Key dates for the autumn term

September is here already. Kids are heading back to school, it's getting cooler, and the wedding season is slowly coming to a close. As autumn begins, we wanted to share some key dates. Please put them in your calendar.

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Regular rhythms

Upper Room

Monthly, 7.30pm @ London Nautical School

Wednesday 1st October

Wednesday 5th November
Wednesday 3rd December

Together Sunday

Termly, 4.15pm @ Westminster Chapel
Sunday 28th September

It's a significant service for us with numerous baptisms and a dinner to celebrate Grace London's 11th birthday. Stick around afterwards for delicious food, £6 each. Kids go free.

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Women’s Evening

Thursday 23rd October, 7-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

Join the women of Grace London as we spend time together, hearing God’s word and building each other up. Please save the date.

Men’s Retreat

6th-8th November @ De Vere Beaumont, SL4 2JJ

From Thursday evening to Saturday lunch, we’ll enjoy time chatting over food, worshipping, and hearing from Doug Fell, a pastor from Johannesburg. Sign up here.
 

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Courses/Special events

Salt Live

Tuesday 7th October, 7.30-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

Salt Live is a series of talks on today's pressing issues and how the Christian faith speaks into them. Previous events include ‘The Crisis of Masculinity’ & ‘The Anxious Generation’.

Salt Course

Seven consecutive Tuesdays beginning 21st October. 7.30-9pm @ Location TBC

A space to explore life’s big questions from a Christian perspective. Find out more or express your interest here.

Foundations

Tuesday evenings beginning 21st October. 7-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

We'll explore the core beliefs and practices of the Christian faith and draw out their life-changing implications. Find out more or express your interest here.

Carols

Sunday 7th December, 4pm & 7pm @ Cheng Kin Ku Building, LSE

Starting something new

“Big mug or small mug?” asked Alban, emerging from the kitchen. He held two steaming cups of tea, one for me and another for his wife, Esther. “Small, please”, I replied. I rarely finish a full cup.

​We sat in their living room in Waterloo, Esther to my left, and Alban, cross-legged, across from her. To my right, the window was open, welcoming in a gentle breeze and the sound of children playing across the street. The net curtains to and froed as we spoke, swaying like the ebb and flow of conversation. This didn’t feel like central London.

Alban and Esther moved here from Durham last August, only a few weeks after getting married, but quickly found their feet in a new city and church. They joined Luke and Issy’s life group, forming friendships over dinner, Bible study, and prayer. But now the couple awaits another change. They prepare to start their own life group this autumn and open up their lounge—and lives—to many more.​

“We went to one of the Welcome events* and there were a lot of people,” said Esther as I asked them about their initial experience at Grace.

“Afterwards, we were really keen to go to a life group, so
I was like, 'Andrea, Andrea, please put us in a life group.’ She was like, ‘We’re trying!’. It worked out eventually, and we started going to Issy and Luke's group from last October.

“What’s been particularly nice about the group is the number of new Christians - I guess because Luke and Issy help at the Salt Course. It was lovely being part of their initial Christian journey and first discipleship group.”

“And it wasn't a Bible club where you just chat about things you all know”, Alban added. “It felt more like everyone was learning and being encouraged. It was more about life than pure study. Sometimes…I don't know… Sometimes groups like these can be more about the study than the people.

“Yeah”, Esther said. “And it's special having Issy and Luke as our leaders because we've just got married, and they’re a bit further along. They've been married a year or two, and are a little bit older than us. It's nice to look up to them.”

“Do you have a favourite life group memory?” I asked.

“One sweet thing we did was go to our friend’s ballet show”, Esther replied. “She joined our life group aged only 17, having moved from Edinburgh. That was really fun because it felt like family, the kind of thing your aunts and uncles would come to. We were in the front row, like, ‘There she is! There she is!’
 

I wondered how Alban and Esther would recreate this sense of community in their own group. “What’s your vision for the new life group?” I asked.

“Life group is just a structure for good Christian community”, Alban said. “And, ideally, that structure will feel natural and almost invisible. I’d hope everyone would be like, ‘Well, of course we hang out, have dinner together, open the Bible and pray for each other.’ Like any Christian family would.”

“I don't see it like a theology club”, Esther added. “Or that we’re leaders in a very formal sense—

“We see it exactly as the life group handbook says,” Alban interjected, his dry humour filling the room with laughter. “Whatever Jeremy said about a month ago at the training day, it’s that.”

He paused, continuing more seriously. “We also want to be part of each other's lives throughout the week, whether it’s dropping a text, catching up, or going to someone's uni show.”

I couldn’t help but feel that this couple has centred themselves wholeheartedly around church community - sitting in their lounge just 10 minutes from the London Nautical School. I wanted to know how we could support them. “Last question”, I said. “How can we pray for you?”

After a pause, Esther began. “I felt a bit nervous about starting a life group. There’s the worry, ‘Am I gonna be able to serve people in the way they deserve?’ I'm in a better place now, but still feel a bit imposter syndrome-ish.” She laughed nervously. “Pray that we’d trust God.”

“The thing we want most for the group”, Alban added, “is for strong friendships to form.”

“Yeah”, Esther chimed, suddenly full of self-assured excitement. “Like a real community where people really do share their lives. Where we really love each other.”

Harrison's Story | Activist to Evangelist

I heard his voice before I saw him.

I’d arrived early at one of Kennington Lane’s many cafes, and sat out back, in a courtyard of gradually-filling seats. It was a grey but warm morning, and the smell of toasting sourdough and sizzling bacon wafted through the door. So too did the sound of Harrison, an ex-political activist, chatting with the barista.

