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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Reclaiming the idea and the simplicity of Ministry
In the first evening of the new training track Peter Read gave an excellent introduction to the idea of Christian ministry, discussing what ministry might involve, and where the agenda for church ministry might come from.
He poked fun at the idea that “Christian ministry” meant working full time for a church organisation, asking us to think far wider than that.
Though we’d all agree with the idea of the priesthood of all believers it’s easy to lapse in our minds into a hierarchy – full time workers, then the keen and gifted, and then the rest of us. Peter used the image of a cruise liner, where 5% of the people onboard doing all of the work, while the rest sit and try to relax, while the ship sails round in circles. He encouraged us to think of a battleship instead, where everyone plays their part, on a journey with a purpose!
His teaching style was to talk for a bit, then ask simple but thought provoking questions for us to discuss in twos and threes, and then gather feedback. He finished with a short video to make us consider what ministering to one another in a loving community might involve – particularly in the area of antique cars!
He poked fun at the idea that “Christian ministry” meant working full time for a church organisation, asking us to think far wider than that.
Though we’d all agree with the idea of the priesthood of all believers it’s easy to lapse in our minds into a hierarchy – full time workers, then the keen and gifted, and then the rest of us. Peter used the image of a cruise liner, where 5% of the people onboard doing all of the work, while the rest sit and try to relax, while the ship sails round in circles. He encouraged us to think of a battleship instead, where everyone plays their part, on a journey with a purpose!
His teaching style was to talk for a bit, then ask simple but thought provoking questions for us to discuss in twos and threes, and then gather feedback. He finished with a short video to make us consider what ministering to one another in a loving community might involve – particularly in the area of antique cars!
Monday, January 28, 2008
On your marks
Master Builders Leadership training track will commence on Wednesday 30th January 2008 at Hyde Town Hall - 6:30pm for food, 7:30pm for talks.
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