Power to Project Weekender God Is Moving in This Generation
Celebrating Female Leaders in Catalyst and Beyond
Bringing the Bible into Focus The Gospel’s Power to Heal Divisions and Restore Relationships
Catalyst Magazine Catalyst Magazine
Multiplying Churches, Disciples Multiplying Churches, Disciples and Extending the Kingdom and Extending the Kingdom
An Invitation to Lean Into All That God Is Speaking
Some have become so afraid of burnout that they’ve stopped burning at all.
Hello and Welcome
Catalyst Magazine: Issue 16
Catalyst Magazine is a termly connection point for our Catalyst family: sharing news and stories, upcoming events, and highlights from around the world. It’s a way of keeping connected as a movement, keeping us focused on what we’re called to and a place to celebrate all that God is doing.
I’ve been incredibly encouraged to see people right across the Catalyst Family getting behind our vision to train 1000 church planters. Be inspired through this magazine to play your part in this incredible adventure.
With love, Simon
Simon Holley Leads the CatalystTeam
New to Catalyst?
Not connected with a Catalyst church yet? Visit the About page on our website to find a church near you and get plugged in!
FIND A CHURCH >
Catalyst is an apostolic movement, starting and strengthening churches that multiply disciples to see God’s Kingdom fill the Earth.
Giving to Catalyst
Our work around the world is supported by generous gifts from churches, families and individuals. To find more about giving to Catalyst, visit the About page on our website.
FIND OUT MORE >
A Movement Marked by Prayer
Why seeking God must remain central as we plant churches and multiply disciples
At our recent UK Leaders Gathering, we were privileged to have Tope Koleoso share a masterclass on the secret to building a praying church. His message wasn’t just timely – it was prophetic for where we are as a family of churches. As he unpacked Zechariah’s simple yet profound instruction to “ask for rain in the season of rain,” I couldn’t help but see the parallel with where we are as Catalyst.
“Catalyst is an apostolic movement starting and strengthening churches that multiply disciples to see God’s kingdom fill the Earth.” This purpose statement continues to guide us, but Tope’s message reminded us of something crucial: our effectiveness depends entirely on our connection with God through prayer. The early church, as Tope highlighted, was marked by three characteristics: prayer was corporate in nature, constant in frequency, and central to its culture. This is the foundation we need as we pursue our vision.
Looking at what God has done through Catalyst –over 800 churches across 45 nations, seven thriving apostolic hubs (with more on the way), and at least 300 churches planted in the last decade –I’m filled with gratitude. But like Abraham, who persisted in prayer, we must keep pressing in. The 100+ churches being planted in this current season represent not just numbers, but communities being transformed through the power of prayer and discipleship.
Tope’s ‘Five M’s of Prayer’ – Manifest Presence,
“In the early church, prayer was corporate in nature, constant in frequency, and central to its culture. This is the foundation we need as we pursue our vision.”
(Paraphrased)
Manifold Wisdom, Majestic Voice, Miraculous Breakthroughs, and Mighty Power – resonate deeply with our journey. As we pursue our goal of training 1000 church planters, we must heed his warning about the three hindrances to prayer: overdependence on pragmatism, the spirit of lukewarmness, and disappointments. We can’t afford to let these derail us.
I was particularly struck by Tope’s emphasis that developing a prayer culture starts with “ignition in the pastor’s spirit, is carried in leaders’ hearts, and practiced as culture by the church.” This mirrors our own experience of how multiplication happens – it starts with leaders, spreads through teams, and
becomes part of a movement’s DNA. We’ve got to do less to do more in this season - and ask ourselves what will we stop in order to seek His face? Recently, I heard about one of our leaders who was struggling with a lack of other workers. After praying he’s been joined by numbers of fully trained disciplemakers who are spurring him on in his journey. These stories of transformation aren’t just happening because of good programs or strategies – they’re happening because people are praying and seeking God’s kingdom first.
As we look toward training 1000 church planters, we must remember that our effectiveness won’t come from clever methodologies or
Catalyst Together Leaders Day 2024
strategic planning alone. It will come, as Tope reminded us, through being a people of prayer. We need to be those who, seeing a cloud the size of a man’s hand, get up with fire in their souls and ask for rain in the time of rain.
So let’s press in together. Let’s be a movement marked by prayer. Let’s see what God will do as we combine our apostolic vision with a renewed commitment to seeking His face. The world needs the hope we carry, but more importantly, it needs the Jesus we serve.
