net news

In this issue:

Tim's mini-ramblings

Leaders' Net news (extra session on 12th November with Jeff Lucas)

Business/Sector/Breakfast net news--next session on 7th November

GENnet news

Stop The Traffik

News from Living Springs

Loaves 'n fishes

"Frida - Chosen to Die, Destined to Live"

Tearfund request

Office space to let at First Base

JOBS (The Vine Trust/Options for Life/YMCA/The Brierley Hill Project)

Dear Black Countryites,

Here we are again guys.

I am standing to one side this time and giving this space to a dear friend and colleague who shares the same passion to see The Kingdom come in The Black Country (and beyond) in it's fullest sense. I am curently being challenged more than ever in my life before about my necessary response to the basic message of "The Gospel of The Kingdom", and not just any "gospel" I may have heard in it's place.

I cannot escape the whole issue of SOCIAL JUSTICE, yet it had thoroughly evaded me for many years. Hence, the current challenge that I am not coping well with in all honesty. So when I meet people who are sold out to seeing people come to Jesus, and are also prepared to meet their needs, I am all ears.

Kevin Davis is one of a number of Kingdom Leaders emerging in our region right now, and I just thought it would be good for you guys to know about him, and others.

Kevin and I are both involved in our local church leadership team, and we both also share a deep desire to see the wider "City/regional Church" emerge and gain recognition in our region, a stronger corporate identity, and a true sense of "TOGETHER".

Kevin is the Chief Executive of The Vine Trust, and a member of The Net Core Vision team.....he is a man who has been born for such a time as this. If you are alive at this time, maybe you were too?? Please read on.....Tim.

The Net started when a group of youth leaders began just to meet together to pray, and to see what happens when they occupy the same space. The rest as they say is history. More than a decade later, that same gene is presenting itself in an unique type of leader, no not just congregational leaders, but the ones who are leading in what the government calls the ‘Third Sector’. As opposed to the Public – government, and Private – the corporate, the Third Sector is made up of community and voluntary sector.

It has been roughly 12 months since a number of people have been gathering adhoc together for fellowship and the explorations of possibilities. The thing they have in common is that they are the leaders who are spear heading social projects across the Black Country. These Social Entrepreneurs are the creative initiators that are part of a growing number of initiatives all over the globe that seem to defy the hurdles towards service provision to the poor, the disadvantaged etc. They collectively define a phenomenon that is termed Social Entrepreneurship. How these entrepreneurs find and employ novel resources and combine them in new ways holds a rich field of discovery for inspired models of value creation.

The concept of ‘social entrepreneurship’ has been rapidly emerging in the private, public and non-profit sectors over the last few years, and interest in social entrepreneurship continues to grow. Currently, the non-profit sector is facing intensifying demands for improved effectiveness and sustainability in light of diminishing funding from traditional sources and increased competition for these scarce resources. At the same time, the increasing concentration of wealth in the private sector is promoting calls for increased corporate social responsibility and more proactive responses to complex social problems, while governments at all levels are grappling with multiple demands on public funds.

Business Net has been steered towards a sector focus in-line with the liberating theology that the domain of God, is in every sector of society, liberating the individual believer to action where ever they work,

The Christian Social entrepreneurs are now exploring a next step from our adhoc association, to explore what could happen when a room full of Holy Sprit filled entrepreneurs pull they hearts and resources together for a wider, common, vision. It could be Chaos, it could fizzle to nothing, but on the other hand it could be a powerful channel for the work of God.

This is our bit for Hope 2008, a lasting legacy when the Body of Christ functions in unified synergy.

INTITIAL AIMS

To build on existing relationships generated through connection with The Net
To maximise benefits of a Christian network that shares a common vision for building the Kingdom of God through social enterprise/service delivery and working in partnership with others in the public, private and voluntary sector
To present a united front in dialogue with public agencies such as Black Country Consortium, Advantage West Midlands, Learning & Skills Council, GOWM

DESIRABLE OUTCOMES

Strong personal relationships at Chief Executive level built on trust and mutual support where expertise and concerns can be shared in confidence
Increased leverage into influence and funding especially with the public sector to take advantage of the heightened interest and opportunities for social enterprise development
Economies of scale both of executive time and funding through joint working in areas such as training and recruitment
Facilitated shared access to professional advice on aspects of employment law, business support, charity commission guidance, property advice, audit regulations etc
Strong faith-based social enterprise models that are beacon organisations that set an example for others to follow.