Harrison is a familiar face here. He and Jeremy regularly met in the cafe for three years, studying the Bible and chatting over a latte (or fresh orange juice, today’s choice). Having joined Grace London as a new believer, Harrison was taken under Jeremy’s wing and eventually joined the staff team as an intern and Evangelism Trainee. Cue the coffee-fueled discipleship. But his story starts further back.

“I come from a single-parent family,” Harrison began. “In some ways, it was a good childhood, but it was also confusing - we moved around a lot, and settled in London when I was 11. That was a big shock, coming from Stoke-on-Trent. A big culture shock.

“It led me to think about my identity, being in a multi-cultural city but coming from a fairly homogeneous town. I became involved in the far-right and joined activist groups from the age of 17. That catapulted me into a pan-European group, and I would travel to different countries doing political stunts. It was a crazy time of life. Looking back, I guess it was fuelled by resentment, anger, not feeling very grounded.”

“So, what changed?” I asked.

“One of the people who raised me was my gran. About a year before she passed away, she became a born-again believer and started inviting us to church and giving us Bibles. Everyone was like, ‘What's going on?’. The Bible she gave me was under my bed for years, but I never touched it. I thought it was a load of rubbish.

“But one Sunday morning, I felt this urge to read it - I don't know why. As I opened it, I was struck by the reality of it. I was like, ‘Whoa, this is actually quite deep,’ especially in Romans, where it gives a diagnosis of the human heart.

“I believed there and then”, Harrison continued, his voice passionate and a smile washing over his face, “and I had this experience where I was filled with the love of God. I was in awe. I remember going to work the next day, and the whole world looked proper different. Colours were more vivid. I know it sounds crazy, but life was now hope-filled.”

I was curious to connect the dots and find out how he ended up at Grace London. “How did church come into the picture?” I asked.

“I was looking for a young people's church”, Harrison replied, “because I lived just outside London, where a lot of the churches were more elderly. I found Grace, sent a Facebook message, and not long after, spent two hours on the phone with Jeremy.

“It was all super exciting,” Harrison said, chuckling. “I can still remember it now, chatting to Jeremy on the phone for hours. He told me I should join the Salt Course, so I said, ‘Tell me about it.’

“Each week on the course, I’d meet all these different people—a muslim guy, an atheist, etc.—and we’d spend the evening chatting with Jeremy and the other leaders. After a while, I decided I wanted to attend church too, so I went to Grace, and I liked it... I loved it. I haven't stopped going since, except this Sunday, my last.”

By this point in the conversation, our drinks were finished, but I was keen to hear what the future held for this activist-turned-zealot. Since joining Grace, Harrison has been part of the staff team for three years. But after many Bible studies in this cafe, he is moving on to a new role and a new church.

“Tell me about your new job”, I probed.

“Praise the Lord, it’s still a training role”, Harrison laughed. “It’s a pastor-in-training role, and it actually started yesterday. Hope Church, where I’m now working, is based on the Vauxhall Gardens estate, and the vast majority of members live within a five-minute walk. I'll be running some of the evangelism ministries, helping to pastor people, and continuing my studies. It's gonna be full, but I'm ready for it.”

Our time was almost up, but there was one more question I wanted to ask: “How would your younger self react if they met you now - and what advice would you give?”

“I used to have no aspirations for my life. I never saw myself studying, never saw myself in a job I loved. I never saw myself getting married. So, I think my younger self would be like,
’That's pretty cool. I didn't think that would happen.’

“And advice?” Harrison asked himself. “Give your life to the Lord. That’s everything, isn't it?
And read your Bible, mate”, he quipped, laughing. “Open it up and save yourself a lot of heartache.”

Five podcasts for you

The Confronting Christianity Podcast by Rebecca McLaughlin is one that I recommend to those who are curious about the Christian faith and also those committed to following Jesus. She explores some of the hard questions about life and faith. I found the most recent episode super encouraging: From Crystals to Christianity - Finding Jesus After Trying Everything Else. If you give it a listen, let me know what you think. 

- Dawn

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Axis Conversations is an invaluable tool for parents with secondary school-age kids who want to understand Gen Z culture. Axis engages with culture not to right it all off, but to discern what's good, what's bad, and where the gospel shines in. Think of it both as a way to stay informed and a springboard for gospel conversations.

- Bisi

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The Elisabeth Elliot Podcast is a great listen for anyone (particularly women) ready to be challenged and inspired to live a life devoted to Christ and empowered for his mission. What has impacted me most is Elisabeth’s trust in God and faithfulness to the word through all seasons of life. As she says, "the secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."

- Amy

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Popcorn Parenting (recommended to me by my sister, who is NOT a parent but loves the podcast) is designed for parents who want to have fun with their kids, watching films together and discussing them from a Christian perspective. Two dads host the show, driven by a desire not to miss any opportunity to talk to their kids about Jesus.

- Kat

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Ask Pastor John by Desiring God has been so helpful when wrestling with tough theological and personal questions. Listeners email in their doubts and struggles, and pastor John Piper responds with biblical clarity, thoughtful wisdom, and a compassionate, zealous heart.

- Jono

Where will you sit this Sunday?

What goes through your mind as you approach church on Sundays?

I’d expect a wide range of answers to that question, and it probably depends on various factors - what the time is, how your day is going, whether there are any kids in tow, etc. Perhaps you’ve been attending church for a long time now, and there is a tendency to just go into autopilot as you walk through the door and not give attention to your mindset.

A few years ago, I read Tony Payne’s helpful little book on how we should walk into church on Sundays. In the opening chapter, he argues for a small but significant shift in this moment, which is to pray about where to sit. This not only expresses our trust in God for what he will do as we gather together, but also turns our attention towards others. He writes:
 

‘When we pray about where to sit, we’re also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about the church as being someone other than me. This can be quite a mind-shift, but it’s a vital one. We come to church not only to be loved and blessed by God, but also to love and bless others around us. We come not to spectate or consume, nor even to have our personal encounter with God. We come to love and to serve.’

