Stoke COG Blog

Well it’s been another hectic month in the like of StokeCOG. 

 

The women have gone on a two day retreat and have come back empowered with a greater awareness of healthy living.  (As long as you’ve got Aloe Vera you can’t go wrong apparently.)  Not to be outdone, the men also went on a weekend residential to reflect on the question What Is Man?  Featuring noted lecturer, trainer and speaker Dr. Tony Talburt, this looked at the biblical and historical factors that go to defining men and masculinity whilst giving tools and challenges for application in every man’s life. 

 

We’ve also been involved in the exciting City Mission – Nightchurch at the heart of the city where most of the night clubs are buzzing and where the harvest is truly ripe.  This is a partnership project featuring different churches in the city and spearheaded by the innovative Church Without Walls mission that’s based in Hanley.  There have been amazing conversations and opportunities to show the peace, love and hospitality of Jesus to punters whose idea of a night out didn’t include chilling in a spiritual refuge. 

 

Community engagements have included supporting the YMCA Fair and North Staffordshire African Caribbean Association (NORSACA)’s training course that looks at the criminal justice process and education.  A few members have been blessed to spend some ‘missionary’ time over in Canada.  These activities have been conducted whilst the heart of the church continues to be building relationships with a passion to support people first and foremost for the glory of God. 

 

As we’ve embarked on a new series of teaching on the gospel according to Luke, in line with that we have also been encouraging each other to look for opportunities to connect daily life to gospel realities.  This gospel isn’t rocket science and Jesus’ story in Luke shows its universal appeal for anyone to engage with from the priest to the poor, from the family to the foreigner.  As a result whatever position we’re in, with whoever we come across God can open the doors to take them from where they’re at to where Jesus is.  The mission is to do this so as to share the gospel in word and deed with those who so desperately need to see it and hear it. 

 

Speaking of mission August is Missions Month for StokeCOG.  The concept of Missions Month is not a fly-by-night program to keep us busy, but an intentional focus on a key concept of what church is and what we are meant to do in our time to be pleasing to God.  In the rhythm of church life for two months regular services take place featuring sessions for men, women and youth and outreach opportunities engaging with the community.  The third month is given over to a specific aspect of church life that reveals it’s missionary nature and as it’s highlighted we work on it in detail hoping to engage unchurched people in the process.  The focus leaves behind change and challenge to the individual and our corporate approach to church life. 

 

In May we focussed on the youth as mentioned in a previous post.  August sees us focus on spiritual warfare.  Since June we’ve had midweek sessions called Who Dares Wins which addresses spiritual warfare with particular reference to Ephesians 6:10-18 and the whole armour of God.  This weaponry has implications for how we live our lives and also impacts relationships we have with those who do not yet know Christ as we wrestle not against them but against the spiritual influences that has affected the thinking to which they are prone.  From this our services will look at what that means and how we can apply that to live in all that Christ has called us to be and share this with others. 

 

As ever in StokeCOG life there’s never a dull moment and this month will include our involvement with the Stoke-on-Trent Carnival, ongoing support of the Nightchurch initiative, city prayer mission, our Oasis Weekend concept (more in a later post), baptism and a special Summer Barbecue.  The Daily Thoughts blog is now up and running to support its expression on our national web-site.  Check it out for some extended thoughts on God engaging in our daily life. 

 

This information is not here to boast in our abilities or make much of our activities, but it is to keep a record of the journey that we as a church are on in fulfilling the mission of God in the world to see His Kingdom come and will done here as it is in heaven.  Of course there are setbacks and serious challenges affecting various members of the church, but in all things we endeavour to look to Christ – the author and finisher of our faith, rest assured that as He started the work, He will complete it. 

 

There are many exciting plans ahead for further expansion of StokeCOG, but as we do so as it’s all about God – it’s all about Christ being glorified and people experiencing the fullness of life in Him, within and without. Whether that’s expressed in physical healing, financial prosperity, healthy relationships, educational development, and dynamic life that shows our Example for who He is and how He has overcome the world. 

 

Continue to pray with and for us and for those who we endeavour to serve with God’s love.

 

Shalom.

 

For His Name’s Sake – cd