Pausing to say thank you

It is a little difficult to imagine now how uncertain things felt when our church first began. 

I had to settle my heart that the church plant might fail, whilst at the same time trusting God for his favour. I don’t know what the others felt, but they certainly took a risk in becoming founding members.

Those early Sundays were interesting. A bunch of supportive people showed up for our first-ever meeting in late September, but in the following weeks, it was a little more shaky. We were essentially no bigger than a home group.

Eugene had found the venue and negotiated its use for a mere £10 p/h. Joshua set up the tech (about three cables and a couple of mics). Jenny and Sie made cakes and tried to keep the two kids quiet at the back. Irina printed some bulletins with song lyrics. Dan Tan or Jocelyn led worship (except that one Sunday when they were both away and it fell to me). Danny offered lots of much-needed encouragement whilst getting us registered as a charity. I preached my heart out, making sure my voice reached the second row (there wasn't a third). And we all prayed. That was pretty much it.

But then Annabelle showed up and said she wanted to join. She brought Hannah and Estera and Jamie. Shanice found us too. And so did Chloe, and then James and Tim. We were absolutely flying… as long as everyone showed up at the same time.

I reflect back now and I’m sort of surprised anyone stayed. I’m not sure I would have joined a thing like this. 

But then I’m less surprised when I remember how much fun we had, and how incredibly passionate and enthused everyone was. And most of all, we were really quite certain that God was with us.

And so, early on, we settled it that it was important to mark certain moments to give thanks to God. Nothing is certain except his faithfulness and his goodness. So, we wanted to take our opportunities to pause and say thank you, especially with each year the church grew older.

Now we’re approaching 10 years. A decade. And God has been so faithful and so, so good. I would love for every one of you to join us to celebrate on 4th October as we mark this moment in the life of our church. 

(Photo from Grace London’s first birthday)

How to move house

Starting a new congregation in Holborn has an air of familiarity. We last started a new congregation in 2018 when we began the evening service. Even then, as a much smaller church, we needed more space to welcome newcomers and foster a deep sense of community.

We faced a similar challenge again in 2019 when we outgrew our previous venue and found ourselves regularly squeezing past each other to get to the coffee machine (sound familiar?). We moved both services into a bigger space at the London Nautical School on that occasion. But at both these points in our church’s history, the desire for more people to hear the gospel and experience genuine community meant a shift was needed.

In establishing a new congregation at a new venue, we’re combining two shifts we've previously made. But while there is a familiarity to multiplying again, we recognise it's no small change. There's much to be done, and we need Jesus' guidance and your support as we move ahead with the launch.

There are parallels between what we’re doing in planting a church family into Holborn and what it is like to move house. From experience, there is usually a rapid change of perception from ‘I don’t have that much stuff - how hard can it be?’ to ‘There’s actually a lot to do here… We’re going to need some help’.

When Nats and I moved into our current flat, we called upon an army of willing volunteers to help us with almost everything. Some friends helped to clean our old flat, others provided lunch for everyone, and some put their Tetris skills to good use and packed the van with all our belongings. Even after we moved in, more people helped us paint the walls, put up shelves, and lent us their car for the inevitable IKEA trip. Everyone played a part, and their combined efforts and skills were essential in making the whole thing successful.

In scripture, we see the same pattern. God gives people specific roles to fulfil his purposes. There are countless examples throughout the Bible of individuals and groups of people being raised up by God to serve him and his people.

As we take this step of faith in forming a new community on the other side of the Thames, I want to encourage you to consider what part you can play. Can you help to establish serving teams in the Holborn congregation? Or perhaps strengthen our existing teams in Waterloo? In any case, be encouraged that Jesus is building His church and is inviting you to play a part in whatever capacity you can.

A significant step in the life of our church

This autumn term, we plan to begin a third service on Sundays. This new congregation will meet across the river in Holborn, from 13th October, Lord willing.

The decision to plant another congregation has come after much prayer and discussion among the elders. There is always a temptation to keep things as they are, not least because church life is so rich. Why mess with that?! 

But the gospel is designed to multiply. Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae about ‘the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth…’ And Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.’

If you’ve ever fermented anything – sourdough starter, kimchi, sauerkraut – you’ll know that the fermenting jar can explode if there isn’t a release valve. The yeast (or leaven) multiplies rapidly, releasing carbon dioxide, and causing the pressure to build. That’s the vivid picture Jesus is using when he talks about this inherent power of the gospel to bubble and ferment with explosive growth.

For quite some time now, we have been facing a significant pressure on space, especially in the morning service. We have felt the need for more capacity, but so far the Lord has not opened the doors to a larger venue. Instead, it seems that the Lord has (quite unexpectedly) provided an opportunity for us to use a suitable venue just north of Waterloo Bridge. This piqued our interest because, around eight years ago, we felt the Lord speak to us about planting a congregation north of the river, and meeting both sides of the Thames. We have not wanted to force this, or cause it to happen prematurely. But now it feels clear that this is the right step for the church. It’s now time to release the pressure and give space for the church to multiply.

Therefore, Sundays at Grace will most likely look like this: 10am Waterloo, 11.30am Holborn, 5pm Waterloo. This is a big change and we’re going to feel the stretch. As we take this big step forward, please continue praying for our church – its health, maturing, and spiritual life. 

Our expectation is that most of you will remain committed to your current congregation, which is ideal. But equally, you may feel led to help start this new congregation in Holborn. If that is the case, we’d like to hear from you and would ask you to fill in the form and then join us on Sunday, 22nd September, at 1.30pm for a meeting to talk and pray this through. 

Update, September 2024

We are pleased to confirm that the Holborn service will be meeting at 11.30am, from 13th October at this address:

The New Academic Building,
The London School of Economics,
54 Lincoln's Inn Fields,
London, WC2A 3LJ

Charl, Kate, and a spiritual family

For many of us, our biological family lives far away. Phone calls, gifts, and occasional visits make the distance bearable, though never painless. We long to embrace, go for a walk, or share a meal with our loved ones. 