Simon Holley Leads the Catalyst team and King’s Arms Church in Bedford.
“Our effectiveness won’t come from clever methodologies or strategic planning alone. It will come, as Tope reminded us, through being a people of prayer.”
Catalyst Together Leaders Day: Teaching Now Available
It was a joy to gather for our recent Leaders Day in Milton Keynes— thank you to everyone who joined us, whether in person or online. We experienced a powerful time in the Spirit and heard some deeply challenging and encouraging teaching.
If you missed it or want to revisit the sessions, the talks are now available to listen back to on our SoundCloud channel.
We encourage you to take time to listen and share the sessions with your teams.
Discover What’s On
Global Prayer Day
Catalyst Global Prayer Day Thursday 15th May
Catalyst churches are uniting worldwide for a day of powerful prayer! With four different prayer calls available, you can join at a time that suits your time zone.
SIGN UP >
ID: Intentional Discipleship
From September to July each year
Open to anyone 18+, ID is a one-year, church-based discipleship programme designed to help you walk with Jesus and step into His mission. You’ll receive teaching and training while serving in ministries that develop you.
Online via Zoom | Thursday 15th May LEARN MORE >
16th and 17th May
Are you passionate about encountering God’s presence? Do you have a desire to be a prophetic voice where you are called to? Come and be part of a movement that is raising prophetic voices for such a time as this!
BOOK NOW >
Building Multicultural Churches
Book by Tony Thompson
In this book, Tony covers an understanding of the biblical view of unity and diversity, looks at challenges faced by the early Church, the impact of prejudice, principalities and powers, and the role of the multicultural church in evangelism.
BUY BOOK >
We interviewed Tony Thompson about his new book, where he shares his insights as a leader of a multicultural congregation.
What inspired you to write this book, and why is it so urgent for the church today? Many churches recognise the importance of multiculturalism but struggle to implement it fully. Too often, they celebrate diversity without truly integrating different ethnicities or learning from each other. I believe a fully multicultural church is God’s intention and the
most effective way to reevangelise the UK.
What were some of the biggest challenges in creating a multicultural church? Helping the white majority truly understand the need for change. Some struggled with the shift in church culture, and we even lost core members. It was also painful to hear about people from ethnic minorities being told their way of leading wasn’t how we do things here.
Read the full interview in our website.
READ MORE >
WATCH VIDEO >
Healed and Whole: Biblical Wisdom for Men and Women in Ministry
Book by Abi Flavell
Could the gender roles debate be an opportunity for greater love and unity in our churches? In Healed and Whole, Abi Flavell explores this through orthopathy—our attitudes and affections towards God and each other.
Using an Old Testament story, she invites readers to reflect on gender roles from a fresh perspective.
Matt Hatch, one of our hub leaders, interviewed Abi— click the image to watch.
BUY BOOK >
The Reconciled Church Retreat
3rd to 4th June
A retreat that seeks to strengthen and equip leaders from any ethnic minority background, serving in white majority settings, particularly but not exclusively within the Church or a Christian context.
LEARN MORE >
Living Centred
Podcast
This podcast is all about exploring how to live lives which are centred on Jesus . In each episode, a different person shares about what it’s looking like for them to centre their life on Jesus right now. As we hear their stories, the invitation is to learn together and to encourage one another,
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Get equipped to engage with biblical theology, systematics, church history, and practical leadership skills.
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The Song of Solomon
Leadership & Theology Course Course Course
This course delves into one of the Bible’s most evocative books, exploring divine love, spiritual intimacy, and Christ’s relationship with the Church. With historical insights and practical reflections,see it in a fresh perspective for today.
LISTEN EPISODES >
Festival 2026
Norfolk Showground 23 - 26 May
Every two years, our network of churches gather together to worship Jesus, hear from the Bible, serve one another with our gifts, and get caught up in the bigger picture of what God’s doing. Catalyst Festival is all about gathering, loving God, and mission — empowering us to make a difference in our workplaces, communities, and nations.
A Powerful Time at Catalyst Together
More than just a gathering, it was a moment of encounter.
There was something special about Catalyst Together this year. From the moment we gathered, there was a real hunger to worship and seek God together. Tope Koleoso spoke on The Secret to Building a Praying Church, and Andrew Wilson helped us reflect on Understanding the Times—both messages were full of challenge and encouragement. We also heard from some international leaders.
But more than anything, what marked this gathering was the presence of God. The biggest takeaway? Loosen our grip, make
space, and don’t be too tidy when it comes to the Spirit. When we surrender our agenda, God moves in ways we don’t expect—but always exactly as we need.
