Arborfield & Barkham Churches

Mission Agencies we are in Gospel Partnership with

We have links with the following organizations: Click on the links below for prayer pointers, more information about each organsiation and links to their own web sites.

- Crosslinks (updated May 2006)

- Barnabas Fund (updated March 2007)

- OMF (updated Feb 2006)

- IFES (updated January 2007)

- Powerline (updated Nov 2007)

John Featherstone Remember presentation from April 06 (.wmv format) is available here.

Remember is a track from one of Johns English Albums – Where Truth Lies. If you would like to purchase the CD – £10 and 13 tracks in all - then please contact Brian Allan

We pray for these organizations at the monthly prayer evenings.

Book Review - 'Good news to the poor' by Tim Chester
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY! It's been the rallying cry through Live 8 and G8, and Bob Geldof assures us that the world leaders who met in Gleneagles this month really have made changes that will improve the plight of the poor. But can we ever make poverty history? And is that what Christians should be aiming for, above everything else? Where does sharing the gospel fit in?

Subtitled 'Sharing the gospel through social involvement', this book by Tim Chester presents a biblical case for how and why Christians should help the poor. Click here for Lisa Horrocks's review (pdf format).

CORNHILL MISSION TEAM TO THE GAMBIA - February 2005

Dear Friends,
Thank you very much for your partnership in this work through your prayers. We returned greatly encouraged by the way the gospel is bearing fruit and growing in West Africa. Do join with me in praising God for the following:

- Three new Christian Unions set up in tertiary institutions
- Many Muslims reached with the gospel and signed up for follow up courses
- A successful Bible Study leaders' training weekend
- Our health, safety and unity as a team

Please continue to pray for:
- More Muslims to turn to Christ and for the spread of the gospel in nearby Guinea-Bissau
- Strength for those enduring persecution because of their faith in Christ
- God to raise up and mature more local leaders

Yours in his gracious grip - Lee Furney

Mission Minded

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth' - Revelation 5:9-10.

God's goal in mission is that people from every tribe and language and people and nation worship him. In the pages of Revelation we see what might be termed the ‘great consummation' as people from every nation bow before the Lamb who was slain. God's promise to bless the nations (Genesis 12:1-3) is fulfilled and is experienced by all nations. The promised Christ appeared, he was crucified, was raised to reign forever, and by his blood he purchased people for God from every nation. We read of truly inclusive gathering, each bowed before the Lamb who was slain. God's goal in reaching the nations with the gospel of Christ is his own glorification, both now, and into the new creation.

God has done everything necessary in Jesus Christ to reconcile rebellious humanity back to himself. It is he who initiates this reconciliation, it is he who is the message of reconciliation, and it is he who sends us with the message of reconciliation. In short, mission begins and ends with God.

The word mission has the notion of ‘sending out' as its base meaning. We must view mission from both the view that we send out, and that we ourselves are sent. We need to see that we are not simply charged with the responsibility to send into the world but are also part of the church that is sent into the world. We must be careful not to use the word mission to define something that happens anywhere but here. Mission in the local context is our primary responsibility and we are working hard to build one another up that we might live lives that point to Christ and equip others to speak of Him when the opportunity arises.

However, the missionary responsibility doesn't stop locally. Many people are currently participating in, praying for, giving to, and visiting gospel workers who are active in other parts of this country and in other parts of the world. Our hope is that one day all those who call Arborfield and Barkham churches their home would share this vision and that each person would commit to supporting gospel work here and around the world.

We aim to support mission outside of our immediate locality. It might be helpful to think in terms of three concentric circles of gospel activity, locally, nationally and internationally. The needs and opportunities are obviously greater as the circle widens. There are many worthy causes, but we have chosen to focus our support according to the following priorities:

* We have sought out initiatives that are intentional about proclaiming Jesus Christ byword and deed.

* We are looking to focus the upon areas of most need. Europe is a vast mission field upon our doorstep. The most un-reached part of the globe is located within the 10/40 window which includes the northern half of Africa, India and China. It is therefore in these geographical areas that we have chosen to focus our attention.