Mosaic Multiplication

What a Sunday we had last week: two services, 350 in attendance, Jesus Christ worshipped and adored, people befriended, councillors amazed - and all in one week!

Many thanks to everyone who worked hard to make the multiplication into two services go so smoothly.  Especially Dave and Claire Sorely and Suzie Brown who spent most of Saturday painting kids rooms and creating the best church creche I’ve ever seen!  I’m not sure how well we do formal services at Mosaic but it was brilliant to officially thank our builders for their hard work and have the Lord Mayor of Leeds officially open the building.  As he cut the ribbon he seemed genuinely surprised and impressed at what God is doing through our church community.  If you missed his speech and my short history of Mosaic Church then go to the podcasts page to listen.

Coping with Jetlag and our Launch Weekend

If youve ever suffered with jetlag youll know how I feel today. I returned from Texas yesterday yet seem to have left both my brain and body there. Upon returning to the church offices I realise how much work we need to do to get ready for one of our biggest ever Sundays at Mosaic.

If youve managed to miss the news, we multiply this weekend to a Sunday morning meeting (10.30am) and early evening (5pm).
Weve invited our builders, the mayor and our local councillors to celebrate the official opening of the building and to honour God for all that he has done.  Holbeck Christian Fellowship have kindly cancelled their service so they can come and join us as well.

Feel free to come and join the celebration in the morning and then double up and come to the evening launch.  Our first morning and evening services will be different this Sunday though normally the services will be identical.

So we look forward to seeing you all at 10.30am this weekend! Yes, we know it early for many of you but welcome to the world of Sunday mornings.  Just think of all that you can achieve with the rest of the day.

Please pray for those who came to Love Holbeck, for all our guests and new visitors to meet a vibrant, welcoming group of people who love Jesus. 

Love Holbeck - What a Day!

Who would have thought it would work - a community day in January in the freezing cold? However with around 150 people attending in total, a number of people prayed for, 100s of conversations, 4-5 people coming along later that day to our 4.30 service and dozens of parents and kids alike asking us if and when we are running the next Love Holbeck Day, there was lots to look back on and give thanks to God for.

The odds were stacked against us going into it. All week the weather forecast had been rain and snow, the gazebo was broken, the burger van couldn’t get onto the moor and had to leave but by the time things had got going there was a great atmosphere and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Thanks for all of you who came and helped out and braved the cold. Thanks for “mucking in” and making it happen. If you have any encouraging stories then please do post a quick blog (without being too detailed) to encourage us. And if you have any feedback on how to improve the day or any people we can follow up personally then just drop me an e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Here are just a few highlights for me; talking to a guy who had lived in Holbeck for 4 years who had recently been asking God to lead him to a church and then “up we pop,” seeing Matt Pearson surrounded by (very competitive) dads and kids wanting to play in the football cage, seeing Emily Bosworth being pleaded with by a young girl to play some mooooore parachute games and hearing afterwards that Jenni Hill had 50 people take part in her arts and crafts.

That is just a flavour of what went on and there will surely be loads more that you can let us know about but just think, if we can do it in January - just imagine how many would come along on a hot summer’s day! The next one is scheduled for Sunday 3rd May so put the date in your diary and let’s keep praying for those that we met and those that live in Holbeck, that they know hope and love in Christ and support and comfort from Mosaic.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3.20-21)

World Mandate Update (Part 2)

World Mandate is split over 4 sessions. Friday night consisted of a medley of interviews, raps, dance, songs, comedy and talk. It's hard to describe what it's like being here but everything points to Jesus and his purposes on the earth. Particularly the call to go to the unreached peoples of the world...now! The time is now! Every 4 seconds, a chinese man or woman will die not knowing about the Gospel. Every second a child will die from poverty related diseases around the globe. The harvest is there, the need is there, it's the workers we lack.