From experience, this kind of thinking requires intentionality. If we don’t set our minds on the things of the Spirit, then we turn inwards. On the contrary, imagine what it would look like if every person walked through the door having just finished a prayer with a posture of ‘who can I encourage today’ and ‘how can I show hospitality to those who are new’? I think we would see a demonstration of what the author of Hebrews had in mind in chapter 10:24-25:
 

‘And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.’

Last Sunday, Daniel reminded us that as followers of Jesus, we are all called to this kind of ministry and succinctly defined it for us as ‘pursuing God’s purposes in people’s lives for God’s glory and people’s good’. Prayer is our most effective way of fulfilling this.

So on Sunday, as you walk through the gates or park your car, I want to encourage you to join me in starting to pray something like this, with joyful expectancy for what God may do as we gather:
 

Lord, as we gather today, help me to glorify you and serve others. Lead me to those who I can encourage and set my mind on the things of the Spirit as we worship you and hear from your word. Amen.

God doesn’t need us

Let Your Kingdom Come started with a simple WhatsApp message. “For the next song, I’d love for us to write something with a missional focus”, Pete typed. “I think we’re lacking songs with that kind of theme.” More than that, we needed mission-focused songs that weren’t self-focused. Not singing about what we’re going to do for God—as if he were desperate for our help—but about what he’s already doing in the world. 

So we came upon one of the great and freeing truths of our faith: God does not need us. He’s not relying on us for his happiness or fame or mission. We are not the main characters in this drama. The plot line does not depend on us. Jesus is the one building his Church. The Father predestines, calls, and justifies. The Spirit softens stony hearts. God is writing his story with passion and power in his penstrokes. The kingdom is his.

God is ultimately devoted to building it for the sake of his glory, to see the nations come to him and exchange their angry fists for arms outstretched in adoration. As the Psalmist sings, “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name" (Psalm 86.9). Worship is the end goal of the kingdom - of all history in fact.

All of this is good news for two reasons. Since God is the most beautiful, happy and glorious being, 1) worshipping him truly is a delight.  And 2) although humanity is tempted to worship ugly, debasing, and disatisfying things, God simply won’t let that happen in the long run. Goodness and joy will outlive idolatry and sin. God’s glory (and our happiness in beholding him) will prevail.


So, what now?

Knowing that God is in control of his kingdom might make you think that our job is simply to sit back, kick up our feet, and watch the light dawn on the new creation. But God has something better in store for us. He invites us to assist him in creating a masterpiece, a world full of his glory. 

Imagine a small child working beside a carpenter father, watching in amazement as his rough, weathered hands—sawdust under his nails—turn a block of wood into a piece of art. The father asks him to help in the work, to chisel and sand under his tender gaze. A little apprentice. So too with us and God. Or, to use another image, we’re representatives of a king, sent out to proclaim a message of hope in towns and cities everywhere. To announce good news. The message isn’t ours, yet God invites and honours us in the task of sharing it. 

This is the reality we live in. God is in control, his kingdom is on the move, and in a surprising turn of events, he invites us to be part of building it. So, why not get caught up in this mission and make the bridge of Let Your Kingdom Come your prayer? ‘Let your kingdom come in me. Let my heart burn for the lost. ’ It’s one God loves to answer.

Artwork by Emily Ikoshi

One life-changing decision

A look of trepidation-turned-excitement crossed Amy Walter’s face as we sat in a park a stone’s throw from the church office. We were chatting about her upcoming move to Milan. Sun-scorched grass bristled against fidgeting fingers as she shared her plans. Since January, Amy has been making preparations to join Jeremy and Jen as they embark upon a church-plant in Italy’s metropolitan hub. Olive trees and long boulevards will soon replace London’s oaks and park hideouts.

But the decision to uproot herself hasn’t been straightforward. Although Amy has had a growing desire to pursue ministry further afield, she never foresaw Italy. So, when Jen shared their intention to plant a church in Milan last October, she was mostly sad that they would be leaving and felt no inkling to go. “She broke the news, and I was very quiet,” Amy recounted. “Selfish me was heartbroken."

“So, what changed your heart?” I asked.

“In January, I became more and more open to making the move,” she admitted. “I knew that I was past the initial emotional processing. I was praying intentionally and had quite a prophetic journey of seeking God and hearing him speak.”

“I had a prophetic picture of a little rabbit”, she continued, “cupped in someone’s hands, lifted, moved to the side, and placed back down. I sensed that God was going to pick me up, move me, and set me down somewhere completely different. I later realised that I was the rabbit. I didn't understand where God would place me, but I knew this year would be one of real change.

“A week or so after, I was praying again about Milan, and a word popped into my mind. I didn't even know what it meant, but it kept recurring. I really couldn't shake it off. The word was coniglio. I didn't know what it meant, so I decided to type it into Google Translate. I discovered it's Italian for rabbit.

“Almost instantly, I remembered the prophetic picture. When I paired the two together, I can't tell you, I had such a deep fear and felt the weight of what I might be called to. I was like, ‘Gosh, might God be calling me to go to Milan too?’ Everything in me wanted to run in the opposite direction out of fear, but the call felt unignorable.

“From then on, God took me on a journey of growing my heart for Milan. It became increasingly clear that this was what God wanted, and I wanted his will. I felt the internal tension—and the grief, actually—of that gap between wanting God’s will, but not wanting the thing itself. It was a journey of being humbled, choosing to trust, and allowing God to change my heart.”
 