While parents and siblings may be distant, we can still enjoy familial relationships here. Forging friendships with spiritual brothers and sisters, young and old, allows us to gain a sense of family - a London family. Our longing to be deeply known and loved can be met through God's people, even in a foreign city.

Charl and Kate know the realities of living far from biological kin and the joy of forming deep friendships in the church. As leaders of one of our life groups, they tell us about themselves and their vision for nurturing a sense of family in their group.

---

Charl, Kate, Joshua, Jacob & Rebecca

Please tell us about yourselves.

Kate: I grew up in Grahamstown in South Africa, met Charl at university, and we have been married for ten years. We moved to London eight years ago. I was a teacher and am now a certified child and baby sleep consultant. 

Charl: I grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where I also studied Quantity Surveying. Kate and I met at the church we were attending and got married in 2013. We have three children: Joshua (5), Jacob (3) and Rebecca (1).


Charl and Kate lead one of our 22 mid-week life groups. Please tell us a bit about your group.

We have 16 people in our life group. We meet at our house in Kennington every Wednesday from 7-9:30 pm, and we love sharing a meal and getting stuck into meaty conversations about the Bible as we study God's word. We also seek to support one another as a spiritual family through life's various trials and tribulations.

Snapshots from the last year

What’s your vision for the life group?

We see our life group as a mini-family within the greater church family. We hope to all grow 1) in our knowledge of God's word, 2) in our knowledge of who God is and 3) in our love for one another as we do life together.


What’s your favourite thing about being a life group leader?

We love seeing our group grow in their knowledge of who God is, demonstrated in how they love and support one another. It’s also been amazing to share our lives with people in the church who we might not have otherwise had the opportunity to know at such a deep level. 


How can we pray for you and the life group?

Please pray for continued growth in our knowledge of Christ and his great love for us. Please also pray that more life groups would be able to open up and have the same opportunity we have had to sow into one another’s lives.

Biblical Creativity

What do the average banker and painter have in common? Probably not much. Their labours are utterly unalike. One works in an office, the other in a studio. One works with numbers, the other with colour. But despite their differences, the Bible bestows dignity on the work of both. The artist is as much a ‘worker' as the financier, and vice versa.

In a world which prizes productivity, this is important to note. Creative work does not make the world go round like money does. We would immediately feel the crushing effects of a financial crisis, but if every artist stopped working tomorrow, it would take longer to notice. However, the consequences would be similarly crushing if only different and more gradual. Life would slowly become less beautiful and vibrant. Culture would grow stale. While creativity doesn't hit productivity goals like other forms of work, it is equally vital.


Creativity is work

The Bible affirms the place of creativity in its opening pages. In Genesis 1, God gives Adam and Eve a mission: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1.28). 

God honours them with the responsibility to 'subdue' the earth, to tame a sinless but uncultivated world. Pre-fall creation was not corrupted, but neither was it finished. God looked at the world with delight - it was ‘good’ - but there was more to be done. Earth’s raw materials existed but remained untamed. So, God called Adam and Eve to create order in this beautiful but wild landscape.

Creating art is one way to subdue the earth. Just as farmers tame creation by ploughing and sowing, artists do so by composing and performing. Their materials are not seed and soil but colour, language and sound. So, like farming, gardening, or banking, creative work is honest work.


Creativity is hard

However, we often imagine creative work simply as musing for hours, waiting for a genius idea to strike. This notion only hinders us from viewing artistry as honest work. However, understanding creativity as a practice of cultivating God’s creation can help us.

As any labourer will tell you, cultivation requires persistent hard work, even in the driving rain. A farmer doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances or a particular emotion to get ploughing. There will be moments of joy and reward, but grit, patience, and endurance are anyways required.

Similarly, creative work is neither easy nor passive but, like any work, requires persistence. Understanding creativity as a form of cultivating shows us we needn’t wait for a stroke of genius. Like the farmer, we must work even when inspiration is lacking and circumstances are suboptimal. As painter Chuck Close said, “Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.”


Creativity blesses others

Finally, creative work done well demonstrates God’s kindness to others. Beautiful art, music, choreography, and architecture enrich our lives. Artistry nourishes our souls. It is one way God showers his common grace over humanity - and the world cannot do without it.

So, if God has gifted you with artistic talent and creativity, use it to his glory! Follow his command and cultivate the world through your creativity. Doing so may sometimes feel difficult or uninspired, but your labour will make the world more vibrant. Spend your life for the glory of God and the good of others, and start creating.

How Do You Read the Bible?

Have you ever read the Bible and felt like you're not ‘getting it’? This feeling can stem from approaching the Bible with a faulty paradigm - a framework or set of expectations that shapes our understanding of reality. Paradigms operate subconsciously, guiding how we interpret and understand our experiences. We all bring paradigms when we read and study the Bible. So, it's helpful to examine ourselves and consider which paradigms we've adopted and whether they're helping us understand God’s Word.

Here are three common but unhelpful paradigms for studying the Bible. All three share a ‘reference book mentality’. They treat the Bible like Wikipedia or a dictionary – a source only helpful for answering our questions. We flip through reference books to find the information we need rather than reading them cover to cover. While the Bible addresses human needs and answers our questions, if we read it like a reference book, we miss out on the story it’s telling.


The Bible Is Not a Theology Dictionary

The first of these ‘reference book’ paradigms says, “The Bible is a theology dictionary.” This paradigm treats the Bible like an expert resource on theological matters: how to structure a church, how to deal with the problem of evil, how to understand Jesus’ humanity and deity, etc.

Reading the Bible like this can be helpful. However, when this becomes the sole way we engage with it, we miss the grand narrative of the Bible, the greatest story ever told. We forfeit the richness of a passage if we reach for it simply to make a broader theological point. The best theologians first seek to understand passages of Scripture in their original context, as part of this greatest story, and then derive theological principles from that understanding.


The Bible Is Not a Moral Handbook

It’s not uncommon for people to appeal to the Bible as the basis for their moral beliefs. An overemphasis, however, trains others who follow Jesus (and those who don’t) to see it primarily as a rulebook.

