Monday, June 27, 2011

Weston-super-mare

Just great to be in Weston-super-mare with our good friends Claude and Sue Ellerington - seems amazing that it is 43 years since we first met when we were in Bible College.

Weston in a great church and, apart from Claude, is also ably led by Richard and Regi Ellerington. Richard is associate pastor as well as being on the Movement's Serious4God core team.

This vibrant family church is planting out into the wider area around Weston.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Breathe City Church

Breathe City Church is an exciting and innovative congregation in Stoke on Trent pastored by James Galloway who has seen the congregation expand from 60 people to 600 people within just four years.

The purpose of my visit was to speak with the sixty leaders who form the basis of this remarkable church. As with every dramatic rise in growth, culture change has to take place and Breathe has transitioned to a church that has attracted a wide age range but which has a high percentage of people in their twenties and thirties. There is a dynamic and infectious enthusiasm that is married to a strong commitment to vision and values. I very much enjoyed my time at BCC and the opportunity to engage with the phenomenal calibre of their new and emerging leadership.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Street pastors

One of the things I enjoy so much about the my role as General Superintendent is the opportunity to forge new relationships and make new friends in the wider Church.

When Les Isaacs, CEO of Ascension Trust and Street Pastors, came to spend time in our International Offices in Malvern it was a opportunity to hear more about one of the most exciting developments taking place in the UK

Street pastors is an interdenominational church response to the problem of urban society which has trained over 7000 volunteers since its commencement in 2003.

Look out for a major feature in a future edition of Direction

Normandy, France


My recent weekend in France was spent with leaders from Normandy throughout the Saturday at the church venue pictured. Sunday morning was spent at the Elim church in Yvetot pastored by Gilles Lesieur (pictured with his wife, Mirelle) who arranged my itinerary.

Sunday afternoon was spent at a combined meeting of two local Pentecostal churches.

In my experience whenever Pentecostal leaders meet, in whatever part of the world that may be, there is an immediate affinity. I very much enjoyed being with my colleagues in France and renewing fellowship with the President of Elim France and his wife - David and Christine Thabot.