We Are Christchurch: Recent Episodes
Christchurch Newport
We our Christchurch. This podcast is about filling in the blanks, asking further questions and joining the dots between the gospel and all of life so that Christchurch can more and more be a church together, to make Christ known to all.
Luke and Lewis delve a little deeper into Matthew 18: 21-35 and discuss the final part of our Life Together series.
How far should we go in pursuing a wandering Christian?
Lindsey and Lewis follow up Sunday’s message ‘Pursue’ and answer listener's questions on Matthew 18: 10-14.
In closing Sunday’s message, Lewis quoted W Spencer Walton’s hymn, In Tenderness He Sought Me. Matt Searles has written a stunning arrangement of these words - stick around til the end of the pod to hear this beautiful setting of some stunning gospel words.
They also chat a little about Brickworks? Have you visited yet?
Submit your questions for future episodes.
Lindsey and Lewis are back! And this week, they’re digging a little deeper into Matthew 18: 5 - 10. What’s the difference between a friendship and a clique? Does it matter that I’m naturally introverted? How does the gospel compel me to welcome others?
We’re back! Join Lindsey and Lewis as they go a little deeper into the opening sermon of our Life Together series.
You can listen to the sermon here: https://christchurchnewport.co.uk/media/jdhhg84/life-together-childlike
If you’d like to submit a question for upcoming episodes you can do so here: https://ccnewport.churchsuite.com/forms/7mfga0rn
Over the past few months, we’ve been privileged to witness a number of people from different backgrounds, with different stories and various experiences of the Christian faith come to know Jesus and express an interest in being baptised. So in this episode of We Are Christchurch, Lewis and Bob run through some of the most common questions regarding this ancient practice.
What is baptism? The New City Catechism describes baptism as “the washing with water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signifies and seals our adoption into Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church.”
As complicated as this sounds, baptism is actually very straight forward. To be baptised is to be immersed and raised out of water by another believer. This simple practice has been performed by the Church for over 2000 years, and is laden with symbolism: our sins being washed away; our belonging to the One who died, was buried and rose again; our rebirth and new life by the Spirit. In being baptised by the church, we’re acknowledging that we are part of Christ’s people, and in so doing before the watching world, we’re making a public declaration that our allegiance now lies with him.
But maybe most importantly, baptism is an act of obedience. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, the risen King calls his church to follow his commands and baptism is often the first step in this new life of discipleship (Matthew 28: 18-20). This is why for centuries, before being baptised ‘in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’, disciples have uttered the ‘sacred confession’ that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Philippians 2: 11).
Who should be baptised? Everyone who believes in Jesus! The sole requirement for baptism is faith in Christ (Acts 2:41).
But… What about children? Faith is not age dependent. But for various pastoral reasons, we would advise caution before baptising children. If in any doubt, come chat to a pastor.
What if I was baptised as a child? On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel and 3000 people believed and were baptised. This sets a pattern to follow. From here on, regardless of ethnic background or history or previous experience, baptism is linked to the faith of the individual believer and this is the practice we adhere to at Christchurch (Acts 2: 38, 41; 8: 12, 36; 9: 18; 10: 48; 16: 14-15, 30-33; 18: 8; 19: 4-5; 22: 16; Col 2: 12; 1 Peter 3: 21).
What if I was baptised, fell away and have since returned to Christ. Should I be baptised again? Maybe?! The answer to this one depends entirely on your personal story. If this is is you, come chat!
When should someone be baptised? As soon as possible! Believers in the New Testament were baptised the same day (Acts 2:41; 8:35-39) and we see no reason not to follow this example and baptise believers at the first opportunity.
What do I do now? If you’re faith and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ, get in touch and one of our pastors will be in touch to chat more.
We’re welcoming a host of guests to come preach throughout the summer. And returning on August 25, by popular demand, is Sammy Davies.
Sammy is an old friend to us as a church. He’s pastored Ammanford Evangelical for over 15 years and though he’s preached with us a bunch of times, we’ve never heard his story.
So here it is. Last week Lewis traveled to the Union campus in Bridgend and found out more about him.
