From the Minister

Joining In

Over the last couple of months I've been writing about prayer and listening. First, how we need to be people of prayer, because our relationship with God has to be at the centre of everything we do. Then last month I suggested that if we are serious about being a church with mission at its heart, we also need to become better listeners—listening to God, listening to one another and listening to our community.

But perhaps there comes a point where listening has to lead somewhere.

Imagine you were planning a walk. You would probably spend some time looking at a map, deciding where you were going and talking about the best route. All of that is important. But eventually you have to put your boots on and start walking!

I sometimes wonder if that's where we are as a church.

We've been praying. We've been talking. We've been listening. We've been asking what God wants for Ringstead Shared Church. Those things are important, and we should never stop doing them. But perhaps God is also saying, "Now come and join in."

One of the things I love about Jesus is that wherever he went, people were already there. He didn't wait for them to come to him. He met people where they lived, where they worked, where they celebrated and where they struggled. He joined in their lives before inviting them to join his.

I wonder whether we sometimes expect people to come to us, when perhaps God is calling us to go to them.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about launching lots of new projects or filling our diaries with more meetings. Being involved in God's mission isn't always about doing more; sometimes it's about seeing things differently.

Perhaps it's taking time to chat with a neighbour.

Perhaps it's listening to someone who simply needs to be heard.

Perhaps it's offering to pray with a friend who is going through a difficult time.

Perhaps it's showing kindness in ways that point people towards the love of God.

Mission often begins with ordinary moments that God uses in extraordinary ways.

As a church, we've spoken a lot about wanting mission to be at the heart of who we are. That's exciting—but it also means recognising that mission isn't something organised by the church for a few people. Mission belongs to all of us. It happens wherever God has placed us: at home, at work, in school, in the village, in the shops and among our friends.

And perhaps that's one of the reasons why our Becoming a Contagious Christian course, starting in September, is so timely. It gives us an opportunity to think together about how we can naturally share our faith with the people around us. Not by becoming something we're not, or by forcing conversations, but by learning how to live out and talk about our faith in ways that connect with people's lives.

So perhaps the question isn't, "What should the church do next?"

Perhaps the better question is, "Where is God already at work, and how can we join in?"

As we continue this journey together, let's keep praying. Let's keep listening. But let's also be ready to step out in faith, trusting that God has gone ahead of us and is already preparing the way.

After all, the best adventures with God rarely begin with having all the answers. They begin with taking the next faithful step.

Rev Rick