Lower Kingswood is a fairly small FIEC church and could probably not support a full-time pastor on their own. However their brothers at Tollgate Evangelical Church have partnered with them in the Gospel, and Jim is to be employed between both churches, but with the congregation at Lower Kingswood as his primary focus.

We thank God for the vision and unity He has given to both churches and pray that we would see many similar schemes around the country.

Wonderful!

Partnership in Action

What does Gospel partnership look like? There are several ways of answering that question, but one answer comes in the form of churches releasing their own leaders and allowing them time to work with other churches that need their help.

We were asked by the membership of an evangelical church in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire to support them through a difficult period. The departure of the minister had left the church without clear spiritual
leadership so that the church was beginning to drift. With many in the church rather downcast about the position they felt the church had reached it became clear that we needed to be in a position of actually leading them in making these changes, rather than acting as neutral consultants giving advice.

Not surprisingly, some were rather nervous about this since it meant the local church surrendering its independent status and asking outsiders to take over. We were grateful at this juncture for the support of Martyn Hallett (pastor at Goldington Evangelical Church in Bedford) who had been acting as chair for the Sharnbrook deacons’ meetings, so along with him Phil and I were appointed as interim Eders for a period of two years, with the expectation that we would give about two days a week between us (it probably worked out at more than that, which is usually the case in ministry!).

The focus of our activity was relatively straightforward: organising the Sunday ministry (Ian with his part-time status at Brixworth was able to preach every three or four weeks, Phil every six or seven, and Martyn about once a quarter); organising and leading the setting up of weekly housegroups; some pastoral visiting; leading deacons’ and church meetings; and, this year, heading up the search for a new pastor. It was not really possible to do much more, as the distance from Brixworth to Sharnbrook is just under 25 miles and time is restricted because of other duties, but it is surprising how that little was so encouraging to the people at Sharnbrook.

In all of this, we have sought to keep people regularly informed for prayer, even though members at Brixworth have not been directly involved. Quite a few have thus maintained an active interest in the progress of the fellowship at Sharnbrook and have therefore also shared our joy at the Lord’s recent provision of a pastor who we hope will take up his appointment in October. So our involvement with the church will be scaled down, but our sense of unity with the church at Sharnbrook will not diminish.
We are grateful to have been able to work with them in a way that both demonstrated and strengthened the bonds that exist in Christian fellowship.

Ian Rees, Associate Pastor of Brixworth Christian Fellowship (FIEC)
(Article reproduced with permission from Spring 08 issue of Together Magazine – www.fiec.org.uk.)