Fireseeds

Our national student conference, Fireseeds, happened last weekend. It was great! Students from all over the country came to receive teaching on 'Making Disciples', and to take part in outreach activities in London. For the first time at this conference we made use of the internet, particularly Facebook, to engage with people on issues of faith. Below are photo's of students taking part in outreach.

A number of students are considering joining us for an Intern year starting in September. This is really exciting. I was able to talk a little about opportunities in Operations too, but I'm not sure what the uptake of that will be!

If you've been following my tweets you'll know I've been ill recently. A regular winter cold took its toll on my energy levels for almost two weeks. I am fully recovered now which is cool!

Fireseeds Student Conference

Next weekend, 10th - 12th February, is our national student conference. I love the vision of Fireseeds. A 'Fireseed' is someone whose inner life has been set ablaze by the Holy Spirit and who is eager to be part of a worldwide domino effect. The Fireseeds conference gives students an opportunity to renew their devotion to God and learn how to joyfully lead others in everyday evangelism and discipleship.

For the first time in 10 years I won't be at this conference for the whole weekend! I will only be there on the Sunday. I'll be there on the Sunday specifically looking out for students whom God could be calling to an Intern year, or full-time staff, in our Operations team.

We're currently looking for two people who could manage projects, two computer programmers, one HR administration and a PA for our National Director. 

Thanks for your prayers for this Fireseeds weekend. I'll let you know how it goes!

What is it I do?

Picture above: The Operations Team

Agapé’s vision is to help build spiritual movements everywhere so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus. A true spiritual movement is more than an organisation or a Christian group. It can be messy and unpredictable. But it’s also dynamic and uncontrollable, changing the lives of everyone it touches.

One of the things I want to get better at doing this year is communicating what I do. As part of this I've created a flyer explaining what Agapé is there for and my role as part of the Agapé team.

Click here to have a read of the flyer.

If you find the flyer helpful, and informative, perhaps you'd like to forward this blog to another person, or group, who might be interested. I'm always on the lookout for more people to get involved.

I hope you are having a good week.

(If you have trouble with the link then visit http://www.whitfield-online.co.uk and click the link above the Twitter updates)

Review of 2011 – 3 of 3 – The Final one

This is the third and final review of 2011. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about it so far! This blog post focusses on life stuff. You know, the things that happen along the way.

In 2011 my housemate, Steve, married Davina. It was a fun summer wedding! Consequently for me it means I am now living on my own. At this stage of life it has been a blessing. With all the changes I mentioned in my last blog having my own space to come home too has been quite necessary!

I’ve put a lot into my home the last year. As the mortgage interest rates have continued to be low I’ve put the savings into replacing my worn-out kitchen. It’s nice to open a cupboard door now without it falling off. I’m banking on the interest rates remaining low so I can continue to pay off the loan.

2011 has also seen the return of a car. For over a year since returning from London I’ve managed without personal transport and relied on the train. Whilst in London that was sustainable it wasn’t in Birmingham. I ‘bit the bullet’ and purchase a six year old VW Polo. It has already been a blessing!

I’ve also had two holidays! Yes, two! I had a weekend break in Rome seeing some old friends who now live there. I had a great time, and even the missed flight on the way home didn’t dampen the fun. In the summer I also had a week in Wales. It was brilliant.

Finally I’ve also continued to be involved with my local church community. Once a month I am operating the visuals that appear on the screen – you know, the song words and powerpoint, etc. I also attend a small-group that is committed to being community together and praying for the local area in Stirchley.

This ends my 2011 review. Thank you for walking with me during the year. If you’re reading this then you’ve probably played a part in my life and for that I’m thankful.

Here’s to 2012!

Happy New Year!

I interrupt my 2011 review with this extra post. 

I just wanted to wish you a very happy 2012. 

May God lead you further into His purposes for His glory. Isn't it exciting to look forward to that which the Lord has for us?! There's no better place to be.

And to top it off, here is my January 2012 paper newsletter to download. 

Keep in touch!

(Email subscribers - click on 'Read in browser' to view newsletter link)

Review of 2011 – 2 of 3 – The Work

It's just a few days to Christmas. I hope all your plans are coming together. I'll be travelling to my parents on Saturday.

Continuing the review of 2011 this blog focusses on our work with Agape.

The key words I feel are suitable to summarise the year would be ‘transition of people’. Our National Director, Andy, stepped down, and Lesley took up the role. Our accountant, Peter, stepped down, and Vivien was appointed. Our Operations Director, Martin, and his wife, Fran, who worked in the admin team, have stepped down and we are currently in the process of finding a replacement. And this continues…. Our IT director, Jon, stepped down and Chris is now in the role. There have been other changes too.

All this has significantly affected me. My role has changed and adapted frequently throughout this time and at times I’ve been very overwhelmed. Today my role oversees the finances, admin and IT teams and I’ve picked up a fair amount of the role of the Operations Director too. Finding a pattern of work that works for me hasn’t been easy.

There have been highlights along the way. I successfully organised the main meetings of the national student conference in February and successfully directed the all-staff conference in August too.

This year I’ve had to learn a huge amount of stuff relating to charity management and finances. I think the bigger challenge was I’ve had to learn more about myself to enable me to do the role that the Lord has called me to.

Most importantly though, we have been able to continue to support our local teams in the student world, the workplace, family and the areas of our communities that don’t have a significant witness for Christ. I don’t know how the Lord does it, but He continues to be at work in us and though us. For this I am grateful.

Review of 2011 – 1 of 3 – The Walk

This is the start of my 2011 review. In this blog I reflect specifically on two aspects of my walk with Christ over the last year.

Firstly, I started 2011 thinking about prayer. I was seeking to establish a rhythm to prayer that went beyond the structure of the quiet time. I was initially following a four week pattern which focused my thoughts differently each week. I would put my thinking in week one to my sin in the light of God’s love. Week two I would have my attention on the life of Jesus. Week three I would narrow my thoughts to the week leading up to Jesus death, and finally in week four focus specifically on the resurrection of Christ. I remember for a few months the depth of my gratitude for the actions of Jesus. It was because of Him I can have this relationship with my heavenly Father.

Secondly, lately, as a staff team, we have been looking at 1 John. We’ve taken three months over these five chapters! I remember right from the beginning being amazed at the incarnation of Jesus. Jesus became flesh. He appeared. He was seen and heard. He was touched with the apostles’ hands. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t just about a spiritual experience that is separate from the physical reality in which we live, but walking with Jesus is about the physical reality of everything we do. There is no separation. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

I don’t really know how to summarise the year but I’m glad Jesus is with me and walks with me. Thank YOU also for playing your part in my walk with Jesus through your prayers and encouragement.

In the next blog I’ll review 2011 from a work perspective.