tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14376338173934694562024-03-21T14:39:20.451+00:00VentureFXThe Methodist Church Pioneer Ministries Scheme VentureFX - creating fresh expressions of church among unchurched young adultsIan Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-32419125935853500492013-01-21T11:47:00.002+00:002013-01-26T08:32:12.020+00:00VentureFX websiteThe VFX pioneers now have their own <a href="http://www.venturefx.org.uk/">website</a>, which has information about the pioneers themselves, the context they're working in, and some links to their websites and blogs. We'll probably be using that instead of this blog in future, so you might like to bookmark it. There will still be a page with general information on the <a href="http://www.methodist.org.uk/mission/venture-fx">Methodist Church</a> website.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-3079495609368312532013-01-21T11:42:00.002+00:002013-01-21T11:42:40.860+00:00VFXtra Learning and Support DaysVentureFX is holding regular learning and support days for those involved in pioneering and fresh expressions work. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzwZhrH8_x3I9R6vmuN0XWD9KxwwirQmCjqES3-mJZmQR3SYaeWvYoTGqmUzTy7doRTcmtxYw8eV4OFPbSFluLYot_dRzX4VGDK2mekr1HiqdIBXbfoPwctvK2juFWhJAE0Yab_DIHrwR/s1600/VFXtra+flyer+March+2013+pdf-2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzwZhrH8_x3I9R6vmuN0XWD9KxwwirQmCjqES3-mJZmQR3SYaeWvYoTGqmUzTy7doRTcmtxYw8eV4OFPbSFluLYot_dRzX4VGDK2mekr1HiqdIBXbfoPwctvK2juFWhJAE0Yab_DIHrwR/s320/VFXtra+flyer+March+2013+pdf-2+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next day will be on Thursday 22 March 2013 and will be held simultaneously in four locations from 10.00am to 4.00pm. The day's free, though you might have to buy your lunch.<br />
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<b>Exeter: </b>The Cavern<br />
<b>Birmingham:</b> The Queen's Foundation<br />
<b>Manchester:</b> Nexus Art Cafe<br />
<b>Newcastle:</b> The Holy Biscuit<br />
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More details available at the <a href="http://www.venturefx.org.uk/">VentureFX website</a> If you think this might be of value to you, you'd be most welcome - just email the contact person for the relevant venue.<br />
<br />Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-39716896850576608922012-09-14T00:27:00.002+01:002012-09-14T20:06:58.456+01:00Rhythm of LifeClick below to see the VFX rhythm of life in a slightly different format!<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5706897/VentureFX_rhythm_of_Life">Rhythm of Life</a>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-41787807844903539742012-04-18T22:03:00.004+01:002012-04-18T22:10:02.179+01:00Ric Stott talks about pioneer ministryRic Stott is a VentureFX pioneer in Sheffield using creative arts to explore spirituality and faith. Here he talks about his call to pioneer ministry:<br />
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<br />Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-18387631660016369662012-03-30T09:56:00.001+01:002012-03-30T09:56:33.639+01:00The Holy Spirit prevents mission!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US">The mission of God’s people is always prevented
by the Holy Spirit. No, that isn’t as heretical as it at first sounds!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a reminder that the way we use and
understand words changes over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
our ears the word ‘prevent’ often has a negative meaning, suggesting that
something is stopped or hindered. We might say, ‘I was prevented from reaching
my destination,’ for example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the root
meaning is ‘to come before,’ from the Latin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">venire</i>
meaning ‘to come’ with the prefix <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prae </i>meaning
‘before’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was surely what was in
John Wesley’s mind when he spoke of the prevenience of God’s grace: it is grace
that ‘prevents’ us, or goes before us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is a distinctively Methodist emphasis which is especially helpful
and relevant in our approach to mission today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">It resonates well with the missiological
thinking which underlies much of our approach to contextual and cross-cultural
mission today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe John Taylor’s
comment that the missionary task of Christians and the Church means ‘finding
out what God is doing and trying to do it with him’,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1437633817393469456#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
is a more recent re-statement of Wesley’s emphasis on prevenient grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Sue Hope says, ‘Learning how to
