Together (Spring 2016)

growing gospel-driven churches

ALSO INSIDE Meet our Revitalisation Coordinator Primer: leading with theology Facts and figures about the Fellowship

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Together is published by FIEC, 39 The Point, Market Harborough, LE16 7QU. 01858 434540 fiec.org.uk admin@fiec.org.uk fb.com/theFIEC @theFIEC Editor: Phil Topham 01858 411553 phil.topham@fiec.org.uk Designed by: AH Graphic Design www.ahgraphicdesign.co.uk ah@ahgraphicdesign.co.uk 07500 465753 Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Got a story?

We’d love to hear stories from your church – why not get in touch with us? The deadline for submissions for the summer 2016 edition is Friday 27 May.

It’s always a great joy to hear from churches who are seeing people become Christians.

This gospel growth is taking place in both larger churches and smaller churches in FIEC. In fact, some of the greatest encouragements come from smaller congregations who are sharing Christ and seeing gospel fruit.

But how do we measure this great gospel growth in our churches?

Back in 2015 we carried out a data survey across the Fellowship and the results are printed in this edition of Together magazine. The survey revealed that 46,000 people attend FIEC churches. It’s an impressive figure but put into context we would only half fill Wembley Stadium if we all gathered there at once. There is still great gospel need in Great Britain.

So will you join in prayer and evangelism as our 557 churches work together to reach our nation with the gospel?

Part of our vision is to see struggling churches revitalised and we’re delighted to announce the appointment of our Church Revitalisation Coordinator. Phil Walter is heading this strategy for gospel growth and you can read our interview with him on page eight.

Meanwhile John Stevens introduces us to the FIEC strapline which is all about gospel growth, while an article from Gemma Adam explains how complying with British law can aid your church’s witness and ministry.

As we pray for gospel growth I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3. Paul explains that we are to sow the seeds and water them but it is God who makes them grow. May He graciously do so in our churches this year.

Phil Topham FIEC Head of Communication

CONTENTS 3

Have you signed up yet?

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Growing gospel-driven churches

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FIEC by numbers

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Introducing our Church Revitalisation Coordinator

11 What does revitalisation look like?

12 News in brief

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17 British law and the kingdom of God 20 FIEC Loan Fund helps church project 22 Staying theologically sharp 24 Biblical counselling and the local church 26 Book reviews 28 New church affiliations

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HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET? This is the final edition of Together magazine that will be sent out in bulk to churches. Make sure you continue to receive news and information from FIEC and its churches by signing up to receive your copy by post. fiec.org.uk

Simply tear off the flap opposite, fill in your details, fold it in half, moisten the gummed area and seal it to protect your personal information. Then just pop it in the post – no envelope or stamp needed. Your details will not be sold to any third party.

Or you can sign up online at fiec.org.uk FIEC Together Spring 2016

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GROWING GOSPELDRIVEN CHURCHES “What’s the point of FIEC?” It’s a question I get asked a lot – usually by people who are outside of FIEC, but sometimes even by the members and leaders of FIEC churches. Often John Stevens they ask this question because they have little idea what FIEC does, or they have not realised how much FIEC has changed in recent years. They aren’t aware, for example, of how large or diverse we have become.

It’s for this reason that we have been working hard to try to find a way of encapsulating what FIEC is all about.

A decade ago the FIEC strapline was ‘Bible Churches Together’, which highlighted our desire to be united by core doctrinal convictions, but this does not capture the dynamic vision of FIEC for the future.

After a great deal of work, discussion and prayer we have settled on the phrase ‘growing gospel-driven churches’. As a succinct strapline this doesn’t try to tell you everything that FIEC does, but it communicates what we believe FIEC ‘is’ and what FIEC hopes to ‘do’. We are a Fellowship of local churches that have come together to support and encourage each other in the work of the gospel in our nation.

Growing churches It is tremendously encouraging that FIEC is already a growing group of churches. In the past five years more than 80 churches and church

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plants have joined FIEC, so the family has grown to more than 550 churches.

We are probably the largest group of unashamedly Bible-centred churches in Great Britain today. This is no cause for pride or complacency but it reminds us of the heavy responsibility we bear to our nation.

Although FIEC is growing slowly, we long and pray that by God’s mercy we might continue to grow and grow more rapidly. Christians can sometimes be suspicious of growth as an ambition, but if our nation is to be reached with the good news of the Lord Jesus then we need all our churches to grow as people are converted and discipled. Church growth is, after all, Jesus’ strategy for the advance of his kingdom.

CHURCH GROWTH IS, AFTER ALL, JESUS’ STRATEGY FOR THE ADVANCE OF HIS KINGDOM. Whilst we recognise that in some contexts growth may be slow and difficult, and that success as a church cannot be measured by numerical growth alone, it ought to be our desire to see churches growing. We ought to aim for and pray for growth – not for our honour and glory but for the sake of the lost and the honour and glory of God. We need to have the aspiration to keep growing to meet the gospel need of our day.

Gospel-driven churches But we have to be mindful of the dangers of fiec.org.uk

pursuing growth in the wrong way. Churches can easily grow by changing the message they proclaim and just meeting the felt needs and aspirations of the wider culture. That is why we want to be a Fellowship of ‘gospel-driven’ churches.

We only want to grow through the faithful ministry of the apostolic gospel, as set out for us in the New Testament.

FIEC has always been united around the core doctrines of the gospel, including the deity and Lordship of Jesus, the inerrancy of the Scriptures, the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the need for regeneration by the Holy Spirit and justification by faith alone.

