This week I’ve been re-reading ‘The Provocative Church’ by Graham Tomlin. I read this some years ago, but on this second reading its really come alive to me particularly with reference to much of the thinking I’ve been doing about the Kingdom of God and how our understanding and grasp of the Kingdom affects our … More Kingdom
The previous post, a section from O&R for Corps Officers in 1930, is the section about Village Warfare. Following on from the bit of stuff about Brigades, there was a few things that caught my eye in this chapter. Firstly, there is just the huge concept of reaching the whole district, even beyond the immediate … More On Village Warfare
I wanted to publish that section of the 1930s Orders and Regs for Corps Officers for a few reasons. Firstly, because it seems to me that it contains much of the 1914 Orders and Regs for Wards, the Army’s prototype cell groups derived from Wesley’s class system. Secondly, because they are a great picture of … More A few thoughts on ‘Brigades’
Today in the UK is designated ‘Back to Church Sunday.’ Many churches throughout the nation, including many Army corps, held what I guess could be best called ‘seeker service’ and people were encouraged to invite people back to church. I am all in favour of any initiative that engages any particular group of people to … More Back to Church Sunday
Whilst browsing through the Australia Southern Territory’s Salvos Out There campaign I came across some great training resources for Local Officers. I may be wrong, but I am not sure anything of this sort exists in the UK Territory. I realise there is some training for CYS and YPSMs, but not for other leaders. As … More Code Blue
3. Missional-Incarnational Impulse. We saw that a crucial element of discipleship and disciplemaking was a thrusting of ourselves into the world. For Jesus followers, it was the same. The concept of ‘sending’ is central to the mission of the New Testament. Jesus was sent by the Father, the Spirit was sent by Jesus into the … More Unleashing the Apostolic Genius in The Salvation Army – Part 3
2. Disciple making. Inherent in the concept of disciple making is the concept of the Holy Spirit imparting to us the grace we need to become, in essence, little Jesuses to our world. The early disciples ate, breathed and slept ‘Jesus’. Their task as talmidim, followers of their Rabbi Jesus, was to become like him … More Unleashing the Apostolic Genius in The Salvation Army – Part 2
It seems pretty safe to say that there is probably more conversation going on now about the nature , shape and ‘feel’ of Salvationism that possibly ever before. The fragmentation away from ‘first love principles’ have left us with a Salvation Army which isn’t always encouraging, certainly in the context in which I am placed. … More Unleashing the Apostolic Genius in The Salvation Army – Part 1
It is the most obscure thing to be a missionary in your own country and culture. The state of the nation, its spiritual temperature, its distance from the ‘church’ lead us to a very specific challenge. That challenge is how do we share Jesus with people. In many ways, we face a not to dis-similar … More The one about….our missionary challenge
10. I believe that we exist primarily for those at the edges and margins of our society, the last, the lost and the least. I did tell you that I had one to add to the list which I think is crucial. These are our people. Its interesting to note that when William Booth declared … More Affirmations #10 Faith at the margins
Andrew S M Clark 