Author: fewebadmin

Business Enterprise as Mission

You are warmly invited to join BEAM for a very special day conference exploring business for the purpose of mission.

The conference is designed for business owners, people interested in starting businesses or social enterprises; and charities wanting to incorporate social enterprise into their work.

Contributors on the day will include:

Chick-fil-A

  • Second Mile Service

  • Creating a REMARKABLE Business

Kahaila

  • Sharing Experience of Business as Mission

The day will also be a launch of a new community of businesses and social entrepreneurs who are passionate about working together to create successful business as mission.

Cost

Tickets are just £25 and spaces are limited.

Booking

Book online at the Eventbrite page.

msm Lincolnshire – Horncastle

You are invited to share a learning journey in a supportive community to be equipped for a lifetime of good practice and learning in growing fresh expressions of church.

Your local course

Churches Together in All Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Fresh Expressions Area Strategy Team and Lincolnshire Community of Pioneers are delighted to make msm available locally. We believe it will be a significant resource for building the Kingdom of God in this area.

Individuals are most welcome, but we particularly hope that small groups from a church or fresh expression will come as this will deepen the impact of the course.

The course leaders and teachers include Jesse Ratcliff, Jonnie & Mel Parkin, David Newlove, Pete Atkins, Bob & Mary Hopkins.

Course timetable and venue

Saturday 19th September 2015

Wednesday 7th October 2015

Wednesday 11th November 2015

Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd November 2015

Wednesday 9th December 2015

Wednesday 27th January 2016

Wednesday 24th February 2016

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Saturday 16th April 2016

Wednesday 18th May 2016

Wednesday 15th June 2016

Saturday 9th July 2016

Saturdays run from 09.30 to 15.30, weekdays from 19.00 to 21.30, both at Horncastle Methodist Hall, Queen Street, Horncastle, LN9 6BD.

The residential weekend is at Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 1AU.

Cost

£275 per person, which covers all materials, refreshments and the weekend away. Financial support may be available.

Book

Download the flier and booking form at the foot of the page or book online.

Contact

Mel Parkin

Course Leader/Administrator

ctal@lincoln.anglican.org

01522 504063

Recommendations

The msm course is now well established across the county, many have undertaken it and a great number have benefited from the subsequent ministries of those who have participated. We now have the opportunity to build on all that has been achieved thus far and help shape yet further the mission of the church where we serve.

Revd Bruce Thompson, Chair of Lincolnshire Methodist District

I am delighted that msm is running here in Lincolnshire this year. We need mission to be at the heart of our thinking, praying and doing. This course is a fantastic way of helping us do this creatively, imaginatively and compassionately.

Rt Revd Dr David Court, Bishop of Grimsby/strong>

msm Thames Valley – Oxford

You are invited to share a learning journey in a supportive community to be equipped for a lifetime of good practice and learning in growing fresh expressions of church.

Your local course

The Diocese of Oxford, Northampton Methodist District and the Church Mission Society are delighted to make msm available locally. We believe it will be a significant resource for building the Kingdom of God in this area.

Individuals are most welcome, but we particularly hope that small groups from a church or fresh expression will come as this will deepen the impact of the course.

The course leaders and teachers include Katharine Crowsley, Andy Freeman, Andrew Gear, Emma Major, Jonny Baker, Michael Moynagh and Phil Potter.

Course timetable and venue

Taster day

Tuesday 23rd June 2015

18.30-21.00, curry included, £10

The course

Saturday 26th September 2015

Saturday 14th November 2015

Saturday 16th January 2016

Saturday 5th March 2016

Saturday 7th May 2016

Saturday 18th June 2016

Saturday 24th September 2016

Saturday 12th November 2016

Saturday 14th January 2017

Saturdays run from 10.00 to 16.00 at Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ.

Cost

£175 per person, which covers all materials and refreshments. A £90 subsidy is available to Diocese of Oxford attendees.

Book

Download the flier and booking form at the foot of the page or book online.

Contact

Helen Harwood

Course Administrator

pioneer@cms-uk.org

01865 776375

Recommendations

msm has taken us onto exciting new paths of learning, asking ourselves how we prayerfully breathe God's love into our place and time, bringing all his people into his community. What a resource we can now carry.

Gilly Beardmore

It is a great course and I am thankful that I have shared this learning. It has shaped my journey, I have a much greater understanding of fresh expressions and feel better equipped, both spiritually and practically.

Diana Hancocks

It has convinced me even more that we need to be where people are, demonstrating the message of the Gospel, and opened my eyes to different ways of doing this. It was a great opportunity too to meet with others travelling the same path and share ideas, experiences and expertise.

Lesley Birtwhistle

Why simply speaking louder won’t work (Simon Goddard)

Simon Goddard explores why we need to speak in new and creative ways.