However, the gospel is not just a set of doctrines to be believed and defended. It is a dynamic message that is to be lived and proclaimed so that men and women will come to repentance and faith and have their lives transformed by a new relationship with the Lord Jesus.

We long for our churches to base all their activities, ministry, community life and structures on this gospel; serving it and sharing it as faithful stewards who have been entrusted with it by their master. This is what it means in practice to be ‘gospel-driven’.

Our aspiration is that churches will be known not just for their doctrinal orthodoxy, but for the evangelistic zeal and love for others that flow from their fiec.org.uk

commitment to the gospel.

We want them to be known for showing the grace and generosity toward others on secondary matters that the gospel demands.

EVANGELISTIC ZEAL AND LOVE FOR OTHERS THAT FLOW FROM THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL. FIEC is its churches, so what FIEC does and accomplishes is nothing but the aggregate of what its affiliated churches do and accomplish. The FIEC staff team exists only to help and support our churches in their ministries, by envisioning, equipping and encouraging

them for the work of the gospel, and helping them to work together to meet the needs of our nation as a whole.

Our hope and prayer is that everything we do will help each and every one of our churches to become, or continue to be, ‘growing gospel-driven churches’. This is why we invest in training and support church planting and revitalisation. It’s why we care for pastors and leaders and provide expert legal services to churches.

So in future I hope that when people ask “What’s the point of FIEC?” we will be able to answer with honesty, conviction and understanding: “It’s all about growing gospeldriven churches.”

John Stevens, National Director

A YOUTH EVENT AT WEST ROW BAPTIST CHURCH, SUFFOLK

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FIEC BY NUMBERS Did you know that more than 46,000 people attend FIEC churches in Great Britain?

The statistic comes from a data survey we carried out during 2015 which asked the 557 churches in the FIEC family to fill out a questionnaire about church life.

As well as asking for the membership numbers and attendance figures, it also asked about regular services and outreach activities.

The figures revealed 800 baptisms over the previous 12 months – the equivalent of around 16 every week.

Meanwhile, FIEC churches

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are reaching – on average – 40,000 people each week through regular activities and outreach events.

THE FIGURES REVEALED 800 BAPTISMS OVER THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS.

big challenges.

The data showed that around 9,000 children regularly attend FIEC church services – one fifth (20%) of the total congregations. This is a decrease from around one third (32%) in the 1980s. It also revealed that although churches seemed to be seeing more people, many were attending less often – with a fifth of those 46,000 defined as attending church ‘at least once a month’.

Our Operations Director

While the statistics show plenty of encouragements, they also revealed some

Andrew Nicholson managed the survey. More than eight out of ten (84%) churches fiec.org.uk

responded and he extrapolated the figures to give an overall picture across the FIEC family.

Commenting on the results he said: “It’s really difficult for us to say what these statistics prove because we are not comparing like for like data. For example, our survey showed a 10% increase in attendance at our churches compared to 2003 but we have more affiliated churches today than we did back then. On top of that, some of this will be ‘transfer-growth’ as Christians move between churches.

WHILE THE STATISTICS SHOW PLENTY OF ENCOURAGEMENTS, THEY ALSO REVEALED SOME BIG CHALLENGES. “However, the figure of 800 baptisms across our 557 churches was really encouraging. As the vast majority of FIEC churches practice believers’ baptism this is a wonderful picture of people becoming Christians in God’s goodness.

“Despite this, there is no room for complacency. We estimate that less than one in 20 (5%) of the British population are bornagain Christians, so the gospel challenge we face is significant.”

We’re now working on resources to help churches to deal with some of the issues revealed by the survey. We intend to carry out similar research for 2016 which will be published in time for the FIEC Leaders’ Conference in 2017 and provide like for like data.

For more info You can download the summary of our data survey findings on fiec.org.uk. Just search for how are we looking?

If you think you can help us with resources to encourage our churches to deal with some challenges the survey poses, please get in touch with us at the FIEC office: admin@fiec.org.uk.

We’d be delighted to hear from you.

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557

CHURCHES in the FIEC family

46,000

PEOPLE attend FIEC churches

9,000

UNDER 18s Regularly attend

FIEC churches

27,000

CHURCH MEMBERS

40,000

PEOPLE

REACHED every week via regular activities and outreach

800

BAPTISMS FIEC Together Spring 2016

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INTRODUCING OUR CHURCH REVITALISATION COORDINATOR Around one in four FIEC churches have expressed an interest in our church revitalisation programme.

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Back in the winter edition of Together we told you the revitalisation story of Crossway Church in Birmingham which has grown from a membership of 14 to 52. As part of that growth, Crossway has seen 18 baptisms in the last three years.

Now we’ve appointed a Church Revitalisation Coordinator to spearhead a revitalisation strategy across FIEC. The post has been generously funded for the next three years by external donors both here and in America.

We’re delighted to announce that Phil Walter has been called into this role.

Currently the pastor of Brixworth Christian Fellowship near Northampton, Phil is married to Ruth and has experience of leading church revitalisation initiatives.

Richard Underwood – our Pastoral Ministries Director – has interviewed Phil about the work of revitalisation. You can watch the full interview on our website, but here’s an edited version.

perhaps a lack of vision and a failure to look out more than looking in. Perhaps the prayer meeting falls away and the leadership that had once been very strong and visionary has been lost.

Phil, I’m delighted that God has called you to this role with FIEC and it’s great to welcome you into it. Can I start by asking you how a church gets to a point where it needs to be revitalised?

Inevitably if a church is to be revitalised, it has to go through a process of change. How can you win over church members who want a new future but are fearful of what change might mean?