Simon Voth is a Masters student at Giessen Seminary in Germany, and from September through to April, we were delighted to welcome him as a pastoral intern.
It was a pure joy and we’re delighted to welcome him back to preach on Sunday August 18.
Simon became well loved among us as a church, but his personal story isn’t well known. So ahead of him preaching, Lewis sat with him to find our more.
As we conclude our series through Romans 8, here’s one last teaching - not a sermon, not a conversation - but a rewording of the glorious grace found through life ‘in Christ’.
Romans 8 changed her life. As we conclude our series through this magnificent passage, one of our members shares how these words changed everything for her. When Gloria felt the shame of a broken marriage and the fear of parenting alone, Romans 8 brought her liberating grace. Listen in as she tells her story.
Last week Lewis flew to Scotland to catch up with Sam Wilkins.
As you’ll hear in the pod, Sam left Newport in order to turn his back on a previous life of drug dealing and gang violence. Five years later, he’s preparing to plant a church on the Gorgie estate.
As a church, we’re delighted to support this work through our mission fund, and so in this special episode of We Are Christchurch, Lewis and Sam recall those early days of his conversion and subsequent story of grace.
Ahead of Christopher returning to preach at Christchurch on April 7, here’s a short interview Lewis recorded with him.
On Sunday, our friend Steve Levy is joining to preach the penultimate message from our 1 Peter series. Get to know his story by listening in on this conversation he had with Pete Greasley from 2015.
As our series through 1 Peter draws to a close, Lindsey and Lewis dissect Sunday’s message ‘Post-Christian Survival Guide’ and answer listener questions.
[If you find Lew’s keys, please get in touch…]
What does it mean to do good? For 2000 years the church has sought to live this out, often at great cost. Why?Listen in as Lindsey (stifles the lurgy and) asks Lew about Sunday’s message, Good in Exiles. Have you got the app?
It’s a We Are Christchurch special as Lewis travels to East Sussex to meet Terry Virgo. We hear Terry tell his story from his early life in Brighton, conversion through his sister’s boldness and subsequent ministry spanning seven decades.
Terry has seen God move, first among a small group of believers and outward into a movement of 1500 churches in over 70 countries globally.
It was thrilling to hear him tell the story of grace from first to last.
Here’s the chat.
On Sunday September 17, Joel Virgo preached a wonderful message from Matthew 8. If you haven’t heard it, here it is.
The day before preaching, Lew sat down with him to hear his story of life and ministry. Here’s the chat.
A quick pod! Gav and Lew travelled to East Sussex this week (you’ll have to listen in to find out why). On the way home they took a few moments to look back over the first two years of The Church Office.
We’re back!
After a summer break, The Debrief returns to delve deeper into the message preached at Christchurch Newport last Sunday. It was called ‘A Good Life’ and you can hear it here.
The night before school restarts (which might explain some of the background excitement…), Lindsey and Lew recap the message, probe a little deeper into applying it to our lives, and answer listeners questions.
If you’d like to contribute a question for future episodes, do it anonymously here.
Christchurch Newport are a people together, to make Christ known, to all. If we can serve you in any way, get in touch. We’d love to connect.
Tom Clewer is an old friend. Of Christchurch, of the pastoral team, of Lew, and of so many in our church. He's the pastor of Grace Community Church, Porthcawl, and on August 20 he's coming to preach Psalm 121 to us.
Ahead of his coming, Lew visited the Welsh Riviera to hear something of his story. Grace abounds!
In 2018, alongside a small group of believers, Owen and Charlotte Cottom planted Grace Church Cardiff, located in Grangetown - the most ethnically diverse postcode in the country. Ahead of him coming to preach on August 6, Lewis caught up with him to hear some of his life story and how Grace was started.
Before we take a break for the summer, Pete and Lew get together to chat more about Sunday’s message, and answer your questions - thank you! They cover a load of territory from transgenderism, to belonging to why there are better podcasts out there…
During the conversation, Pete referenced a message Ed Shaw gave at Christchurch recently. You can listen to that here.
