Equip Christians to join God’s mission –redeeming the whole of creation.
JUNE 2024
Because God is restoring all he has made…
…following him means helping every part of his world flourish.
‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it: for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.’
Psalm 24:1–2
Dear friend,
Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t stop with personal salvation. Jesus calls us into a movement of hope that will bring life to every human being and the entire planet. God’s great project is about the reconciliation and renewal of all things.
In this edition, you’ll meet Peter and Laura, who both work in the environmental sector, modelling ways we can look after God’s creation. Caring for the world that was made ‘by, for, and through’ Christ is an essential component of Christian discipleship. So, we’re delighted to enclose a copy of Paul Kunert’s provocative new essay, Jesus Died to Save the Planet, to inspire your thinking on this subject.
Inspiring and equipping individuals and churches for radical, whole-life discipleship is challenging and life-giving work. We can’t do it alone. This June, we’re seeking to raise £58,000 towards exciting resources, including video conversations about faith, culture, and everything in between, and a Bible edition designed to help Christians discover the everyday implications of the Bible today.
Thanks to a very generous supporter, all gifts given before the end of July will be doubled, so this is a great time to donate to LICC’s mission. If you give before 31 July, a £50 gift will become a gift of £100, and so on. We’d love you to consider getting involved! And we’d be so grateful.
Thank you for partnering with us as we equip Christians to seek the glory of God in all they do. Whether you give to LICC financially, support the mission by praying for us, use our resources, or tell others about us, we’re so thankful for your support.
Paul Woolley CEO
Donate now!
Q: How did you come across LICC?
I first heard about LICC from a church friend, and soon after I attended an LICC event locally in Scotland. My friend recommended looking at their resources, initially to help with my journey through university and employment.
At the time, I was particularly interested in the Launched university resource given that I was discovering what it meant to have a personal faith away from my family and church community back home.
Q: What difference has it made?
As someone who often works in the public sphere campaigning and working to protect the environment, I’m regularly putting myself out there on social media and across some of the biggest radio and TV programmes in the UK. LICC’s Wisdom Lab resources have helped me see how I can communicate with wisdom and love when sharing a message of creation care. This is especially important when engaging with diverse audiences across various media platforms.
Q: What does this look like in your everyday?
Each day, I consider how God can work through me as I seek to be his hands and feet by looking after the earth. Following LICC on social media and seeing their content swipe across my screen prompts me to pause and remember to seek God’s presence in whatever I am doing that day – whether it be a site visit, a radio interview, or a climate event.
LICC has made me think a lot about how I can bring my faith and work ever closer, especially given that my desire for us to produce less waste stems from knowing the God who created the world.
Check out Laura’s work on Instagram @lesswastelaura
God works through his people wherever they are. Here’s how one Christian is making a kingdom difference by caring for God’s planet.
Peter Forde works in the philanthropy team at Fauna & Flora, an international conservation charity managing more than 120 conservation projects in 48 countries. It works with local conservation partners to protect habitats, revive the ocean, combat climate change, and more.
‘My interest in the environment began when I’d go hiking and birdwatching growing up. God made the world and gave us the responsibility to care for it and that’s what Fauna & Flora try to do. So, there’s a natural fit between my job and my faith. My role involves researching individuals with connections to conservation and responding to requests for insights into potential funding opportunities. If I can play my part in securing funding that supports conservation, that results in better care for God’s world.
‘Media messaging on the environment can be lacking in hope, but, as a Christian, my hope rests in knowing that all of creation is in God’s hands. I look forward to God’s new creation, but it doesn’t mean that we can just kick back and neglect the existing creation here and now. Some think that conservation is purely for human-centric purposes, but I see my work as a way to serve God and join in his plan for the restoration of all things.
‘Especially working in fundraising, I’ve found that dismay at unjust wealth discrepancies can lead to wider concerns around inequality in the world. However, I try to maintain and share a positive outlook on how each person is created in God’s image, whether rich or poor.
‘My work often involves tight deadlines and pressure. If I can support someone with their tasks so that they have a less stressful week, I see it as a way to display the patience and kindness that God has shown me. Being known as a Christian in the workplace has led to lots of spontaneous conversations about faith and has somehow meant I’ve become the de facto authority in the office on the Christian perspective on different issues!’
Imagine a world where every Christian was equipped to join in God’s redemptive work in their day-to-day. Your support directly helps Christians like Peter live out kingdom values where they are – for the good of all creation.
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Here are six ways Peter bears Christlike fruit on the job.
Peter treats humans as divine imagebearers, rather than an inevitable burden on the environment.
Peter works diligently to secure funding to protect God’s creation.
Peter helps his colleagues when they’re struggling with workload or deadlines.
Colleagues seek out Peter’s views on the environment to understand the Christian worldview.
Peter’s work counters unjust decisions made by corporations that destroy natural habitats.
MESSENGER OF THE GOSPEL
Being known for his faith means Peter is able to share a Christian perspective with his colleagues.
A generous donor has offered to match all gifts given until the end of July to help accelerate the mission. This means your gift will have double the impact!
Help us raise £58,000 to reach new audiences as we invest in new resources including a new Bible edition and fresh online video content.
Your gift will mean more people inspired to live all of life for God’s glory – and the good of his creation.
Thank you so much!
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