Saturday consisted of more of the same yet with a focus on asking people to commit themselves to be ready to go.  In the morning Steve Smith spoke about the need for us to believe that the harvest is ready.  He contrasted the disciples on the mountain with Jesus at his transfiguration and those at its base dealing with a demonised child (Mark 9).  Those at the summit were full of faith, they knew his presence, they were ready to follow him anywhere.  Yet, when they descend they find the rest of the disciples struggling to muster the faith to deliver a little boy of his demon.  Jesus says to them (Mark 9:19) O unbelieving generation.  Literally he describes their thinking as perverted because they failed to understanding that it just took such a small amount of faith to set this boy free.  Steve’s point is that believers who bring in the harvest will be those that live on the top of the mountain rather than those at the bottom!

In the evening, Kevin Johnson spoke passionately about how the Holy Spirit wants to send people out to the nations of the world (Matt 9:38).  During the ministry time it was a privilege to pray with many students offering their lives to God’s service at home and abroad.

Sunday morning was the final session.  Jonathon Gulley shared his story of rebellion and a radical conversion to Christ.  He is now planting a church in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife Amy who is a good friend of Philippa’s (my wife).  It was direct, challenging and instructive.  His main point was that harvesters need to live in true community and be completely submitted to Jesus.

In summary - We have had quite an incredible time.  Many of us feel freshly challenged to live missional lives, sow the seed of the Gospel more broadly and where it takes root, disciple and support new converts.  We are returning with fresh faith that there is a harvest in Leeds.  We simply need to pray and go.

We also sense a growing excitement for our own conference LOVE:NATIONS on the 15th - 17th May.  We would love to bring together the arts, drama, song, and prayer in order to help people connect with God’s heart for world mission.  Dave Devenish will be speaking and our hope is that God will call many to spend their lives on behalf of those who haven’t heard.

Thanks for praying for us, it was a life changing time!

World Mandate Update

21 years ago around 60 students gathered in a cafeteria in Waco, Texas to ask God to send His presence and then send them to the nations of the world. They called the gathering World Mandate. This weekend Im here with 10 people from Mosaic to join with 3000 other students still asking for God to do the same.

The mission is massive.  Around the world there are 2.1 billion people yet to hear about Jesus.  Moreover 27 million are trapped in modern day slavery and around 800,000 are trafficked every year to be used in the sex industry. 

However, God is at work.  I have just been to a small meeting where Steve Smith (a church planting movements trainer) told us about some of the largest moves of God being experienced around the world. 

The largest (he knows of) is in SW China where in the last 8 years, 1.5-2 million people have been saved.  It started with one man being saved and realising that the Holy Spirit wanted to either convert people or train people. 

Therefore he aggressively sought out unbelievers, they were saved and then sent them out to find more unbelievers and then do the same again!  They were totally convinced that the Holy Spirit would convict people of their sins (1 Thess 1:4-5 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction…) and then teach them to live Godly lives (Jn 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you).  So far, the multiplication of salvations goes on.

Steve believes that we have the potential to see an unprecedented revival across the planet.  With only 600 people groups left untouched by missionary efforts the up and coming generation may have the opportunity to literally see the gospel go to every tribe and tongue.  Matt 24:14 tells us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in every nation and then the end will come. 

I wonder what would happen if English Christians shared this sense of faith for world mission?  Our desire is for each of us in Mosaic to see ourselves as either senders or goers. 

If we are senders then we live missional lives in Leeds and offer prayer, resources and support for those preparing to go.

If we are goers then we are called to invest, live the missional life here in Leeds, but get training, discipleship and eventually get sent to help plant churches across the globe.

Please pray for us this weekend, we want to come back changed and envisioned for the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20).  And please pray for Mosaic that together, we would keep focused on the task of loving Jesus and making him famous in every people group around the globe.  The harvest is out there, we simply need to trust God for it.  John 4:35 Do you not say, there are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

Living Mosaic’s Motto - Know Freedom!

A few weeks ago I posted a little reflection on Paul's remarkable statement from Philippians 1:21, "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain" and wanted to encourage us to maybe make that our motto for the year.