Lindsey and Lewis catch up to briefly talk hanging baskets before going deeper into 1 Peter 1: 13-21, and the message Christchurch heard on Sunday June 25. What is holiness? And what practical steps can we make to living it out? And why does it matter anyway?
Lindsey caught up with Bob at his house to chew over Sunday’s message What a Salvation!
Listen in as we go a little deeper into what it means for ‘the Spirit of Christ to predict the sufferings of Christ’ and how Christchurch seeks to build community around the Bible.
Join Gavin, Lew AND JACK! as they chat over and think through applying Post-Christian Joy, a sermon preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday June 11.
Daniel Hames is one of the pastors at St Aldates Oxford, a lecturer at Union School of Theology and the author of God Shines Forth (which he co-authored with Mike Reeves). He also dabbles in a bit of song writing…
His passion in life is helping the church grow into a deeper joy of understanding God as Trinity, and that’s why we’ve invited him to come preach to us on June 4 on that subject.
Ahead of his coming, Lewis caught up with him over Zoom to hear more about his life, and how the Trinity - rather than being a quirky academic complexity - is the source of lasting, real joy.
Ed Shaw is pastor of Emmanuel City Centre, Bristol and one of the founders of Living Out, and organisation established to help people, churches and society talk about faith and sexuality.
On Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30pm Ed will be joining us to share his story of same sex attraction and the greater joy found in rooting his identity in Jesus Christ. He’ll speak frankly and honestly of ongoing attraction and choosing to live a celibate life for the glory of God.
There will be an anonymous Q+A on the night too.
Ahead of him coming, Lewis caught up with him over Zoom to hear more about his life and what it means to submit out sexual lives to Jesus Christ.
[Special thanks to Heather for prepping Lewis!]
As a follow up to last Sunday’s message, Lewis sat in Pete’s garden and asked him questions about the place of prophecy in the life of Christchurch Newport. Thank you to all who submitted questions! We tried (and failed!) to get through them all.
(P.S. Please note, Ed Shaw is coming on Weds June 7th not Tues June 6th as stated in the podcast.)
In 2015, Bilge left his as German academic and relocated his family to Turkey where they planted Projekt Istanbul. Christchurch Newport has supported this work from the beginning, and it was a pleasure to welcome him to preach on May 21.
The day before, Lewis sat with him to hear his story. In this second part, they chat about the call to Istanbul, the debt he owes Tim Keller as a personal mentor and the reality of living in modern day Turkey.
In 2015, Bilge left his life as a German academic and relocated his family to Turkey where they planted Projekt Istanbul. Christchurch Newport has supported this work from the beginning, and it was a pleasure to welcome him to preach on May 21.
The day before, Lewis sat with him to hear his story. In this first part, they cover Bilge’s early life in Hamburg - his origins and experiences as a Turkish immigrant, how Christ called him and his discovery of prayer.
It’s Monday and it’s The Debrief! Lindsey and Lew (AND ZAC!) are back to hear what’s ahead in church life, laugh at illustrations that don’t quite work and discuss Living Hope [https://christchurchsermons.libsyn.com/living-hope], a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday May 14.
The Debrief is back for a new series as Christchurch Newport begins Strangers and Exiles: Christ’s people in a post-Christian world. Listen in as Lindsey and Lewis chew over Sunday’s opening message, and (try!) to answer the questions that came in (spoiler alerts! Some of them were BIG).
On Sunday April 23, Clive Bowsher returns to Christchurch to preach Genesis 15.Ahead of him coming to us, Lewis and Clive caught up to hear his story, find out more about Union School of Theology and learn how God called him whilst at Music College in Birmingham.
Clive Bowsher is a pastor-theologian who serves as Provost of Union School of Theology, and teaches and researches in New Testament and Biblical Theology. He is the author of Life in the Son: Exploring Participation and Union with Christ in John’s Gospel and Letters (IVP, 2023), and One: Being United to Jesus Changes Everything (Union Publishing, 2023).