“Now, what excites you looking ahead?” I asked.

“I'm excited for an adventure,” Amy replied. “To see God do crazy things. I have faith that he will do things only he can do. And I’m excited to learn Italian,” she added. “I don't know any, but it's cool.”

“Coniglio!” I interjected.

“Coniglio. First word,” Amy responded with a smile. “I’m looking forward to learning more for sure. It’s a beautiful language. And I’m excited for how God will break through with this small team to see Italians turn to know him. I have faith that God will pour out his Spirit and that the gospel will move powerfully even in such a spiritually barren context.

“Okay, last question”, I said. “How can we support you?”

“Prayer is the greatest gift I could be given”, Amy replied with complete sincerity. “I would love prayer for practicalities, for somewhere to live and all the challenges of moving country. More importantly, prayer for spiritual strength and endurance and forever-increased faith in what God will do... and comfort when it's hard.

“Financially, I’ll be fundraising again. In Milan, I’ll work 1-2 days a week on the start-up business with Jeremy, which will provide some income. But I’ll also need to raise support through Stewardship to cover living costs, visa costs, language learning costs, moving costs, and the many unexpected expenses ahead. It's a humbling and crazy thing to be so dependent on God's provision and others’ generosity. I am also looking for a support group of people not just to support financially, but prayerfully, and to be encouragers." (See below)

In less than two months, Amy will be packing up her stuff and leaving friends and family for a new nation, language, and culture. Big challenges await. But even faced with such uncertainty, Amy has a childlike trust in God's goodness. "His will is so much better than your will for life," she said as we sat in that little park. "What he calls you to, that will be the best way."
 

Supporting Milan

Dear church,

It was such a privilege to be commissioned on Sunday. We are overwhelmed by many different emotions—as was evident for all to see during the service—in saying thank you and farewell to our precious church family.

As we said on Sunday, you have been such a kind, supportive, and loving community for us in London. We will miss you deeply. You will forever be our ‘home’ as we go out to a new place for the sake of the gospel. We’re very confident that the Lord will use you greatly here in London—and beyond—as you hold out his hope to a world in darkness.

As Andrew said on Sunday, we’re very much doing this together with you as a church. If you’d like to support us directly, you can do so in one of the following ways:

Prayer

We are completely dependent on God for every part of this journey, and have been carried by the prayers of others up to this point. Please continue lifting us up in prayer.

Finance

The trustees of Grace London have been very generous in significantly contributing to our family costs in Milan. We’ll also be running a start-up business to help support our personal living costs in the future.

However, we are raising financial support for the church plant itself. There will be all sorts of costs as we move out and get started. If you’d like to make a contribution, you can give via Advance UK (our church planting network, which is overseeing the work). You can find the bank details here. Please include the reference, “Milan”. If you give, please fill out a Gift Aid declaration (for Advance), which you can find here. 

As many of you know, Amy Walter is also coming with us as part of the planting team after she wraps up her internship (with Grace) in the summer. Look out for more information about how to support her specifically in the coming months.

We’re so grateful for the years of friendship and partnership in the gospel that we’ve had with you. 

Much love,
Jen and Jeremy

Our Merciful God

What would you say if you were asked, “What is so different about your God?” In a world with so many options of who or what to worship, what sets the God of the Bible, the God perfectly revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, apart from all others? 

The question is not a new one. In fact, it is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. What makes Israel’s God greater than the idols of the nations? One of the primary answers that the Old Testament gives us is this: he is merciful.

The Old Testament writers had deeply meditated on God’s words in Exodus 34 when he “told Moses his name”. He reveals himself as “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34.6). That verse is the most referenced in the rest of the Old Testament.

If your view of God in the Old Testament is influenced by the prevalent caricatures in our culture, this might seem surprising. However, the God revealed in the pages of scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—is a God of astonishing mercy. Here are three precious Old Testament texts that remind us of this unique attribute.


More merciful than our idols

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in steadfast love.”  Micah 7.18 

When setting up a contrast between the true God and other “gods”, the prophet Micah zeroes in on the fact that God is a forgiving God. He does not reluctantly receive us—perhaps after we have proved just how sorry we are and sufficiently punished ourselves—but rather delights in showing steadfast love to his people.

The fact that God is more merciful than our idols holds true whether a person worships Baal and Molech or our culture’s more subtle idols like money and beauty. A person who idolises money is crushed when they make a bad investment or miss out on a pay rise. There is no grace from the idol of money,  only a demand to try harder and do better. It’s the same for anything else we put in the place of the true God. But our God is different because when we fail him—as we do every day—he is merciful.


More merciful than us

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55.6–8

Many of us associate the last verse quoted above with the reality that God is wiser and knows better than us. While that is true, it’s not the passage’s main focus. Reading that verse in context, the message is clear – God is more merciful than we are.

We often count ourselves out of God’s mercy and think thoughts like “surely God could never forgive someone like me who has done [insert grievous sin]”. But our God unreservedly invites the wicked and unrighteous to forsake their ways and receive his compassion and abundant pardon. If you feel condemned about some seemingly unforgivable sin, you can take comfort in the truth that God is more merciful than you.


Merciful and just

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53.5–6

We know instinctively that wrong deeds should be punished and feel outraged when a guilty person goes free. Other deities may claim to be merciful, but even if this were true, it would not make them like our God. In fact, their mercy would be an evil rather than good quality, because it would be an unjust mercy.

The final way our God differentiates himself is in showing both mercy and justice. His is a just mercy. He does not forgive us by ignoring our sins, relativising them or letting us go because we have done more good than bad. No, he leaves no bad deed unpunished. He can show us mercy because he has punished another for our guilt. The perfect Son of God became our sin-bearing substitute so we could spend eternity delighting in our merciful God.

