Update from Chairman of Headway Ireland – Methodist Evangelicals Together. (www.headwayireland.com)
1 November 2017
Jude v 20,21 : “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
Dear Friends of Headway Ireland,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Note the Trinitarian reference in Jude 20,21: Pray in the Holy Spirit; remain in God’s love; wait for Jesus’s further mercies.
Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. The committee has been busy and new members continue to join Headway.
One of our aims as a movement is “promoting prayer for the revival of God’s church.” The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Dr Lawrence Graham has issued a call to a series of 24 hour prayer sessions in all churches. When this is entered into as an invitation from God, it results in much blessing. In Lisburn, we have engaged in this alongside a study of the booklet produced by the Departments of our church, called “BEING CHURCH – Learning from Methodist churches in South Africa.”
Another aim of Headway is “promoting the authority of the Bible especially in relation to human sexuality.” Headway Ireland has written a three page response to the booklet on Sexuality which our Connexion has produced. I hope you have received this. It is also available on our website resources (www.headwayireland.com). We were disappointed that the booklet on “Sexuality” was devoid of Scripture references although they were included on a website report. Please encourage responses to the “Sexuality” booklet from your Circuit or individuals which should be sent to wphs@irishmethodist.org.
We are pleased that Rev Vaughan Roberts, rector of St Ebbe’s Oxford, will be talking to Irish Methodists next Spring, D.V. He has written extensively about Biblical perspectives on social issues, including human sexuality. Keep an eye out for any of his publications.
A third aim of Headway Ireland is “promoting evangelism in the agenda of our churches.” On our website under resources, you can now find the notes of “Envisaging the future” by Peter Lynas of Evangelical Alliance NI. An audio version of this Headway breakfast talk 2017 is also included on the website under events. Peter Lynas, who trained as both barrister and theologian, encourages us to understand the changing context within which we are called to share the unchanging gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a stimulating read/listen.
The date for our Spring Conference in Lisburn is May 2nd 2018: “Every Methodist an Evangelist” (Tackling decline Part 2) –Speaker: Evangelist Roger Carswell (England).
Let us know of your encouragements and concerns. Feel free to circulate this update among friends. Please continue to pray for the Methodist Church in Ireland and for the work of Headway Ireland. Our secretary is Rev Ken Robinson (ptrobinson@btinternet.com).
May God bless you.
Rev. Ken Todd (Chairman)