Transformation Thurrock : Steve Chalke coming to Thurrock

Steve Chalke coming to Thurrock

From Russell Godward, Team Leader at Thurrock Christian Fellowship

Chalke

Faithworks and Steve Chalke (right) will be coming to Thurrock to present
'The Big Response - The Church, The Kingdom of God & the Big Society'
Thursday 30 June 2011
(Venue TBC).

A day seminar for local/regional church /Christian agency leaders exploring the new opportunities and challenges presented by the Coalition Government's policies for community building and social
cohesion.

Suggested outline timetable:

10.30 - Arrivals & Coffee
11.00 - Session One: Finding Focus (A Christ-centred vision of safe and sustainable communities)
11.45 - Questions & Answers
12.30 - Lunch
1.15 -   Session Two: Eyes Wide Open (Turning vision into reality)
2.00 -   Questions & Answers:
2.45 -   Refreshments
3.00 -   Session Three: Clear Sighted (Working in partnership with government)
3.30 -   Questions & Answers
4.00 -   Group Prayer
4.15 -   Close

This event is endorsed by Transformation Thurrock

PICT1838

Big on Big Society
John Guest & Russell Godward

Fresh News by Rev John Guest

Look Out!

The other day I heard about a foreign tourist travelling on the intercity express and standing too close to an open window. A high-speed train was whooshing past in the opposite direction when a well-meaning local shouted: Look out! Hmmm. Language doesn’t always convey the best message, does it?

Take the phrase The Big Society. What does it mean to you? Community cohesion, creative partnerships, people working together to help one another? Or does it mean closed libraries, failed grant applications and mass redundancies? I suppose it depends on your point of view, your ideological perspective and your own personal experience. It may also have something to do with your own political leanings!

If you have been someone on the sharp end of the cuts following the recent spending review you will no doubt have some strong views to express about both local and national government. If on the other hand you see every challenge as an opportunity for positive change and development then you may even see hope on the horizon.

As far back as three years ago, people in the know were saying to me “when it comes to 2011 look out! That is when we hit the brick wall; that is when it will get really tough.” I don’t know how these people know these things but I do know that the warning to “look out” can be seen in another way.

There is no doubt that our current circumstances present us with a big challenge but that challenge is still to look out into the community we live in and see what needs to be done. Bridges need building, friendships need forging, lamps need to be lit! Our society, big or small, needs to be transformed and we need to do it together.

My governor told his friends to Look Out at the fields and see that they were already “white unto harvest”, that they were ready for work to be done there.

So, how about it? Don’t stay at home looking at the telly or computer screen! LOOK OUT!

This article first appeared in the Thurrock Gazette

Russell Godward and John Guest, 09/02/2011