It’s being held in High Leigh, Hoddesdon, and is designed to help leaders who have recently been appointed to lead in churches of over 500. Peter Brierley’s premise, based on his unparalleled grasp of British religious statistics, is that because the challenges to leaders of large churches are very different to those in smaller churches, and the strategic significance of large churches is very different, specialist and focused support is essential. For example, before the conference I’ve already been pondering how in PBC I was able to lead by forming personal connections with almost everybody who attended, how will I lead at TBC when that won’t be possible? How does leadership function when it is primarily from the platform and through specific teams? This and many other questions will be grappled with.

It’s great to be here with Jem and think about this stuff together, along with about 20 other delegates who have also been newly appointed to lead a large church. I’m very much enjoying the reality, hunger to serve and the lack of pretentiousness that is evident here, as well as the quality and relevance of the teaching. I’ll post more summaries of sessions over the next day or two.

‘Every once in a while a shaft of blazing beauty seems to break out of nowhere and illuminate these companies: Word of God-shaped, Holy Spirit-created lives of sacrificial humility, incredible courage, heroic virtue, holy praise, joyful suffering, constant prayer, persevering obedience.’

During last week as my official last few days, it was a roller-coaster of events and emotions. The church gave us a wonderful last Sunday and truly awesome goodbye bash on Tuesday. On Sunday I taught my last sermon, David Chaput gave a wonderful tribute, the children led a special prayer for us, and then the church gathered round us to pray. Tuesday had people gathered from far and wide, tributes, a live jazz band, and generous gifts. We were blessed with so many generous gifts, words and memories. I’m still amazed by the heartfelt things that were said to both of us.

Though I am confident that becoming Senior Minister at Tonbridge Baptist Church is God’s will – a role I am thrilled to receive – I leave PBC with a deep mix of sadness and thanksgiving. As I had no idea how the journey would turn out at PBC, I’m sure the same will be true of our time at Tonbridge Baptist Church, and I look forward with expectation to see how God will move us all forwards into the things of His heart.

“You are not where you once were. You are not where you’re going to be. You are in a confusing zone. Welcome to The Land Between.” – Jeff Manion.

In this coming five-week series we will learn to encounter God’s goodness through life’s transitions. Based on a new book by author Jeff Manion, we’ll spend five weeks using the biblical story of the Israelites journey through the Sinai desert as a metaphor for being in a transitional space.

After enduring generations of slavery in Egypt, the descendants of Jacob travel through the wilderness (the land between) towards their new home in Canaan. They crave the food of their former home in Egypt and despise their present environment. They are unable to go back and incapable of moving forward. How can this ancient story provide wisdom for our journeys through transitions or even seasons of prolonged difficulty today?

October 3^rd 10am:             Complaint

October 10^th 10am:             Meltdown

October 17^th 10am:             Provision

October 24^th 10am:             Discipline

October 31^st 10am:             Growth

Our ‘fast-food, buy-now, instant credit, microwave dinners,’ culture avoids waiting. I’ve been thinking about what God teaches us and develops in us when we wait. I’ve been thinking about how the act of waiting shapes and moulds us, and can strengthen our relationship with God and understanding of him. Yes, it can bring on stress and prematurely bring on grey hairs (don’t look), but it can also teach us patience. It can also help us to practice the presence of God in the present, rather than some ‘imagined’ better future. It can remind us to trust in God rather than in what we want Him to bring our way.

For Jem and I, the long time of waiting is over tomorrow evening. Whatever the outcome, God has shown me through this whole process that those who wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength.

I’m thinking over some ideas and studying some scripture as a result of some promptings I believe God has given these last few days. The first idea for a message is what and how the church as Christ’s body can display the kind of things that Jesus displayed in his ministry on earth. The second idea is a simple message called ‘fearless?’, unpacking the idea of what it means to have courage and to face our fears, secure in the grip of Jesus the brave, the one who faced the nightmare of all possible nightmares and triumphed.

I’d better get on and write these messages.

If you’re not sure what step to make, give your hunger to God and let him reveal to you and call you out. There’s no point forcing something, but he’ll let you know in his time, or cause a desire and hunger – a holy discontent – to grow within you.

If you have stepped out of the boat, look out for the evidences of his grace and the reminders of his presence; they’ll build encouragement within you and others who you travel with. It’s these moments that will give you a story to tell. After all, following Jesus isn’t safe, but its good.

The church, like any organisation, is easy to laugh at and it’s healthy that we do.Wherever there are lots of people there is always opportunity for humour. Adrian Plass, a lovely man and a brilliant writer, has had me and thousands of others in stitches with his bestsellers about church life. Laughter, as the saying goes, is often the best medicine.

As a fellow ‘Rev’ I guess a main concern I have is that I regularly meet people who have no idea what church is really like and so base their views on the caricatures in sit-coms or soaps. That’s what I did until I actually went to church for the first time when I was 15 and all my preconceptions were blown to bits. My fear with ‘Rev’ – but its a challenge too – is that it will once again ‘market’ church to those who never go, only confirming in their minds why they should never go. I have never seen the kinds of vibrant, effective, community churches that I’ve had the privilege to know represented on TV. I would disagree with AA Gill who expressed his opinion in his review in the Sunday Times this week and said, ‘It’s not that the audience doesn’t believe; it no longer cares about the church…’ Many, many people do.

I’ll watch the next few to see where it goes. It’s on tonight at 10pm. Any views anyone?

‘Think different’? It’s a brilliant axiom for design and innovation, whether it’s technology, business or church, but the irony about the power of this product was that it caused my fellow waiters in line and I to think the same thing: I want one.

Was it worth the 40 minute wait? Yep. What about the signal issues that have been identified with the new device? No issues so far.

Against Algeria, England looked clueless, shapeless and visionless. Wright-Philipps can have moments of excellence, but he’s not a game changer who’ll unlock a robust defence whereas Joe Cole has that ability. England need their leaders now more than ever; leaders on the pitch and leaders behind the scenes. In the profound – cover-version – words of Glee, ‘Don’t stop believing.’