A Baptism born out of listening and
being
It was April 2017 when our family moved to Dorset to begin listening to its rural communities. The method – a kind of dual listening – one ear
to God, being reminded of His unchanging promises and coming Kingdom and the
other to the community. As we listened
three questions were formed.
1). What is the cry of
the community?
2). What does the
biblical imagination have to say to it?
3). What does it look
like for Christians to live together as if the kingdom of God has already come?
The cry of the community became clear quite clearly – division. Everywhere there was brokenness. Every activity begun and celebrated soon
became broken, split, and ended in pain.
Factions were many.
Community pages riddled with conflict.
And two churches that attempted to church plant had become broken, split,
divided and as a result Christianity was something outside the village and ‘banned’ from the village hall. The biblical imagination led us to renewed emphasis
of trinitarian theology – we wanted to answer Jesus’ prayer – ‘may they be one
as we are one’. We saw the village
covered in oil, the very presence of God coming as we as a community began to
love each other. We heard Gods calling
that as the Christians in the village we were to demonstrate this coming
kingdom, by loving the other, disagreeing well and celebrating difference.
The invitations began to come as we listened. Too many to discuss here. But for this story I will tell you of the
toddler group. The group was down to
very few families, tired and weary leaders and it began to look like this club
would go the way of so many others – closure.
Emma was handed the keys, and with other leaders she gathered began to
revive the group. Pre lockdown seeing
80-100 attendees, all in a positive atmosphere where all our celebrated, all is
safe, all are welcoming. It was here
that we would first meet Sadie. (back to that in a minute).
Through lots of other invitations – a few of us started to gather
for dinner to learn from one another and cheer each other on our Christian journey. Then lockdown. Early on, we sensed God, not to rush in and
be the saviours of the village but to cheer on and join in the communities’
efforts. Then after a few months we
began a village church Facebook page to discuss all things spiritual as we
journeyed through such strange times. A
number of us began to meet online for the first time, to pray, to laugh and to
support. The decision was made that we
would all commit to praying and studying and that our online meeting would be
sharing what God has said and is doing.
It’s a wonderful place to be. It’s
growing. It’s beautiful. All participate. One of the members described the church as ‘a
people from every different background, different places, different theologies,
but somehow as we journey together the Holy Spirit helps us fall in love one
another.’ I call it glee church – all the
ones who don’t fit anywhere else!
Somehow, without trying we were a group of ‘others’, loving one another,
a sign to the community who were inviting us to bring the wider community
together. Marvellous!
As we continued to listen, a lady came to buy a push chair
from us. It was Sadie from the toddler
group. She said something in her conversation
about God – and we felt it right to go back to her and ask if she was a Christian. She wasn’t sure but was keen to find out
more. She joined our ‘Glee’ church and
joined in! We did an Alpha at her and other
requests. She was filled with the Spirit
as we watched the videos meant for the big celebratory weekend. And we had the privilege of baptising her
this Sunday just gone.
It was the first time we had met as a group. The first time Glee church had gathered. I was anxious.
No need to be! It was
wonderful. We shared dinner together, we heard Sadie’s testimony and then one after
another, members of the group stepped forward to give prophecy, word, and pray
for her. A marvellous golden thread throughout, so obvious that people were hearing from God. We then baptised her before all
the kids jumped in the pool to join us all.
It was wonderful. One member on their
return home stated, ‘it was church, how it should be’!
As I reflect – God has done so much – and it has all been
done through the posture of listening and joining in with God. The community are being heard, God’s kingdom
is coming, and it is being expressed by a community of saints who live counter
to the world. There is only one person
who deserves all the credit – that is God almighty, father, son, and Holy
Spirit. All we have done is tried to
listen and find the courage to join in!