“The slow, corrosive infection of lethargy and apathy becomes a grip you just can’t escape.” LISTEN
East Africa Conference 2025
The 2025 East Africa Conference brought together nearly 40 delegates representing 14 language groups, building on the growing unity and partnership among churches in the region. This fourth gathering since 2017 marked another step forward in deepening relationships and working together as one family.
What is God doing where you are?
Many equipping opportunities are happening across the Catalyst family. God is preparing His workers! Be encouraged as you read some of these stories:
Train 1000 Launches –Empowering a Generation
This January, we launched Train 1000, a programme designed to equip and empower leaders to take the Gospel to unreached places and spaces. The course is now running online, and we also gathered with mentors who are investing in this initiative. It’s exciting to see people stepping up, being trained, and stepping out in faith! There are so many ways to be part of this movement—whether by
joining the programme, becoming a mentor, or committing to pray. Find out more on our website and get involved!
Church Leaders Conference in South Asia
A recent church leaders’ conference in Pakistan was a time of encouragement and strengthening. Please continue to pray for the protection of leaders and church members as they navigate challenges and persecution.
Encourage others by telling your story. Email us at stories@ catalystnetwork.org You can also read more stories on our blog.
READ BLOG >
Resonate: Leadership Summit
Phil Wilthew’s hub recently hosted Resonate, a leadership summit that brought together leaders from many nations within the Catalyst family. It was an inspiring time of connection, encouragement, and hearing what God is doing across the network. Watch the highlight video to catch a glimpse of this impactful gathering.
LEARN MORE >
WATCH VIDEO >
A community of worshippers on a mission together s h p p e r s i w o r
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of being worshippers and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
Worshippers
Worshippers
My Walk with Jesus: Trusting God’s Plan
Choosing to Trust in God’s Unseen Victory
In this issue’s devotional, Joy Summers shares insights on faith and trust through the story of Gideon in Judges 8:1-9. She reflects on the contrasting responses of Ephraim and the officials of Peniel and Succoth. While Ephraim desires to be part of God’s victory, Peniel and Succoth refuse to support until success is assured. Gideon’s gentle reply to Ephraim contrasts with his harsh response to Peniel and Succoth, revealing the importance of faith and the heart’s attitude.
Through Joy’s reflection, we learn that faith isn’t about seeing evidence first; it’s about trusting God’s promises even when the outcome is unseen.
We’re thankful for our Catalyst global family and the wisdom believers like Joy bring to our faith journey. To read her full message, click on the image above.
Share your story
What are you learning in your walk with Jesus? Share with us in video format (less than 5 minutes), in English or your native language. Send it to stories@catalystnetwork.org
“God has called out of Gideon what was not yet visible in his character.”
Joy Summers
Joy is part of King’s Arms Church, Bedford, but has spent 12 years living and working in North Africa. A teacher by profession, she loves reading, travel, and creativity.
Following the Voice of God
Catalyst is a large movement of churches around the world and we take seriously the need to keep following the lead and call of God to us. Once a year we gather prophetic voices from inside and outside our family of churches asking them what they feel God is saying to us about the coming season.
In recent conversations and prophetic words shared within Catalyst, a strong sense of urgency has emerged. God is stirring His people, calling us back to first love, rekindling zeal for His house, and igniting fresh hunger for revival. Across different voices, there is a shared conviction that we are in a time of shaking—one that requires renewed passion, unity, and bold obedience to the Holy Spirit.
The following quotes capture these themes, offering a prophetic invitation to press into all that God is doing in this season. Our prayer is that these words will support you and your teams continue to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.
A Fresh Call to Passion, Love, and Obedience
“God is heating the house. The walls, the very structure, must first be warmed before the whole house can be filled with fire. Once leaders are consumed with this fire, the room will fill quickly. It’s time for hearts to burn again—when was the last time we heard the Scriptures and felt that fire within us?” Mel Crane
“Jesus’ zeal for God’s house consumed Him. Over the years, we’ve lost that first love and fervent zeal for His house. Some have become so afraid of burnout that they’ve stopped burning at all. But God is calling us back to a fresh consecration—He cares more about our passion and obedience than our perfect strategies.”Matt Weedall
“The Holy Spirit is highlighting the need to restore a fresh love and authenticity for the local church. Some have lost confidence in the church’s ability to ‘do them good,’ but God is calling us back to faith, hope, and love.” Paul Basson
Revival and Restoration: Preparing for a Fresh Outpouring
““God is planting us as ‘catalysts in culture’ for this time—a season of shaking, not comfort. Three key themes for revival: radical unity, calling us to partner with those outside our church expressions; a focus on the Benjamin Generation, ensuring space and opportunities
“God is heating the house. The walls, the very structure, must first be warmed before the whole house can be filled with fire.
