Anglicans Ablaze: It’s time for the church to move out of the building

The invitation was given: Anglicans Ablaze! Global Conference open to all. Lynda Whitwell, Vicar’s Warden at Milson Combined Church reflects on her experience of the global conference held last week.

“Do you want to be refreshed and resourced by phenomenal speakers from global Church leaders, and prayed for by members of our African church? Of course you do! Anglicans Ablaze presents: A Jesus-Shaped Life, Love God, Love the World, Make Disciples.”

I thought back and realised I hadn’t been in a church conference for many years and never in one representing such a wide part of the church. Of course I signed up and I am so pleased I did. Being online was a big incentive too. For less than $10 NZ we got to hear around 10 hours of incredibly vibrant, relevant and godly Bible teaching. It stretched me at times to consider areas not previously thought about. It excited me at other times to hear the love for God and all people expressed in so many creative and diverse ways. I particularly loved hearing what God is doing in the area of children’s and youth ministry today. Seeing and hearing the passion in the heart of each speaker and the joy in those children who were reaching out to their peers was so good for the soul.

One key point for me was the dovetailing of some scriptures such as Mark 1:14-20. Two speakers, from two different countries, making such similar key points which resonated deeply in my heart and affirmed what I had learned in my own walk with God and in my own church, how good is our God. Another key was the small but powerful points almost made in passing such as: ‘A church without the spirit is just a desert’ or ‘It’s time for the church to move out of the building’ with a strong emphasis on relating with the lost in new ways. I loved the challenge to deepen our walk with God through prayer, through letting the Holy Spirit move more in our lives, through loving Him, loving his people and through loving His creation. Yes – we know these things but it’s good to be reminded and hear others from different ages, ethnicities, cultures etc. share their passion. I am so glad I took notes as will now write up key learnings I had to help me share with others. How wonderful to know that in the midst of Covid, God is at work in ways not probably even considered before Covid and His people, His church are thriving and growing across the whole Anglican Communion, across such a diverse world.

There were constant reminders to join a prayer room and I was a little nervous but am so glad I did. It was an incredible blessing to be invited to pray into the area of Children’s Ministry but an even more humbling experience to be prayed for by two African pastors who, with very little info from me, spoke meaningfully into my life.

I am so grateful to those praying pastors, all the speakers, to Movement Online for telling us about this conference and most of all grateful to God for the things He affirmed and challenged me in these last few days. When it comes out on YouTube – and they told us it will – it is well worth taking the time to listen and learn.