We wrap up this series of the Debrief with Gav, Bob and Lew looking back on Sunday's message from John 17. Listen in as they chew over the series as a whole, look ahead to what comes next (and Christmas!) and of course revel in the Father's love for his people.
Listen in as Lindsey and Lew chat over On Love and Sorrow, a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday March 19. In this episode, they delve a little deeper into what it means for God to be with his people, and what we do when it seems like he's not.
Lindsey’s back in the host’s chair, this time to chat to Lewis about When He Comes, a message preached at Christchurch Newport on March 12, 2023. Listen in as they chat about the Spirit’s work in the life of the believer, both at conversion and ongoingly. They also talk a little about the Good Friday event Christchurch is hosting on April 7. For more information about this, click here.
It’s a We Are Christchurch Special. Joining Lew on this We Are Christchurch Special is Lauren Medlicott. Lauren got in touch with our office a couple of weeks ago to share the the heart of Embrace, and the need they have for befrienders, especially in Newport. If you have a heart to love and serve some of our city’s most vulnerable; if you can spare an hour or two a week… listen in and reach out direct to Embrace.
On today’s Debrief, Gav is joined by Pete Greasley to chat more about Sunday’s message 'Courage and Grace in a Strange World'. We wanted to give this vital issue a bit more space and reflection, so they’re joined by Lew to consider the intersection of faithfulness, opposition and life in a post-Christian society.
Did you know Lindsey has a co-host? Whilst Lindsey takes a deserved couple of weeks off, Gav takes the chair and chats to Bob Mc Can about Chosen as Friends. This sermon was preached on Sunday February 26. In this episode, they go a little further with the idea of election and what it means for Christ to ‘choose’ his disciples, and enjoy together the idea that in Christ, you and I get to commune with God, ‘as face to face’. Didn’t hear the message? Listen here. If you’d like to go a little with the passage, either in community or in personal devotion, you’ll find the accompanying study sheet here.
The Debrief returns with this follow up to The Quest for Joy, a message preached by Pete Greasley at Christchurch Newport on Sunday February 19. In today’s episode, Lindsey and Pete sit down to discuss how this invitation to joy might play out in our day to day lives.
The Lord’s Prayer: 1:00 Overview of ‘The Quest for Joy’: 3: 18 Questions What sort of fruit matters? 11:00 Keep the commandments? 13: 06 How do you decide to leave verses out of a message? 17: 38 What if I can’t be bothered? 20:10 Is ambition futile? 22:10 Does God want me to be happy? 23:40
You can listen again to the sermon here. If you'd like to go a little deeper with this sermon, either in community or in personal devotion, here’s the accompanying study sheet. If we’ve never met, let’s connect! Reach out through ChristchurchNewport.co.uk or join us any Sunday at The Christchurch Centre, Newport.
Welcome back!
In this second episode of The Debrief, Lindsey and Lew discuss the work of the Spirit, as they chew over ‘Jesus’ Best Friend’; a message preached at Christchurch Newport on Sunday February 12, 2023. They touch on a bunch of things provoked from the message: from 'how was Jesus empowered for his ministry?' to 'what does it looks like when the Spirit enters into a person’s life?’ to 'whether it’s ever possible for the Spirit to leave a believer?’. If you’re one of the people who asked a question following the message - thank you! Keep them coming! You can listen again to the sermon here. If you'd like to go a little deeper with this sermon, either in community or in personal devotion, here’s the accompanying study sheet. If we’ve never met, let’s connect! Reach out through ChristchurchNewport.co.uk or join us any Sunday at The Christchurch Centre, Newport.
This is The Debrief. Lindsey and Lewis unpack Troubled Hearts and Greater Works, a message preached at Christchurch Newport on February 5. Listen in as we delve deeper into the text and answer listeners’ questions.
[This is a pilot episode. Get in touch here - if you have any suggestion for future episodes]
Ahead of the Rebuild Conference, Gav and Lew sit down to discuss why this conference matters (and why you should consider coming along!)
Over the coming weeks, they'll be sitting down with some of the conference contributors and hearing their thoughts on how the pandemic has affected church life, and the grace of God available now as seek to rebuild.
