Use Words

This Pentecost the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling on the Church to pray for those who have not yet encountered the love of God in Jesus Christ. They are calling on us to:

USE WORDS           (click on link)

It's a great initiative because so many people tell me how concerned they are about new people coming and yet they are rarely seen acting upon this concern. Some will tell me how they just can't share their faith and get all wound up with self-condemnation and guilt. The response to this is always that the most important thing is the desire to see people come to faith and see this combined with intelligent, persistent prayer.

So I can't tell you just how pleased and excited I am that the 'Use Words' initiative has hit my screen especially because (and I quote):


The word ‘evangelism’ means sharing good news.

For Christians, it means sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ – what he has done for us, and what he continues to do in our lives.

What does that mean in practice? 

It means introducing the people around us to Jesus. We do this by how we live our lives and how we relate to one another. But we can also do it by how we express our faith in conversation.

Jesus did all of this so well, and he invites us to share the gospel not just in actions but in words too.

The website (http://www.usewords.org/) has been created to help Christians find those words.  It’s being launched with a call to prayer for evangelism by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York – please find out more and think about joining us.

But this is not a one-off, or a campaign, or a PR stunt.

It’s about praying continually that more and more people will become followers of Jesus Christ – and asking God to work among us to bring about this transformation in other people’s lives. If you’ve never prayed for evangelism before, there are so many ways you can.

Whether you’re praying alone, with a small group of friends, or with your whole church, you’ll find prayers for asking God to bring the knowledge and reality of Jesus Christ to all kinds of people.

How amazingly cool is this?

According to many* around me, St Francis' of Assisi told us to go and evangelise - using words if necessary, and whilst I have tried to live by this principle words I am aware that many around me have taken them to be an excuse for silence rather than as a spur for less words and more action. Hopefully and actively engaged AND praying Church will come out of this exciting move from the blokes at the top of the tree.

Pax

* he never did by the way!

My 'Heroes of the Faith' - Francis of Assisi

Today is our church's Patronal festival .

This, for those of you who don't do this stuff, is the day when we celebrate the person, persons, act or whatever it is that the church we're in is named after. Today, being the celebration of my hero who is listed in the Church of England's 'who's who's' as:

 Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226

And here's his team photo':

Now, for many, Francis is remembered as the bloke covered in pigeon poo (thanks to the birds on his head and shoulders) and surrounded by animals. For me this man is so much more than the patron saint of animals (and now, apparently, ecology - so Greenpeace will be raising a glass today I guess) but unlike Patrick, the Guinness won't be flowing, but he is up there as one of my heroes of the faith. And here's why:

Born into money, luxury and privilege but he put it aside because of his faith in Jesus, the Christ.

When others were fleeing from lepers, he was caring for them and embracing them.

Saw past possessions, power and being served and lived a life of poverty, submission and faith.

Francis and his beliefs and attitudes (generally speaking) is compelling and were it to be displayed by the Church today, a winner. This is a man who we would never let into our church congregations today (after all, he's definitely a bit flaky, isn't he?) for he'd soon find himself in conflict with the PCC and it's members and the treasurer would have a field day with him.

This is what Church at its basest and purest is all about - being different and being the difference in the community and people around us.

So forget the bloke with animals on his head and shoulders (yes, we have one of those in our church building) and see a man who devoted himself to following Christ and, denying himself, being Christlike - andask yourself how we might emulate him.

Happy St Francis' Day people