Tikhtak

In Kony's Shadow - Online Exhibition

Christian Aid has recently launched an online exhibition called In Kony's Shadow  (Warning that readers might find content disturbing) It is the story of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army and those it left behind  – from children forced to become soldiers to civilians caught up in the conflict. In my time working for CMS I  took part in a Campaign called "Break the Silence" highlighting the plight of many children who were taken captive by Kony and forced to become Child Soldiers and others who were displaced from their homes. It is incredible that almost 10 years on and he has still ot been caught.

Off to walk 3 hills in Yorkshire for charity

Tomorrow morning we plan to set off at 5 am to complete the Yorkshire 3 Peaks walk within 12 hours. The reward for doing this is apparently a medal and a tie, as well as raising over £1000 for CMS youth work in the UK.  Check out our just giving page if you would like to give something still. The walk takes in the 3 summits of Pen-y-ghent (694 metres - 2,276 feet), Whernside (736 metres - 2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (723 metres  2,372 feet) all in one circular route. The aim is to do it by 5pm so I can then get back to Derby to catch my train back to London. It may be actually more of a walking challenge to get back to Brixton from St Pancras!! There is a lot of press and publicity cruelly saying that I will not make it. All I have to say is, to borrow the words of the much maligned Prince Hal from Henry iv part 1.

I know you all, and will awhile uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness:
Yet herein will I imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base contagious clouds
To smother up his beauty from the world,
That, when he please again to be himself,
Being wanted, he may be more wonder'd at,
By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours that did seem to strangle him.
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wish'd for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.

Watch this space!

Back from another part of Europe

I arrived back from a sunny and Eastery Mission Net in Oldenburg to a cold, and season-less London. In all about 3000 young people came together from across Europe to study and engage with the theme of Mission . I was reminded on more than one occasion that Britain is part of Europe and it is important we join with our neighbours in God's Mission. Having lived in Prague for around 10 years I do have a sense of how every country has its own national identity and Britain is not alone in this. My highlights were leading a seminar with Jill Ford from All nationscollege on mission and Creative arts. It was great to finally work together and it was well received by all. I was also really glad to meet again Mime/Actor Carlos Martinez who performed on the main stage. I first came across him 10 years ago on n IFES conference and was so impressed by him that I went on a summer school he ran in Germany.  I interviewed him fro trax16 and talked about the possibility of bringing him to the UK...Watch this space. Perhaps the final highlight was being able to network with people from all over Europe and get a perspective on what is going on both there and in the UK  Check out my pics on Flicker

Uses for a Church building, Any ideas?

At the moment I suspect this is a big question for many churches. We have a service on Sunday then for the rest of the week we have an empty building? Perhaps some churches rent out rooms and halls to other groups ( at no small cost.) but essentially the main church building is derelict for 6 days.

Well the Church of England, with the help of the government, have today published guidelines for churches to help them access funding to open their buildings for community use. It seems that even the secular world sees the potential of these historic buildings and the unique way they are run. It is a bit ironic that while Christians are desperately looking for ways to get out of the building to reach out to the community, It seems the community have had enough of waiting and have decided to come on in.

This has extra resonance at present as my church at holy Trinity Clapham, has been undergoing a long consultation process with the church congregation to see how the building might be used, in the light of a major building project. I am not sure of the outcome but I know that there has been a distinct shortage of ideas.

Check out Dave Walker's cartoon take on this and how the Telegraph and George pitcher consider bringing health surgeries and post offices into the church... It seems if the church doesn't have any ideas the local high street will. Then again  I am always in need of a stamp on Sunday!

The wonder of Wellworths

Claire Robertson, Mother of two and former Woolworth's employee has reopened the Dorchester store, reemploying all her 20 former Woolies staff to mass hysteria. The store Wellworths is almost identical to Woolies with pick n mix sweets but has axed CD's, DVD's and children's clothing in favour of a gardening and pets section. It seems that Claire has real entrepreneurial blood and sensing the public grief to the loss of woolies she has met a real need. She has also learnt some lessons from the past and has axed those things which may actually had a sell by date (CD's and DVD's). She is also keen to give the store more of a local and personal feel, which is no small thing for a so called high street chain, but I guess that is the wonder of Wellies! Other Woolies stores have also approached her about re opening and Wellworths could well become the blue print for other vacant stores across Britain.

I am sure there are a lot of needs in British life which the church once met but now has retreated from. I wonder if there might be spiritual/social entrepreneurs out their willing to act in the same way as Claire Robertson. ( Check out Mark Berry's safe space Sanktuary) I guess the high street is a good place to start!