Of course, deriving moral principles from the Bible is necessary – otherwise, we would arrive at moral preferences without any authority but our own. The Bible itself begins with the question, “Who gets to define what is good, humans or God?”.

But instead of only answering moral questions with a set of rules, the Bible invites people into a dynamic process of forming and aligning their ethics and character with God. For example, Jesus affirms the rule against murder and also teaches his disciples that there is a greater depth to it, that anger and hatred within a person’s heart are akin to murder (Matthew 5:21-22). A rulebook tells people what to do and leaves it at that. Instead, the Bible is designed to cultivate wisdom and purity in us and form us into people who need fewer rules because our character has been formed by God through his word.


The Bible Is Not a ‘Devotional Grab Bag’

At best, this paradigm professes a (true) belief that the Bible exists to connect us to the presence of the living God. But, it also focuses attention only on the ‘feel-good’ sections of Scripture that leave us with a strong emotional sensation. In the process, the devotional grab bag paradigm ends up doing what the other reference book paradigms do – sidestepping the full story of the Bible.


Perhaps the Bible has become stale for you, like flicking through the pages of a dictionary or rulebook. Exposing these three unhelpful paradigms is not meant to leave you deflated but hopeful. God gave us the Bible. He could have given us a theological dictionary, a moral handbook or a devotional grab bag if that is what he thought we needed but, he gave us the Bible: a divine-human book that speaks God's word to his people, telling the greatest story ever told that ultimately leads us to Jesus, the one who has power to change lives.

Church planting in Thailand

Life in Chiang Rai, Thailand, couldn’t be more different from London. The language, climate, history, and traditions would confuse and amaze us. There are no crisp mornings or packed tube carriages but tropical humidity and a slower pace of life.
 

But as in London, the gospel is being proclaimed in Chiang Rai. Daniel and Marcia planted One Light Church there several years ago which, like Grace London, is part of a global network called Advance. We asked Daniel to tell us more about the church and how we can support them.

---

Please tell us about yourself.

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to Southern California with my family in 1985 aged five. Marcia was born in Orange County, California. We met at university and married in 2003. We have four children - Hannah (20), Isaiah (17), Micah (12), and Joseph (8). Before moving to Thailand, I worked as a lawyer, and Marcia was a homemaker/children's ministry director at Southlands, our sending church, where I also served as an elder.
 

Daniel, Marcia, Hannah, Isaiah, Micah, & Joseph.

Why did you decide to plant One Light Church?

In 2015, we made a trip to Myanmar and Thailand, and God made it prophetically clear to us and the leaders at Southlands that we should plant in Chiang Rai. After a year of preparing, in July 2016, we moved from California to Chiang Rai as a team of 18 people (11 adults, 7 children) and planted One Light Church.


What are the challenges and joys of planting a church in this context?

There are many challenges to church planting in Thailand: a new language and culture, a society given over to Buddhism and animism, differing worldviews of those joining the church, distance from family, constant goodbyes and high turnover rates.

The joys: we love living in Thailand. We love Thai people and culture. We love the pace of life and greater connection to nature and older ways of life. We love sharing the gospel with people who otherwise would never have heard about Jesus. With the rampant familial problems in Thai society, we love having a church that offers belonging to a new spiritual family. We love the privilege of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
 

What is encouraging to see in church life?

We are seeing momentum and growth among the Thai people of our community and anticipate planting a Thai congregation and appointing Thai elders. We also recently launched our first Thai cohort on the Advance Theology Course, which we translated into the native language.

We have planted a village church into an unreached people group called the Red Lahu and are seeing people come to faith in a neighbouring village too.

Finally, we have various marketplace endeavours, including an English language school and food business, and we anticipate God bringing favour and growth.


How can we pray for you?

1. We're always asking God to multiply our resources: time, finances, and people. Particularly among the local young people, we long for God to raise up more leaders. Please also pray for profitability for our marketplace endeavours and financial support to sustain life here and generously meet the material needs of those we encounter.

2. Clarity and faithfulness in stewarding what we have, particularly our youth and worship culture.

3. Vision and unity around further multiplication in Thailand, neighbouring countries, and Asia-Pacific.


Let's pray for Daniel, Marcia and One Light Church, and praise God that the gospel is reaching the nations.

PRAY FOR THIS

A brief story to inspire you:
 

I recall hearing a respected Scottish preacher reminisce about a prayer meeting started in Scotland in the middle of the twentieth century. A couple of ruling elders in the Church of Scotland covenanted to meet together every week to pray for revival in their church. The sad state of the Church of Scotland today might cause one to question what effect their prayers had. But in the latter part of the twentieth century the Church of Scotland was served by some great evangelical pastors. As the story is told, the weekly prayer meeting never grew beyond those two elders, and after a couple of years of weekly meetings, their burden lifted and the prayer meeting disbanded – without any observable signs in answer to their prayers. However, some years later, it was calculated that many of those great evangelical pastors in the church were called and trained for the ministry during the period those elders were praying. 

– John Currie, The Pastors as Leader, p.108 (the story was confirmed from various sources)

You know you must pray. It’s the heart cry of a child of God. But sometimes you’re not sure what to pray for. Every Christian experiences this uncertainty at times.

The best way to begin – and to continue and grow – is to take seriously Christ’s own teaching on prayer. And I want to remind you, dear church, that on two separate occasions Jesus told his disciples to ‘pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send our labourers into his harvest’ (see Matt 9.38 and Luke 10.2).

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said this in response to the need. He felt deep compassion for the crowds ‘because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’, and so he told the disciples to pray for labourers. 

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus said this as he looked at the beginnings of a solution. He was about to send out seventy-two(!) preachers to go to different places – a large number of workers, but still far, far too few. So, he tells them ‘pray earnestly…’

There are a number of reasons why this requires earnest prayer. The people needed must truly feel called by God; they must be willing to endure the downsides and difficulties of the call; they must possess certain gifts; they need to have the right kind of character; they need to actually obey and say ‘yes’ to Jesus. 