Once leaders are consumed with this fire, the room will fill quickly. It’s time for hearts to burn again.“
Worshippers
Charlene Frammingham for the younger generation; and advancing into new territories, particularly in South America and Asia - through church planting and radical mission.” Phil Wilthew
“An awakening and radical revival is coming. God is reinstating a move of power and authority to the church, particularly among the younger generation. We need great expectation and faith for God to powerfully pour out His Spirit at Project 25. Older generations must share stories of past moves of God to ignite faith in the younger generation, who will step out in greater power.”
Charlene Frammingham
“I have never seen the nation and the church in such a bad state as it is now—there is an urgent need for revival. God is going to move powerfully among the youth, and they will lead the way in this coming revival.” Steve Brading
“We need to fight for space and openness to the Spirit, even if it means changing or scrapping programs. I’m hungry to see revival and anxious that my generation might miss it, as the focus is often on the next generation.” Abi Flavell
“Revival is not uniform; different regions experience spiritual growth differently. European and Western churches may feel slower growth, while other regions, like Africa, are seeing rapid expansion. There is a call to learn from and partner with thriving movements in other parts of the world.” Paul Godfrey
Raising Prophetic Voices
“Just as God prepared Elijah before his emergence, He is now preparing a prophetic group to rise up and call the nation back to Him.”
Steve Brading
“Prophetic voices in preparing the way for revival and societal transformation.” Phil Wilthew
“There is an anointing for prophets to break yokes and bring freedom.”
Some of these words were shared at Catalyst Festival 2024. Watch all the prophetic words from the festival by clicking the image below.
WATCH VIDEO >
Open Heaven in India
‘They will be a revival generation that will usher in the promises that so many of you have carried for generations’
The prophetic word above was shared by Phil Wilthew at Catalyst Festival 2024 in relation to the Benjamin generation—those in their 20s and younger. This January, a multinational team from the UK and Oman gathered together to serve at an Open Heaven conference in Shillong, in northern India. It was thrilling to see Phil’s word reflected in what is happening in our global family.
This was not the first visit to Shillong Family Church for the team members, and they were all thrilled to find the church had grown both numerically and spiritually. In particular, the youth and young adults have become really passionate about following Jesus.
The youth’s enthusiasm was clear as they asked for an earlier start to the conference and served wholeheartedly. It was a joy to see young people leading worship, with a ten-year-old drummer, a teenage vocalist, and international team members joining in to encourage them.
At one session, another young worship team from another local
“A key message was that all can prophesy.”
church in Shillong came to serve. They were outstanding not only in their musicality but also in their spiritual maturity. It was clear that this was a group of young people who are spending a lot of time in the presence of God.
The visiting team from the UK and Oman was kept busy speaking, prophesying, and praying for people. The content focused on the Holy Spirit and developing prophetic gifts. A key message was that all can prophesy, and it provided opportunities to hear the Spirit’s voice for themselves and for those who do not yet know Jesus.
Do please pray for Christians in Shillong and across India, and particularly those in this Benjamin generation. They are hungry to play their part in bringing the good news of Jesus to their city.
Sharon Clark Catalyst Administrator and Trustee at
New Life Church Milton Keynes.
A community of worshippers on a mission together c m o y m u n i t
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of community and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
Power to the Project Weekender
Project Weekender is more than just a conference, it’s a movement
Launched in 2023, Project Weekender it’s a 24-hour experience designed for students, young adults, and twenty-somethings who want to go deeper in their faith, step out in boldness, and be empowered by God. It’s short, intense, and packed with worship, teaching, and seminars, all geared towards equipping a generation to live fearlessly for Jesus.
This year, hundreds of young people gathered under one roof, hungry for more of God. The atmosphere was electric, filled with moments of powerful worship, deep teaching, and life-changing encounters. We saw people commit their lives to Jesus, pray for healing, and walk in
“From hearing incredible stories of faith and miracles to seeing young people take bold steps in their everyday lives, Project Weekender was a reminder that God is moving in this generation.”
fresh confidence in the Holy Spirit. From hearing incredible stories of faith and miracles to seeing young
people take bold steps in their everyday lives, Project Weekender was a reminder that God is moving in this generation.