interpret the Spirit, spotting the footprints of God in the earthiness of the
ordinary life of a local community and following them into the unknown is at
the heart of true mission,’<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1437633817393469456#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
perhaps she is articulating something similar to Wesley for our contemporary
context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Is the movement of our mission to bring
Christ to community or culture, or is to bring our community and culture to
Christ? A proper understanding of prevenient grace suggests that neither model
is adequate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A true grasp of the
prevenient grace of God and the prevenient activity of the Holy Spirit, will
remind us that God is already present in the culture and the community where we
intend to engage in mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
mission which has already begun, because the Spirit has preceded and
‘prevented’ us. So mission is essentially a task of immersing ourselves in and
becoming embedded in a culture or community in which God himself is already a
willing and long-term participant. It is a necessary consequence of the
doctrine of incarnation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mission is,
as I heard Neil Richardson express it recently,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘the bodying forth, in word and action, of God’s will for the world’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps Peter made one of the earliest
discoveries of the importance to Christian mission of a proper understanding of
prevenient grace when he found that the Holy Spirit was already active in the
hearts of Gentiles (Acts 10). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US">Our task in pioneer mission and ministry
is certainly to be innovative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is to
find creative ways of sharing the gospel in a culture that has largely lost
sight of many of the traditional landmarks of the Christian story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is to reimagine what being an authentic
disciple of Jesus might mean in our community and to dream of what church could
become in our context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is God who
is the real innovator<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- the
groundbreaker, the missionary, the planter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The God of mission whose Spirit preveniently works in individuals and
communities to create in them an awareness of God’s loving purposes even before
they know it, is the true pioneer missioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Jesus, the Word made flesh, already immersed in the lives of those
people and places, is both the ‘pioneer’ and the ‘finisher’ of faith and
mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1437633817393469456#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> John V Taylor, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Go-between
God,</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SCM Press, 1972, p.55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1437633817393469456#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Cited by Linda Barley, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christian
Roots, Contemporary Spirituality,</i> Church House, 2006, p.viii<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-18785082590689425392012-03-16T22:17:00.000+00:002012-03-16T22:17:28.310+00:00VentureFX report concludes it is something of which the Methodist Church can be justly proudThe VentureFX scheme was recently reviewed in the third year of its life. The project review report is available to be viewed or downloaded <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdb.tt%2Fylq7mFLS&h=QAQFgLvclAQEmOwMWU6uNDlkuGKc2KIbMNH2AVnogL8y9Qw&enc=AZMqkVtUiRK0i8y_XKHBiphcE-AUV-JEnr0iK7v5cCbNtHPQL6LqIdqH42QY4wMpZy4jRgu8oj58ySdJePDzcvFTejMlitqgKWqKfJjwpCudZw">here</a>. The report was planned by the VentureFX project management group for the purposes of learning from the recent progress of the project. The report and recommendations will be utilised as one particular input to consider the project learning overall and any future adjustments, and the report itself is not an agreed or official statement of the Methodist Church.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-70733373102755786222012-03-16T11:56:00.006+00:002012-03-16T11:56:58.378+00:00VentureFX pioneer in Milton Keynes on pioneering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rob Winn is one of the most recent VentureFX pioneers to begin work. Based in Milton Keynes he is in the exploratory stages, prayerfully discerning what God is doing and reflecting on what mission to young adults in that city may look like. Here he talks to VentureFX coordinator Ian Bell about his views on pioneering ministry.</div>