I just want to quickly think about what it would mean to live the first part of this motto: “for me to live is Christ”. What would be the results? What would happen? Well, the first thing that strikes me is that far from being an inhibiting motto it would actually be a motto that would enable us to live in true freedom. Let me explain what I mean by way of example.
Imagine if your motto was “for me to live is to pass exams…” or “for me to live is to get a boyfriend…” or “for me to live is to be successful in my job…” (you can fill in the blank). All are good things in and of themselves but if they are your motto, your ultimate reason for living, then there are two problems that are likely to come about.
Firstly, what happens if you don’t live up to your motto? What if you don’t pass your exams, you don’t get a boyfriend, you are not successful at work etc? Then it is not just upsetting or tough; you lose the very reason you were living which will only leave you more desperate (or enslaved) to achieve your motto.
Secondly, what happens if you do live up to your motto? Then when you pass your exams or get a boyfriend or get the success you were looking for you might be pleased for a short while but you have again (rather ironically) lost the very reason you were living. Again, that will only mean you are more desperate (or enslaved) for something ‘bigger’ or ‘better’; there won’t be complete and lasting satisfaction.
So whether you live up to your motto or whether you fail to live up to your motto, you are left in a position of discontent and hunger for more. Again, there is nothing wrong with any of the things that you might live for, and praise God they are good gifts from him to be enjoyed, but if they are your main reason for living you will be enslaved.
But what about if Philippians 1:21 is your motto? What happens if living for Jesus really is the central motivating factor of your life, if as Paul says in verse 20 “now as always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death”?
Well, when you don’t live up to it he is a master who forgives and when you do live up to it he is a master who satisfies. Either way you are free. Either way you don’t have to feel you have failed or been left empty. You can rejoice that you are accepted by grace and not works and you can rejoice that “the steadfast love of the Lord is better than life itself” (Psalm 63:4). You can know true freedom!
Let’s live by the motto “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” because it is the only way to knowing true freedom in this world.
P.S we would love your comments on anything we are writing so please do post your thoughts.

Mosaic 2009 Goals

Since returning from a wonderful Elders retreat this week, I thought it would be good to let you know our goals for this year.

Goals are funny things.  They are extremely helpful at measuring progress yet don’t really indicate the quality of the growth.  Clearly we are interested in developing both at Mosaic.  Yet it is beneficial to set out what we aim to achieve as a Church family (empowered by the Holy Spirit) in a memorable way.  We hold them lightly but we also need to pray and work energetically to see them happen.  So let me introduce our goals numbered as 1, 2, 20, & 3500.

Goals 2009:

1 new believer (on average) every week.

2 services started and filled.

20 healthy mission groups in total.

3500 pounds a month rise in giving.

Mosaic’s Motto for 2009

I wonder what you are thinking as we get stuck into the New Year. What are your goals and ambitions? What are your aims for yourself, your job, your family, your studies, your mission group or your fitness? I wonder what excites and drives you as you look at the year ahead. Well let's take a peep into the life of the great ambassador of Christ, the Apostle Paul and see what made him tick. What was his ambition? What was his motto for life?

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1.21)

For Paul, if God allowed him time to live then that meant a life of service to the Lord Jesus. The only natural response to the saviour who gave it all for him was to give everything back - “for me to live is Christ”.

However, if he is to die (Paul is in prison in Rome at this time), that is a good thing because he will get to be with Christ in unshielded glory - “which is better by far”.

In fact, this motto so dominates his life that it leaves him with an extraordinary dilemma - “yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain” (vs22-23).

Either way, Paul’s motives are Christ-centred. If he dies then he can be with Christ. If he is to carry on living then he can live for Christ, serve Christ, preach Christ and build up the Philippian church - “fruitful labour” (vs22).

I wonder how many of us wake up with this dilemma each morning - “God, I desire to depart so I can be with you today in a place that is free from all the sin and evil of this world…yet I know you have work for me to do on earth so I am delighted to stay here”: in reality, probably very few of us. Yet surely that is the attitude we should have! As we consider what Christ has done for us and the room in heaven that he is preparing for us (John 14.2), no other ambition or goal in life is more appropriate.

So whatever the year ahead may bring, whatever fears or joys lie ahead, may we as individuals and as a church devote every minute that God has given to serving Him.

Let our motto for the New Year be “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.