OAKWOOD 2010

Dear Friend,

If you were asked the question, ‘Is your church having a mission in 2010?’, how would you answer? I hope you would say ‘No’. Maybe you would say that we have a project called ‘OAKWOOD 2010’, but the aim of this is to make the church mission centred, not just to have some special events. By this time last year, we had planned the Leaders’ Day in September 2007, from which the proposal was brought to the church to launch OAKWOOD 2010. Of course the aim of this is nothing new, but rather to renew our commitment to the command of Jesus to go into the world.

It has been like another window opening on the world for me, to learn more about the work of those who have gone out from Oakwood into missionary work, and how much the church supports them. The word of Jesus is fulfilled in our involvement with them, yet we must remember how he told his first disciples to begin in Jerusalem, where they were. It would be a contradiction to help the work to make Jesus known in Brazil for example, but not to fulfil our role in sharing him on our doorstep.

So OAKWOOD 2010 is underway. These early months are a time for discussion and review, and the place of prayer is very important in this. While we are thinking through how our work can be more effective in making Jesus known, we must be constant in prayer. It may be that in this stage there seems little to show, but it is vital, like planting for a future harvest. Recently the deacons spent a whole monthly meeting talking over how our present activities can be most welcoming and helpful in introducing people to the Lord Jesus. For example, we tried to imagine what it would be like for someone who came for the first time on a Sunday morning. We believe someone visiting us would be made welcome, while it is also important to give visitors freedom. If you happened to chat to someone new, you could make sure that they had been offered our Welcome Leaflet. These are always available at the back of the church and in the foyer, and stewards will pass them out. They have a page to leave contact details, so this could be an important link. Be ready to give a relaxed, friendly welcome to a visitor, and check they have been offered a Welcome Leaflet. Here is a simple way for each of us to play a part in OAKWOOD 2010.

One way in which things are already in place is that Christianity Explored is available. We are able to make a small group whenever there are people who might like to think through the message about Jesus. Let me know if someone may be interested, or encourage them to speak to me. We are pleased that Rico Tice, an evangelist and part of the team at All Souls, Langham Place, who is the author and presenter of Christianity Explored, will be visiting us to preach in October 2010. Who will you bring to hear his presentation of the gospel?

Keep praying through this time of preparation. I look forward to sending the next letter in September.

Your Pastor,

Your Pastor,
Gordon

‘HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL BRING IT TO COMPLETION’ Philippians 1v6