We want our website to be more than just information. We are not interested in a website full of static 'stuff!' We want to create a place packed with dynamic and interesting content - a site you might want to revisit regularly.
We want our website to be an extension of our vision and values - a place of community, conversation, creativity and interaction. The Collective is the place for that. It's here that you will find contributions from many different people, including those who are part of the Redeemer Community and, from time to time, some special guests. You will find things that made us think, laugh, cry, hope, and be challenged. It's a section that will keep on growing - so just keep on scrolling and watch more articles load.
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My Grandad’s chair
My Grandad always sat in the same chair in his lounge. It was his chair, his cushion beside which was his table sat, upon which he could place his drink, TV remote, newspaper and gold half-moon glasses. The chair would be positioned in the optimum TV viewing position. Centre room, 7ft from the TV and 2ft from the door, that way tea could be taken without any TV sight-line infringement. Nobody touched the chair, not even moved it. In a way I am glad the chair was never moved, who knows what kind of museum dust gathered around the carpet indentations would be revealed underneath.
Tags: Christianity, Church, Church planting, Faith, Made me think
Adventures of living with a church planter
Again I'm in a privileged position of being able to support a family and a church plant and witness first-hand how much work is involved, although I know I don't get to see or hear everything that goes on. I may be living with David and Trish but there are still boundaries regarding the church plant – which is quite right and a good thing too – I don't want the responsibility or burden of knowing all that happens. There are pastoral issues and lots of other things I don't know about. Yes, I knew David and Trish before joining the church plant team but that doesn't give me a right (or a need) to know everything. After all I'm a church plant team member like the rest of the church plant and I fully acknowledge and understand there are issues and decisions we don't need to know about and I trust decisions made on our behalf. I feel privileged to have witnessed first-hand in Serbia what a church plant team have to deal with. That was a great training ground and made me really appreciate the eldership of churches (and the role some wives play) – from outside looking in you cannot see how much goes on unless you are able to spend time with them. I was able to do that and am able to do that here in Belfast too.
Tags: Church planting, Leadership, Life, Relationship
Interview with Pastor Scott Thomas
Pastor Scott Thomas is Director of the Acts 29 church planting network and serves with Mark Driscoll as an Elder at Mars Hill Church, Seattle. Acts 29 have seen numerous churches planted throughout America and the world. It was a tremendous privilege to be able to host Pastor Scott at Redeemer Central on Sunday 4th October. After Scott spoke David Capener grabbed a few minutes with him to ask him some questions - Watch the interview here.
Tags: Audio, Belfast, Christianity, Church, Church planting, Newfrontiers, Video
3inOne
Last night at CityGroup I gave the second talk in the series Redeemer:Values - This is who we are The talk included a lot of scripture references and quotes - So, if you are interested, you can read my sermon notes. They are unedited, unformatted, uncut, rough and ready.
Tags: Bible, Christianity, Church, Church planting, CityGroup, Community, Teaching, Trinity
Like a cricket ball in the head
Ok. Here’s a thing. It's a kind of secret thing, but not for much longer. Secrets are not best kept on a website that has had over 1500 visits in the last few weeks. Here it is, you see, one of my favorite films is the 1939 adaptation of the L Frank Baum book 'The Wizard of Oz'. Even better is the book which I recently read to my 7 year old daughter. Towards the end of the book, after meeting the big angry green fake remote control wizard (you remember, right?) Dorothy and her band of imaginary and maybe-not-really-believable friends head homeward bound to Kansas. On their way they meet a wall over which they climb to find themselves in a miniature city made entirely of china. Here’s what happens.
Tags: Christianity, Church, Church planting, Made me think
Seven weeks that changed my life
Nothing much normally happens during 7 weeks in my life; I pay off about half a percent of my mortgage, I drive to work 35 times (and back again, usually), I eat around 100 meals, and generally get on with life quietly and calmly. God, of course, plays a big part, spending time with Him, speaking to Him and hearing from Him, but I usually hear the voice of encouragement, the voice of discipline and the voice of comfort. I've not been used to hearing a voice of direct guidance. This is the backdrop against which a period of absolute life change occurred.
Tags: Church planting, Prayer, Work
No fun is no fun
“A little footling round about, will stop you going up the spout.” Mr Willie Wonka. He was right, was Mr Wonka. Too much seriousness and not enough fun is really no good at all. Too many frown-line, wrinkly things on your forehead telling all and sundry that your brain is overloaded and weighed down with heavy stuff. Not good. Not enough fun. Very bad.
Tags: Christianity, Church, Church planting, CityGroup, Life, Made me laugh, Made me think
Belfast via Serbia
Cath recently moved from England to be part of the team who are planting Redeemer Central. Before that she lived in Serbia for 4 months. Read on to find out why.
Tags: Church, Church planting, Life, Travel
From the inside looking in
Why would anyone want to be part of a group of people like us? Ok so just to clear this up straight away, this isn’t going to be a long, serious explanation about why you should be part of a church plant. If that’s what you’re after, there are plenty of really good blogs and sites such as www.ukchurchplanting.org which have loads of resources and vids by guys such as Matt Hatch, David Stroud, Andy Moyles and the likes. You should probably also check out www.thebroadcast.org.uk so David Capener (who happens to be leading the Belfast church plant – Redeemer Central, that I’m involved in) doesn’t feel left out – oh yeah, and it’s quite a good read too! This is just a very brief blog about what I see and think people see in the Belfast Church Plant – Redeemer Central.
Tags: Church, Church planting, Life
Church planting in the north UK
A great video by our good friends at Box-Head commissioned by Newfrontiers for the North 09 conference
Tags: Belfast, Church, Church planting, Newfrontiers, Video
Redeem:Women
At Redeemer Central we place a high value on the complimentary and distinctive roles that Men and Women play in the church. One of the ways we work this value out is by hosting an event called Redeem:Women. Redeem:Women is an opportunity to gather, worship and hear teaching that is both relevant and specific to women. Why not join us at our next Redeem:Women event.
Tags: Christianity, Church, Church planting, Community, Redeem:Women
Pastor Scott Thomas at Redeemer Central
Pastor Scott Thomas is Director of the Acts 29 church planting network and serves with Mark Driscoll as an Elder at Mars Hill Church, Seattle. Acts 29 have seen numerous churches planted throughout America and the world. It is a tremendous privilege to be able to host Pastor Scott at Redeemer Central.
Tags: Belfast, Christianity, Church, Church planting, Conferences, Newfrontiers