Please pray for us we explore further

If this resonates with you contact us. ……….

Kevin Davis
Chief Executive

The Vine Trust Walsall
Registered Office

33 Lower Hall Lane
Walsall, West Midlands
WS1 1RR
United Kingdom

Contact
Tel: (+44) 0 1922 621951
Fax:(+44) 0 1922 621984

Extra leaders Net with guest speaker Jeff Lucas

Monday November 12th

10.00 - 1.30 (including lunch)

At the new YFC head office, Coombswood Way, Halesowen, West Mids. B62 8BH

Cost = £5 per head which includes lunch and a tour of the new facility plus info on the ministry of YFC.

Author and speaker, Jeff Lucas, travels internationally in a ministry of Bible teaching which carries a specific vision to encourage and equip the church. Originally a church planting pastor, Jeff understands the dynamics of local church life and has a desire to "build" rather than simply "bless" as he teaches and preaches.

His ministry is expressed in a number of different ways. He is part of the leadership team of Spring Harvest, and a member of their Council of Management. He serves on the Pioneer team, a national team that leads a network of churches in the UK and beyond. He is the director of Equipped to Lead: Favour. The idea is simple, but effective. Let's take time, on a part-time basis over a year, to be with leaders who have been greatly used by God to make an impact. Let's allow them the opportunity to challenge and shape our thinking, pour out their life message, and teach us from their successes and failures. In addition to the UK, the course has also been run in Germany and Italy, and will shortly be used in New York, USA. Over 2,000 delegates have graduated from the course.

Jeff is the author of thirteen books, some of which have reached the best seller lists and broadcasts two weekly radio shows (Spring Harvest Radio Show and Lucas on Life) on Premier Radio. Jeff also writes a monthly column for Christianity and Renewal magazine. Jeff and Kay lived in Chichester for twelve years, and are still members of Revelation Church, but they now live in Colorado, where he holds a teaching post at Timberline Church. Jeff & Kay have two adult children.

Please let John know if you can come, cheques can be sent to him C/O Amblecote Christian Centre.

Bookings must be made by no later than Friday 9th November 2007.

Adrian Lowe.

Sent by,

John Whitehouse.

Admin The Net.

01384 370365.

admin@thenet.org.uk

Next scheduled Leaders' Net is on Tuesday 11th December at St Philip's C of E in Pennfields, Wolverhampton from 0930-1300hrs....with Martin Scott as our guest.....you can book in for this one too as above......and please remember that leaders' net is for all kinds of leaders, and all are welcome.

Business Net/Emerging Sectors/Father's Business

Dear Breakfasters

Here I am, still picking up the pieces from a tremendous breakfast in October - and November is nearly upon us.

A lot has been going on this month on 'the scene'. At Leader's Net, we were very privileged to be stirred by Sue Mitchell and Malcolm Duncan. This was followed in the evening by Together4TheBlackCountry. An opportunity for us all to come together to worship and catch the move of God for this season in this place.

The next Leader's Net will be December 11th with Martin Scott. Try to block the day in your diary. It WILL be worth it. We will also send more news on the Green Pastures meeting for 21st November soon.

Anyway - now we have our breakfast on 7th November to look forward to. And what a bill we have for you.

Following on from what has been a great calendar this year for 'Breakfast Net', this coming month we have Richard Fleming coming to address us. Essential for all of us who feel challenged to reflect Jesus in the workplace and our social groups. Notice I said 'reflect', not 'ram-raid'.

Richard is a Christian International ordained minister to the Market Place and is also founder of www.workplaceministers.com

His organisation supports workplace and marketplace ministers (all of us) who are focused on bringing a greater reflection of Christ in every workplace organisation and in national government.

Additionally, Richard oversees Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) operations in Continental Europe and the Middle East and has been involved in pioneering the Corporate/Workplace Church and Kingdom Advice Centre concepts, producing a range of training manuals on CD.

See www.workplaceministers.com for further info.

So all in all, a pretty capable bloke I'm told. And if that doesn't whet your appetite, we have Led Zeppelin and also Cream rounding off the morning.

Erm......

Anyway, I shall shortly produce a booking form (a number are already booked for the 7th - about 30,000,000 want to see Zeppelin) and send it out. I have a special request from Tim, who is away on holiday:

He tells me that there are great multitude that require him to text them not once....

not twice....

but sometimes THREE times before booking in.