I believe, therefore, that two things are true: First, the need is still there. There’s a harvest of salvation, and too few labourers – in our church, in our city, in our nation, in this world. Second, I believe that God responds to this divinely instructed prayer request.

Therefore, I want to charge you as a church: Pray earnestly, and pray every day, that God would raise up many workers. May we live both to witness and ourselves become a part of the answer to this prayer.

Our new intern

Some of our most faithful church members will rarely take to the stage. Instead, they pour themselves out for others in countless hidden ways. They are the life-giving undercurrent of our church.

Amy Walter is one such person. Over the four years she has attended Grace London, Amy has served on six different teams, all largely out of the spotlight. Even if you haven’t spoken to her directly, she has probably blessed you in some way. 

So, we are delighted she’s joining the staff team in September as an intern. Read below to hear more about Amy and her new role.

---

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in a coastal village near Plymouth in a family that loves Jesus. During my school years, the faith of those in my family and at church inspired me. The way they reflected Christ in word and deed drew me to Him.

I moved to London in 2020 to study at Imperial College and soon found Grace London. Various lockdowns and online church made it a challenging transition, but even so, I experienced depths of Christian fellowship here that I hadn’t before. I have just finished my degree and am honoured to spend the next year interning full-time for the church.

In my spare time, I love reading, cycling, baking, playing guitar, spending time with kids, going on walks and hanging out with friends and family.


Why did you want to intern at Grace? 

God has been breaking my heart for what breaks His: the lost, broken, sick and poor. I feel called to serve those in need and share the love and hope of Christ. The internship is a valuable opportunity to do this and grow in my giftings as I support the church’s ministries.

My intern role will cover a range of areas, including 1-1 discipleship, children’s work, youth mentoring, Webber Street coordination, and expanding Grace’s mercy ministries. It’ll keep me very busy!

Amy (kneeling, second from right) and her life group at the church weekend away

Why are you passionate about these ministries?

God has used trials in my life to reveal more of His heart. I come from a low-income household on free school meals and benefits, and I am currently walking through long-term grief as I lose my dad to Alzheimer’s. Through these experiences, God has grown my empathy, compassion and desire to care for those in need. I long for others to taste His goodness as I have.

Last month, I had a precious encounter with a man at Webber Street. He arrived openly depressed, grumbling and lacking purpose. But over the meal, something visibly changed as we listened, empathised, and encouraged him. He left feeling dignified in Christ, listened to (like never before), and tangible weight off his shoulders. He even left with a smile. Praise God for this special moment!


How can we pray for you?

Please pray for guidance as we seek to serve new communities and open up opportunities to share the gospel. I long for those in need to experience the riches of Christ, even amidst earthly poverty. Please pray that God would soften many hearts in this city and reveal Himself powerfully.

I would also value prayer for sustainable rhythms of work and rest as I adjust to full-time ministry and that the Lord would bring many volunteers to support the work.


Let’s pray for Amy and a fruitful and joy-filled internship. Please also consider supporting Amy financially. Donations will cover her living costs, enabling her to do this incredible work. Head to her fundraising page here.

Lessons from the last seven years

As some of you know, I'm going on sabbatical soon. My last day is today. At Grace, our policy is that pastors receive a 12-week sabbatical for every seven years of service. This gives us time to step away from the day-to-day ministry of church leadership, to restore physically and spiritually, and to reflect, read and spend extended time with our families. Jen and I are incredibly grateful for this sabbatical. I'm also very thankful for an expanded staff team (Daniel, George, Pete etc.), that will share the pastoral and organisational load in my absence (alongside Andrew and Luke).

Seven years ago, I left my start-up job to work full-time for the church. At the time, it was a big adjustment. I exchanged the daily start-up hustle for theology books, pastoral meetings and some church administration. Looking back, it feels like the Lord had to do a lot of work in me. It took me quite a while to feel like I was thriving in ministry. Seven years later, I adore my job. Some might say, too much! I love the relationships I have across the church, the team I work with, the opportunity to walk with different people and to be regularly encouraged by what God is doing amongst us. Here are a few reflections that I've learnt along the way! 

1. I am not the Messiah! As a pastor, we're called to shepherd the flock God has given to us (1 Peter 5.2–5). This encompasses all sorts of activities, for example, speaking into peoples' lives, helping those who've become trapped in sin, or discipling someone through a specific challenge. I find this part of ministry very invigorating. And yet, the pastoral needs of the church can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are times when I fall into thinking that I'm responsible for solving people's problems. I have learnt to take great comfort from remembering that Jesus is the ultimate shepherd of the sheep. Psalm 127 reminds us that because the Lord is watching over (and building) his church, and so, we do not need to fill our lives with anxious toil. It's wonderfully releasing to remember he ultimately does not need us, but simply chooses to use us. 

2. Ministry flows out of your relationship with God. The most important thing I can do, in ministry, is to walk closely with the Lord. Everything we do is part of the overflow of our relationship with Him. We share most effectively from what he has been teaching us. We must avoid the temptation to simply 'summon up' enthusiasm for the Lord, and instead, regularly return to Christ, to receive from him, and then to invest in others. I need to keep remembering that the Lord is more interested in who I'm becoming rather than what I can do for him. 

3. Christians need the gospel. Early on in ministry, I used to think, 'every Christian already knows that Jesus died for their sins, I should probably tell them something new'. I was wrong. I've learnt that Christians constantly need to be reminded of the gospel, of the abundant love of Christ, of the welcome we receive at God's table, and of the never-ending mercy of God. We regularly fail to live as we should, and, sometimes, we feel utterly defeated. It's my (and others') privilege to lead wandering and bruised sheep back to the grace of God. As we remember and receive the grace of God, our hearts are turned to worship, we find the freedom to be honest about the sin in our lives and often experience a renewed desire to walk in holiness. 