We are not professionals

Professionalism is the death of authentic church.

If the church was designed to be led by professionals, then pastors could come and go as and when opportunities arise, maybe looking for better pay, or better hours, or some other personal benefit. The church itself would be a different kind of organisation, prizing efficiency at the expense of relationships, control over reality.

But the church is not professional in that sort of way because it is a family. And this changes how we view pastors and leaders, and how they see themselves. As pastors, we are not in this to merely work for the church as you might engage in many other jobs, but to be a part of the church in a deep and intimate way.

Because of this, it will be a profoundly important moment for us when we welcome Tobias Brown as a pastor along with his family, and say goodbye to Jeremy & Jen Moses and their kids. We are marking both of these moments on 15th of June at our Together Sunday.

Jeremy and Jen have had an extraordinary impact over these past 10 years at Grace. They have embodied the same heart that Paul spoke of: ‘But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us’ (1 Thessalonians 2.7–8).

And we know that the Browns will touch many lives in the years to come, not just because of their gifts and callings, but also because that’s how families work. We become entwined, and we share our very lives with one another.

I’m sure you understand that this is an emotional and poignant time for me, full of conflicting emotions, including hope and happiness, as well as a sense of loss. Being ‘unprofessional’ (so to speak) makes the highs a little higher, and the lows a little lower. But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Let’s embrace this precious moment as a church family with expectation and prayerfulness.

Shaping young lives

Teaching the Bible to our children is one of the most important (and fun) things we do as a church. Yet, if you're not part of the team or don't have kids yourself, it might easily go unnoticed. So, we spoke to Kat Miller, who recently joined the staff team as Children's Ministry Lead, to tell us more.

Pancho, Kat, Jonah & Benji

What should we know about you?

I’ve been part of Grace London with my husband, Pancho, for over seven years. We have two boys, Jonah (4) and Benji (2), and before being a mum, I was a maths teacher.


What does the ministry look like?

Our kids' ministry has grown lots over the years. I often reflect on how Grace started with only a couple of babes in arms, yet now we have almost 90 children between the ages of two and 12. On a usual Sunday, we have somewhere between 60 and 75 kids across four groups at Waterloo and two at Holborn. There are also about 30 under-twos who will join our groups over the next few years. It really is expanding.

The kids gather in groups with leaders each week, where they play games and hear a Bible story that points to the bigger story of the gospel. Recently, I've really enjoyed delivering little stories from Leviticus or Numbers and pointing them forward to Jesus.

They exceed our expectations of how much they enjoy it, how much they retain, and how much they already know. And it's just lots of fun!


Tell us about the Weekend Away.

The kids loved it, the team loved it, I loved it. We put all the children together in one space, almost like a summer camp. One big fun experience and competition. We learned about Jesus' miracles and, on the last day, looked at his resurrection. Joel and Will came to lead worship, which was a highlight. The kids rose to it in a beautiful way, singing with abandon.

Designing team banners at the Weekend Away

What have the kids taught you?

Teaching children from the Bible has been incredibly humbling and helpful. To explain a passage, even to a ten-year-old (let alone a two-year-old!), makes you really think about it. The kids also remind me not to underestimate what they remember, what they know, and how deep their relationship with God can be, even at their age.


How can you see God at work?

Grace London is exciting for many reasons, not least because of the diversity of our church family, reflected in our children's work. We've got kids from all different backgrounds and situations, and yet together in one space, they're just children - and they're just children of God. They're great at befriending, inspiring, and learning from one another. It's inspirational to us as leaders. 


How can we pray?

Please pray for continued enthusiasm amongst our team and for growing the vision of what Grace London kids could be like in five, even ten years. As our groups grow, we also need more volunteers.

Pray for the children too - that they continue to encounter Jesus every time they step foot in one of our sessions.


Let's pray for Grace London kids, Kat, and the team of volunteers. If you'd like to start serving yourself, head to our website here.

Faith, Questions, and Paninis

Luke Mathiesen recently started helping to lead the Salt Course. We got in touch to hear about his story, the course and why it resonates with Londoners today...

The first time I got involved in the Salt Course was in October 2022. My then-fiancé, now wife, Issy and I led a discussion group together. Since then, we’ve led a group on nearly every Salt Course. From the start, something resonated. It felt like exactly the kind of work I wanted to give myself to.

Leading alongside Issy has been a joy too. Looking back, I’m convinced it helped prepare us for marriage, and it continues to strengthen us to make disciples and share the hope of Christ. (Maybe Grace London should make Salt a compulsory part of marriage prep? Just saying.)

Real Conversations

One of the best things about the Salt Course is the depth of the conversations. There’s something about sitting down over a meal or hot drink that opens the door to genuine connection. It’s not uncommon for guests, even on the second session, to share vulnerably about mental health struggles or family bereavements. It’s a great privilege to walk with them and encourage them to look to Christ in these moments.

There are so few spaces in modern life for people to talk honestly about life’s big questions and our deepest struggles in a group setting like this. Outside of the church, it’s practically unheard of. But these conversations are normal at Salt, and the 25-minute talk that kicks off each evening gives plenty of subject matter for meaty conversation.

Recently, I’ve started giving a few of those 25-minute talks myself, alongside Harrison Clewes. It’s been a stretch, but a good one. Preparing these talks has forced me to read widely and think deeply about the intersection between faith and today's culture—what people are really struggling with in a secular city like London, and how the gospel meets those struggles head-on.

Luke & Izzy

Why Do I Keep Showing Up?

I care deeply about people finding peace and salvation in Christ. I was like many of our guests—burdened by life’s biggest questions and frustrated by how little the world could offer by way of real answers.

