Blogging with Bart

Bart Woodhouse, the VentureFX pioneer in The Bridge housing development near Dartford, has begun a blog reflecting on some of the issues he is encountering in engaging with young adults about matters of life and faith.

Read what Bart has to say about the place of apologetics in his most recent post.

What is Jon Curtis (VentureFX Exeter) doing for Lent?

The Seven Weeks look like this… The number represents what I’ll be doing that week!

 1. No money will be spent. This will probably involve hitch-hiking, working in exchange for goods, and bin-diving.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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! 

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!

 

 

 

If you have any ideas, you can e-mail me at jon_shoe@hotmail.com.  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!

 

 

 

Salvation Today and CMS Pioneer Training

Who says that 'salvation' and 'being saved' are unfamiliar concepts in contemporary culture?  Yesterday outside Oxford railway station I snapped these two posters.

Maybe they are concepts which are in more common use than we think and somehow we need to re-invest them with Gospel significance?

Incidentally, I was in Oxford to attend the open day introducing the new Pioneer Mission Leadership Training 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.

Dave Saunders, VentureFX pioneer in Inverness writes ...

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?

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!

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?

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!

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”.

There and then my heart broke and I thanked Christ for jumping in for me and sharing His blood to save me.

You see .....Christ?

New project in Exeter

The 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 'The Cut Ups' and has recently toured Europe with the band. He has a close association with The Cavern, 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.

You can see Jon and The Cut Ups in action here

VentureFX pioneer star of Wi Ad

We're honoured that VentureFX pioneer Simon Sutcliffe, working in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, stars in the latest Nintendo Wi Advert  You can follow Simon's blog by clicking on the VFX Hanley link at the side of this page.

Wider network of VentureFX

We'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 Ian

Tubestation 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). 

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.

VentureFX at ECG

VentureFX 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.

VentureFX project in Hanley, Stoke on Trent

The 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.