One of the newest additions this year was The Recharge Room, a space where people could step away from the crowds while still staying connected, with all main sessions streamed in. It became a place of reflection and rest, reminding us that God’s power isn’t just in the big moments but in the stillness too.
The teaching lineup packed in a lot, while giving us room to take in what God wanted to say to us. Andrew Wilson laid out the blueprints for receiving God’s power, Damilola Makinde challenged us to wake up to the fruit of the Spirit, TJ Koleoso led
“It’s about reminding young people that God’s power is real, that His Spirit is active, and that they are called to something greater.”
us into the powerful reality of God’s church, and Liam Thatcher wrapped it all up by unpacking what it means to live the empowered life. Each talk stirred something fresh, sparking conversations, prayers, and decisions that will shape lives long after the conference ended.
In a world where distraction, burnout,
and anxiety are at an all-time high, Project Weekender is about recalibrating. It’s about reminding young people that God’s power is real, that His Spirit is active, and that they are called to something greater. Whether it’s starting faith-based social media accounts that go viral for Jesus, sharing the gospel with friends, or stepping into leadership, we’ve already seen people leave the conference ready to make an impact.
And that’s what it’s all about. Power to the Project isn’t just a theme, it’s a call to action. A reminder that God
isn’t finished with this generation. And we can’t wait to see what He does next.
Tim Simmonds
Christ
Church Manchester
leader, he supports church planting locally and in Eastern and Central Europe.
Scratching where Gen Z is itching
Investing in and equipping the next generation
Recently, I listened to a talk where the speaker referenced a paper he’d read about Gen Z. The paper identified that Gen Z is experiencing a period of significant and exciting spiritual revival while, at the same time, increasingly retreating from the established church. He went on to talk about what this generation is longing for when they come together to love Jesus:
Less performance, more presence. Less production, more participation. Less noise, more space. Less personality, more humility. Less head knowledge, more knowing God.
When I saw this on the PowerPoint
“Gen Z is experiencing a period of significant and exciting spiritual revival while, at the same time, increasingly retreating from the established church.”
slide, it resonated with my spirit, and I felt so encouraged. This is what we’re going after at Rooted! Without realising it—and by God’s grace—we have been scratching where Gen Z is itching.
Rooted
Discipleship
Dates in April and July SIGN UP >
A community that exists to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus.
Rooted is a ministry for 18- to 35-year-olds that was birthed from God speaking to me about investing in and equipping the next generation. Our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus who prioritise Him over the long haul. We want to see this age group passionately in love with Jesus. We want to elevate the importance of the heart journey—inviting God to bring healing and transformation within us so that His power and presence can increasingly flow through us. We want to encourage this generation to take steps towards the unique calling God has for them— without comparison, competition, or compromise.
In practice, Rooted currently consists of a couple of day events each year, held in different locations across the UK, and a week-long discipleship school, which we launched last year with 12 delegates.
The discipleship school was such a transformative time. I used to think that three years with Jesus wasn’t very long before the disciples were then ‘left to their own devices’ and
released into the world. That was until I saw the incredible things God did with a bunch of strangers in just one week!
One of the delegates share their experience: “I had been feeling that I’d lost my way in my relationship with Jesus. Over the course of the week, God led me back to where I belong. It was a time of intimacy and surrender—like coming home.”
The future of the church is bright! I have met some incredible young adults over the last three years of leading Rooted. We have a brilliant opportunity in this season to harness the spiritual hunger stirring in Gen Z—to see young adults flourish and thrive as wholehearted disciples of Jesus. Let’s not miss it.
Wendy Mann
Based at King’s Arms Church in Bedford, she is passionate about equipping Christians.
Celebrating Female Leaders in Catalyst and Beyond
Interview with Natsi Maramwidze
Catalyst is a movement of churches that believe in starting and strengthening churches that multiply disciples to see God’s kingdom fill the earth. To do this we believe in raising up strong and healthy leaders both male and female, and we believe our churches should be led by teams of gifted men and women of different backgrounds and ages, married and single, serving according to the gifts that God has given them. Both women and men should have a voice, recognition, authority, respect and influence in the direction and shape of our church and operate with genuine love and mutual respect.