4. The importance of multiplying myself. Over the last few years, particularly as the church has grown, I've felt the increasing importance of raising up leaders to support and encourage the church. I take inspiration from Barnabas, the apostle whose given name meant 'son of encouragement'. He got alongside Paul (Acts 9 & 11) and helped him to begin his apostolic ministry. His investment in Paul resulted in huge kingdom impact as Paul went on to take the gospel across the known world. As I've grown older, I've come to realise that I will have a far greater impact through others rather than trying to do it all myself. I want to spend the rest of my life raising up others to strengthen the church (e.g. pastors, life group leaders, evangelists etc.). And of course, we all have a part to play in serving the church. 

5. Expect conflict and pursue reconciliation. Over the past seven years, I've witnessed my fair share of conflict. And experienced some myself! I used to hide from conflict or pretend that it didn't exist. Most of us do the same. Unfortunately, unresolved conflict and hurt can fester and divide us from each other, which we don't want in the church (Eph 4.2). I've come to expect that we'll almost inevitably hurt each other (particularly as we build deep friendships). And yet, I've also witnessed the power of forgiveness. So, now, when I see hurt or conflict, I want to move towards it and actively pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. As you invest your life in the church, you may be hurt. But, unity is precious. Let's keep striving for it. 

The last seven years of working for the church have been a wonderful learning experience. It has been a real privilege and joy. We'll miss the church family over the next three months. It'll be great to be back with you in October. 

Dinner with Andrew & Megan

Andrew and Megan lead one of our 22 life groups. These mid-week groups meet in homes across the city to study the Bible, pray and enjoy dinner together. Being part of a life group is often the best way to get to know others more deeply.

Given that life groups are vital to our church community, we asked Andrew and Megan to share a bit about themselves and their group.

---

Megan, Andrew and their son, Judah

Tell us about yourself.
 

Megan: I grew up in Florida but moved away from the US after I graduated from university. Andy and I met in the Middle East doing humanitarian relief work and got married in 2015. A couple of years later, we joined Grace after moving to South London.

Andrew: I grew up just outside of London, in Surrey. I was raised in a nominally Christian home, and it was only during my final week of university that I truly put my faith in Christ. I now work for PwC, and in my spare time, I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching rugby and experimenting in the kitchen. 

What’s your vision for the life group?
 

A: There's a danger in a big city like London that our faith becomes overly knowledge-based. I feel passionate about helping my brothers and sisters engage with the Bible not only intellectually but also with their hearts. That we would not just be hearers of the Word but also doers. Our prayer over the years has been to see spiritual formation in people’s lives - to see passionate worshipers rooted in the Word of God and counterculturally walking in the ways of Jesus.

Visiting Chepstow Castle on their weekend away

What’s your favourite thing about being a life group leader?
 

M: I love the diversity of people that have come to our group over the years. When you have perspectives on Jesus from places like Nigeria, South Africa, Columbia, Ukraine, Singapore, England, and Canada, all in the same group, you get a little taste of what heaven will be like. Diversity isn’t always easy, but it is such a beautiful thing when our cultural blinders are removed, and we get a bigger picture of who God is.
 

How can we pray for you and the life group?

 
M: We’ve just come back after a few months out from life group leading following the birth of our son, Judah. Our group has expanded in the past month or two, so please pray that we continue to grow together, learn from one another, and grow in holiness.

A: We are entering our fifth iteration of life group and are blessed to welcome many new faces into our home, having recently said goodbye to many who have left the city. Please pray for wisdom and hearts overflowing with joy and love as we follow the calling the Lord has given us.
 

Andrew and Megan’s life group meets at their home in South London, near Burgess Park. They gather at 7pm for dinner followed by bible study and prayer. Most weeks they have 12-15 people.
 

If you’d like to join a life group, please attend our Welcome Evenings first. These are a set of three Wednesday evenings where you can meet other newcomers over dinner, hear the church’s vision, and find a life group to join. To sign up, head to grace.london/events.

Summer Reads

Summer is a great time to start a new book, whether on the plane to a holiday destination or in a nearby park on a warm August evening. Getting lost in the pages of a good book rejuvenates our imagination, rests our minds, and gives us a fresh perspective on the world. 

But with limited space in our suitcases and apartments, we must pick wisely. Not all books are compelling or well-written. Randomly taking one off a shelf can leave us disappointed. With this in mind, we asked the staff team to share some of their recent favourites.

---

Daniel:

Unbreakable by Andrew Wilson. This book might be small–it can be read cover to cover in less than an hour–but it is certainly mighty. It tackles questions about the Bible like Who wrote it? How can we trust what it says? and Do we have the right books? by exploring what Jesus said about scripture. It is written in an accessible and witty style making it both informative and a joy to read. A great book to read, re-read, and gift to others.

---

George:

Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin. “Your child is not only your progeny; he or she is your protégé.” With that in mind, discipling our families can feel like an intimidating task, but it doesn't need to be. This book offers a simple structure to help parents develop a sustainable rhythm of gospel-centred discipleship focused on three key areas: time, moments, and milestones. It’s practical, filled with Scripture and personally applicable as we raise our children in the love and fear of the Lord.

---

Bisi:

Telling a Better Story by Joshua Chatraw. This book is one of the best books I’ve read on evangelism. It explores how we can use storytelling, creativity, and imagination to engage our friends in conversations about Jesus. Empowering and inciteful, this book was a helpful reminder that the Christian story is not only credible but better in every way.

We must pray!

Something serious had happened. A woman in her twenties was on a call, walking quickly and speaking urgently. Phone in hand, headphones connected, she declared loudly, “WE MUST PRAY!”. It was the only logical and sensible advice she could give her friend. Whatever they were facing, prayer was the answer. She didn’t suddenly lower her voice in hushed solemnitude or opt to send the praying hands emoji. She was full of faith. It was a battle cry.

For me, it was a jolt. Faith in the public square! What boldness! Revival! But. Wasn’t she a bit loud? A little overly expressive? Does she really believe that, or was she just saying it?

I’m a Londoner, and unfortunately, cynicism is the air I have been breathing since birth. “Cynicism is the God of the thinking person”, said one pastor, and it often masquerades as discernment or a ‘healthy’ mistrust of people as it unpicks motives and dissects even a genuine smile. Of course, there are times when we ought to exercise significant caution and wisdom. Many of us have listened to The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, experienced the disappointment of those we should have been able to trust, or faced real pain that remains hard to fully understand.