I’ve seen God's power working through the Salt Course; lives changed, hearts softened, and often the initial kindling of love for our Lord. It’s also not unusual for Salt guests to start coming to church services and getting plugged into community. Some of them are now in our life group. It’s a great encouragement.

Why Salt Works 

Many secular Londoners assume Christianity is irrelevant, outdated, or even harmful. But the Salt Course gently challenges that. The talks are designed to raise big questions people are already wrestling with—Is there meaning to life? How can I be happy? What does it mean to be a good person? We first highlight why these questions are so important before exposing how our secular societies’ answers prove woefully deficient and why Jesus is our only hope.

Salt isn’t just about intellectual arguments. It’s vital that our guests feel respected and listened to. Our discussions are hearty and require a level of vulnerability to truly engage with them. The job of the table leaders isn’t primarily about answering questions, but cultivating an environment where our guests feel they can truly discuss their deepest problems and are being listened to and loved in the process.

Thinking of Coming or Inviting a Friend?

Do it. Come along to Costa on a Tuesday night. Grab a panini and dive into conversations that matter. It’s relaxed, friendly, and I believe God loves it.

If you’re a Christian thinking of inviting someone, don’t overthink it. We’ve had many guests come along who knew little to nothing about Christianity, and we’ve seen God change lives time and time again. If there’s even a chance your friend might say yes—and if you care about their eternal destiny—it’s worth the invite.


The Salt Course runs for seven consecutive Tuesdays, starting 27th May, 7.30-9.15pm at Costa Coffee, SE1 8LP. Find out more here.

Introducing Takita, Riley and Michelle

Takita, Michelle and Riley tackle the day-to-day logistics of church life. They form our Ops team and do a range of tasks from assigning newcomers to life groups to overseeing volunteer teams. For every service and event, they arrange volunteers, venue, food, equipment, and more.

Takita, who leads the trio, oversees both our central events and operations for the Waterloo PM service. Michelle runs our Holborn service on an interim basis, and Riley, the Waterloo AM service. They tell us more about themselves and the role below.

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Tell us about yourself.

Riley: I was born in Cape Town, moved to London from ages 2-12, and moved back to Cape Town for my teenage years. I returned to the UK to study music and theology. In my spare time, I absolutely love teaching drums. It's one of my passions; a job and a hobby. It’s so rewarding.

Michelle: What Cape Town and London are for Riley, that's Korea and America for me. I was born in Korea, but moved between there and America growing up and later for studies and work. After working a few years in Korea, I was itching to head overseas again. The opportunity to come to the UK came up seven months ago, so I went for it. 

Takita: I grew up in South Africa and initially came to London for work experience, to go outside my little bubble. I wanted to know what living elsewhere would be like, and was planning to move back after a year. Eight years later, here I am still!

Fav Grace London memory?

T: That’s so hard - I've got eight years to choose from! But I think it has to be my first Christmas here. The first Christmas I spent in London was also my first away from my family, and I was so nervous about that. But I got invited to celebrate with a family from Grace alongside others from my life group, and I honestly felt so loved. There was so much love in that room. It felt like family. That Christmas was so much better than I ever imagined.

R: I've loads of great memories, but one stands out. One Sunday in November 2023, someone from the Welcome team introduced me to a newcomer. I was keen to get them plugged into church life, so I said, ‘Are you free next Sunday? Before church, let's meet up for coffee.’ That blossomed into a friendship I could not have imagined. I hadn't had great friendships before coming to Grace, but since then, I haven’t been lacking. God has blessed me with solid friendships like this one and many others.

Takita, Riley & Michelle (left to right)

Michelle, you're not only new to the role but to London altogether. What are you enjoying most about both your role and living here?

I love that London is a walkable city with so many green spaces. Those two are my favourites and make London so different from other cities.

In this role, the team has been a real blessing. It's rare to be in a workplace where you work with people you like and enjoy being around. It’s a blessing in itself! Working here has also opened my eyes to other aspects of church life. It's been great to see and to pray for things I might not have known about.


Riley, you helped to get Holborn off the ground and have now switched to Waterloo AM ops. What keeps you motivated in your role? 

It’s a deep love for the church - seeing people coming together, hearing God's word preached, and that leading to worship in our everyday lives.

To paint a picture, when Holborn was starting up, there was a lot to do. Problems came up. We had to sort it out, and it was often hard work. But later, when everyone had headed into the auditorium for the service, I would come in at the back and see everyone worshipping and listening to the sermon. These moments really brought me joy. The hard work pays off. That's the reason I do it.


What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?

M: I’m excited to help operations run even better, particularly at Holborn. We hope to have a streamlined system so volunteers aren’t rostered on too much and can focus on worshipping in the service. We do our job so meticulously to help the rest of the congregation freely worship and be undistracted. So, helping to achieve that will be exciting.

T: I'm really enjoying work, and I've never said that before! I'm looking forward to settling into this role and learning along the way. What I’ve learnt so far has not been what I expected, but it's been so good. I’m keen to keep working and growing with this team. And that excites me a lot. 

And I think to myself... what a weekend away

Our recent weekend away was one to remember. Raucous worship, plenty of laughter, profound teaching, beautiful scenery, and (amazingly!) skies of blue. Cue Louis Armstrong.

We spoke to some first-timers who shared their highlights. Read more below.

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As we’ve only been coming to Grace Holborn for a few months, we were excited about the weekend away, and loved interacting with different cross-sections of Grace. We met many lovely people and heard about some of their journeys with the Lord, leaving encouraged by what God is doing in people’s lives, and compelled by Tim and Andrew’s exhortations to trust God in times of abundance/felt absence and be intentional about prayer! We were also adopted into the team that ended up bagging the victory at the games night!

