'Remember the call I gave you...'
 

While all the speakers at Fresh Streams 2024 highlighted how we are living in a time of significant change, there was a clear message from God too, writes first-time attender Simon Evans-White

It’s a chilly January afternoon as some 300 church leaders arrive at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire ready for the 2024 Fresh Streams Leadership Conference. While the weather is certainly on the cooler side (for this southerner at least), the welcome is warm and the sense of anticipation contagious as we gather from across the country, and across denominations, to seek God together. The coffee flows freely, the conversation even more so, and as the first session kicks off, we know we’re in for something special.

The first session welcomed Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union, with a timely and prophetic message about how we lead in uncertain times.

Adding yet more books to many of our already huge “to-read” piles, Lynn spoke of the shift in our culture and churches that calls us to re-evaluate and re-imagine the way we lead God’s people in God’s mission.

After dinner (and the meals alone were worth the journey for me!), we were treated to an inspirational talk from Cris Rogers, an Anglican Vicar from All Hallows, Bow, on discipleship.

Offering us a view of our discipleship in terms of being Jesus’ apprentices, Cris challenged us to explore the how and why of what we do in churches – a theme picked up in his seminar sessions – and a reminder of the importance of growing wholly formed disciples.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to read Deuteronomy 6:4-5 in quite the same tone of voice again!

The second day started with Bishop Mike Royal of Churches Together in England speaking from his vast experience of the value of ecumenism.

Powerfully reminding us of the diversity within the UK and global church, Mike’s message of encouragement and call to see the church as the vital force it was always meant to be struck chords across those of us present and watching from home via YouTube.

The majority of the second day was made up of seminars, space for prayer, and for worship, where a number of speakers shared with us their passions and heart for the church today.

I attended sessions from Ken Benjamin of LICC and Cris Rogers who both offered insight and challenge to their listeners drawing from their own spheres of interest and influence. Reports from colleagues who attended other sessions spoke to similarly uplifting and encouraging times.

Tuesday’s final session welcomed Joy Blundell from Alive Church, Lincoln who delivered a powerful, prophetic message calling us to remember the story in which we play our part – the story of God’s recreation of all things. With an invitation to regain our roles as ambassadors for God’s Kingdom, Joy’s message was a timely and compelling call to action for the church as we enter into the transfer zone taking place around us.

After a full day on Tuesday, Wednesday was no less inspirational and the final session saw Adrian Semerene from Gamlingay Baptist Church and the Fresh Streams leadership team speak wonderfully and movingly on the need for unity in the church.

Adrian’s message really summed up the theme of the conference – the need to be together, as church, with the Spirit enabling, to fulfil the mission Christ gave us in working with God to see the Kingdom of God realised here on earth.

This was my first time at Fresh Streams after a few years of wanting to attend but not quite managing it. And I am incredibly glad and blessed to have had the experience. There is no doubt that the church today faces challenges unique in its history, no doubt that there are more things that offer distraction and diversion from the core message and mission that we’ve been given.

As all of the speakers highlighted, we are living in a time of significant change – the slow earthquake that Lynn identified, the transition zone that Joy spoke of. The church is in a time of shifting.

This can feel overwhelming and confusing, but throughout the conference there was one clear message from God: “Remember the call I gave you. Be my disciples and my ambassadors here on the earth I created. It’s time to re-examine the way we’re doing things and not be afraid to step out in faith where I am leading.”

I left the conference (and no, the weather was no less cold) filled with the sense of God’s Spirit having been at work in mighty ways and with a renewed energy to take back to my own church and community.

The world in which we are speaking the light, love, life, and hope of Jesus is diverse and divergent, and we need to be ready and equipping ourselves for the challenges that presents.

Come, Holy Spirit, and give your church all that it needs to step out in power and authority into the world.

 

The Revd Simon Evans-White is minister of Halton Baptist Church, Hastings

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