Mission: United Kingdom

(Some of the following information is summarized from the book Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture, by Michael Frost. Special Thanks to Zach Langford for bringing it to my attention.)

In the book, Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World (2004), author Stuart Murray writes about the decline of the church in the United Kingdom, “the Methodist Church will have zero membership by 2037…the Church of Scotland will close its last congregation in 2033…the Church in Wales will be unsustainable by 2020.” By such numbers, Murray indicates that the United Kingdom is in the grip of post-Christendom which he defines as follows: “Post-Christendom is the culture that emerges as the Christian faith loses coherence within a society that has been definitively shaped by the Christian story, and as the institutions that have been developed to express Christian convictions decline in influence.”

One of the five Church of God congregations will be closing down this year. One is a new congregation beginning out of a home Bible study in London. The Church in the United Kingdom is definitely at a crossroads.

Is America too far behind? George Barna reports that only 13 % of adults and 7% of teens make decisions based on Biblical principles (The Barna Update, February 2006, “Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings”). Dan Kimball, in his book Emerging Worship, states that there is a growing restless with the increasing reality that the majority of our churches are 35 years and older, while asking where have the younger generations gone?

Our Church’s Vision has been “Touching the World for Christ;” to accomplish this, we want to be in missional partnerships with a nation on every continent by 2010. Working with and learning from the congregations in the United Kingdom help us not only create partnerships to Europe, but could help us increase our ministry effectiveness within the U.S. as well.

We invite you to come serve, love, and pray with us. reply to this post with your e-mail address to receive more information.

reflections on Happyness

my wife and i recently saw the Colombia Pictures' movie "the Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith and his son. we had been anticipating the movie for awhile, and were afforded the opportunity to see it a few weeks ago during our anniversary date.

i recently heard someone say that they didn't like it because the preview was better, that is, happier. in fact, the movie may be the best titled picture of the year because 99% of the story is about the pursuit and you only get 1% of "happyness".

that 99% may be the most emotionally gripping cinema that i've seen. again, that i've seen. it was more than Hotel Rwanda largely because i anticipated the tragedy and that seems still so distant. it was more gripping than Schindler's List because of years of education of the atrocity of the holocaust. but what gets you in "the Pursuit of Happyness" is this is America, and this is today--more people are grinding, crying, dying for that one bit of elusive "happyness" today. there are so few success stories, and when there are success stories, we'd rather focus on the 1% of their story. oddly, in this way, this movie reminded me of Erin Brokowich (starring Julia Roberts).

at one point, Will Smith's character reflects on the words "pursuit of happiness" from the Declaration of Independence. he essentially points out the genius of Jefferson to use that word "pursuit," indicating that happiness could rarely be obtained or contained beyond fleeting moments.

that's what makes the Gospel such GOOD NEWS

unfortunately, some push it as a means to happiness, but the Gospel offers something better, lasting, and life changing--Joy. The Gospel (literally, "Good News") is that God loves us and offers us life in Christ. some may say, "i am alive." but actually, we're all dying, as this life is only temporary. in Christ, we will have life forever, but we also have the fullness of life now (with peace, hope, and love) which allows us to face all things with joy. and possessing joy is greater than pursuing happiness:

• happiness is fleeting, based upon circumstances. but joy is lasting and based upon Christ.
• happiness is a feeling based on the external; joy is an attitude based on the internal, or perhaps better said, the eternal.
• sources of happiness can be taken, but joy can be chosen, despite what is lost.
• so few are able to reach moments of happiness--all are given the opportunity to find joy in Christ for all time.
• happiness happens when you accomplish or achieve something--joy happens when you accept someone, Jesus Christ. consider the apostle Paul's words from Philippians "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (4:12-13).

"the Pursuit of Happyness" reminded me of all i have to be thankful for: wife, kids, roof, clothes, and so much more. but it also reminded me to lovingly pray for and act justly for others--because, i'm in the "business" of spreading and sharing joy.