Subscribe to hear Joel Virgo, Pete Greasley, Andy Hunter, Paul Mallard, Elizabeth Oldfield, Steve Robinson, Sharon James, Phil Swann and others share their lasting impressions on
What is Rebuild?
Rebuild is an opportunity for pastors, ministry teams, church staff and lay leaders to reflect on all that’s been, lament that which is lost and be renewed in God’s unchanging grace.
By June, churches across the country will have walked the walls and found that life is anything but normal. How has Covid-19 affected church life? Much has gone, some will not return. One thing’s for certain, everything has changed. Everything that is, except the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How to book?
Visit Rebuildthechurch.co.uk to book and for more information.
- Early bird tickets are available until Saturday 30th April and cost £75 per person*
- From 1st May, the standard ticket price is £90 per person*
Rebuild is gratefully sponsored by Union - an ecosystem for church growth: growing leaders through ourSchool of Theology, strengthening God’s people with theological excellence through our research at Newton House, helping believers delight in God through our Publishinghouse and resources, and supporting church planting through our Missionnetwork.
Still want to know more about BibleTogether? Here's Gav and Lew chewing it over on a recent episode of We Are Christchurch.
Here's part 2 of our conversation with Ste Robinson, pastor of Cornerstone Church Liverpool and Director of the Cornerstone Collective.
Before he preaches with us this Sunday, tune into the second half of this chat to find out more about Ste, what he did before becoming a Pastor and how even in some of the darker times in his life, God has used it for his glory to grow the Church.
(If you haven't heard part 1 of this conversation, it's well worth catching up here.)
In our latest 'We are Christchurch' episode, we venture to Liverpool to meet Ste Robinson! Ste has a clear heart for the church, he's a pastor of Cornerstone Church in Liverpool and Director of the Cornerstone Collective, a communion of churches that work together to share the gospel with the city of Liverpool.
Join Ste and Lewis, as they deep dive on relationships between churches, from the importance of relational communion within a church to maintaining relationships across a network of churches. And join us in looking forward to welcoming Ste to preach for us on November 14th (not the 16th as we said in the intro!).
Please note this is part 1 of a two-part conversation, so be sure to keep an eye out for part two being released in a few days time.
October 31 isn’t just Halloween, it’s Reformation Day! On that day we’re welcoming back Jonathan Thomas to preach to us about the Reformation and why it matters. Ahead of him coming, Lewis went to visit him in Abergavenny and hear a little more about his story.
Ahead of Jonathan Thomas returning to Christchurch to preach for us on October 31, Lewis got to sit down with him to hear his story.
As happens when old friends get together, they covered a lot of territory. But the majority of this first part of the conversation is taken up with Jon’s recollection of a personal season of weariness and burnout and the grace of God he found in the midst of it. This is part 1 of a two-part chat. We’ll release the follow up in a few days time. Listen in as we get to know Jon better and look forward to welcoming him back on October 31.
Ahead of him coming to preach with us on October 17, we thought it would be a good idea to get to know Will Savory.
Will is a husband, father, pastor and church planter. For 8 years he’s served Soul Church, Neath having been a part of the original team sent from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Swansea. In this episode we more about the church, how a church in South Korea played a vital role in seeing it established and we learn of Will’s previous life working the doors of Sin City. And bizarrely, before all that, we hear Will quoting William Blake poems. During the chat, Will mentions Medhust Ministries 20 Schemes Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Swansea and Soul Church Neath. Follow the links if you’d like to know more. You can connect with Will direct here.
As Christians worldwide celebrate Harvest we do in thanksgiving for every good gift we’ve received from the Giver of all, and to remember that everything we have we have to share. Harvest is about mercy as much as it is thanksgiving. So as part of of our time together last Sunday we heard from Fran and Linda Richley and Jon Slocombe as they each lead ministries that serve our city in Jesus’ name. Follow the links if you’d like to know any more about Eden Gate, CAP or Newport Foodbank.