<br />Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-43004809781822297042012-03-02T21:58:00.004+00:002012-03-05T11:23:19.216+00:00Facebook discussion of VentureFX reviewInteresting discussion about the review of the VentureFX scheme on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/2211562545/">UK Methodists Facebook page</a> and also an interesting reaction to the review report on <a href="http://www.hope-cirencester.co.uk/NewsStory.asp?PageRef=2&NewsRef=320">Kim's blog</a>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-38123344437042284702012-02-21T22:05:00.001+00:002012-02-21T22:08:40.499+00:00Setting the compass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwRxUsQ_kJx5M0vEnZt6jOohmkcdMIsxhACTZxNiNrxbiISq4MvuB3g_974ORwmdDntPL4PGAgcXlw-10o3-1OqPqn6ziPU7inYwhas-w11cR7f3rqah5m1FK0-0Xm7eWOf_phXGJ6oas/s1600/Compass" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwRxUsQ_kJx5M0vEnZt6jOohmkcdMIsxhACTZxNiNrxbiISq4MvuB3g_974ORwmdDntPL4PGAgcXlw-10o3-1OqPqn6ziPU7inYwhas-w11cR7f3rqah5m1FK0-0Xm7eWOf_phXGJ6oas/s320/Compass" width="320" /></a></div>At their January Learning and Support day, the VentureFX pioneers were led in a time of prayerful reflection by Dave Saunders, pioneer in Inverness. Dave spoke of the varying challenges to be faced and of the need to be directed and guided by God. He produced a compass (pictured) which was used in our prayers and which will be kept by each pioneer in turn for a month to underline our common sense of needing God's Holy Spirit to help us navigate the uncharted territory that our mission often leads us into.<br />
<br />
Dave led us in the following prayer which he had written and which others may find helpful to make their own:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we know the closeness of Christ wherever we find ourselves.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we look to Him to be our compass in life's chaos.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we lose our need for control.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we epically fail and still limp on.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we see our scars as the pioneers map.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we see things upside-down.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we sleep at night dreaming of possibilities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we wake with energy to undo what needs to be undone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">May we breath the rhythm of life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Every wave surfed, every mic sung in, every paint that dries, every street walked, every coffee drunk and every meal eaten, MAY IT BE for Christ's gain.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Amen.</span>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-73451908414321225642012-02-16T16:45:00.003+00:002012-02-16T16:49:25.267+00:00VentureFX Rhythm of LifeThe VentureFX team of pioneers values being part of a shared journey of experience, reflection and understanding about mission which takes the context of never-churched people seriously. Over the last two years this evolving community of pioneer mission within the Methodist family has been reflecting on the underlying values and rhythms which give direction to the journey. Recently the group of pioneers has articulated this in a Rhythm of Life. Our hope is that, in due course, others who share this or a similar journey might find this rhythm to be helpful for their journey too.<br />
<br />
<em>We are a pioneer mission movement of the Methodist Church. VentureFX pioneers are committed to journey together and with others as part of an evolving community of pioneer mission. Our work is with those who don’t currently connect with Christian faith or the Church. We are called to be at the edges, where Christian faith can creatively engage with contemporary culture, building the church from the outside in. We seek to invite people to be disciples of Jesus and to live out that discipleship in radical and relevant community with others.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>We are committed to a rhythm of life which flows from three core values:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong> Innovation</strong> - breaking new ground and planting <br />
for the future<br />
<br />
<strong> Imagination</strong> - dreaming God’s vision for what church <br />
could become<br />
<br />
<strong> Incarnation</strong> - immersed in our communities <br />
in the name of Christ<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>We seek to express those values by:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><u>Daily </u></strong><br />