The cynic, however, has allowed negativity and suspicion to become chronic, so much so that it distorts his view of God's character and paralyses his prayer life. Yes, we need to acknowledge what is truly broken about our world. Yes, the devasting effects of sin have infiltrated our hearts, our relationships and all of creation. But the Christian also knows that on the other side of brokenness is a real, solid, grounded hope. We have a Father who is more trustworthy than we can comprehend and the wonderful hope of redemption through Christ.

“The opposite of a childlike spirit is a cynical spirit” (Paul E. Miller). In Scripture, we are repeatedly reminded about how much Jesus loves children. Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18). I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children (Luke 10). What is it to have a childlike spirit? A child is full of wonder and curiosity, not anxious about societal power dynamics or insincere motives. He knows he is pretty helpless and isn't ashamed of it. He also believes that his daddy is good and trustworthy, and is happy to rest in his embrace. This is the posture we are called to as we pray.

In our family, we’ve started declaring “WE MUST PRAY!” for the smallest things. Partly as a joke, but partly as a jolt out of cynicism. Brothers and sisters, let’s not confuse intelligence for cynicism, or childlike trust for naivety. Join me in repenting of cynicism and enjoying the wonderful hope of the gospel.

Some practical suggestions for journeying out of cynicism:

• Go to bed. Sleep-deprived people struggle to pray and are more negative about most things

• Read A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. I can’t recommend it enough, and this email was inspired by it

• Redeem the prayer hands emoji 🙏 by only sending it when you actually pray

• Swap city breaks for forest breaks. Let the creativity of God move you to awe and prayer

• Note down short notes every few days where God is showing you glimpses of his goodness, his work in the world, and how he is renewing all things

• Spend time meditating on Psalm 91

You’re all ministers of the word

One of the greatest dangers churches face is the professionalisation of ministry, when the gap between the pulpit and the pew widens. At this point, church members become consumers instead of co-labourers, and the work of ministry is entrusted into the hands of a few. At this point, immaturity rules the day.

The New Testament has an entirely different view on how the church should operate. The place of leadership is never diminished, but the dignity and purpose of every individual – the priesthood of all believers – is elevated. When this happens, there is potency and life that flows through the body.

One of the core ministries of all believers (that includes you) is the ministry of the word. Aside from the authoritative preaching that is expected from ordained pastors, each person in the church family is entrusted to wield the word for the building up of the body.

This happens in numerous ways, but the main ones mentioned in the New Testament are these. First, there’s encouragement (see 1 Thess 4.18; 5.11; Heb 3.13; 10.25). This is not so much encouragement in the way we think of it – ‘You’re amazing! Back yourself! You’re gonna slaaaay’. Instead, it’s something like this: Putting courage into others by telling them the truth of what we believe; stoking up the fire of faith by helping others cling to the truth.

Second, there’s teaching (as in Col 3.16 or Titus 2.3). Obviously, not everyone is equally knowledgeable in the Scriptures. But the point here is that even if you know just a little bit more than someone else, you can teach them something. It might be a verse you read that morning that happens to be relevant at a particular moment talking to a friend.

Finally, there’s instruction or admonition. There’s a bunch of verses in the New Testament that use a Greek word noutheteo, which is translated differently in different places, but essentially it means this: Giving clear, directive, even forceful advice to someone. Take a look at Romans 15.14, or 1 Thess 5.12, 14, or or Col 3.16. 

I think of it like this. If the church is a group of people on a voyage together on the high seas, there are constant waves washing over the deck ready to sweep people overboard. Someone is experiencing doubts; another is caught in temptation; another is walking through suffering. At that point, when someone is about to get washed out to sea, the nearest person needs to throw out a hand and grab them without hesitation. That’s noutheteo – a readiness to speak the truth to each other with real conviction and to help each other do the right thing and stay on board.

All of this to say: You are a minister of the word. A healthy church involves your willingness to build up the body by speaking the truth of the gospel. So ask yourself, who needs to hear from you today? Who can you encourage? Who can you help?

Life in the Welsh Valleys

Grace London is part of a global family of churches called Advance. The network extends from Thailand to Tanzania to Texas and beyond. One fellow Advance church closer to home is Hope Church Rhondda, located in South Wales. The founding pastor, Ben Franks, preached at Grace last summer, so we asked him to update us on how the church is doing.

---

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Ben. I am married to Lois, and we have four kids: Evan (8), Caleb (6), and Ioan and Ivy – our twins who arrived in January! Lois and I grew up in Cardiff, but we now live in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, a post-industrial mining area 20 miles northwest of Cardiff.
 

Why did you decide to plant Hope Church Rhondda?

When Lois and I were 16, a preacher came to our church from the Rhondda Valley. He shared that only 0.9% of people from the area regularly attended church. All I can say is that the Holy Spirit kicked me in the gut (and Lois too). From that day on, we knew God had called us to be involved in church planting in the Rhondda Valley.

In 2012, after we had both gone to uni, the Lord told us it was time to go. So we went. We bought a house in a town called Tonypandy, moved Lois’ business to the high street, and started meeting for church in our home with another couple. Hope Church Rhondda had been born.
 

What’s been happening in the life of the church since your visit to London last summer?

It has been an exciting season for Hope Church Rhondda. In January, we took a step of faith and multiplied from one congregation to three. Our valley contains many small villages, and we long to see a vibrant, gospel-centred, and spirit-filled church in each community.

The craziest thing has been that our twins arrived six weeks premature on the Tuesday after our Sunday church launch. It somewhat threw our well-made plans into chaos. But God has been so faithful, and our team has been incredible. Sometimes, it is helpful to be reminded that you are not in control, but God is!

Ben Franks preaching to us last summer

Ben also recently started a church planting initiative across Wales. Please tell us more.