200 yards away, but who are they? In today’s We Are Christchurch we get to know our neighbours, as Lewis sits down with Meirion Thomas and learns about Malpas Road Evangelical Church; a people with whom Christchurch share a postcode and a wonderful Saviour.
Did Jesus meditate? Inside and outside the church, meditation is a word that we hear a lot, but what exactly is it? Is it there more to it than mindfulness? Join Bob, Lew and Hilary on this latest episode of 'We are Christchurch' as they think through what it is to meditate.
After 18 years, 15 thousand members and a global reach that influenced a generation of pastors and church planters, Mars Hill Church, and its then pastor Mark Driscoll were gone. The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill wants to tell you the story. This podcast has become so popular (it’s #1 on the podcast charts right now), we thought it might serve to chew it over. So we invited Sammy Davies from Ammanford Evangelical Church and Sarah Woolley to join Lewis and Pete and discuss not just Driscoll and Mars Hill phenomena, but how to listen to the pod with gratitude and discernment. During the chat, Lewis makes reference to an article by David French. You can find it here. We Are Christchurch is a ministry of Christchurch Newport. Get in touch! They’d love to get to know you. The music for this episode is taken from In Thorns by Christchurch Music. You can hear the full version here.
Bob Silvester has been part of our church since day one, longer still if you go back to the day he journeyed from Bradford to Risca.
Since 2013 he’s been on staff, serving the church by pastorally supporting our elderly congregation. In this latest episode of We Are Christchurch, listen in as Bob shares the honour of walking alongside our senior members.
Gavin Smith. He’s been part of Christchurch Newport since day one and for 17 years, he’s served as our church Administrator. But when it came to Christ and his people, things weren’t always that straightforward. Listen in as Gav tells his story; from professional footballer to discovering that Christ is all. Please visit the church office website at www.thechurchoffice.co.uk.
Our God is almighty. He reigns over all things; even down to the
minutest of levels.
He is the God of Providence.
And this is no abstract theology. Listen as Jo Black tells her version of the story God is writing.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provides free help to those living in the darkness of debt. They provide practical and emotional support and exist to show people that there is always hope. As Christchurch Newport begins its partnership with CAP, we hear from Linda Richley as she prepares to lead this vital new ministry.
Mark Altrogge is a husband, dad, pastor and songwriter. Over many decades he has expressed heartfelt joy in Jesus Christ through songs sung in churches across the world, and published by Sovereign Grace Ministries, Integrity Music, Glad, Anne Herring, Matthew Ward, and others. Some of his most well-known songs include “I Stand in Awe“; “How High and How Wide” and “Forever Grateful”.
On Sunday April 25, Christchurch Newport pastor, Pete Greasley caught up with his old friend, Mark for an evening of Story and Songs. Join us as we eves-drop on their conversation and recount the grace of God to them, to us and the world.
For more information about Christchurch Newport, visit ChristchurchNewport.co.uk
2000 years ago, a young couple nursed a newborn child, and celebrated that first Christmas in isolation; far away from friends and family.
Their country lived in fear and weeping was heard on the streets.
We are not the first to know a cancelled Christmas.
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2: 10
We have reason for sorrow, but we have more reason for hope. Come celebrate Jesus’ coming with us at Christchurch.
As a follow-up to Sunday’s message on friendship, here’s a seminar and Q+A that Lewis and Jenny Roderick did for you Ammanford Evangelical Church https://ammanfordchurch.com/ last summer. There’s a little bit of overlap in the content, but otherwise, it's a different angle on this important subject. If you want to skip the seminar and jump into the Q+A, it starts at 47:15
On Monday September 22, the Welsh Government placed Newport in lockdown.
In this short message, Pete Greasley explains how this will affect Christchurch.
Some of this is heavy listening. Listener discretion is advised.
A few weeks ago, I sat in Christchurch member, Naomi Miles’ garden and learned about the links that exist between the global porn industry and modern-day slavery.
Few conversations have landed so hard. I left enlightened but brokenhearted for the tens of millions of women (and men) worldwide who live in this darkness.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Listen in as Naomi shares her heart for a modern-day abolition, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ compels her to speak for those without a voice.