Reflecting on our spiritual journey as disciples of Jesus<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Weekly</u></strong><br />
Observing a common day for the discipline of prayer and fasting (normally Wednesday)<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Monthly</u></strong><br />
Gathering together for support, encouragement and learning<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Annually</u></strong><br />
Sharing in a retreat to renew our individual and common life with GodIan Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-88863194760337544782012-02-14T07:15:00.003+00:002012-02-15T08:58:09.474+00:00Edinburgh dreams<em>Lou Davis is one of the latest VentureFX pioneers to begin working with the scheme. She had previously been leading the C3 community in Stockport but has now moved with her husband to Edinburgh to work with networks of young adults in the city. She describes some of her early activity:</em><br />
<br />
Part of my reason for being in Edinburgh is to help people who might be new to the city to fit in and find friends. I’m beginning by being a newbie to the city and trying to make friends. I’ve been on the lookout for things that are happening in the city which are interesting, creative and joyful. Some of them I’ve been able to go along to, others I’ve not but I hope to soon! These are presented in no particular order:<br />
<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="193px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmSjMsomLm_T_gORbiHtif8wjEXs8h67sbnrI_I_VKE_GkD2uzKnfmOH9_YncdkNTpGaoWsvjDpLAcPmWoeTSFCkQ14bTEdJ6l2-nXK8qkr68pYUAXkLetPuXQkuCaG5_WPh8rgNBJli8/s200/Lou+Davis.jpg" width="200px" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Granny Greens</u></strong><br />
<br />
A weekly meet up for crafters. I’ve been along to this a couple of times and hope to make it a regular feature of my week! We’ve met in cafes or pubs and taken a project along to do, or sometimes there’s an opportunity to learn something new, and there’s a book group too. I’ve been welcomed every time I’ve been along, a very friendly bunch!<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Edinburgh Cake Ladies</u></strong><br />
<br />
Apparently baking is a trend. I’m just glad that the rest of the world has caught up with what we home bakers have always known … that there’s nothing like a homemade slice of cake. Edinburgh cake ladies (and gents) meet up a few times a year to share cakey goodness with one another. I’m already planning what cake I could make to take along to their next meeting!<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Out of the Blue</u></strong><br />
<br />
I went to a Christmas craft market at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, just off Leith Walk. It was so good, I had to text my vintage and textile loving friend from Manchester to gloat Taking a look at their website, there’s loads going on there, arty stuff, music, dance. I’m sure I’ll be back soon.<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Edinburgh Printmakers</u></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Edinburgh Printmakers have a fabulous light open space with equipment for any type of art printing you can think of. I went to their open day at the end of last year and came away excited by the prospect of doing one of their courses. Members can use the studio at any time, and that’s a big incentive as signing up to a course gives you membership for a few months so you can perfect your skills.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That’s all for now but I’ve only just scratched the surface. There will be more to come!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmSjMsomLm_T_gORbiHtif8wjEXs8h67sbnrI_I_VKE_GkD2uzKnfmOH9_YncdkNTpGaoWsvjDpLAcPmWoeTSFCkQ14bTEdJ6l2-nXK8qkr68pYUAXkLetPuXQkuCaG5_WPh8rgNBJli8/s1600/Lou+Davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-58223282001388387462011-09-30T10:18:00.001+01:002011-09-30T11:42:40.792+01:00Doug Gay on Emerging and Inherited Church relationshipsDoug Gay has some helpful observations about the tensions experienced between 'emerging' or fresh expressions of church and more inherited churches:<br />
<br />
<em>'Institutions at their most healthy will ideally maintain a suppleness and an openness to ongoing reform. For many of us, our experience of institutional church is more commonly of a tightly policed conservatism whose resistance to change requires that reformers need to add volume and momentum to their criticism if they are to be heard. In relational terms, this can lead to a recklessness and arrogance on the part of critics who are pained by the resistance to their voices, matched by a stubborn defensiveness on the part of those who are being critiqued, who are wounded by the assault on what they hold dear. Some of the ongoing resistance to 'emerging church' can be traced to the pains inherent in this process, as hard-working and faithful practitioners within a range of churches feel undermined and condemned by criticisms of their way of being church. There is, of course, no easy way through this, but there is a gospel requirement that those provoking and negotiating change seek to be aware of how much 'charity' there is in their words and actions'.</em><br />
