord wanted me to see. My critical nature had not corrected a single one of the multitudinous things I found fault with. What it had done was to stifle my own creativity. Criticism is a poison that infiltrates friendships, relationships in our businesses, and even our own families. Like a wrecking ball to a condemned building, our criticism destroys the spirit of those who are scrutinized.”

Michael (@jellyoats) wrote:

“#GodPosts: Your WORDS will tell others what you THINK, but your ACTIONS will tell others what you BELIEVE.”

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Gossip and a tainted tongue

Statistics on UK Gossip Magazine are ambiguous – ranging from £24m – 8billion. Although the statistics are unclear, the popularity of these magazines are not. If gossip affects the world around us then it must have an impact on us, right?

The Bible’s perspective on gossip?

When doing a ‘key word search’ on a Bible app, the word ‘gossip’ has very negative connotations, sitting alongside words like pride, untrustworthy, liars, God-haters, murder, insolent, arrogant, greed, hate. {Romans 1:27-31}

The tongue has the power to steer a soul off course: “¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. Those who are never at fault in what they say are perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. ³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by human beings, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water?” {James 3: 1-12}

Where does gossip grow from?

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” {Matthew 12:34}. Often, it stems from pride, insecurity, arrogance and dishonesty. We need to bear in mind that words have more authority than we know. Think of the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”… Is that saying really true? No: self-esteem issues and insecurities are not born only out of physical abuse!

Imagine someone, complete stranger, walks in and has an opinion of you based on a lie. Or relays a story in your life and it so far from the truth, how would you feel? A good example of just how devasating gossip can be (particularly when it is based on a lie) can be seen in this video of the McCann family at the Leveson Inquiry: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15860071.

We should speak words that have intent/purpose:

§  Good effect: “The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewellery” {Proverbs 25:11}

§  Bad effects: Life damaging – causing paranoia, anxiety, insecurity. Ruin reputations - breaking stigmas can be difficult.

Practical tips in resisting gossip:

§   Build one another up (Ephesians 4:29)

§   Break the chain (think of the game ‘Chinese whispers’)

§   Disagreement (Acts 15, Paul & Barnabas model how to respond)

§   Boldness to stand out from the crowd (Psalm 101:5)

§   ‘I am really concerned about ‘W’ so I am going speak about it to ‘X’, ‘Y’ & ‘Z’ ’. The pastoral way of doing things – (1) prayerfully approach the person, (2) have a private conversation with the person, (3) escalate the issue to someone in leadership.

§   Change friendship groups (Proverbs 20:19) – delete people on facebook, stop following people on twitter, sit in different places in class, hang out with them less, confront what was said

§   As people, we will always have an opinion about a person, situation, organization, but consider for once that maybe your opinion isn’t valid.

§   Dealing with the deeper issues – gossip can be borne out of a place of insecurity, arrogance, etc

§   Be reconciled (Matthew 5:23|4)

We are called to be people of truth:

§  Each of us are called to worship in Spirit and in TRUTH (John 4)

§  “For I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception” {Proverbs 8:7}

Speaking Truth has a direct Impact on our Spiritual Walk:

“Who may worship your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? ²Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts” {Psalm 15:1-2}

“³¹Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” {John 8:31-32}

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Help to break the chain of gossiping and bullying by making a change in the way YOU speak and act towards others today! You will be amazed at the effect that you can have on others around you.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues” {Bertrand Russell}

Jeannie Morgan (Soul Survivor): Emotional Healing

Today was Jeannie Morgan’s Emotional Healing event at re:generation church in Gidea Park (http://www.regenerationchurch.co.uk/ @regen_church). It was fantastic! We saw a lot of people opening up and allowing God to deliver them from past hurts and emotional scars!

Jeannie Morgan, who works for Soul Survivor (http://www.soulsurvivor.com/ @SoulSurvivorGB), has a deeply moving testimony to share. She has experience profound healing (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) throughout her journey with God, even before she knew or acknowledged who He was. Jeannie’s personal testimony is absolutely heart wrenching, but it is her absolute gift for enabling others to access the emotional and spiritual healing that God has for them, that stood out today.

I myself have experienced some difficult things that have scarred me emotionally and now heavily influence the way that I form relationships and relate to people and to God. Today was just utterly freeing to say the least! I was touched, not only by the emotional healing that happened in my own life, but by the changes and release that I saw in those around me (many of whom are my closest friends and also some family).

I was so inspired by her testimony, her spiritual gifting and her experience, that I decided to buy two of the books that she has written: Let the Healing Begin and Encounter the Holy Spirit. Below are descriptions and reviews of her work and these two books in particular.

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Let The Healing Begin: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Healing-Begin-Jeannie-Morgan/dp/1842913514

Many of us have been hurt by events in our lives - hearts can be broken; feelings of guilt or shame can haunt us. The good news is that Jesus can give us now what we didn't have in the past, so that we can go on with Him in the future.

This book is a tool for you to use, to work through your pain over a period of time - doing the exercises, stopping and asking the holy spirit to come and minster to you - and make choices today that you didn't make in the past.

But healing isn't all about receiving. When the broken are made whole they can become channels of God's healing love for others.

“Jeannie lives with an inspiring confidence in the healing power of Jesus, and a huge passion to see broken lives restored in Him. This wonderful book will bring hope and help to many.” {Matt and Beth Redman}

“I couldn't put this book down. Fresh, unusual and insightful ... it is worth every penny!” {Mary Pytches}

“This is an extraordinary book. Full of great stories, helpful insights and biblical truth, it inspires you to believe that things can be different. Jeannie then lays out practical steps to take on the road to freedom. This book is born out of years of hard thinking, extensive reading but most importantly compassionate, dedicated praying with people.” {David Westlake}

“I highly recommend this book for anyone who is living through these things, or working with those who are, as a practical, insightful and personal journey.” {Roy Crowne}

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Encounter The Holy Spirit: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006ZYBRVG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1842913514&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0FJ3352CCQY7YJ6EDVBJ

Who is the Holy Spirit? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? Can anyone speak in tongues? How do I know if I have a prophetic word? The Holy Spirit is unpredictable and exciting. Here are true stories, biblical accounts and simple, practical steps to getting filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, using and developing His gifts. This ministry is for everyone. The Holy Spirit wants to use you!

“Perceptive, practical and powerful.” {Canon J.John}

“Sensible, biblical, warm and down to earth.” {Mike Pilavachi}

“I've learnt so much from Jeannie regarding ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit. This helpful book will equip anyone wanting to step out and learn more.” {Tim Hughes}

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With a ministry spanning over 20 years, Jeannie is passionate about seeing people encounter the healing power of Jesus, so if your church is looking to put on a seminar about emotional healing, Jeannie Morgan is a brilliant choice!- I would highly recommend her!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” {Matthew 11:28 }