It’s probably a process that comes about because of a number of things – the world’s influence,

Before I was a pastor there were a lot of

FIEC Together Spring 2016

THERE NEEDS TO BE A PASSION FOR GOSPEL PARTNERSHIP WHICH EXTENDS TO SOME OF THESE SMALLER CHURCHES. So it’s a slow process over many years but for most of these churches there have been times of great blessing – a church that flourished and saw many people saved. For people who remember those days it must be a great sadness but often it leads to them saying ‘we don’t know what to do’ so they keep being faithful – however faithful looks to them.

companies I worked for where another company fiec.org.uk

came in and took over. When that happened there was always this fear that somehow I was going to lose out and that it wasn’t going to be for my good.

The difference for a church is an understanding that what we are about is for their good, under God, working together, loving them, caring for them and having a vision for the church which is not to harm it but to do it good. So it is very relational which I never saw in the companies that used to come in and take over because there was no sense that we

PHIL WALTER IS INTERVIEWED

BY RICHARD UNDERWOOD

were a part of that.

But if I was a leader in a church needing to be revitalised, I might feel uncomfortable with this process. What is your message for the leadership of a church like this?

There is no set way to answer that but we have helpful examples in Scripture as Paul comes alongside churches to encourage them and their leaders; we see Timothy doing the same.

So I think it’s about getting alongside leaders and building relationships with them as quickly as possible, beginning to explore together where some of the weaknesses are and explore why the church has got to this situation.

This is not to push a leader out but to include him and fiec.org.uk

to be able to say ‘where do we go with this?’ and that will get one of two responses – either a brick wall or a willingness to be involved in the revitalisation process.

Many people will think this is all about small churches – and most churches needing to be revitalised will be smaller – but we need the larger churches to be part of this.

How do you draw them into this process?

I hope that by the end of my three years in this role it will become more natural for smaller churches to approach larger churches about revitalisation but also for this to work the other way around.

Among the larger churches there needs to be a passion

for gospel partnership which extends to some of these smaller churches.

It’s a big task – more than 160 churches have expressed an interest in revitalisation.

Where do you start?

Obviously we can’t get involved with every church immediately but it seems to me that in a church that needs revitalising, we can recapture some of the things that went on when it was flourishing.

Perhaps it was the prayer meeting. So I would encourage churches to gather together for regular prayer meetings as a start to this revitalisation process. Listen to God and begin to look outside and look at what you do inside. Are there small things you could FIEC Together Spring 2016

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change to make the church more accessible to non-Christians?

Ruth. I think the change will be harder for her than it will be for me as I will have my role with FIEC on my mind.

You’ve been appointed for three years Phil. I wonder, what does success look like in that time?

For me it would be twofold. Obviously we want to see some churches revitalised and for a revitalisation process to be set in place that works well and includes training, meeting and fellowshipping together.

The second thing is for the whole FIEC family to conclude that this is something worth signing up for. It would be great for the larger church to naturally look for the smaller church; and for the smaller church to naturally look to the larger church for help.

How can we pray for you?

Ruth and I have been involved in pastoral ministry full-time for the last 20 years. We have got very attached to the church in Brixworth and the community we live in. So please pray for

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For me – I just need to keep close to the Lord, to be faithful and know God’s wisdom.

I need to be humble in dealing with people – particularly when it might get difficult, so please pray for me in that.

Phil has started his role with FIEC part-time while handing over the leadership of Brixworth Christian Fellowship. He will join the FIEC team full-time in July.

For more info: If you are interested in finding out more about church revitalisation – either as a smaller church interested in exploring revitalisation or a larger church hoping to help with revitalisation – please email phil.walter@fiec.org.uk To read more about Phil’s experience in revitalising churches please go to fiec.org.uk and search for revitalisation.

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WHAT DOES REVITALISATION LOOK LIKE? Church revitalisation will look different in different contexts.

What works in one place will not necessarily work in another. In the last edition of Together we told you the story of Crossway Church in Birmingham. Here’s another story of revitalisation – this time from the outskirts of London. Both stories have one thing in common – people are being saved and the churches are growing: Westbrook Road Evangelical Church is based in Thornton Heath – an economically depressed and ethnically diverse part of the Crystal Palace area of South London.

In 2011 the church had dwindled to around five regular attenders when Andrew Bunnell and his family moved to Thornton Heath from America. The church had agreed to partner with this fully-funded family who came to Croydon to start a revitalisation scheme.

Andrew soon discovered that there was also a mission hall – Sunbeam Mission – just half a mile from Westbrook Road. It turned out that a century earlier, a single donor had funded the construction of both properties.

In the months that followed, a relationship was formed with the leadership of the mission, which had an average congregation of between 10 and 15. By July 2011, Andrew was installed as volunteer pastor of both churches and they began to cooperate on community events and Sunday services.

From the beginning, Andrew implemented a strategy based on gradual change, steady growth, and trans-Atlantic partnerships. Over a four-year period, at least 13 different mission groups came from American churches to distribute leaflets, redecorate buildings, help with community

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outreach events and provide training.

Many conversions and baptisms have been recorded, and the church is full of people who had lapsed but then discovered authentic Christianity. It has grown from 15– 20 weekly attenders to between 50 and 80.

The church is now able to meet its financial obligations, and from January 2016 began supporting a part-time youth leader.

The two churches have merged to create a single entity rebranded as Southside Baptist Church. The goal of the church revitalisation effort is to have the church ready to sustain its own, preferably British, pastor at the five to seven year mark.

SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH AT THE BEGINNING OF REV ITALISATION

SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH TODAY

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NEWS IN BRIEF REVITALISATION IN TRURO Just 18 months ago it looked as if Truro Evangelical Church would have to close down, but now church membership has increased from 13 to 22 and they have seen two baptisms.

Pastored by Nick Fuller, the church has started open-air evangelism in the town centre with a tract table and is now looking at a church plant in St Austell – one of the 50 places on our Go Into prayer cards for church planting.

Commenting on God’s goodness since he joined the church as pastor in March 2015, Nick said: “God is surely beginning to revitalise a church that a year ago looked on the brink of total collapse – all praise to our gracious God. “We’ve started two Christianity Explored courses: one for adults and one for youth within the church as a basis to begin a youth group. A few unbelievers have attended the initial sessions of both.

“We haven’t seen any conversions yet – the two ladies we baptised had professed faith earlier – but a few unbelievers have started attending meetings and services, including one woman contacted through the tract table, and some are showing encouraging signs of interest.

“I’ve been so aware that the blessing has been out of all proportion to my own prayers, and that there must be a whole host of people around the country praying for this work.”

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PONTRHYDYRUN BAPTIST CELEBRATED WITH A MISSION

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS

BY GOING ON MISSION Pontrhydyrun Baptist Church in Cwmbran, Wales recently celebrated its 200th anniversary, but instead of an inward celebration, they had a mission with evangelist Glen Scrivener.

Glen preached the gospel in a variety of meetings and contexts at Pontrhydyrun as members invited the community to a quiz night and an open mic night, as well as offering a party for the children. Another novel idea was to offer guided tours of their listed church building. The tour always finished at the pulpit where Glen shared the gospel.

Everyone who attended was given a copy of Glen’s evangelistic book 321 and a copy of John’s Gospel. Pastor Jonny Raine was really encouraged by their celebrations and said: “If it was measured in terms of people converted and added to our church then, no, it wasn’t a success. But if we measure it in terms of whether the gospel was preached clearly, then yes. If we measure it on whether there were those present who aren’t yet followers of Jesus, then yes.

“Since our anniversary weekend was part of the ongoing life of mission for the church, we don’t need to judge it in terms of immediate fruit. Instead we continue to work on in mission and pray for fruit in the future. Join us in praying that some of those who have heard the gospel will respond.” fiec.org.uk

REACHING OUT DURING FLOODS CLEAR-UP Members of Carlisle Baptist – an FIEC church in the city – have played an active role in helping the clear-up operation following the devastating floods in December.

Hundreds of homes were affected when Storm Desmond battered the North West of England. The vast majority of those flooded in Carlisle were within a half-mile radius of the church building.

A number of folk connected to the church were forced out of their homes, including one of the elders.

Carlisle Baptist Church outgrew its Victorian building in 2012 but they have moved back in as the school they met in was flooded – now they want to make their existing building fit for purpose.

Pastor Peter Walkingshaw said: “We still have a church building and we were blessed that the flood water didn’t reach it, but it will now need some modifications to enable us to meet in this confined space again. We need to create space for children’s work by moving some walls; ten people in a crèche room that measures 3m by 3m isn’t very welcoming!

“We want to continue running our midweek activities in the church building and fiec.org.uk

perhaps run some new community initiatives that will help those who were flooded.

Ten weeks on, many homes are empty and in the drying phase with rebuilding yet to start.

“While we would benefit from financial support, the most important thing people can do for us is pray. Please pray that we will be able to share the gospel and minister effectively to those caught up in the flooding and that the Lord would supply all we need emotionally, physically and spiritually to do that.

“One man with no church

background who was helped by church members when his home flooded, has been coming to our Sunday gathering every week since. We’ve also held an evangelistic evening, interviewing one of our members who was flooded about the difference being a follower of Jesus made to his response.”

Carlisle Baptist Church has set up two fundraising appeals.

The first is for those affected by the floods which people can donate to online at https:// my.give.net/CBCFloodAppeal The second appeal is to support the church as it looks to modify its building. Please contact Carlisle Baptist Church directly for more information by emailing: finance@ carlislebaptistchurch.org.uk

CARLISLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF DECEMBER’S FLOODS

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NEWS IN BRIEF THE HUB: ENCOURAGING NEW GOSPEL WORKERS One of the ways we’re helping to serve our churches is by encouraging men and women to consider full-time gospel ministry roles in an Independent church context.

This year, more than 150 people gathered near Milton Keynes for The Hub Conference which takes place every January.

The purpose of The Hub is to draw together those on their journey into ministry or who are exploring the possibilities. It is also a chance to connect them with theological colleges as well as offering the chance to speak with experienced ministers and ministry couples.

Paul Mallard, pastor of Widcombe Baptist Church, was the main speaker this year and took the titles ‘Loving God’, ‘Learning from Pain’ and ‘Longing for Holiness’ as he preached from

wisdom in the words of those talking about what family life in ministry looks like.

“My wife Sarah and I had a ‘two-to-two’ with an experienced ministry couple which was so helpful – getting a chance to talk to someone outside of our situation and being able to glean from their questions and answers was a highlight of the weekend.

“Thinking about going into ministry became a secondary issue for me over the course of three days; I was just thrilled to be taught from God’s word, moved deeply and challenged relentlessly.”

The Hub Conference 2017 will take place 13–15 January 2017 at Horwood House, Milton Keynes and the main speaker for the weekend will be Bill James from Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Leamington Spa.

Ephesians, Romans and Philippians.