Now, when Tim returns from the sunny skies of Spain, he's bound to get the Monday morning blues. Please can we all help him to drift more happily in his Audi Q7 (and help me as a by-product) by booking in at the earliest convenience?

A gentler hint I cannot fashion or forge.

Yours, with love

together...

jolyon

Hi Guys,

I know you all get loads of e-mails but please don’t ignore this one!!

Weekend Away

Firstly if you have booked in for the GENnet weekend but haven’t paid yet please send me the money ASAP!! If you are still thinking whether to come or not now’s the time to make up your mind as places are going really fast. For more details or for where to send your cheques please see below –

Date - 30th Nov – 2nd Dec 2007 Venue - Pioneer Centre, Cleobury.

Prices –

Adults (over 16years of age) £75 per person.
Youth (13/16 years of age) £60 per person.
Children (4 through12 years of age) £40 per person.
Babies are free (Under 4 years of ag

Guest speaker - Martin Scott

Please book in ASAP by e.mailing Cookie at cookie@thenet.org.uk and then please send the money to Cookie c/o Amblecote Christian Centre, 102-103 Brettell Lane, Amblecote, Stourbridge, DY8 4BS. Cheques made payable to The Net

GENnet Gathering

In the last GENnet news I sent out I asked you to keep Monday October 29th free for our next gathering. If you did thank you, if not, why not? Only joking

For this gathering we are meeting at Sandwell Christian Centre in Sandwell, some of you might know it as Krunch or Jon Grants place, what ever you know it as we are meeting there at 8pm till 9.30pm ish for a time of worship, testimonies and fellowship.

I want to encourage as many of you to attend as possible, here are a few reasons why gathering together as Christians is important –

1)Much of the Bible (e.g. the Old Testament prophets, most of the New Testament letters, Revelation) is addressed to a body of people. Bible life is corporate life.

2)Our gathering together is a model of the heavenly community that will one day gather around the Throne (Revelation 7 v. 9 – 10) and which will not be confined to one “class”, age, nationality, economic background or other artificial distinction that so easily marks out our preferred groups of Christian friends. So it is that our gathering together without artificial distinction and as a very mixed group of people bears powerful testimony to our fractured community of the unity there is in Christ Jesus.

3)Gathering with the larger group reminds us of the worldwide body of Christ to which we belong, which brings both responsibility (to a wider circle than my natural people group) and great encouragement (as we sing and speak to one another the Word of God and remind ourselves that we are not alone!)

4)If we love other Christians, we will surely want to be with them – however “different to me” some of them may be.

Love,

STOP THE TRAFFIC

If you feel that the buying and selling of human beings, made in the image of God, is is any way wrong, please see this link and sign up.........and pass it on.

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/help/declaration.aspx

Welcome to Living Springs Family Centre,

Bridgnorth Road, Stourton, DY7 6QY (just off A449, near Kinver)

“Christmas For All” event-----Saturday 8th December 2007

1.30-4.30pm. Admission free.

Santa’s grotto (£2.50 with a gift)

Refreshments Cake Stall Hand crafted cards Toys

Bric a brac Children/teenage boutique with

Face painting & Nail art & much more

Info from Julie Mills...... julie@livingsprings.co.uk

Loaves 'n' Fishes (Rowley based project/mission)

Hi everyone, just to say we have been able to help over 200 families with items of furnture some of you have donated so THANKYOU!! Organisations who refer to us cannot believe we give things away for free ,just ask one thing, that they receive a Bible.

We still need your help, anyone who has two hours to spare, once a month to help collect/deliver for the project we need desperately.Our van is insured for any driver over the age of twenty-five .

Loaves 'n' Fishes

Anna

SPECIAL REQUEST--One problem we have, we send out a Bible with each delivery, along with a Book of Hope for the kids and a short story of loaves and fishes. We get to help alot of assylum seekers and asian women fleeing domestic violence and have nothing in any other language. If you have an easy answer to this problem please tell us because it's really a problem....please let us know if you can help?? Tim.

"Frida - Chosen to Die, Destined to Live"

A Blackheath church is celebrating the launch of a new book by a survivor of the 1994 Rwandese genocide.

Flame Community in Cardale Street first welcomed Frida Gashumba as part of their congregation when she came to the UK for counselling ministry and skills in 2006.

