This is a great conference going on live in California, Orange County at the Saddleback CHurch, and you can watch it for free at the following link:

http://www.saddleback.com/webcast/radicalis/

It’s a great message. CHECK IT OUT. they even have an iphone app so you can watch it on the move. How techy is that?

By Simon Cooper

After 13 years as main pastors the congregation wanted to say thank you to their ‘God parents’: Mr and Mrs Hayashi. This is how they did it: SURPRISE!

A big thank you to Anne Hughes and Kabongo Mulumba for organising and hosting the evening, and to everyone else who helped prepare food and serve. In fact it really was everyone, so much food!

Masakazu and Reiko Hayashi: devotion and service makes you smile like this

The congregation presented them with gifts.

I also apologised to Mr Hayashi for lying to him and bringing him to the Mulumba home on the false pretence of a quiet pastoral visit.

We also recognised the rest of their family (Kunimasa, Kuniyoshi, Kayo and Lisa) who have been such a solid support for all their work. It is always a good sign when we see parents and children working together. I guess that is what we are all aiming for.

sharing

gathering for x factor

leaving to go on to other commitments in the West End

Focusing on our relationships and less on meetings…..

Our pastors and staff often meet in meetings. So much so that the word “meeting” can be a loaded word, and thoughts of listening to long reports, spin, and imperfect communication come to mind. Well, we have been changing that thought process: recently in HQs when we hold a meeting we try to have our reports emailed in advance and down to a page or two. We give each other 10 mins or so to quietly read through if we haven’t done so already by email, and then get on with discussing what is really a priority.

But there is that whole other aspect of being a team, which are the personal relationships we have with each other. So, some of the London pastors and our couple have started a little midday sharing in the week, at our home. It is really nice to get to know more about how we all think and feel, about how we are in our families. And the food is good. On the way out at the end we start to talk work, and of course there is always a lot to communicate, about upcoming events, workshops, etc, but putting some focus on our personal relationships is definitely a good investment. Hope the picture helps you catch the atmosphere.