We’re excited to launch a new
“Our churches should be led by teams of gifted men and women of different backgrounds and ages, married and single, serving according to the gifts that God has given them.”
blog series celebrating female leadership across Catalyst and the wider Newfrontiers family. Each month, we’ll feature an interview on our website, giving you the chance
WATCH VIDEO >
Apostolic Foundations
Our Apostolic Foundations are the core biblical truths and values that shape who we are as a movement—guiding how we build churches, make disciples, and live out our apostolic mission. One of our foundations is being a people with anointed leadership operating in team. Watch the video to learn more.
to hear from inspiring women in leadership. To kick things off, we’re delighted to introduce Natsi Maramwidze, Executive Pastor at River of Life Church in Zimbabwe—a thriving two-site church with over 1,500 people.
Natsi works inside a senior leadership team that consists of herself and five male elders, one of which is her husband Muss and another of which is Scott Marques, the church’s lead elder and apostolic leader of their sphere of Newfrontiers, Disciple Nations. Natsi, a mother of three, also leads River of Life’s Executive Team and Staff Team, teams that are responsible for implementing the practical decisions made by the Senior leadership team (SLT) and their separate team of 12 male elders, working in conjunction with these other teams.
Natsi’s reputation preceded her and I sought her out after hearing about her exceptional leadership gifts from Scott Marques, whilst in a Catalyst Strategy Team meeting. I was intrigued to hear how Natsi juggled the vast amount of responsibilities she carried alongside her own
family life and how life in Zimbabwe impacted her ability to lead. Having met Natsi online recently I have been thrilled to meet such a God-gifted and humble leader. It encouraged me no end to meet another woman following the call of God on her life and exercising her leadership gifts in the church.
I asked my colleague Paula Marrett from the Catalyst Comms team to catch up with Natsi. Enjoy the interview and look out for our monthly blog feature celebrating female leadership and the way men and women are leading together in beautiful ways across the Catalyst and the wider Newfrontiers family.
Soon we’ll launch a podcast on leadership—exploring leading together as men and women, leading from diverse backgrounds, highlighting next-generation leaders, and unpacking what it means to lead as disciples who make disciples.
Abigail Flavell
A senior leader at River City Church Hull and part of the Strategy Team at Catalyst.
LEARN MORE >
A community of worshippers on a mission together n i
s m i s
The next section in the magazine will follow the theme of mission and are based on Catalyst’s apostolic foundations.
Thank you to everyone who joined our Pray1000 call last month—it was such a joy to pray together from across the nations. Our focus was the Presence of God, and we’re so grateful for those who took time to lift up the vision of training 1,000 church planters by 2030.
If you haven’t yet, sign up for the Pray1000 newsletter to receive a monthly prayer resource and join us in ongoing prayer.
Click here to read this month’s prayer sheet.
This is for anyone who believes in the power of prayer and wants to support this mission. Together, we’re trusting God to move—and we’re covering it all in prayer.
Let’s continue to stand united, seeking His presence and believing for transformation through the Train1000 initiative.
“I loved the last pray1000 call. I found myself in a breakout room with a church planter from Australia, one from Lesotho in Africa and Bradford in the UK, all passionate about seeing the kingdom extending. It was such a privilege to pray together.”
Participant, last Pray1000 call
LEARN MORE >
Bringing the Bible into Focus
A visit to Nairobi, Kenya, opened our eyes to an unexpected need
In February, Richard and Helen Wightman, together with Frank and Sharon Clark, spent a week in Nairobi visiting Pastor Tonny and his church Real Life in Christ Miracle Centre. Pastor Tonny is part of the Catalyst hub led by Richard.
The visit began with a twoday conference, with plenty of opportunity for speaking, prophesy and prayer. It is always a joy and a privilege to serve our global family.
Frank and I were really impressed and encouraged by the passion for Jesus in Nairobi. One small church, meeting in a space no bigger than a UK garage, overflowed with God’s presence as people packed in. After praying and prophesying over as many as we could, they prayed for us. Their prayers are super-charged with Holy Spirit power. We definitely felt we received more than we gave.
We also learnt a huge amount about the culture and the challenges while there. One thing we discovered was that many people struggle to read the Bible because of eyesight issues. Even if they could afford to visit an optician, they would not have the money needed to buy glasses.
“Their prayers are super-charged with Holy Spirit power.”
The Sunday after our return to the UK, our home church – New Life in Milton Keynes – was holding its annual Overseas Sunday service. Frank talked about the need for glasses and large print Bibles in Kenya, and asked for anyone with spare spectacles (no matter what prescription) or big Bibles to donate them to us.
