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Home › Blog › Archive › 2009 › Oct › 05 › Living on the edge for the sake of the gospel (by Church Army evangelist Colin Brown)

Living on the edge for the sake of the gospel (by Church Army evangelist Colin Brown)

Posted by Andrew Wooding on 5 October 2009

Here are some reflections on my time based at Yorkshire ArtSpace in Sheffield. This was a half-time post supported by Sheffield diocese, which ran from January 2006 to March 2009. The aim of the post was to be a Christian presence and witness for the gospel as a fellow artist amongst the 67 creative people in this purpose-built studio collective.

Colin BrownHere are just three of the headings from my reflections, with principles learned. I share them as they may be helpful to you.

  • Risk and support - There were elements of risk on all parties. It felt very 'on the edge' of the safety of the church, where 'ministry' and how to do it had been ingrained and learned through experience and training. