Welcome
This is a site for learners. It is a place where insights are shared and new ideas explored on how we might become more effective in our Christian witness
If you resonate with this then stay tuned — and be prepared to share some of the insights God has given you as we learn together
Bishop Graham Cray once spoke about the gift of Dissatisfaction... A strange concept — but as we heard him out it came across as a great means of being motivated by God. Motivated to understand His ways — and to come more in line with His will. Dissatisfied by our own feeble efforts that are often undergirded by the feeling that there may be a better way. That has been my experience... perhaps yours too
The longer we are in Christian ministry the more we come to realise that teaching content alone is not sufficient. Imparting knowledge is one thing — but being sensitive to attitudes and feelings, and cultivating relationships, is quite another. Addressing felt needs as part of our Christian compassion is the kind of thing that Jesus would also be doing...after all
It does not matter how good our content is — or how appropriate and correct it might be — IF we ignore the disposition of the people we are wanting to talk to about Jesus. To sit where they sit; to see the Gospel through their eyes; to experience the pressures and trials they face... could make us think again. Once we discover the feelings they have towards Christians, the Church and Jesus Himself, it could make all the difference as to what we say and do and how we say and do it
These pages will help you to both understand what is going wrong and point you towards a fresh way of planning the way forward... Here you can:
- Discover the Matrix — a practical, analytic tool for better understanding both the content and context of Christian witness, church-planting and the various ministries of the Church — global and local.
- Learn about the various roles the Church has to play in effectively communicating both the unity and diversity of the Gospel.
- Learn how various media serve — alongside the ministries of the local church — as tools each with different strengths (and weaknesses) for the purpose of carrying out these roles.
- Give us your feedback — suggestions, disagreements, experiences...