The response has been amazing. We now have several big carrier bags full of quality items. We were surprised how many people had old glasses squirreled away in drawers at home. The new challenge is to find a way to ship things to Nairobi at a reasonable cost. If you have any connections that could help do please let us know.
Email sharon@catalystnetwork.org
Sharon Clark Catalyst Administrator and Trustee
at New Life Church Milton Keynes.
The Kingdom is advancing in East Africa
Work of God amongst the unreached.
Simon Fry shares another powerful update from his recent mission trip to Sudan, where he spent time with church leaders who are faithfully serving their communities despite the ongoing unrest. In one village, he met a pastor who continues to gather believers under a tree each week after their church building was destroyed—testimony to the unshakable commitment of
Standing with the Church in Myanmar
Catalyst reconnects with local leaders facing crisis
Sudanese Christians. Simon’s report highlights the courage, hospitality, and hunger for God that mark every place he visited.
He also shares key prayer requests: for protection over churches meeting in secret, wisdom for leaders navigating political and ethnic tensions, and practical provision for families displaced by violence. To read the full blog and access more stories and prayer points, visit our website.
After five years of being unable to visit Myanmar due to the pandemic and civil war, a Catalyst missionary recently travelled to encourage local church leaders. Many shared heartbreaking stories—families forced from their homes, young people fleeing conscription, and daily struggles due to limited electricity.
A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake has hit Myanmar in the last few weeks. The people in the affected region are going through unimaginable suffering as the country has already been hit by flooding and war. As the situation unfolds we may launch an appeal for financial help for this situation. Please keep an eye on our social media in the coming week for more details.
FULL BLOG POST >
Stormzy, Seekers and Sputnik
How a resurgence of faith in the arts is opening doors to Christianity
Let’s play a game of connect the dots…
A few weeks ago, our local CU ran their annual mission week—and it went fantastically. Since then, four new students who aren’t Christians have started attending our Sunday services. They seem to have no prior connection to the church other than a personal desire to explore Jesus. That’s new for us.
Fast forward to 1st March, when Stormzy won Best Hip-Hop/ Grime/Rap Act at the BRIT Awards. Nothing unexpected there. But his acceptance speech stood out—he name-checked Jesus four times, read from Psalm 138, and declared, “Jesus is doing a work in me and he ain’t done doing that work in me.”
While these two events aren’t directly linked, they reflect a broader cultural shift. There’s a growing Christian tone in the arts, and a parallel rise in openness to faith in wider society. These trends aren’t unrelated.
Post-pandemic, the cultural conversation around Christianity has noticeably shifted. Once led by vocal sceptics like Richard Dawkins and Stephen Fry, the space is now increasingly shaped by voices who take Christianity seriously—think Tom Holland, Louise Perry, and Jordan Peterson. Faith is being reconsidered as a credible, even vital, foundation for culture, history and meaning.
The arts have quietly joined this movement. From actors and poets to visual artists and musicians, more creatives are speaking openly about their Christian faith. In music especially, the shift is pronounced—Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, and Stormzy are just a few who’ve brought their faith into mainstream culture, sometimes boldly, sometimes imperfectly, but consistently.
Closer to home, artists in the UK music scene like Sault, Michael Kiwanuka, Ezra Collective and
others are doing the same—expressing a living faith in Jesus through their work. In visual art, names like Charlie Mackesy and Lakwena Maciver have captured public imagination with work infused with Christian hope and beauty.
These voices are diverse, often unconventional, and not always squeaky clean—but they are reaching audiences in powerful, authentic ways. And their impact is real. Stories like ours—of unexpected church visitors, of students wanting to explore Jesus, of spiritual curiosity bubbling up—are increasingly common.
But there’s a challenge too. While Christians from many traditions are stepping into this space, white evangelicals are largely absent from the wider cultural conversation. We’ve enhanced worship and church communications, but when it comes to engaging the broader world through creativity, we often hold back.
That’s where Sputnik comes in. We’re a network of Christian artists committed to encouraging and equipping creatives to make work that speaks into culture—not just to decorate church spaces, but to shape the public imagination.
We believe that creativity is a gift from God—not only for use in church, but for the good of the world. And right now, the world is listening.
READ FULL BLOG POST > Jonny Mellor Elder at Church Central in Birmingham, and leads Sputnik
Sputnik: Faith & Arts
Sputnik connects, celebrates, and funds Christians working in the creative arts, making art for the common good.
