I just finished listening to Jason Clark’s talk on at the Vineyard UK/Ireland conference entitled “The Shape of the Church: What Story are you living?” It was very, very, very powerful – full of open honesty and hope for the future.
Yet the one thing that stood out to me the most, as I’m sure it did with the folks there that day, was Jason’s challenge to really embrace the cross of Jesus through the tough times of life. I know that sounds really religious and worthless…but I am at a loss to find words to explain his talk… all I can say is that if you only listen to one message from the Vineyard UK/Ireland conference, this should be that one talk.
Summary of the talk as posted by Jason on his blog:
It summed up my experience as a church planter, and my theological reflections/research within that. It was part autobiography, part theological reflection and part pragmatic advice/coaching.
I set out a vision for how we much understand the church in our current context in ways that would respond to the biggest challenges we face for being church and church planting. I also made it in the hope that it would give hope and confidence to church planters and church leaders.
Our Vineyard family across the pond has posted the audio files for both the main sessions and the seminars. The main topics and speakers are as follows:
• A Vision of Christian Leadership by Rich Nathan
• A Vision of God by Rich Nathan
• The Vision of Christian Mission by Rich Nathan
• Guard what has been Entrusted to your Care by John and Eleanor Mumford
• The Shape of the Church: What Story are you living? By Jason Clark
• Visionary Leadership by Mike Pilavachi
• The Power of His Presence by Alan Scott
And here is a list of seminars available to listen too. There are definitely some here that I am going to tune into!
• Building teams that make the church grow by Steve and Juliet Barber
• Dying well by John Wyatt
• International missions by Jon Franklin and Andrew Myatt
• Deepening your devotional life: Introduction to Ignatian spirituality by Rich Nathan
• Our fragile minds by John Wyatt
• Pressing through pastoral disappointments by Chris and Maggie Parsons
• What does your website say about your church? by Mark Crosby and Jonny Norridge
• Simple church, a strategy for growth by Andy and Bethan Chapman
• Why serve our communities? by Dave Bass
• Dare to share – Communicating God’s heart by Claire Lynch
• Isn’t Christian morality immoral? by James Mumford
• Outside the church there is no salvation? by Jason Clark
• Revisiting personal growth by Lulu Williams
• So you want to plant a church? by James Rankine
• You are the project by Andy Smith
• Compassion and The Arches by Helen Murphy and Team
• Training to pursue God’s call to lead by Mike Newport and Neal Swettenham
• Inside out: Discipling the fringe by Chris and Fliss Lane
• Connecting the church with those that don’t know God by Glyn and Sophia Barrett
• Women in leadership: Theology and challenges by Juliet Barber
• Vineyard worship in the local church – our values and distinctives by Jimmy and Kate Cooke
• Developing a sustaining spirituality by Erik and Rebecca Jespersen
• Peace on earth: Starting in your community by Dan Green
Following The Spirit Wherever He Goes
