It seemed as if the more I wanted to distance myself from my old life, the more the church kept me at arms-length for anything else.
It seemed as if the more I wanted to distance myself from my old life, the more the church kept me at arms-length for anything else.
A quarter of a century ago, I was shivering in the cold outside Victoria Train Station in London. I was high. I was hungry. I was scared. I was so very angry at the world.
We do it because 20 years ago, an older couple in church broke with their entire worldview and comfortable life and allowed me into their home.
Those of us who are in leadership bear the weight of responsibility for recruiting and training the next generation of Christian leaders.
Often, the middle class approach to leadership training is, “Prove yourself and then we will see”, but a better way within scheme culture is, “Take responsibility until you prove you are unable.”
How can we call people to a life of self-sacrifice, yet promise to meet up with them for an hour once a week?
Deprivation in urban areas tends to be geographically concentrated in certain neighbourhoods. In contrast, in rural areas, deprivation often exists at the scale of streets rather than whole neighbourhoods.
Inability to connect. Constant fear and mistrust. Deep insecurities. And, more than anything, shame.
Is ministry to the poor only for those who feel ‘called’?