Abraham (12): I loved the vastness of the grounds and being able to explore them with friends. Kids’ worship was also a highlight for me!

Jemima (9): The bonfire and games night were so fun, and I got to know some of the other kids better.

Sam, Li Ann, Abraham & Jemima

The weekend away allowed me to ground myself in the Word of God and the Spirit, while also being deeply convicting. I cherished the opportunity to connect with more people from the church, forming deep and meaningful relationships. It was truly delightful to step away from London life and embrace this retreat.

Tshepo

One highlight of our church weekend away was helping with the kids' work. We loved their energy and enthusiasm! Alban gave a talk explaining the resurrection and how Jesus has defeated death for us, which was quite a challenge given the wide age range of 2 to 12. Afterwards, it was wonderful to lead a prayer activity with them. Overall, it was a really special time seeing God at work in the youngest hearts.

Alban & Esther

The dedicated time spent worshipping ignited a fresh fire within me. One moment that stood out to me was when Andrew encouraged us to pray for prayerful hearts and invited us to pray in small groups. Hearing hundreds of voices lifting prayers to heaven gave me chills. It was a joyful, Spirit-filled weekend where the hunger for more of Jesus was truly tangible.

Tiffany

Three books for you

Recommendations are everything when it comes to books. With so much content out there, it's difficult to know where to start otherwise. A simple suggestion from a friend is often what we need.

All three of these books were recommended to me (Jono) by a friend or family member. Two were lent. One was gifted. And all were great reads. So, here are my second-hand recommendations. I hope they bless you as they have me.

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The Pleasures of God by John Piper. God is happy. He's beaming, singing, and exuberantly joyful. It's easy to forget at times, but God is never grumpy or melancholic.

Piper explores God’s happiness in this book. He plumbs the depths of scripture to find what warms the heart of God. Perhaps surprisingly, 90% focuses on what God delights to do rather than what he delights to see in his people. The attention is off us and onto the joyful exploits of a smiling Father.

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Untangling Emotions by Alasdair Groves and Winston Smith. Whether you’re a natural stoic or the ‘emotional type’, we all have emotions and need to navigate them in a godly way. This book is a helpful guide for doing exactly that. Written with everyday relevance, it tackles the darker side of our emotional lives—painful emotions like fear, anger, shame, guilt, and sorrow—and explores how we can understand them biblically and process them wisely.

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Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. I’ll confess this one isn’t a recent read from me. In fact, I read this book shortly after starting to lead worship and found it incredibly formative. Bob Kaufflin, a seasoned worship leader and songwriter, explores what biblical and God-honouring worship looks like. A fount of practical advice then follows, gained from years of experience. Accessible and personal, this book is perfect for any worship leader, songwriter or musician looking to foster a heart of worship themselves and in the church.

The end of your shame

As swiftly as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, so did they experience a new and profoundly uncomfortable sensation: that of shame.

They went from being ‘naked and… not ashamed’ to hiding in the bushes, crossing their legs and covering their privates. When God came looking for them and asking, ‘Where are you?’ Adam replied, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’

What was new to them is not new to us. Shame is part of our very existence. What are we to make of it?

Shame is both deeply right and deeply wrong. 

It’s right because it’s an intuitive, conscience-level awareness that we are not as beautiful, pure, and admirable as we ought to be. We were made for glory and for innocence and for peace in our consciences. We were made ‘a little lower than the angels’. But we have climbed down into the cesspit of our sin and our humanity has become tainted. As a result, there are things in us we want to hide because they’re genuinely ugly. 

But it’s also deeply wrong because our redemption should mean liberty from sin and from shame. For many, this sense of being clean can be hard to accept. When this happens, our shame can become enflamed and aggravated by the devil who accuses us, the world that alienates and despises us, and even our own sense of hatred towards ourselves. Shame in your conscience is much like your immune system: It’s designed to keep you healthy and fight off infections, parasites, and the like. But for some people, the immune system itself can be the very thing that is causing harm and even death.

Either way, whether our shame is right or it is wrong, the remedy is the same. We must turn again to a crucified saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sin and our shame upon himself when he was made a spectacle on the cross.

In an age of advanced pain management – of paracetomol and aspirin and morphine and anaesthetic – we are often most horrified by the physical pain and torture of the cross. ‘And yet,’ writes Fleming Rutledge, ‘we must continue to emphasize that the shame of the crucifixion is more important for the determination of its meaning than the physical suffering.’

Jesus experienced the shame of the cross in order to take your shame away. 

Dear Christian, that is one reason why Good Friday is truly good, and why you can smile in relief and bask in his loving acceptance, knowing once more what it means to be truly seen and to be deeply loved.

Launching in Pimlico

Each week, our life groups meet in homes across London, from Blackheath to Battersea, from Kensington to Kennington. We share a meal, study scripture, and pray together. It's simple gospel-centred hospitality in a big and busy city.

Our newest life group has just launched in Pimlico. We spoke to its leaders, Graham and Lucy, who tell us more.

Tell us about yourselves.
 

Hey!  Graham here (don’t worry, Lucy mostly approves of what follows):

Lucy is Scottish/Brazilian (Scozilian), and as an oil-child she grew up in and out of Nigeria, Oman, UAE, Brazil, and Aberdeen. I’m from Bolton, and it doesn’t get much more exotic than that. We’ve been coming to Grace for nine years now - we just missed out on being part of the elect few in that sticky-floored pub at the beginning.


Graham and Lucy aren’t new to being life group leaders but also led a group between 2018 - 2023. What did life group look like back then?