Danny Elliott from London was one of the delegates and commenting on the weekend said: “The seminars were so helpful in giving practical advice. I was reminded to be thankful for the incredible support we have; I was challenged by Spurgeon (and the Apostle Paul) on the idea of being compelled to preach; and I found great

DELEGATES ENJOYING THE HUB

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SUPPORTING YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S WORK Back in the autumn we hosted a consultation about how we can best support youth and children’s work across our 557 churches.

We gathered together a number of FIEC experts in this field, as well as others from outside our constituency. The point of the consultation was to discern what we should – or shouldn’t – be doing to encourage and support youth and children’s ministry within FIEC. We are now forming a Children and Youth Ministry Development Group on the back of this consultation to advise our churches on the best resources for those ministering to children and young people.

fiec.org.uk

thrive Organised by FIEC, Thrive is a refreshing conference for those who have been set apart by their church for pastoral or word ministry amongst women.

fiec.org.uk

find out more > fiec.org.uk/LC2016

main speaker > Ed Stetzer

theme > Engaging Evangelism

Leaders’ Conference 2016

Find out more at ďŹ ec.org.uk/thrive2016

dates > 31 Oct - 3 Nov

10th-12th May 2016

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Do you want to stay up-to-date?

Every week we publish new articles, videos, stories and more to encourage and equip our churches. The best way to make sure you don’t miss anything is to subscribe to our email newsletters.

Visit fiec.org.uk, click ‘Receive our newsletters’ at the top and pick the ones that interest you.

JOB VACANCY Are you a Christian working in a legal or administrative position? Would you like to use your skills to help grow gospeldriven churches?

If so, FIEC Practical Services would like to hear from you.

In the coming months we’re looking to expand our team as we seek to help more churches with their legal work, freeing up leaders and congregations to focus on preaching, teaching and reaching out with the gospel. We’ll have part-time, permanent and temporary positions available and we’re looking for the right people to fill them. Why not get in touch?

t: 01858 411569

e: practicalservices@fiec.org.uk 16

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BRITISH LAW AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD Practical Services is the legal arm of FIEC, led by solicitor Gemma Adam.

We asked her to explain why complying with the law of the land is an Gemma Adam integral part of a church’s witness and ministry: The legal system and the word of God can sometimes seem entirely contrary.

We don’t see the apostle Paul worrying about risk assessments or DBS checks before preaching to crowds in the book of Acts.

Church leaders often tell me they struggle to justify spending valuable time and effort on legal matters when they want to be proclaiming God’s word and winning people for His kingdom. The law can feel like a neverending list of regulations and tasks.

But churches and Christian organisations need to comply with these things, primarily because the Bible commands believers to submit to the governing authorities for “the authorities that exist have fiec.org.uk

been established by God.” (Romans 13).

This isn’t the case when the authorities’ commands conflict with those of the Bible but, praise God, we are not currently in that situation in Britain. Churches are not above the law, but need to

submit to it, like every other organisation does, as Romans 13 says: “not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience”.

We shouldn’t see the law as a hindrance, rather FIEC churches can joyfully embrace legal compliance as an opportunity to aid their mission to spread the gospel. How? Let me give you three examples:

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1. Love your church by preparing for the future The legacy our churches leave behind should enhance the gospel work of the next generation, not hinder it. One way we can do that is by ensuring that our churches have proper governing documents in place.

Sometimes churches are working with documents written hundreds of years ago which no longer reflect what they do as a charity. It’s important to get advice about what amendments could be properly made to bring these documents up-to-date, while churches should also get advice when buying, selling or letting charity property.

Governing documents help churches to be good stewards and ensure that both best practice and the charity’s vision are passed on to future generations.

2. Love God’s people by treating them well I’ve often heard the argument that Christians shouldn’t enter into legal agreements. Our relationships are governed by the Bible and the Holy Spirit – we don’t need a legal document to tell us how to treat one another!

However, even among brothers and sisters there are disagreements. Not having proper contracts or tenancy agreements in place only exasperates a situation if a dispute arises. It adds confusion instead of helping to bring a resolution.

Any disputes will hinder a church’s witness and gospel growth so don’t leave yourselves open to a disagreement that could have been resolved by having the right documentation.

3. Love your neighbour by protecting them from harm There is a range of health and safety matters that churches need to comply with, from fire safety and food hygiene to asbestos and electrics. There are important requirements for churches leasing out property and, of course, safeguarding procedures for working with

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FIEC Together Spring 2016

children and vulnerable adults.

Churches ought to be a place where the safety of children and vulnerable adults is absolutely guaranteed. Having proper policies and robust training in place will also ensure that innocent volunteers are not put in a compromised position.*

CHURCHES CAN JOYFULLY EMBRACE LEGAL COMPLIANCE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AID THEIR MISSION TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL. In all these things, churches should be ahead of the game so that anyone attending an evangelistic supper won’t go home with a tummy bug, tenants living in church properties will be kept safe and children attending holiday clubs will be properly looked after.

Before food hygiene certificates and Dettol, God prescribed health and safety laws for his people: Deuteronomy 22:8 “When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof”. God cares about health and safety. He wanted to protect his people and for them to look out for one another.

Churches should take this seriously for the sake of loving others and for the reputation of the gospel.

For more info: All FIEC churches have access to 30 minutes of free legal advice per issue every year and there are a number of helpful articles on legal issues available in the Resources section of fiec.org.uk. Please contact the FIEC Practical Services team on 01858 411569 or practicalservices@fiec.org.uk. *We recommend the services of the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) in relation to safeguarding. (FIEC churches have membership of CCPAS at a substantially reduced fee). www.ccpas.co.uk fiec.org.uk

CASE STUDY 1: EMMANUEL CHURCH Emmanuel Church, Marlborough was planted by three FIEC churches.