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<strong>Re-mixing The Church (Towards an Emerging Ecclesiology), p.17</strong>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-52717146294775498292011-06-27T13:24:00.001+01:002011-06-27T13:26:48.580+01:00Breakout Gathering for Pioneers, September 21-23, 2011We're also very excited about the forthcoming Breakout Gathering for Pioneers which is the third such event designed to support all those who are involved as practitioners in pioneer ministry. It will be at High Leigh Conference Centre (Hoddesdon) from 21-23 September. We're expecting that most of the VentureFX pioneers will be there – indeed at least one of them will be helping to lead it. <strong>Ric Stott</strong> will be leading a session on creative arts, and I will also be leading a session about effective ways of working with permission-givers in our structures. The major input will come from <strong>Jonny Baker</strong> and <strong>Graham Cray</strong>, with other sessions including: <br />
<br />
<strong>Juliet Gilpin</strong> (Urban Expressions) – discipleship<br />
<strong>Ian Adams</strong> (author, Cave Refectory Road) - new monasticism<br />
<strong>Andy Freeman</strong> (24/7 prayer) – prayer<br />
<strong>Debbie Forman</strong> (pioneer minister) - worship<br />
<strong>Bishop Paul Bayes</strong> – working with permission givers<br />
<br />
The 24/7 prayer people will create a prayer room for us during the gathering, and there will also be plenty of opportunity for breakout groups for general conversation and sharing together, and there will be stimulating and reflective worship. It just seems like an amazing collection of people and activities which I am sure will be a tremendously rich resource for any of us who are involved in fresh ways of being church and who sometimes feel that we need a bit more support and time spent in the company of others who ‘get’ what we do.<br />
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The cost is fairly modest - £110 for a standard room and £135 for an ensuite room. Perhaps those who have responsibility for your support and well-being would recognise the worth of an opportunity like this and may be able to pay some, if not all of the cost of being there. More information and a booking form is available on the <a href="http://www.breakoutpioneer.org.uk/index.php"><strong>Breakout</strong></a> website, and it would be great if you could think about registering, and doing so as soon as possible, so we know how many to plan for. If you are a Methodist and do decide to go, it would be really helpful if you could send me a quick email to let me know, so that I am aware of who will be going from the Methodist network. And, most importantly – please pass this on to others who you think ought to hear about it.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-73247743854073933002011-06-22T21:11:00.000+01:002011-06-22T21:11:19.558+01:00Bishop Graham Cray to address VentureFX meeting at Methodist Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">We’re very excited about the forthcoming meeting being hosted by the Fresh Expressions Team and VentureFX on the evening of Tuesday 5 July at the time of the Methodist Conference in Southport. It’s going to be an interesting location – the Wayfarers Arcade, off Lord Street – and Bishop Graham Cray, leader of the Fresh Expressions Team will be giving a keynote talk on the theme, ‘Church Lite or Deep Church?’ – discipleship and fresh expressions of church. There couldn’t be a more relevant topic, nor a more challenging speaker. There’ll also be a chance to hear directly what some pioneer ministers are getting up to, and to see some clips from the brand new Fresh Expressions DVD. Stephen Lindridge and I will be there to host and we expect it to be a great evening. Please pass the invitation on – especially to anyone going to conference or living in the vicinity of Southport.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-63330772914598424522011-04-04T15:58:00.000+01:002011-04-04T15:58:02.965+01:00Blogging with BartBart Woodhouse, the VentureFX pioneer in The Bridge housing development near Dartford, has begun a <a href="http://wallpaperedminds.blogspot.com/">blog</a> reflecting on some of the issues he is encountering in engaging with young adults about matters of life and faith. <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnGsj5uwc9f8BdCjBYya40dEMz6Hfz5Tc52f2AiTwyH7jaB_ANiHIedSC37drPlkJyNLTZT114oovkmNoA4G_35crBWOuuE4KBC2UQnOrM7DfX3AWn2lhopkuRT62BjhbdO8tJmhRbrw/s1600/Bart+Woodhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_qjkurv="138" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnGsj5uwc9f8BdCjBYya40dEMz6Hfz5Tc52f2AiTwyH7jaB_ANiHIedSC37drPlkJyNLTZT114oovkmNoA4G_35crBWOuuE4KBC2UQnOrM7DfX3AWn2lhopkuRT62BjhbdO8tJmhRbrw/s320/Bart+Woodhouse.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Read what Bart has to say about the place of apologetics in his most recent post.</div>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-8095961674423787262011-03-09T15:51:00.000+00:002011-03-09T15:51:45.110+00:00What is Jon Curtis (VentureFX Exeter) doing for Lent?The Seven Weeks look like this… The number represents what I’ll be doing that week!<br />
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<div> 1. No money will be spent. This will probably involve hitch-hiking, working in exchange for goods, and bin-diving. </div><div><br />
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2. No technology will be used. I was born in 1982, so if it didn’t exist then, I can’t use it! No iPhone, no computer, no internet, and so on. I am going to write a lot of postcards, and hope that you will write to me too! <br />
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3. Purchases only from Independent Traders. Exeter was considered by an independent body to be the worst “clone town” in the UK, based on the number of High Street stores not part of a chain (there was 1 independent). I will only be buying from indies for everything, and all products will be independently produced also! <br />
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4. I will be Carbon Neutral. Tough one this! Obviously I won’t drive, catch a bus etc, but the aim is to exist on things that have not travelled either! I will be visiting my parents this week too, on my bike! <br />
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5. Voluntary employment. Every day, I will give my working day to an organisation that needs volunteers. This situation will increase massively given the recent cuts made by the government. I hope for a busy week! <br />
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6. Veganism. I will not eat a single ingredient that has anything to do with an animal. I value the farming community a lot, but there are too many people in the world to all eat animal products. This will have to be addressed at some point in the future. I will be feeding my friends a full 3 course meal as part of this task! <br />
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7. Monasticism. Essentially I will be living as if in a Monastery! Up before dawn, no eating during daylight hours. Prayer 3 times a day, a vow of silence, plus a Pilgrimage to a distant chapel! <br />
</div>So, there we are! Each week will feature a challenge, and everything will be recorded here, and will be filmed. I’d also like to encourage you to give things up, but also get onboard with certain things that I need help with!<br />
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If you have any ideas, you can e-mail me at <a href="mailto:jon_shoe@hotmail.com">jon_shoe@hotmail.com</a>. I’m on twitter @joncutups where I’ll be undoubtedly griping, and if you could forward this to anyone who might be interested, that’d be great!<br />
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<div> </div>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-6505122677032010322011-03-03T13:36:00.001+00:002011-03-03T13:42:30.593+00:00Salvation Today and CMS Pioneer TrainingWho says that 'salvation' and 'being saved' are unfamiliar concepts in contemporary culture? Yesterday outside Oxford railway station I snapped these two posters.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHuvtGAlmtKmxczo8OWi0WIZlbDotLr-jwWQoX07nmVU7BsW1P9wK9TgjFv9WlBIz23ob09ZZbrEXnKsPQBW1_qIMjsN3HK7f8fgL7ai-CZxJDCSGp3q1kvumorta3DLLjlXBf6KVmEKo/s1600/Only+one+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHuvtGAlmtKmxczo8OWi0WIZlbDotLr-jwWQoX07nmVU7BsW1P9wK9TgjFv9WlBIz23ob09ZZbrEXnKsPQBW1_qIMjsN3HK7f8fgL7ai-CZxJDCSGp3q1kvumorta3DLLjlXBf6KVmEKo/s320/Only+one+man.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><br />
Maybe they are concepts which are in more common use than we think and somehow we need to re-invest them with Gospel significance?<br />