I had a dream in March 2021. I am not one for having prophetic dreams, but on this occasion, I saw a website with the domain name www.100.cymru and a title in bold: What would it take to see 100 healthy churches planted in Wales in the next ten years? Along with the question were five tabs (Pray, Inspire, Equip, Send, Support), and in the dream, I clicked on each tab for instruction on how we might start a church planting initiative. It was a bit crazy!

This September, we launched a church planting initiative called 'Cant i Gymru – ‘100 for Wales’ in Welsh. Since then, we have seen five churches planted and expect at least two more this year.

How can we pray for you?

Please pray for capacity and leadership wisdom. Life can feel hectic with two newborns, two young church plants, and the church-planting initiative. We are very aware of how much we need his help, strength and guidance in this season.

Let's pray for Ben & Lois and the rest of the team at Hope Church Rhondda. Let’s pray too for 100 gospel-centred churches to be planted across Wales!

Lessons from Japan

The Okinawan people of Japan have a tradition called moai. Groups of five children are paired together by their families and make a life-long commitment to each other. These groups of committed friends meet regularly over the decades to share their lives and provide financial support when necessary. A moai is a second family.

Recently, researchers found that being in a moai also significantly impacts life expectancy. Okinawan people in these groups often far outlive modern Westerners. Committed friendships provide joy and stability to their lives - and consequently keep them alive. 

Life-giving relationships like these aren't forged overnight but require time and intentionality. We rarely drift into deep friendships. Genuinely getting to know someone involves swimming against the tide of comfortable superficiality. It involves commitment akin to that in a moai. 
 

For us in London, this doesn’t mean we should literally create a moai or only have meaningful friendships with a group of five. Rather, there are ways we can foster deeper friendships with many of those we already know. We can make moai-like friendships out of existing ones.

One way to do this, which I've found valuable over the last year, is by using a simple framework for conversation: blessing, battle and breakthrough. It has proved helpful in deepening friendships by moving conversation past small talk and trivialities. Practically speaking, you may want to structure group discussion around each topic or pepper the questions into conversation. It's up to you.
 

1. Blessing
 

There's always something to give thanks for. Even when we suffer loss, we can still know Christ. In Him, we have “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1.3). Fortunately, there are also many material blessings to give thanks for, be it our health, provision, or relationships.
 

How are you experiencing God’s blessing?

2. Battle

Equally, as long as we live, we are in a spiritual war. And at times, it feels like we’re losing. We’re all battling sin, twisted desires, and impure thoughts. Our lives are more messy than we would like to admit.

The enemy would like us to keep our sinful actions, desires, and thought patterns hidden. Doing so may make us appear respectable, but it also leads to greater shame, guilt, joylessness and a culture of superficiality. In contrast, confessing before a trusted friend is liberating. It releases our bondage and leads us to repent before God.

Sometimes, the consuming battle may not be indwelling sin but testing circumstances. Loss, unmet desires, and pain weigh us down. We need a friend’s encouragement and prayers in these moments.

What sin/suffering are you battling?

3. Breakthrough

The Christian should be hopeful. The battle is skewed in our favour because Jesus is victorious over sin. So, we should expect to see God at work in our lives, renewing our minds and leading us to experience greater freedom. Perhaps you’ve also witnessed breakthrough through a change in circumstance or answered prayer.

Where can you see breakthrough?

Using these three Bs in conversation may at first feel clunky, but the rewards will hopefully be worthwhile. Building deep and committed friendships, like for the Okinawan people of Japan, will surely bring joy and vitality to our lives.

Nick & Jenn's reflections

Although we officially introduced Foundations only a few weeks ago, a three-month pilot of the course finished on Tuesday. We asked Nick and Jenn, who attended the pilot, to tell us about themselves and their reflections.

---

Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Nick: I was raised in Singapore and moved to London in August 2021 to pursue a master’s degree at LSE. My wife, Jenn, and I found Grace after a friend recommended it. We loved the Word, worship, and community and quickly settled in, joining Caleigh, Julie and Zach’s life group.

Jenn: I was born in Indonesia before moving to Singapore when I was four. I moved to London in 2021 to accompany Nick as he pursued further studies, and currently, I work as an Interior Designer.
 

Why did you decide to attend Foundations?

N: I've always been interested in learning about Jesus and have started reading the Bible more earnestly over recent months. Despite being a believer for most of my life, I had faith that the Lord would continue to speak to me at the course.
 

Was it what you expected?

J: Having attended church from a young age, I expected to hear things I already knew. However, the course prompted me to reassess my convictions and to pursue my own understanding of God rather than relying solely on others. It motivated me to discover a personal relationship with Jesus and seek a deeper connection with my Saviour.

Jenn and Nick

What was your biggest takeaway from the course? 

N: Week seven's discussion on growth was especially memorable. Daniel shared that as we grow in spiritual maturity, we become more aware of sin, and it pains us more than before. The fact that I am more conscious of my sin shows that God is working in me.

J: Week four's discussion on scripture altered my view of the Word and my relationship with the Bible, particularly as someone who previously struggled reading it. Now, I am committed to reading the Bible daily.
 

What would you say to someone considering Foundations? 

N: Foundations welcomes both new and seasoned believers! Trust that the Lord will reveal his Word to you in fresh ways.

J: There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain; go with an open heart and mind. Foundations has pivotally shaped my understanding of God’s Word and left us hungry for more.

---

Our upcoming Foundations course has reached capacity, but if you’d like to join the waiting list for the next one, please email info@grace.london. Find out more here.

Tips for having good conversations

Loving people is our greatest calling. And the simplest way to love other people is to learn how to have a good conversation. It’s often through a conversation that someone feels your warmth, your attentiveness, your interest, your care.

But by saying it’s simple, that does not make it easy. Many things conspire to stop a good conversation from ever happening. You don’t feel like it. Your head is elsewhere. You feel shy. You’ve got things to be getting on with. You’re experiencing interruptions. You have little in common.

A little while ago I came across an excellent and pithy article by Jonathan Noyes with some strong advise in this area. (He’s focussed on conversations that allow you to share your faith, but I think the principles apply more broadly.) Here are some of his tips:
 

Be present. 
 

