From the Minister

Re-Imagining Mission!

At our recent Vision Day, one comment about the vision for church was: “To fulfil God’s will for us in Ringstead.” While recognising that we’re not just about Ringstead, but also the surrounding areas, the next question has to be: what is that will?

To discover this, we only have to look at our Bibles. There we find not only the example and teaching of Jesus, but also that of the disciples and the early Church. It’s here that God’s will for his people is revealed. One clear summary of all this, it seems to me, is found in Matthew 28:19–20:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus offered a way back to the Father. He taught that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and that his followers were part of that kingdom. The disciples went on to preach Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin, reconciling us to God. They travelled from town to town, preaching and demonstrating that reality in people’s lives.

Maybe—just maybe—we are called to a similar mission?

Both as a fellowship and as individuals, we are called to bear witness to God—to “make disciples”. Paul reminds us, “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). What a thought! It’s our task, and our privilege, to help others find their way to him, so that they too may become citizens of God’s kingdom.

The recent Vision Day was a starting point for re-imagining how we might do this together, and there are many possibilities to explore. But our individual witness is just as important—if not more so. Only a small portion of our time is spent at church (honest!), but our whole lives can be lived with God. Only a fraction of our time is spent in organised mission, yet people are constantly able to see our witness in everyday life—at home, at work, in conversations, and in the small acts of kindness that often speak the loudest.

Of course, if we are to share our faith with confidence, we need to be growing in it ourselves. That’s why our next study groups will be focusing on a course called Deepening Faith. This will be a chance to explore, reflect, and strengthen our relationship with God—giving us a firmer foundation and helping us feel better equipped for the mission we’re talking about. I’d really encourage you to come along if you can; it’s for all of us, wherever we are on our journey.

I’m really excited about the years ahead for The Shared Church in Ringstead and its mission. But more than that, I’m excited to be a Christian—to be living as part of an ever-expanding kingdom. It’s this citizenship that shapes who we are and defines how we live here on earth.

Rev Rick