Search results for .eri
5 ways to start a conversation about your faith
There are a few differing statistics on this, but what is for sure is that the vast, vast majority of people who end up becoming followers of Jesus do so, humanly speaking, in the context of a friendship with someone who already loves God. My tips presuppose that we are being 'up close and…
Gary Gibbs
A dummies guide to reverse mission
If you live in an urban part of the UK, you have probably noticed the many African, Latin American, Caribbean and Asian churches and Christians in Britain. Perhaps you’ve wondered why all these people are coming and starting churches in the UK? One popular phrase used to describe this activity is…
Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana
A pathway to praying with friends
A few years ago we were buying a 'new' car from a car dealership. My wife asked if we could have a couple of minutes to pray about the decision, so 'John', the salesman, left us alone to pray. I was curious to know what he thought about us praying, so before we left I mentioned that I was wondering…
Suneel Shivdasani
Angels on our streets
It all started in a stuffy church meeting. We were discussing plans for our church’s 50th birthday. I was 25 years old, idealistic and not particularly designed to sit still in church meetings. Frustrated by the predictable plans for a church birthday celebration involving quiche, a quiz and a few…
Phil Knox
Are all welcome?
I'm passionate about seeing every church welcoming the stranger and discipling the nations. One really effective way of doing that is through Welcome Boxes. This is where trained volunteers deliver a Welcome Box filled with small gifts and local information to refugees who have recently arrived in…
Emily Holden
As the seasons change
In my head, it was supposed to work out something like this… “I didn’t believe in Jesus but now you’ve argued with me for an hour, I see I was completely wrong. Can I give my life to Christ?” In the impetuous days of my youth, arguing seemed like a really good evangelism strategy. Seeing that…
Dee Balshaw
Ashamed of the Gospel?
The UK church can often seem to have lost some of its confidence in the gospel. This is very unlike Paul, who says in Romans 1:14–16:"I'm obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I'm not…
Gavin Calver
Breaking out of the Christian bubble
Christians were never really supposed to only have Christian friends. But how easy it is for us to find ourselves surrounded by other Jesus followers. How easy it is for us to slip into comfortable church life and busy ourselves with all the rotas we’re on – putting the chairs out, Sunday School,…
Chine McDonald
Can I be a scientist and a Christian?
I haven’t always believed in God. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a scientist. At school, I was naturally drawn to the sciences and mathematics, finding English essays more stressful. My A-level biology teacher recommended I read ‘The Selfish Gene’ by Richard Dawkins, and I remember…
Sharon Dirckx
Catching faith: raised in a Christian home
I grew up in a Christian home. Those of you with that classic testimony-opener will know what I’m talking about. Childhood involved multiple showings of ‘The Miracle Maker’ and tugging on your mum’s sleeve every week after her ‘final’ post-church coffee… Mine was a typical Christian upbringing. My…
Gina Vaughan
Creating a culture of family
A while ago I asked God to show me how we can join him in building our community into a family. I have since discovered that it's a complex process, but at its heart is a simple ethic: one of inviting people inwards. As well as Sunday worship, we have a variety of events that extend that invitation…
Nick Graves
Cultivating a multicultural toddler group
I often hear people complaining that society has changed for the worse, and our young people are growing up in an increasingly dangerous world. The media gives us the impression that crime rates are rising, family values are disappearing, neighbourhoods are fracturing, and every toddler in the…
Chrishanthy Sathyaraj
Do my doubts disqualify me?
I’ve always been someone who asks questions. It's a character trait that's helpful in certain situations, but at other times I’ve just wanted to swallow the blue pill and embrace the phrase “ignorance is bliss” (you can tell my age by this outdated pop-culture reference...!). An area of life where…
Rich Powney
Evangelism for dummies
The experts give us their advice on how we can all share our faith.Chapter 1 - who should be an evangelist? Some Christians are amazing evangelists, and can reel off amazing stories of bringing people to Jesus. Gavin Calver, the Alliance's director of mission, is one of those people. So we asked…
Amaris Cole
Finding God in unexpected places
I didn’t think this was the sort of place I’d meet a Christian. This is a fairly regular phrase I hear as our teams at Third Space Ministries go about sharing God’s love in the ‘third spaces’ of society; places outside of home and work; places of leisure such as gyms, nightclubs, pubs, cafes. I…
Carolyn Skinner