‘Multitasking is a myth… This means you need to remove anything that might be a distraction from the conversation. Put your phone in your pocket until the conversation is over…

Being present, though, means more than simply removing distractions. It means being in that moment… Don’t be half in the conversation and half someplace else…

When you stay focused on the person you’re speaking to and remove distractions, you show you value him…’
 

Ask questions. 
 

‘Francis Schaeffer said, “If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty-five minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last five minutes I will share something of the truth.”

Schaeffer was on to something. Open-ended questions like “What matters most to you in life?” “What do you find confusing about Jesus and Christianity?” and of course, “What do you mean by that?” help you understand what a person thinks so you don’t misunderstand him — or worse, misrepresent him. Asking questions helps you understand what a person believes but also makes that person feel valued and heard. Questions can be disarming and often help bring down a person’s defensive walls…’
 

Listen intently. 
 

‘The number one tip I can give you to have a good conversation is to listen and be genuinely interested in the other person…

Just like with asking questions, as you listen, people become less guarded, more willing to open up and share their life with you… Steven Covey says, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak.” Often, we don’t listen to what’s being said because we’re already working on a response in our mind instead of hearing all the other person has to say… Before you can have a good conversation, you have to be a good listener.’

As I said: simple but not necessarily easy. It takes practice – and you’ll have bad days as well as good. But, learning the art of conversation is truly a superpower in the call to love others.

Welcoming like Jesus

Think about the first time you arrived at Grace London. Some of you can even remember the first time you attended any church. How did you feel? Were you confident as you strode in, grabbed a coffee, and took your seat, effortlessly striking up a conversation with others around you?
 

I thank God for the extroverts among us who can resonate with that image to some degree, but that wasn’t my story the first time I visited a church. I still remember being chuckled at as I fumbled for my wallet to pay for the coffee. I mean come on, every Londoner knows that nothing’s really free. My first time at Grace London was certainly better but I am slightly too introverted to comfortably inject myself into conversations that could form the foundation of meaningful relationships. 
 

A reasonable application of Scripture is to greet one person we don’t know or don’t know well every time we gather with others in the body of Christ. We have been invited, welcomed and greeted by the Lord, and we can reciprocate by welcoming the outsider and the stranger. By welcoming the least, we welcome Jesus (Mark 9:37).
 

But however outgoing we naturally are, reaching out to people we don’t know can be difficult. There are some people we don't click with, some we don't like, and some who have wronged us. It’s good to move towards others, but it is not easy. The thought of awkward silence or feeling stupid can jeopardise the plan before we’ve even started.
 

So, what practical steps can we take? 
 

Firstly, start small with a greeting. Greetings are not a form of politeness from a bygone era. They are skills that imitate the Lord and show respect and kindness to others - and we are meant to grow in them.
 

There are, however, so many people we could greet. We shouldn’t aim to become serial greeters who offer a brief and boisterous “Good morning” before moving on to the next person. Instead, consider whom you are greeting and take time. This means our greeting list might be short because we only have limited time on a Sunday. We cannot talk to everyone. So, here is who you should prioritise:
 

1.   The visitor (what Scripture calls the “foreigner” or “alien”) comes first.

2.  The visitor who returns comes next.

3.  The less popular, the marginalised, or those sitting alone come next.

4.  Then come the children. Jesus singles them out as examples of the marginalised.

5.  “Ні, _______!” is offered to as many people as possible, which doesn’t have to be accompanied by a hug or a hand-shake.
    

Good friends can, of course, intersperse these greetings.
 

As the King goes, so go his people. He moves toward people; we move toward people. He moves toward those who seek him and those who do not; we move toward those who want help and those who seem distant and marginalised. He moves toward friends and even enemies; we move out beyond our circle of friends to those far beyond that circle.
 

Imagine how this can transform our churches. Instead of talking to the same people – those with whom we are comfortable and who are similar to us – we treat others as God has treated us. Imagine how aloneness could gradually be banished.

Feeding stomachs and souls

Webber Street is a day centre for London's homeless community, located around the corner from Waterloo Station and run by London City Mission. On the first Thursday of every month, volunteers from Grace help at the centre. They prepare a meal for around 40 people, give a short gospel-centred talk and spend time eating with the guests.

Bisi is one of our deacons and oversees the ministry. She tells us more.

---

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved with Webber Street.

My name is Bisi and I live in north London with my 13-year-old nephew who keeps me busy. I currently work for Grace as a pastoral intern and provide administrative support for our digital comms.

It's always been on my heart to support the local community, so I was excited to get involved in Webber Street when the opportunity arose. A few members of our church work for London City Mission, and connected us with the centre. We've been helping provide these monthly evening meals for about a year now.

Why are you so passionate about this ministry?

I love how in the gospels Jesus notices and dignifies those that others overlook. Think about the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48), or the woman at the well (John 4). God calls us to be a community who, like Jesus, sees the pain of those around us, and moves towards it. He calls us to bring the good news of Jesus to those in dire spiritual poverty. He calls us not to overlook those that others might.

But we don’t share the good news of Jesus with the homeless whilst ignoring their physical needs. We address both. We give the guests a meal and tell them the good news. We feed stomachs and souls.

I also feel passionate about this ministry as I've had a pretty messy family life myself, and resonate with many of the guests' situations. It's easy to write off rough sleepers as just another homeless person, forgetting the person behind the pain. Each person has a real story, and abandonment, abuse, and rejection are often involved. Comforting and listening to those who have been through so much is a way to show Christ’s love and bring healing to those who are hurting.

How can the church be praying or supporting Webber Street’s work?

We would love prayer for wisdom as we make plans for the future. We plan to start an evangelistic course in the summer for guests who are hungry to learn more about Jesus. Please also pray for the guests from Webber Street who have started coming to Grace! We are praying that the church community welcomes these people well and Grace becomes a place of warm welcome for the marginalised and homeless. 

We are always looking for new volunteers, so if the Lord has put it on your heart to serve in this way, please get in touch (bisi@grace.london). Come and check out a session or two and consider joining the team!