They worked hard to put in place governing documents before they’d even had their first service. Pastor Reuben Mann explains: “It was important to us to have proper governing documents so that the trustees and everyone involved were clear on their roles. We wanted to ensure that what we were doing not only followed the law but also our biblical principles. FIEC Practical Services helped us set up as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and liaised with the Charity Commission on our behalf to make sure our

documents reflected our specific needs.

Having this all in place means those in the church and outsiders dealing with us are clear why we exist and we can now concentrate on reaching the people in and around Marlborough with the gospel.”

G A SERVICE REUBEN MANN LEADIN OROUGH RLB MA EL NU MA AT EM

CASE STUDY 2: KNIGHTON FREE CHURCH Knighton Free Church, Leicester employs four full-time and six part-time staff.

It recently went through the process of adopting a full set of employment policies and contracts with the help of Nicholas Conway, HR Consultant, FIEC Practical Services. Pastor Andy Upton explains: “When I started at Knighton, all I had was a letter from the elders with a few terms and conditions on it. That was a while ago and things have changed quite a bit since then so we wanted to make sure that our contracts were not just up-to-date but legal and fair.

Nick helped us to get the wording right then

fiec.org.uk

sat down with each member of staff and talked them through the new contracts. I think it’s helped everyone to feel valued.

We will have to make minor changes to keep them current but with the help of FIEC Practical Services we can do that.”

WORSHIP AT KNIGHTON FREE CHURCH

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BUILDING WORK AT THE KEC CHURCH CENTRE

FIEC LOAN FUND

HELPS CHURCH PROJECT When Edwin Orton arrived at the post-war housing estate of Kingshurst, Solihull in October 1957 with a view to planting a church, he observed Sputnik, the first man made satellite to reach into space, orbiting overhead.

Almost 60 years later, Kingshurst has a population of around Andrew Nicholson 8,000 and today you can see the International Space Station, with British astronaut Tim Peake inside, in the night sky.

But of greater significance is Kingshurst Evangelical

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FIEC Together Spring 2016

Church, which Edwin and his wife Dorothy, along with others, planted in 1961.

The church began as a meeting in their home and by the time the first church building was opened in 1976, the new Birmingham overspill area of Chelmsley Wood nearby had been largely built, with its population now in the region of 12,500.

All-purpose centre A work of faith from the beginning, with God’s providence being both evident and remarkable, it was always the intention that the building would one day be enlarged with the potential of an allpurpose centre to serve the two communities in which God had placed the church.

With an initial extension in 2004, the next stage of development was planned with a view to opening a much enlarged KEC Church Centre in October 2015 in a project expected to top ÂŁ400,000.

Plans were drawn up, building fiec.org.uk

tenders obtained, members pledged support and external finance secured largely from the church’s long-term bankers.

But there was a shortfall in the region of £30,000.

A WORK OF FAITH FROM THE BEGINNING, WITH GOD’S PROVIDENCE BEING BOTH EVIDENT AND REMARKABLE...

Church elder, Ray Wootton (converted during Edwin Orton’s ministry some 40 years earlier), approached FIEC for advice and learnt about the FIEC Loan Fund. Started in 1944, its original remit to make “advances … to churches … for extension work or fresh

work in needy districts” has stood the test of time.

Focusing on building work that intentionally advances the gospel cause and grows gospel-driven churches, it is also available to church plants looking to launch in areas of gospel need.

Intended as a top up to other sources of finance but at very low rates of interest, we are ready to receive initial expressions of interest from FIEC churches by 30 June 2016. From a shortlist we will then ask for formal applications to be submitted in time for a distribution of funds before the end of the year, subject to the necessary documentation and security. Available funds are likely to be in the order of £100,000 probably split between two projects.

Additionally, loans for

certain costs of establishing new church plants are also available up to £10,000 each and can be applied for at any time, subject to available funds.

Support and prayers For now, the KEC Church Centre is enjoying its new building and current Pastor Emil Kerekes said: “Our thanks to FIEC and those who were involved in this project. Through your support and prayers you became part of a bigger picture in establishing the Kingdom of God in this area.”

For more info: Email admin@fiec.org.uk for FIEC Loan Fund guidance notes and an expression of interest form.

To read more about the KEC Church Centre project go to fiec.org.uk and search for grand plans in Birmingham.

THE LAUNCH SERVICE AT THE RE-OPENED KEC CHURCH CENTRE

fiec.org.uk

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STAYING THEOLOGICALLY SHARP At our Leaders’ Conference back in November, we launched a brand new theological resource aimed at those who teach and lead in evangelical churches.

Primer is an 80-page

refute those who oppose

theological digest which

it.’ In other words, Titus is

we’re producing twice a year

charged with giving theological

with each edition focusing

leadership to the church.

on a particular doctrine. The

And that’s vital for us to

first issue is called True to His

understand: at root, church

Word, looking at the doctrine

leadership is about equipping

of Scripture, while later in the

people to understand and live

year we will publish issues on

in the light of sound doctrine.

the topics of sin and of gender and sexuality.

This new resource has been

“Equipping ourselves for that

produced by FIEC’s Theological

kind of ministry, and sustaining

Team and is edited by David

ourselves in it, takes thought

Shaw, our Theological Adviser.

and it takes time. For that

We asked him to explain what

reason, we want to encourage

Primer is all about.

church leaders to give

“When Paul writes to Titus he tells him to ‘encourage others by sound doctrine and

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Important issues

FIEC Together Spring 2016

thought and time to important theological issues.

