An Adventure in Ministry

I have to make a confession…this year I have really struggled with mothers day. In the past few years I have been really active in helping others who struggle with the day, creating resources to be used by leaders in The Salvation Army, organising alternative mothers day services for those who find it hard, and praying with and for women in the support group I ran for christians walking through infertility. Most years I lead our church services on mother’s day, however this year I have to admit I would much rather lie in bed under a duvet than celebrate! Mothers day is full of complicated feelings. I am so blessed to have an amazing mum who is always there for me and a great example of what an amazing mum should be! However I always battle the feeling of only being ‘half a mum’ I have three beautiful daughters who I love deeply, however they have a mum who loves them, and I have seen the conflict in them in mother’s days past. I have the most beautiful little girl who came home five ye...

  One of my favourite podcasts to listen to is called ‘Back porch theology’ by Lisa Harper, and a couple of months ago she shared something that I have returned to a number of times. She shared a concept written about by a Japanese theologian called Koyama Kosuke. He asserted that Jesus did the majority of his ministry while travelling on foot as the average speed of walking is three miles an hour, Jesus’ ministry was done at the pace of three miles an hour. Ministry at this pace makes space for conversation, thought, cultivating relationships and even interruptions. This is a challenge for so many of us today who live life speeding from one thing to the next! Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life together talks about living a life open to interruptions. “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending up people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks…...