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Incidentally, I was in Oxford to attend the open day introducing the new <a href="http://pioneer.cms-uk.org/">Pioneer Mission Leadership Training </a>course which Jonny Baker and Church Mission Society have developed. It strikes me as being absolutely spot on in what it promises to deliver in training people for various kinds of pioneer ministry. I think there is much to learn from CMS as we think about equipping the increasing number of people engaging in pioneer mission within Methodism.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-78200455991792102072011-02-23T12:14:00.000+00:002011-02-23T12:14:32.750+00:00Dave Saunders, VentureFX pioneer in Inverness writes ...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSKw8y4NTq_WScUZjes8Sy1dm3ahPqTOFPeHkoDYUOX5btZjNJyDs38ZklIfSdLFc3-QK6wsq9R0KXG7UNFQntXoBIP9lYibnwsNm1i99ilLA5-kmGI3m2K7NjuAEgRPwb9QnkW1adim2/s1600/DSCF0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSKw8y4NTq_WScUZjes8Sy1dm3ahPqTOFPeHkoDYUOX5btZjNJyDs38ZklIfSdLFc3-QK6wsq9R0KXG7UNFQntXoBIP9lYibnwsNm1i99ilLA5-kmGI3m2K7NjuAEgRPwb9QnkW1adim2/s320/DSCF0309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Have you been used up? Beaten down with your crazy dreams of a church that could be..? Questioned about your faith because you're not content with just sitting in a meeting? Do you ever feel like you just don't fit for some reason? You know that Jesus is very real but something isn't right! How did you ever come to the place where you're bored, frustrated and given up church? <br />
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When we are willing to admit that we have these questions we just might be at the start of an adventurous, risky and fulfilling life. Following Jesus in the journey of God's mission to change our world. The church is changing and it's starting with you. Join in the conversation that's been happening since Jesus uttered the words "GO and make disciples of all nations." Maybe we think too often that we have found Jesus and forget that life is about following him. So he leads us to new and exciting places (maybe sometimes dangerous) Its not that you "found Jesus" but you're FINDING Jesus!<br />
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You might be suprised when you will find the Saviour of the world in the most compromising positions. After all he did that when he was leading the very first disciples. How many times did he break the religious rules to ensure the downtroden and hurting needs were met. Would we be willing to stand by the prostitute on the corner of the street and learn her story?<br />
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I was in the field opposite my house a while ago playing football with anyone that was up for it and there was a lad who was fairly disturbed and being ignored by everyone because previous to me being there, he had been in a fight. I spoke to him only to find out he wasn't the one that had the fight but he had jumped in to protect his mate from being hurt if not killed. Somehow he managed to be cut deep on his hand, the blood was all over his white coat and trousers. As we are talking, and he's telling me how he saved his friend's life by pulling the attacker off and fighting him back till the attacker gave up, his arm gestures are flicking blood on me!<br />
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So as he's telling me about how he had to protect his friend, “My friends are my only family,” he said. I’m looking at him soaked in blood and think he must be in pain. I looked him in the eyes and saw a pain that cuts deeper than the flesh, I knew that there was something else bothering him. So I ask him, “What’s up mate?” A long pause and he replied with frustration and hurt in his voice “He never said thank you for jumping in for me and saving my life”. <br />
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There and then my heart broke and I thanked Christ for jumping in for me and sharing His blood to save me.<br />
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You see .....Christ?Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-6551480564472093892011-01-31T15:26:00.003+00:002011-01-31T16:26:42.510+00:00New project in ExeterThe latest VentureFX project started in December and is located in Exeter. Jon Curtis is the VentureFX pioneer who has been appointed to lead the project. Jon is from Exeter and is already well known among many of the young adults in the city. He belongs to a Methodist Church in Exeter and has been involved with numerous fresh ways of being church as well as having an interest in football, supporting homeless people, youth work, social action and global justice, and punk rock music. He plays with punk band <a href="http://www.thecutups.com/">'The Cut Ups'</a> and has recently toured Europe with the band. He has a close association with <a href="http://exetercavern.com/">The Cavern</a>, a live music venue and bar in the city centre, and has spent a long time promoting live music in Exeter. Jon will be drawing on all his experience and networks of young adults as he seeks over the coming months to create a fresh expression of church to which they can relate.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see Jon and The Cut Ups in action <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE9UqP6WdPE">here</a></div>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-85443935415733145672010-11-04T23:11:00.000+00:002010-11-04T23:11:41.715+00:00VentureFX pioneer star of Wi AdWe're honoured that VentureFX pioneer Simon Sutcliffe, working in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, stars in the latest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Fo9mIv27g">Nintendo Wi Advert</a> You can follow Simon's blog by clicking on the VFX Hanley link at the side of this page.