All round ministry

On Sunday morning I attended the inauguration of a new church building. In the UK small is beautiful, in South America large is essential. It was a Four Square Gospel church that looks like it sounds: a large warehouse that is open to the street and presents a straightforward gospel message. If you didn't arrive early enough to get one of the 360 seats, then there's standing room on the pavement. And if you didn't fancy coming to church then you can hear it all indoors because of the church's enormous speakers.

The pastor, one of our students, is like his church: Good with people, no fancy theology, and of ample girth. I reckon both pastor and congregation will do well.

On the way home I called in at the Episcopal Church that Matthew was attending. They meet in a beautiful building and repeat the majestic theology of the Nicean Creed, the Confession and Collects. About 20 adults and their children attend, and one suspects the church is heavily subsidised.Establishing sublime theology with popular churches seems an impossible task. But that's, I guess, what I'm trying to do everyday.



Photo: First years give a presentation on New Testament clothing.
Lord, might they have great churches with great theology

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