I've recently returned from a trip abroad, and rather lazily I neglected to learn the language of the country I was visiting. I did what many of us do and hoped that by speaking English a bit louder and slower I might be able to make myself understood. I think sometimes in the church we adopt a similar approach to sharing the gospel!

The story of Pentecost, however, offers us an alternative approach when individuals from a long list of different nations exclaim 'we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' (Acts 2.11). In an increasingly post-modern and post-Christian context the Holy Spirit is still inspiring people to share the unchanging gospel in languages that people can understand. In a desire to connect with the 94% of the population who aren't regularly in church, some have begun to speak in new and creative ways.

Whilst there are some who, like the scoffers in Acts 2, take one look at Messy Church and café church and presume that those involved 'have had too much wine!' (v13), the language of fresh expressions is one that is increasingly being spoken. Unlike this Englishman abroad, however, many Christians have taken the responsibility to learn how to communicate the wonderful gospel message in a 'tongue' that others can understand.

The mission shaped ministry course has been one method that the Spirit has use to empower the church to learn this new language. At Pentecost about 3,000 people responded, and the impact of msm has been no less impressive. Over the last decade, msm has been the catalyst for new expressions of church being planted and a source of renewal for existing congregations. It's also been a place where people have responded to a call from God, and have been equipped to get involved in the mission of the church, perhaps for the very first time.

For some, however, accessing msm has proved to be a challenge. In some parts of the country it has only been possible to run a course once every few years, and even when a course is available regionally, there are many living in rural locations who have long distances to travel in order to be able to attend. That's why in 2014 people like me, who are already involved in delivering msm, were invited to consider how it could be offered more flexibly.

And that brings us to the launch of msm online. The first running of this course begins in September 2015, providing the same content but presenting it over the web in a 'virtual learning environment'. The idea is that a small group, of up to five people from a single congregation or local group of churches, will gather around a laptop or smart TV in someone's lounge, interacting with other groups and a speaker who will be teaching from the comfort of their own home via a webcam.

If you want to be part of the first cohort on msm online, or know of churches that might be able to benefit, then more information can be found on the msm online website. As a special introductory offer there is a 15% discount on the group fee for those who register before the end June.

Simon Goddard is a Regional Minister in the Eastern Baptist Association and coordinator of the Pioneer Collective, an initiative to identify, release and resource 400 new Baptist pioneers. He was formerly the pastor of RE:NEW, a pioneering and ecumenical expression of church near Cambridge.

Please note that comments and views may not represent those of Fresh Expressions.

Launch of online mission shaped ministry course

Fresh Expressions is partnering with The Pioneer Collective to deliver the first online mission shaped ministry course in the UK.

The Fresh Expressions mission shaped ministry (msm) course, running since 2007, has been presented 115 times across the UK with over 3,600 people taking part – hundreds more have been involved in msm internationally. As a result, the course has helped many participants to start and grow fresh expressions of church; these are gatherings or networks predominantly intended for people who have never been to church.

Now, in a new stage in the life of msm, Fresh Expressions is partnering with The Pioneer Collective (funded by a grant from the Eastern Baptist Association) to deliver the first online mission shaped ministry course in the UK.

The Pioneer Collective seeks to identify and support 400 new Baptist pioneers by 2019, each 'going to where the church isn't, doing what Jesus does and seeing what happens'. The initiative involves a wide range of key partners, including Urban Expression, Incarnate Network, Light Project, BMS World Mission, Baptists Together and Fresh Expressions.

Overseeing the launch of the online msm course is the Pioneer Collective Coordinator, Simon Goddard, who is also a Regional Minister in the Eastern Baptist Association. The course will start in September but early bird group booking discounts are available before the end of June.

Whilst msm continues to be delivered at a number of locations across the UK (and beyond), the development of msm online now allows it to be accessed anywhere. The online course uses the same material found in the classic delivery of the course and is taught live by experienced msm teachers.

The pilot course starts on 21st September 2015 and comes to an end on 11th July 2016. It will run from 7.30pm-9.30pm on 15 Monday evenings. The modules are interactive and will be delivered live in a 'virtual meeting room' on a laptop or smart TV, but recordings of the sessions and course notes will be accessible to participants at any time. Individuals are welcome to register, but msm online is particularly effective when groups meet in someone's home to go through the course together.

The cost of the course has two components: a group fee of £295 for up to 5 people, plus an individual fee of £35 per person. It is suggested that the group fee might be covered (at least in part) by the participants' church, whilst people cover their own individual fee. There is a 15% discount on the fee available for any group which registers and pays a non-returnable deposit of £150 before 30 June 2015, reducing the group fee to £250.

More information, along with details of how to register, can be found on the mission shaped ministry website.

