Dear Friends,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It’s been a joy serving among you since September last year.
I give God thanks for the many persons who volunteer their time and talents each week to keep the many activities going at Longcauseway and throughout the SPACE Churches.
We have just celebrated Pentecost Sunday at the end of May and for the next few weeks many churches will be focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to us, the Church, when Christ left this earth to return to his Father which we have just celebrated at ascension.
We are called, commanded, commissioned and given authority as the people of God to make disciples of all peoples, (Matthew 28: 16-20) the only way we can do this is by the in-filling and equipping of the Holy Spirit, and without this we will be working in our own strength and will fail.
As congregations we are called to venture out of our buildings, our comfort zones, to the margins of society where people are. In doing so, we need to follow what I call the three circles approach that of LOVE, RELATE & CREATE. In the past churches created an activity/event, then tried to relate and then loved people.
In my experience the reverse works better. First venture out and just LOVE people, over a period of time you shall soon build relationships, what I call RELATE and in doing so we can CREATE something new, new imitative, new community for new people and that is also Church, church for today.
We need to start looking outside the box, meeting people where they are, and not expecting them to come into our buildings which are foreign places to them. What is important is a loving relationship with people. Jesus never invited anyone to the synagogue or the temple; He met them where they were, especially those who were on the margins.
To do so we need the in-filling and equipping of the Holy Spirit directing us, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes, we shall receive power. (Acts 1: 8) 2
Pray: Holy Spirit fill me, fill your church and direct us to be witness where we are in Jesus name. Amen.
Holy Spirit, direct us this month and always.
Do feel free to have a chat with me or make an appointment to look at how we can reach out to our communities. If anyone, any church feels that God is calling them to some new outreach or venture do have a word with me.
Deacon Al Henry
Minister – Longcauseway Church Dewsbury 07951 894739