"Frida quickly became part of our family. Her story of survival and forgiveness broke all our hearts," said Senior Pastor Alan Silver.

In "Frida - Chosen to Die, Destined to Live", she tells how she was rescued in the nick of time from a mass family grave after about 13 hours. She had been presumed dead after being hit on the head but regained consciousness as the grave was being filled in.

After further deliverances, including being kept alive by a Hutu killer, Frida was heavily traumatised at the end of the genocide and was saved from a suicide attempt. She later became a genuine, born-again Christian and then forgave all the killers, including neighbours, who had wiped out her entire family of mother and father, two grandparents, three brothers,

and two sisters.

She bought a new shirt in Primark, Birmingham for the Hutu who killed her father. "I extended forgiveness to him in the prison where he was serving his sentence for horrendous killings. He denied killing my father but when I told him someone had seen him do it, he confessed," said Frida.

Co-pastor, and retired headmaster, David Willetts, said: "I have never before met someone who has triumphed in the love of Jesus Christ to forgive so much. We love Frida at our fellowship and bless the day she walked into church bringing her shining example to us."

Vision for the book and initial research in Rwanda was first started by Halesowen church member and journalist James Stacey, who along with his wife Tina have become Frida's adopted parents.

"I first heard of Frida through meeting Steven, her future husband, at a convention in Kabale, Uganda and later arranged ministry for him in churches in Stourbridge and Birmingham. I thought here is a story that needs to be told to a world that finds it hard to forgive. Frida's outstanding example of forgiveness in Christ will show up any unforgiveness in us Christians and will make it all appear so paltry.

Although she had a controversy with God after losing her entire family, she sought to be true to the Word of God and the demands of Jesus on the issue of forgiveness. She finally became triumphant through entire submission to the Holy Spirit who broke all her resistance down," he added.

On the book cover, John Sentamu, the Archibishop of York and former Bishop of Birmingham, says: "This book demonstrates the depths of human depravity and witnesses to the triumph of grace and forgiveness through Christ. An inspiration."

The book published by Sovereign World (ISBN: 978-1852404758) is available from Angels and Angles Bookshop, Long Lane,

Blackheath, CLC Bookshops, The Well Christian Bookshop, Stourbridge and all Wesley Owen Bookshops. Price £8.99.

Tearfund have a South African Partner visiting the UK at the end of November / beginning of December so I am writing to a number of leaders who may be interested in receiving a visit from a Tearfund Partner.

‘Musa Njoko is a dynamic motivational speaker, singer and HIV positive from South Africa. She will be coming to the UK to speak at Tearfund Staff Prayers on 28th November. She has offered to speak to churches whilst she is here (dates to be arranged when we've said what our requirements are). She is one of the first women to disclose her HIV positive status in South Africa. Musa has worked with different government departments as well as the corporate sector nationally and internationally. Musa heads Khanya AIDS Interventions, a People Management Consultancy, which specializes in AIDS interventions. She has been involved in the development of numerous training packages, AIDS policies and programs for the corporate sector, government, NGO's, women's groups and the youth. Musa is an AIDS activist and a lead fighter for the rights of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. All the challenges that HIV has brought into her life have not stopped Musa from living her dream. Musa is a singer and composer of her own music. The first recorded artist in South Africa that is HIV positive and open about it, Njoko is viewed as a perfect example of what South Africans should be or do in the fight against AIDS.’

I am aware that you have busy programmes, particularly at the beginning of December but if you were interested in having a visit from Musa, please let me know ASAP with a suggested date. It is a first come first served invitation and I know my colleagues around the country are asking others to see if they are interested.

Philip Bamber
West Midlands Regional Manager
St James House
Trinity Road
Dudley DY1 1JB
Tel: 01384 232786 Mobile 07748 156915

Take a look at www.tearfund.org
'Passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives - overcoming global poverty.'

Office Accommodation for Rent to Charitable & not-for-profit Organisations

at The Small Street Centre

Walsall(a purpose-built community facility in Walsall)

For further information:

The Small Street Centre, 1a Small Street, Walsall, WS1 3PR

Tel: Stuart or Malcolm

01922 700950

Fax 01922 700951

or email mjones@firstbasewalsall.co.uk

The Small Street Centre is a trading name of First Base Walsall.

First Base Walsall is an interdenominational Christian Charity, which encompasses basic Christian principles in recognising & serving the needs of the local community.