18 months ago, the wise and funny spiritual accompanier that I meet with from time to time said that I needed to start organising my sabbatical, due for summer 2025. She shared some very helpful resources from a different denomination to mine that she had drawn on for her own sabbatical. Of course I made... Continue Reading →
On Thursday we met with Rev Dr Ray Motsi, who is the President of the Theological College of Zimbabwe - which is co-owned by the Brethren in Christ and Baptist Union of Zimbabwe. (Themba said that Ray has been adopted into the Brethren in Christ because of his Anabaptist values!) Ray is also a cofounder... Continue Reading →
Today we headed to Mtshabezi Mission, founded in 1906 by BICC missionaries with firstly a church and then a school in the same year. Today Mtshabezi Mission is almost a small town - with a church, primary school, secondary school, hospital, and theological training college (Ekuphileni Bible Institute). 'Ekuphileni' means 'where there is life'. There... Continue Reading →
We arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday afternoon after a long plane journey, with stops in Addis Abba (Ethiopia) and Ndola (Zambia). I was prepared for the flight with multiple layers of clothes, eye mask, ear phones and Valoid (strong South African travel sickness medication that knocks you out!) so I slept/ dozed for most of the... Continue Reading →
We are frequently told that God is unchanging and immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. But that was not Moses' experience of God that we find in Exodus 32. God was rightly ticked off that the people that he had rescued from Egypt had melted down their jewellery and made a golden calf that... Continue Reading →
I have this dream about a table and a meal. (Or maybe it’s many tables and many meals?) This is a place where we can talk and eat and pray. Where we can be honest about our lives and our questions and our potentially heretical thoughts. Where we can struggle together. It is a place... Continue Reading →
Fellowship springs from a shared mission. Genuine community needs a ‘why?’ - a reason for coming together beyond the community itself. Communities that have a common dream, or a collective hope, are then bonded together in the pursuit of that goal. Some communities might journey together for a short time, some communities have to travel... Continue Reading →
This liturgy was written as a response to the thanksgiving service for the life of Alan Kreider held on 11.07.17 in London at Bloomsbury Baptist Church. A peace liturgy for families and children (You will need as many stones as family members, a candle or peace-symbol of your choosing) Blessed are the peacemakers for... Continue Reading →
I found this lovely little piece of writing while researching for my talks at Fleet Camp this weekend. It is an ancient story, told by the author and spiritual leader Joan Chittister: "Where shall I look for enlightenment?" the disciple asked. "Here," the wise one said. "When will it happen?" the disciple asked. "It is... Continue Reading →
I think that sometimes the best thing that we can do is connect people to other people. Connect young people to mentors, give them experiences that they can learn and grow from. Connect people with passion. Connect communities to each other to make things happen. When we are connect we feel less isolated, less vulnerable,... Continue Reading →
stumbling hopefully in the right direction 