One of the areas of church life that’s been affected more than most by Covid- 19 is our Foodbank.
Run by Jon Slocombe and a team of generous volunteers, the Foodbank exists to feed our city’s hungry and share the good news about Jesus. But lockdown happened, and everything had to change.
Put on a brew and listen as Jon Slocombe shares his love and vision for our Foodbank. It was a privilege to sit and chat. There’s no stats in this. It’s just 20 minutes of raw love for the perceived unlovely.
His sense of privilege in serving the Lord is infectious. I trust it’ll do your soul good.
On the podcast this week, we listen in as two of our members enjoy the gospel together.
Roo Seadon and Hilary Gillespie come from very different places. Roo’s 23, relatively newly married to Dave, and a cancer nurse in Cardiff. Hilary, in her own words, is coming 'to the end of her days' and able to reflect upon decades of walking with Jesus. However, both, like all of us, have known their lives disrupted by the Coronavirus.
How has Christ encouraged them these past few months? What have they learned through it all? Why is Jesus more precious to them today than he was three months ago?
It’s warm and filled with the gospel. Enjoy!
Coronavirus has changed the world. But how is it felt on a Scottish scheme?
In this episode, Lewis catches up with Andrew Mathieson and hears about how life has changed for Lochee Baptist Chapel, a fledgeling church located in the middle of one of the poorest estates in Scotland.
Andrew is a dear friend. Before heading north to plant LBC, he and his wife Lauren attended Christchurch. Since then, we’ve been privileged to support the church through our mission fund. He recently preached with us. You can hear his message His Mercy is More here. He’s also spoken before on the pod. Click here to hear him speak about what mercy ministry looks like for LBC (it’s not what you’d expect!) and here to hear him speak very candidly, and pastorally, about living with a bipolar mental health condition
On Tuesday, May 12, our elders led us in prayer for our church, our city, our nation, our world.
For those of you who want to pray again, or weren’t able to be with us the first time, here’s how we prayed.
Christ is for the nations!
The gospel compels us to look beyond the horizon. And from our earliest days as a church, we’ve endeavoured to partner with and learn from churches across the globe. In recent years, we’ve been privileged to pray for, visit, send out and financially support congregations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
One such church is Projekt Istanbul. In 2017, Bilge moved with his family from Hamburg, Germany to Istanbul with the desire of seeing some of the city’s 20 million metropolitans come to know life in Jesus Christ.
And God has graciously given them the desires of their hearts. Last year, two of our pastors were their as they baptised their first Turkish believer, and had COVID 19 not interrupted, they hoped to baptise 7 others this summer.
Which brings us onto Coronavirus
- How has COVID 19 affected Projekt Istanbul?
- What restrictions have been implemented by the government in Turkey?
- How are the church members coping with this new way of life?
- And what does a missional life look like in lockdown?
These are some of the things Bilge and Lewis spoke about when they caught up last week. Take a listen, and join us in praying for Projekt Istanbul.
Over the August bank holiday, Christchurch Newport joined with 6 other church for The Gathering 2019: a celebration of Jesus and his church. Taking over Aberystwyth university, we delighted in the gospel and knew the (literal) sunshine of affection. It truly was a wonderful time. On Sunday night, Steve Levy from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Swansea preached from Luke 18: 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Over the August bank holiday, Christchurch Newport joined with 6 other church for The Gathering 2019: a celebration of Jesus and his church. Taking over Aberystwyth university, we delighted in the gospel and knew the (literal) sunshine of affection. It truly was a wonderful time. In this message from the opening night, Jonathan Thomas of Cornerstone Church, Abergavenny, took us to Psalm 133 and showed us the grace of gathering around Christ.
Over the August bank holiday, Christchurch Newport joined with 6 other church for The Gathering 2019: a celebration of Jesus and his church. Taking over Aberystwyth university, we delighted in the gospel and knew the (literal) sunshine of affection. It truly was a wonderful time. In his first message, Mike takes us to Hebrews 10 and shows us the majesty of Jesus.