If you’ve not come across us before, check us out. And if you’re part of a church or creative community, we’d love for you to support us as we empower artists to get stuck into the cultural conversation with courage and conviction.
LEARN MORE > Why are poets and storytellers being drawn towards Christ?
Listen the surprising conversions of Paul Kingsnorth & Martin Shaw.
Mission
Widows and Windrush
The Biblical Call to Care for the Vulnerable
My six siblings and I were raised by my dad, who was widowed in his early 40s, during the Windrush years. He, like many others, came from the Caribbean to the UK in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s following an invitation from the UK government to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War. Many of those who arrived in their teens and twenties are now in their 80s and 90s.
There’s a mandate from God, from the Old Testament through to the New Testament, in which his people are charged with concern for certain groups: the orphan, the widow, the poor, the foreigner (see, for example, Exodus 23:10-11, 1 Samuel 2:8, Proverbs 21:13, James 1:27, Leviticus 19:9-10). These are often the groups that would have been the most vulnerable in society thousands of years ago, and the same still holds true today.
Jesus taught his disciples how to avoid being hyper-focused on some groups to the exclusion of others when he taught the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). He wanted his hearers to have an expanded view of neighbours and helpers. In this case, a Samaritan man was the helper who showed mercy. His neighbour was the victim of a violent attack. Jesus tested the blind spots of his hearers. He challenged what they saw by giving them something new to hear, to help them understand the identity of a merciful neighbour. Back then, and today, the answer might surprise and challenge us.
In Acts 6, we read about a group of widows who were spotlighted for care in the early church. Though the believers were generous, taking care of those with less among them, some were being overlooked: the Greekspeaking widows (Acts 6:1-7).
I sometimes consider how being laser-focused on helping some groups can cause us to have blind spots and neglect those closest to us, like the Greek-speaking widows. The story from Acts shows how the Apostles were made aware of the problem of overlooking a group in the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1). When the issue was highlighted, the leaders sprang into action and several men – full of the Spirit and wisdom – were chosen to address it (Acts 6:3). Men like Stephen and Nicolaus from Antioch
Rosie Hopley Jubilee+ leadership team. Founder of the charity Beloved, co-founder of the social enterprise LoveWellUK, and Chair of The Reconciled Church.
were appointed, prayed for and commissioned by the laying on of hands (Acts 6:5-6). The wrong was rectified, and importantly, the church flourished soon afterwards (Acts 6:7), with the addition of many priests. This was an example of Jewish and Greek background believers working together in unison to right a wrong.
“God calls us to speak up for the needy and to plead the cause of the widow.”
to imagine the impact on these older folk. At least 53 people have died while waiting for justice.
God calls us to speak up for the needy and to plead the cause of the widow (Proverbs 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17). Are there Windrush widows or others who are being overlooked in your community? Who are your neighbours? What can you do to lessen their burden? Here are some suggestions:
Inform yourself of the plight of widows in your area, and consider who is your neighbour according to Jesus. Find and partner with Black majority churches that are already looking to support the neediest in their community. Prayerfully consider how you can join in with finance, friendship and fellowship. Finally, plead the cause of the widows, speak up about the injustice that they and other overlooked groups have been facing.
Considering today’s widows, our neighbours, how have they been overlooked in the provision for their needs? Some in our cities and towns have been thrown into financial hardship due to the Windrush scandal. Imagine the financial burdens placed on elderly women and men, not being able to re-enter the UK after a trip abroad, after being told that their proof of residence has gone missing and vital paperwork can’t be found. Those stumbling blocks place very real barriers to a widow claiming her pension, or facing deportation after living and working in the UK for 40+ years. In a cost of living crisis, it’s hard
Jubilee + equips UK churches to change the lives of those living in poverty in their communities.
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Simon Holley has launched a new newsletter called The Raw Disciple. This resource is packed with tools, training, and updates for anyone passionate about becoming - and helping others become - disciples who multiply.
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The Hub is made up of UK Churches in the North West, Midlands, Wales and Kent. We also relate to Churches in Uganda, Poland, Ukraine and other European Nations.
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Catalyst is a movement of churches building communities that raise disciples who change the world. With our roots in Newfrontiers, we are a family of 800+ churches connected together through genuine relationship and served by a number of apostolic teams who aim to equip churches to raise pioneering disciples that see God's kingdom fill the earth.
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Richard Thomas
TEAM LEADER Tim Simmonds
TEAM Andrew Simpkins Josephine Harper Rosie Crooks
Jim Harper Tim Mitchell
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