Getting on track for mission
Summer is a great time to reach out to our communities and share the Gospel. This year I'm hoping that we might be able to run a tent mission in the town. I know there is not a lot of time, but I think we could pull it off. We had a group of enthusiastic people meet up to talk about the idea last week, and we had great fun thinking about how we could use a big tent, for mission here in Bo'ness. If we do it, we've decided we'll try and get permission to put the tent up on the foreshore. Here is a picture of the site. Bo'ness foreshore is really quite amazing. I don't know why it isn't used more often for events.
I think the tent could attract quite a lot of people and if we have a good programme organised I tbelieve we could also see a lot of people come to Christ this summer. It seems to me that there is a longing in so many people today to find a purpose and a meaning to their lives. It doesn't call for you to be too bright, to know that we all have a sense of wonder and mystery in our hearts. However sometimes that feeling of not knowing turns to doubt and skepticism. Yet most of us have a sense that their is something beyond life itself. There is a holy discontent around. I sometimes feel that many people outside the church feel let down by those of us who call ourselves Christian. They are looking for the church to say in a clear way what it means to be a Christian. And too often we have spoken out like "politically correct" politicians. There was an interview on "Newsnight" last night with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he was challenged to be more clear about the things he really believed in. We need to know when to speak and when to listen. We have the habit of saying much, and accepting too much, and this 0ften leads to confusion. We need a church with leadership that is convinced about the power of the Gospel to change and direct people's lives. So anyway, I'm hoping we can put up a tent in our town and pull off a mission. keep praying for us. Oh there is there is the small matter of £2,000 which I need to rent the tent. So I'm taking a leaf out of the Moderator's theme - yes it will happen God willing - Prayer and Money can change the world. What do you think?