Over the August bank holiday, Christchurch Newport joined with 6 other church for The Gathering 2019: a celebration of Jesus and his church. Taking over Aberystwyth university, we delighted in the gospel and knew the (literal) sunshine of affection. It truly was a wonderful time. In his final message from the weekend, Mike takes us to Hebrews 12 and shows us the majesty of Jesus.
Mercy Ministry. That's what's this episode's about.
Andrew Matthieson is a pastor on one of Scotland's most deprived estates. To be faithfully on mission, you'd expect his church, Lochee Baptist Church to be busy all week with mercy ministry.
And they are. But not in the way you might expect.
We chat schemelife, Foodbanks, the nature of poverty, and how people will never eat at the Lord's table unless they eat at ours. It's provocative, but filled with gospel hope.
Jesus says he's in all the Scriptures, but why does he so often seem to be hiding in the Old Testament?
That's one of the questions I asked Steve Levy when I visited him in at his home last week: When it comes to reading the Bible, we know that the first chunk is Christian Scriptures and that Jesus is there... but how exactly?
I was glad to spend time talking this over with Steve. He's a real provocation when it comes to enjoying Jesus, and has thought about this a lot (he's literally written a book about it). But Steve can remember when and how and why he started seeing Jesus more clearly and so a big chunk of our time was taken up with this 'story'.
We're so grateful to Steve (and all at Mount Pleasant Baptist in Swansea). They've helped us so much in seeing and enjoying Christ in all the Bible; they pioneered RBT and over the years have become faithful gospel partners. We chat about all this, and finish off by looking forward to heading away together (with others) in the summer.
Here's the chat.
Andrew Matthieson is a dear friend.
Andrew and Lauren spent a few months with us as a church before heading back to Scotland in 2014. Since then we've stayed close and cheered them on as they planted Lochee Baptist Chapel through 20 Schemes.
In this podcast, we chat about a load of things, but we mainly spend our time talking mental health. Andrew was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder in his late teens, and continues to live with it to this day. But as he says in the pod, God meant it for good. Today, he serves a community with similar afflictions, and he is able to offer them the same Saviour that has been so good to him.
It was honour to hear him speak so honestly. Particularly the section toward the end as he explains how the gospel of 'Christ forsaken' brings hope to his darkness, and how the church cares practically for him as he seeks to care for them.
This pod's a little longer than normal (35 mins), but please don't be put off. It's worth the time, especially if you live with a similar condition, or if you're a parent losing hope for your child; Andrew's story is testament to how God can restore the broken and use us in our weakness.
So put on a brew, and meet our friend. Hear of his dear church. And hear how his life was ruined by drug abuse but gloriously saved by Jesus Christ on a beach in Spain...
But let's begin by lamenting Scottish rugby's most recent near miss...
Red Community started in Cardiff in 2013 as a prayer meeting for those affected by human trafficking and prostitution has since grown into a strategic, gospel-centred freedom movement.
They are a community of Christians from all across Wales who are united in our love for Jesus and our resolve to challenge injustice and extend gospel hope to those in chains, both locally and globally.
In this episode, Lewis meets Dai Hankey, Red Community's founder, and learns about the charity's history and how Christchurch can play a part in serving those affected my this common evil.
We our Christchurch. This podcast is about filling in the blanks, asking further questions and joining the dots between the gospel and all of life so that Christchurch can more and more be a church together, to make Christ known to all.
In this episode, we meet Neil Tallamy.
Neil is senior pastor of Baglan Community Church and is preaching at Christchurch Newport on March 17.
This August bank holiday, churches from across the country will come together for 'The Gathering'.
Christchurch will be there. And to help you find out more, here's Pete in the car with Jonathan Thomas, Steve Levy and Neil Tallamy.
Watch the whole film and find out more at TheGathering2019.co.uk
We our Christchurch. This podcast is about filling in the blanks, asking further questions and joining the dots between the gospel and all of life so that Christchurch can more and more be a church together, to make Christ known to all.
In this episode we meet Dave Gobbett, lead pastor of Highfields Church, Cardiff.
Dave is preaching at Christchurch Newport on February 24.