Participants in the Norfolk mission shaped ministry course have been encouraged to 'go out to express the mission of God' by Archbishops' Missioner and the leader of the Fresh Expressions team, Bishop Graham Cray.
Some 40 people from Church of England, Methodist and URC churches took part in the course which finished at the end of 2011. Graham Cray was special guest speaker at the course's final session.
Leader Sally Gaze said,
It was a fantastic day and, as Bishop Graham commissioned us all to go out, there was a deep sense amongst us all that our learning has only just begun in the wonderful journey of discipleship and mission.
The course was aimed at helping people to share their faith with those who are not yet part of any church, making new disciples and new Christian communities or fresh expressions of church. People came for many different reasons. Some were church ministers, often taking on new appointments or new challenges for mission while some were youth workers seeking to be equipped to reach out to young people in fresh ways appropriate to fast changing youth culture.
Simon Fenn was one such youth worker who particularly valued the depth of the theology of the course alongside the practical relevance to his work with young people. Simon (pictured with his wife Gemma) said,
We are meeting together to go through the material again after the sessions. There's so much to apply to our situations.
Sally Gaze added,
Many of those taking part were also in secular employment but with a vocation to share God’s love. Since beginning the course Lesley Cox has joined with others to start a film club at the primary school where she works, saying that the course helped to clarify her thinking. She knew she was called to do something but hardly knew what and Film Fun Friday came out of listening to parents about the needs of their families. The films do not have any explicit faith content or any agenda, instead Film Fun Friday is simply about offering unconditional service to the local community.
Graham Reardon travelled from Eye every month to take part in msm and started a café-style service in his North Hartismere Benefice as a result. He said msm was a
marvellous course, comprehensive and detailed, very motivating and encouraging.
Wayne Doman has been working on a particular mission project throughout msm. Wayne has a passion for making worship and Christian discipleship accessible to young people with special needs who are not yet part of any church. Wayne's teenage son Greg has Down's Syndrome. Two years ago, Greg came to a lively faith through the Christian community of a cell group who actively adapted their approach to his needs.
Now Greg is ministering himself through the Special Me group founded by Wayne and a wider team of enthusiasts. Wayne says of msm,
Each module has come at just the time we've needed it for the Special Me group and made me re-evaluate what we are doing.
In Spring 2012, they plan to launch Special Me more widely as an introductory Christian course for young people with special needs as well as their family and friends. It aims to make the Christian message more accessible and fun through drama, music and multisensory experiences.
The next Norfolk msm course is due to start in September 2012. For more details, contact Sally Gaze at sally.gaze@norwich.anglican.org (01508 470762).
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