“We hope it will be a

helpful tool to provoke discussion with other pastors in fraternals. And we hope Primer will be useful in training elders and others to think theologically about the life and mission of the church.”

PRIMER WILL BE USEFUL IN TRAINING ELDERS AND OTHERS TO THINK THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH. The first issue contains a series of articles about the doctrine of Scripture, including a look at the way the Bible’s authority is being challenged within the church. Primer also contains an interview with fiec.org.uk

and training material. Lewis Allen is pastor of Hope Church in Huddersfield. How has he been engaging with it?

“Primer is a gift to our church’s weekly reading group!

Seven of us meet, ages 70 (ish) to 23, with Christian experience ranging from 50 to four years.

When we meet we discuss a book of choice for an hour and a quarter. True to His Word is the perfect text for us to explore the doctrine of Scripture with.

Discussion starter “It’s entry level for those in an FIEC pastor who preached a topical series on the Bible to his church. The interview helps leaders to think about how studying these topics can

our group studying theology

assist their preaching.

is a masterful economy in the

as apprentices, but is a great refresher as well as a sharpener for those more experienced in the faith. There way Primer is put together.

How could your church use Primer?

An awful lot is said in a short

We’re already hearing about

overloaded, and easily lends

church leadership teams who

itself to discussion.

are using Primer as their study

fiec.org.uk

space, but the text isn’t

“Questions keep the focus

AN AWFUL LOT IS SAID IN A SHORT SPACE, BUT THE TEXT ISN’T OVERLOADED, AND EASILY LENDS ITSELF TO DISCUSSION. on the core matters, and quotations are well-chosen.

Both serve to set the issues in their historic and contemporary contexts. The end result is that we’re given a clear appreciation of the doctrine of Scripture, an awareness of its detractors, and plenty of ideas for honouring the Word in our lives and churches.”

For more info: Primer is available from The Good Book Company www.thegoodbook.co.uk and you can follow Primer @PrimerHQ on Twitter and find more resources online at PrimerHQ.com

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BIBLICAL COUNSELLING AND THE LOCAL CHURCH At our Leaders’ Conference in 2015 we were joined by Steve Midgley from Cambridge who gave three seminars on Biblical Counselling.

It was suggested by a couple of delegates that we feature this ministry in Together magazine, so here is one pastor’s experience. Because of the subject matter, he will remain anonymous: “I’m coming to you as a last resort.” The man in front of me had tried various counsellors and therapies. When I heard those words, my heart sank.

If he is coming to me as a last resort to fix his problems, he is in real trouble. However, if he is willing to open the Bible and look to the Redeemer for help then there is hope.

Call to counsel I had completed the Certificate in Biblical Counselling* with Biblical Counselling UK only four months earlier and would have preferred a few more

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FIEC Together Spring 2016

months to feel ‘really ready’.

But God was sending a believer in Jesus to me who needed help. And God was calling me to move towards him in love.

IF I TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW A PERSON ...

THEN GOD’S WORD CAN BE APPLIED MORE ACCURATELY AND EFFECTIVELY. We started to meet. He shared his life-long struggle with identity. As a believer he had no assurance that he was accepted and loved by God. He felt like an outsider.

On a horizontal level he had a crippling sense that he did not measure up to the expectations of others. He

longed to be married and to have a family but couldn’t see how that would ever happen and therefore ‘what was the point of it all?’

Immediately my mind had helpful Bible verses coming to the fore. But rather than launch into them I deliberately slowed the process down and took time to get to know him. This went against my natural instincts as a Bible teacher but I have learnt that if I take the time to get to know a person and discern where the real, underlying heart struggle lies then God’s Word can be applied more accurately and effectively.

Asking and listening So over the next few weeks I listened to his story. I asked questions to get a fuller picture. I learnt that he had been sinned against in the past and this had clearly scarred him. Rather than assume that this was the sole reason for his struggle fiec.org.uk

I continued to get to know him. I asked ‘X-ray’ type questions that got below the surface and aimed at the heart – ‘What do you really want?’, ‘What is your greatest fear as you look to the future?’, ‘Why?’ The roots of the problem seemed much deeper.

Each time we met we considered what the Bible has to say about God and how He sees us in Christ. We also examined what Scripture says about us and our desires (which can become controlling) as opposed to our real needs. We reflected on what God’s Word says about the danger of manipulating others for our own ends rather than serving them out of love. We looked at what the Bible teaches on identity.

God’s Word at work I set ‘homework’, Scriptures to read and questions to ponder, so that the process of counselling could continue between sessions and so that God might continue to speak. I endeavoured to pray for him. Over the weeks it was encouraging to see God’s Word do its work.

God was revealing sin and confronting idolatry.

God was comforting him with His love and grace and gently calling him back.

As I write we are still meeting. We continue

fiec.org.uk

to explore the different ways that our hearts become divided and our minds believe all kinds of lies. Ultimately my aim and prayer is that my new friend will understand his responsibility to repent and return to the Lord with all his heart, “...for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love...” (Joel 2:13) And out of that new found security in Christ he may be set free to form healthy, serving relationships with others.

For more info: Visit www.biblicalcounselling.org.uk You can listen to Steve Midgley’s seminars from the FIEC Leaders’ Conference online at fiec.org.uk/resources *The two-year, part-time Certificate in Biblical Counselling is offered in London, Liverpool and in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh course is co-led by David Armstrong, elder at Charlotte Chapel – an FIEC church in the city.