We’ve been married for 15 years, and around 18 years ago (in Uxbridge), I was co-leading a life group that Lucy attended, which is how we got to know each other better. So, my favourite thing about life group is probably picking up a wife.

Joking aside, we’ve led life groups together on and off over the years in Uxbridge, Salisbury, and now London. We’ve loved being in various groups at Grace (shout-out to the Tans and the Van-Nierkerks), and we led a group, ‘It is Camberwell with my soul’, for a few years before we moved to Pimlico.

Our Camberwell group was lovely, but the period was not an easy one in our lives — spanning lockdowns and some work and health challenges for us. We disbanded but are coming back refreshed and excited for our new group!


What was your favourite thing about being a life group leader?

One thing I love about life group leading is real talk (when it happens). I’m not much for small talk, but the conversations at life group can get pretty interesting (spicy, even). Some members bring provoking ideas or have cultural takes that you might not have considered before.

We both love the opportunity to open the word together, to get to know people deeper, and to have friends to share life with and sharpen each other. In big cities, that's not a given, and it’s something that reflects the beauty of the church to the world.

Graham & Lucy, with friends and life group hosts Luke & Janice

What’s your vision for the group?

The key thing for me is trust. As in any big city, London makes it easy to avoid having anyone input into your life (that’s often why people come here). Anonymity can feel comfortable, for a while. But we don’t thrive like that for long.

We want to get to a point where we trust each other — we open up, bringing our genuine selves along, making real friends (not that sub-species, ‘friends from life group’).

So, I hope we reflect something of Jesus’ weird combo of being both straight-talking and yet super caring. It takes time and a lot of regular meeting to earn the trust required with each other to make that stuff happen.


How can we pray for you?

It is by no means unique to our group, but where are all the fellas at? While Luke and I do admittedly exhibit an embarrassing amount of (Christian) masculinity, we would love a few more lads to join and even things out.

As I’ve mentioned, we’d also love to get to a place where we trust one another and be open and honest in a caring manner. So please pray that the Holy Spirit works among us in this way too.

Finally, Janice keeps mentioning one past life group where she got them all to shout ‘YeeHaw’ in worship, so please pray that she forgets about that.
 

Part of something bigger

At Grace London, we give away at least 10% of our finances to support other churches in the UK and abroad. One partner church we’ve recently supported is GodFirst in Barry, Wales. We spoke with pastor Rhys Gronow to hear their story.

GodFirst Barry is also part of the Advance Movement.

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Please tell us about yourself and GodFirst Barry.

I live in Barry, South Wales, with my wife, Rachel, and our two sons - Elliot (12) and Jude (9). Rachel and I will celebrate 18 years of marriage this October. 

In January 2019, we planted GodFirst Barry, starting in our living room with just six adults and five children. By God’s grace, we’ve grown into a vibrant community with around 60 people gathering on Sundays, including more than 20 children.

Rhys, Rachel, Elliot & Jude
 

Tell us the story of how you planted the church.

During a visit to Barry in 2013 for a friend's baptism, we had a conversation that changed everything.

I started chatting with the church pastor where the baptism was taking place and asked him to tell me a bit about the church in Barry. He shared that there were only four or five gospel-affirming churches, each with around 40 to 50 people. It didn’t take long for Rachel and I to realise that, in a town of around 55,000 people, the number of Bible-believing Christians was incredibly small. 

It broke our hearts. In that moment, we felt God stir something deep within us. We were convicted that Barry needed more gospel witness, and we were called to be part of it.

That conversation became the turning point. Over the next few years, we prayed and prepared, and in 2019, we moved back to Barry and planted GodFirst, trusting that God had brought us home for a purpose.


How have you seen God move in surprising ways?

God's provision has astounded us since we planted the church. When I stepped out in faith, leaving my job as a driving instructor to commit fully to church planting, we had no certainty about our financial situation. But God has sustained us. And a significant part of that has been through the kindness of Grace London!

We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your financial support over the past year - it truly has been a tangible expression of God's provision and kindness. Through yourselves and others, especially within Advance, God has ensured that we have everything we need—not always in excess, but always enough.
 

Sundays at GodFirst

Last year's Weekend Away
 

Anything you wish you knew before church planting?!

If there’s one thing I wish I had fully grasped before planting, it’s the unique nature of ministry in a settled town like Barry.

Barry is not a transient place—it’s a town where people put down deep roots. Those who grow up here tend to stay, raise their families, and remain connected to long-standing social circles. Building trust, integrating into the community, and seeing gospel fruit is a long-term investment. People don’t just jump into new things—they watch and wait before fully committing.

The blessing, however, is that once people commit, they are here for the long haul. Ministry in Barry is not about quick growth but deep roots. If you plant well, if you disciple well, and if you build strong foundations, the result is a long-term, sustainable church community where people grow together over generations.

So, if I could go back and prepare myself for one thing, it would be this: church planting in Barry is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build, but what you build lasts.


How can we pray for you and the church?

1) Please pray for God to raise up strong, godly leaders who can take on key ministry roles. As we grow, we need more people equipped to disciple others, serve in leadership, and help carry the vision forward.

2) A pressing need right now is for a new building. We're at maximum capacity, with no room for further growth, and suitable venues are scarce. Please pray for wisdom on timing and finances and a clear way forward. We need God's guidance and provision.

3) Finally, please pray for our evangelistic efforts. Despite the limitations of our meeting space, we long to present the gospel so that people encounter Jesus for themselves. Several individuals regularly attend our services but have not yet committed their lives to Christ. Please pray that God draws them to salvation and that we would see baptisms in the months ahead.

We are so grateful for your prayers and partnership in the gospel. Thank you for standing with us as we seek to see Jesus glorified in Barry.