Shanklin United Reformed Church

High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. PO37 6LA
Registered Charity No. 1130459

A member of the Evangelical Alliance

For details of URC churches on the Island visit www.iowurc.co.uk

 

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The Minister's Monthly Message


The View From Number 10 (Dracaena Gardens, Shanklin that is!!)

A Missional Moment

The above was the title/theme of the recent meeting of the Evangelical Alliance Council at High Leigh in Hertfordshire which was a truly uplifting and encouraging gathering to be part of. I have been privileged to serve on this group for about 9 years, supporting this wider Gospel work across Britain.

Many of you will have picked up news of the “quiet revival” identified in a survey published by The Bible Society earlier this year. This has been questioned in the media, but people shared from across the four nations of the UK that the tide really has changed and there is now a much greater openness to the Gospel. We are in a missional moment!

 The keynote speaker was Justin Brierley who for many years hosted the Premier Radio “Unbelievable” debates engaging with thinkers with opposing views on Christian faith. He is married to my colleague Rev Lucy Brierley who leads the thriving URC congregation in Woking. He had noticed a shift in the atmosphere over recent years and published a book a couple of years ago -  

'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why new atheism grew old and secular thinkers are considering Christianity again'

A snappy title, don’t you think? 

What he saw happening among many of the great thinkers seems to have now spilled over into the wider community where people are seeking after some real answers to life’s questions which the “new atheism” of Richard Dawkins and co’ was not delivering. Justin set the tone for the rest of the meeting as we went on exploring how we might seize the moment and help those seeking the Lord to find a home in the church. It was all so inspiring and heartening. I shared about this with the Wight Church Team and we all want to pray this into being on the Island.

Gavin Calver and Phil Knox (who spoke at Shanklin last year) launched a new book at the meeting - Good News People. This looks at what it means to be an evangelical (good news person!) in the UK, with stories from up and down the land about faith coming alive today. The title has different overtones across the pond! It was written before the recent shift in the tide and looks like a really great read.

These seem to be exciting times to be a Christian in Britain – but it was also noted that we must challenge the way that some have used Christianity to back the new surge of nationalism that has hit the headlines. Many Christian symbols and bible texts were evident at the recent rally organised by Tommy Robinson, but this movement seems so far removed from Gospel values.  I’m sure many of you have read various critiques of it and we should be concerned that this does not tarnish the reputation of true believers who follow the sacrificial way of Christ and his generous love.

In my talk on Invitation and Welcome on 21 September I asked how we might seize the moment and become more courageous in reaching out to friends and neighbours and inviting them to explore the faith. Twenty of us recently spent a Saturday together at Ryde exploring how we might move forward positively as a church and see kingdom growth in our church life and community. The Elders will be meeting for a day retreat (or advance?) on 25 October to seek the Lord and take things forward. We can all join in praying further on 7-8 November when we hold another Sabbath of Prayer.

Let’s grow closer to Jesus and in relationship to one another as we explore what God wants for us in this new missional moment…

With very best wishes,


Page Last Updated 01 October 2025

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