Inspiring People

Today the Inspiring People campaign was launched.

It is a series of events planned for September and October in Sydney, as part of the strategy to reach the Central Business districts. It is organised by Connect 09, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, (And JAAL, CBF and CPX). We are one of the key link churches in supporting the events and providing follow up afterwards. You can find out more from Peter Jensen about the campaign here.

We'd love you to do 2 things:

1. Pray. Pray for the impact of these events. That many who don't know Jesus would recieve information about the events and would decided to come along and find out more. Pray for the people who will be speaking and sharing about their faith and the impact Jesus has on them. Pray that those who come along and are interested in finding out more would sign up to the Life of Jesus follow-up course.

2. If you are a city worker, get involved. We need prayer support, help with promotion and of course, people to invite their friends. All the event details are on the website Inspiring People. Decide which event to go along to and ask someone to go with you. Please promote these events on your blogs, facebook pages, websites, everywhere!

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Living Christianly

Jonathan Dodson has some great tips on living Christianly and connecting with the people around us.

Sometimes the task of reaching the city with the gospel of Jesus can be overwhelming! Where to start, what to do? His tips remind us to make the most of the opportunities we already have, to connect with the people around us and deepen those relationships.

And pray. Pray and ask that we'd have a real love for those who don't know Jesus. Pray that our gracious Father would be changing us to be more and more like his Son as he works through his spirit to bring us to obedience. Pray that we'd be living Christian lives so that people can see the difference that Jesus is making in our life. Pray that we'd have opportunities to speak of Jesus and all that he has done.

A surprising opportunity

On my day off today, I went to buy some furniture. I'm feeling pretty ordinary, and really wanted to go, get what I wanted and come home to the couch. I wasn't thinking about an opportunity to share the gospel; I wasn't looking out for doors that might open in conversation.

But God had other ideas.

As I went to pay, the shop owner saw the Bible in my bag and the conversation started something like this:

Him: "Not meaning to be rude for looking in your bag, but is that a Holy Bible in there? Do you read it?"

Me: "Yes, it is a Bible. And yes, I do read it."

Him: "Wow. I didn't think anyone read it any more. I'm really worried about my kids - they have nothing, no hope, no belief in something bigger than they are, nothing that makes them afraid so they will do the right thing."

Me (a little stunned at how the conversation had opened up, mumbled something like): "So what do you believe?"

The conversation continued - we talked a little about his fear of militant Islam, his desire for his kids to have something to hope in and his recognition that there is something wrong in the world, and that we fail to live the right way. I got to mention Jesus and the hope that we can have in him, and I pulled out the copy of The Essential Jesus (which I carry in my handbag in the hope of being able to give it away to people when the opportunity arises). It wasn't the clearest explanation I've ever given, but he seemed really eager and was keen to take the book and read it.

I'm giving thanks to our gracious Father for this opportunity, and praying that as this mean reads Luke's Gospel he will understand who Jesus is and put his faith in him. Now to get a new copy of The Essential Jesus from church to put in my handbag.