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-13059765218774457562010-05-24T15:24:00.001+01:002010-05-24T15:25:24.421+01:00Wider network of VentureFXWe've been feeling for a while that, as well as the 20 core VentureFX projects, the scheme might be able to develop the capacity for supporting other pioneer projects that would value being part of the VentureFX network and resources as they develop. It might help pioneers to feel that they are embraced and affirmed by the wider VentureFX scheme as well as being able to draw on elements of training, coaching, networking, resources and so on. We'd love to have some feedback as to how useful this might be, so if you have thoughts or ideas please leave a comment or email <a href="mailto:belli@methodistchurch.org.uk">Ian</a>Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-64419295338645336822010-05-20T08:32:00.002+01:002010-05-20T08:40:53.863+01:00Tubestation story hits The Times!Tubestation, the fresh expression of church relating to surf culture in North Cornwall was featured in a half-page article in The Times on Saturday (15 May 2010). <br />
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It's a great article and highlights what amazing things God is doing in and through Tubestation. VentureFX is partnering with Kris and Henry from the Tube, as they break new ground in a nearby location called St Merryn. It's going to go under the name of Esta and will be seeking to form a relevant way of being followers of Jesus in that community. The official launch will be in early July, so more details later. We believe that the energy and vision of the Tubestation leadership is going to enable new and exciting things to come to birth in St Merryn and we are excited about this opportunity to work with them.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-91197526236580313182010-04-13T08:07:00.001+01:002010-04-13T08:09:46.486+01:00VentureFX at ECGVentureFX presence at ECG made a valuable contribution to the event. Simon was busy all week and did a great job, together with Anthony Clowes, of hosting the nightly debate on various issues. Ian was helping to staff the Methodist and VentureFX stand and had a number of worthwhile conversations. We hope that next year the group of VentureFX pioneers will be able to play quite a significant role at the event. One of the most memorable moments was the response to Martyn Atkins' sermon in the Theatre, when many people came forward to acknowledge that they shared a 'divine disquiet' about church and the need for church to be changed and renewed for mission. Elaine Lindridge lead us in repeating the prayer of the Cuban church, 'Lord, prepare us for death or renew us!' Challenging words to pray, but it could be a transformational prayer if we mean it.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437633817393469456.post-63205910049943427602010-04-06T10:48:00.000+01:002010-04-06T10:48:49.225+01:00VentureFX project in Hanley, Stoke on TrentThe second VentureFX project to be launched is in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. Simon Sutcliffe is our pioneer currently based in premises in the centre of Hanley at the heart of the city's vibrant nightlife. Simon is a Methodist Minister who has experience of fresh expressions and of reaching the young adult age group and he is beginnng to establish relationshps wth people in the area as he listens to what God is saying and what will be the most effective way of developing a Christian community in that context. Read his blog by following the link at the right-hand side, and please pray for Simon and those who will work with him.<br />
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Could have come from any of the recent books, papers and conferences on the subject of Fresh Expressions and new monasticism. Actually it is from a letter written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to his brother on 14 January 1935! It is quoted by Ray Simpson in his recent excellent book, 'High Street Monasteries' (Kevin Mayhew, 2009). <br />
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The book is well worth a read for those involved in pioneering fresh ways of being church as it includes a really useful survey of the older and more recent expressions of monasticism, describes some contemporary examples, and offers a vision for the future. I love his idea of 'Villages of God' and the diagram on p.102 is brilliant. It's quite a slim book and a bit pricey at £9.99, but worth getting hold of.Ian Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01988053486897460279noreply@blogger.com1