Rob Peabody to develop young adults’ strategy

Rob Peabody, of the Awaken Movement, is to work with Fresh Expressions to help develop a national strategy to encourage fresh expressions of church among young adults in Britain.

Rob is the co-founder and international director of Awaken, a non-profit charity that exists to resource the church for action. In 2011, Rob, left his position as campus pastor of a megachurch in East Dallas, Texas to pioneer and lead fresh expressions for 20s-30s in northeast London. He has been commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to explore church planting for young adults who did not have any previous links to church.

He currently serves as a missional consultant for multiple church networks in the UK, is a member of the speaking team at Spring Harvest, communicates on behalf of Compassion International, and has just led a new national UK 18-30s conference, The Pursuit.

Rob regularly speaks at conferences in the US and across Europe. His first book, Citizen, was published in September 2014, and he wrote a small group film series entitled Kingdom Rise (March 2013). His latest project, a five-week missional film resource, Intersect, was released in March 2015 as a tool to engage those on the outside of church in spiritual conversations. He is married to Medea, and they have two sons.

Rob said,

I am extremely honoured and excited about the potential of this new partnership between Fresh Expressions and Awaken. I am praying that this will be the start of a long-term partnership and that God will help us to encourage a new generation of pioneers across the UK – and overseas. I am excited to play a part in helping shape and release this next generation to make kingdom living a reality in fresh, new ways.

Phil Potter, Archbishops' Missioner and team leader of Fresh Expressions, said,

I am delighted that Rob will be joining the Fresh Expressions team with a particular focus on young adults. The Church as a whole in the UK is keen and concerned to see a more effective and connected strategy in this area. Rob comes not only with a proven track record in leading, motivating and inspiring others strategically, but also as a practitioner doing exciting things on the ground. His addition to the team and our partnership with Awaken offer us a whole new future in this area.

Rob will take up the half-time role from 1st July 2015.

You can find out more about Awaken on the Awaken website, or follow Rob (@AwakenRob) or the Awaken Movement (@Awakenmovement) on Twitter.

msm Manchester – taster evening

The Manchester and Stockport Methodist District, with support from ecumenical partners and the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network, present a taster evening for mission shaped ministry in Manchester – come and see if it's for you.

The full course is expected to run in 2016.

Further details

Rodney Hill

Course Coordinator

rodney.hill@methodist.org.uk

07801 627434

Pioneer pie’n’beer party

Free event hosted by CMS for mission pioneers and those who love them, to launch the Starfish Network for CMS pioneer students.

CMS are taking over the Bishop of Winchester's garden at Wolvesey Palace for a pioneer pie-n-beer party – pitching a tent and firing up the decks for a night of music, food, ale and storytelling.

They'll be officially launching the Starfish Network, a way for CMS pioneer students past and present to connect and sharing learning.

They're also looking to start a grassroots movement of support for pioneers – so if you know someone who is keen to support innovative, creative mission this is the perfect chance for them to get to know what they're all about.

Further details and booking

Visit the Eventbrite page and book your free place.

VFXtra – May 2015

VFXtra, A quarterly support day hosted by VentureFX pioneers for people in any kind of pioneering ministry.

All pioneering types are welcome to gather with kindred spirits for a day of learning, sharing, prayer and encouragement.

The Newcastle venue will be hearing from CODEC's Pete Phillips on discipleship in a digital world, whilst the Manchester venue will be joined by Martin Daws, young person's poet laureate for Wales.

VFXtra - May 2015 details

About VentureFX and VFXtra days

VentureFX is the Methodist Church's scheme to promote and encourage pioneer mission among those who are not yet disciples of Jesus. There are currently 14 VFX pioneers working in all three nations of the UK. We recognise that there are many other people doing similar things in circuits and districts around the Methodist Church and would love to act as a resource to support all those who are on this pioneering journey in whatever context. Gathering occasionally to share learning, conversation, prayer, experience and vision seems to be an important activity for us to engage in. It can often be a fairly lonely path we tread and even the best supported of us may value the opportunity to journey with others who face similar challenges and opportunities.

Our hope for VFXtra is to gather in regional clusters three times a year, hosted by the VFX pioneers, and to take the opportunity to learn together, pray together and encourage one another. There'll be some structured input, but plenty of time for conversation and sharing. We don't want it to be a burden, so the invitation is to those for whom it would be helpful rather than yet another meeting to go to!

Venues and contacts

Manchester

Nexus Arts Café, Dale Street, M1 1JW

Ric Stott, rjstott@hotmail.co.uk

Newcastle

Birtley Methodist Church, Station Lane, Birtley, DH3 1DG

Elaine Lindridge, elaine@lindridge.org.uk

Further details

For further information about VentureFX and vfxtra days please contact Ian Bell on belli@methodistchurch.org.uk.