Biblical Counselling UK is offering two conferences in 2016. The first is a residential conference from Monday 25–Thursday 28 April called Where Life and Scripture meet – Biblical wisdom in our complex problems. The second is a day conference in London on Saturday 30 April called The Addict in us All – Gospel hope when desire takes control.

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BOOK REVIEWS

We would like to say a big thank you to Jonathan Carswell and 10ofThose for providing these book reviews.

Money Counts

by Graham Beynon “Imagine if our lives were marked by contentment rather than coveting. Imagine if we gravitated towards generosity rather than grasping for more. Imagine if we felt peace about our fi nances, rather than anxiety.”

That’s how Graham Beynon begins M oney Counts. I t’s an appealing vision, but, as Graham acknowledges, that perspective on money often seems so far from the reality.

In this thoroughly rich guide to money from a Christian p erspective, Graham recognises that ultimately, this is a heart issue. He seeks to open up the Bible and illuminate the gospel, rather than g iving budgeting tips, money-saving tricks, o ra prescriptive set of financial rules. As he does so it becomes clear that the danger with money is that it can act as a wannabe god in our lives, falsely promising security and satisfaction.

Of course the problem isn’t that money is inherently bad, but that we let it sit comfortably on the throne of our lives. Graham shows how the Bible engages with the allure of greed, as well as growing generosity in our hearts.

This book is practical too. Graham gives personal examples and at the end of each chapter asks practical, yet heart-engaging, questions. He doesn’t make assumptions about the financial situation of the reader, and the book has useful appendices on debts, loans, mortgages and insurance, as well as some ‘go to’ resources.

Reviewed by Robin Ham, a church worker in Barrow-in-Furness

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FIEC Together Spring 2016

Ann Judson – A Missionary Life for Burma

By Sharon James I read this book under its former title My Heart in His Hands. Sharon James has extended the work for this reprint and it is quite brilliant.

She writes engagingly and her ability to blend original correspondence with the biographical narrative is exceptional.

The story is simply captivating and moving.

The full measure of the devotion Ann Judson showed to her family and her Saviour is compelling and challenging.

This is one of the very best Christian biographies I’ve read; but I am only 72.

Reviewed by John Tindall, The King’s Centre, Chessington

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hase any t to purc n a an w u o If y ks you c red boo tu a ut fe o r k c u of o e che off at th by % 5 e 2 it t s e b g se we o h fT o 0 s on the 1 ERFIEC a TOGETH . e d quoting o c tional a promo fiec.org.uk

Fearing God

Amaze them with God

By David Mears

by Kevin DeYoung

Prior to reading this book, the term ‘to fear the Lord’ was something that I was aware of in theory, but hadn’t really considered as something that I needed to worry about. To be a ‘God-fearing’ Christian was something only really spoken about in Little House on the Prairie. But then I started to read…

David Mears hits the nail on the head during the introduction. He writes “We don’t really ‘do’ fear these days” and it’s true; this thinking means I skim over ‘fear’ when mentioned in the Bible.

The author breaks it down into why it is so important to fear: the majesty of God; the holiness of God; and the God who judges.

We should be delighted to fear God, a rational good fear, a fear that drives us towards God, which sees us delighting in the God of justice in the assurance that Jesus has enabled us to one day stand in God’s presence with every guilt removed.

The final chapter explains briefly, and bluntly, what practising fear is like. I wish I could quote every line! This book is short, easy to read (it took me a little over 30 minutes to finish) and is a gem. If you’re like me and thinking ‘No, I don’t really think about fear much in the Bible’ – then I urge you to read this book.

In early 2016, Kevin DeYoung was in the UK speaking at Gospel Partnership conferences around the country.

His arrival coincided with the release of his new 48page book Amaze them with God. In many ways it is a manifesto for evangelism and discipleship. “How is it,” he asks, “that we can reach the next generation for Christ?” Do we turn up the music?

Just ‘up’ the presentation? Offer better coffee?

It is “easier and harder than you think”. This is how DeYoung explains it. “It’s easier because you don’t have to get a degree in postmodern literary theory or go to a bunch of stupid movies… the easy part is you don’t have to be with it. The hard part is you have to be with him. If you walk with God and walk with people, you’ll reach the next generation.”

Kevin then hangs his message on five key points: • Grab them with passion • Win them with love • Hold them with holiness • Challenge them with truth • Amaze them with God I’ve read few books that combine so much truth and passion, by someone who knows what it looks like in practice in the day-to-day life of the church.

I’m buying copies for my church family. Once you’ve read it you’ll be back for more I promise!

Reviewed by Steph Parsons, 10ofThose.com

Reviewed by Jonathan Carswell, 10ofthose.com fiec.org.uk

FIEC Together Spring 2016

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Since the last edition of Together:

NEW CHURCH PLANT RECOGNITIONS Divine Creations Church, Brierley Hill, Dudley Cowley Church Community, Oxford (planted by Magdalen Road Church)

NEW AFFILIATIONS Outpost Church, Ashford, Kent Netherseal Baptist Church, Derbyshire Lilbourne Evangelical Church, Nr Rugby Bridgeway Church, Stockport Abbey Baptist Church Abingdon New Life Community Church, Loughborough Rugby Evangelical Free Church, Rugby

Will you join us in praying for our nation using our Go Into prayer cards? We’re praying for 50 places where – relative to population size – there is little or no evangelical witness. Will you pray for churches to be planted in these places? Packs available from 10ofThose.com

fiec.org.uk fb.com/theFIEC @theFIEC 01858 434540 admin@fiec.org.uk Registered Charity No. 263354 Charity registered in Scotland SC040111

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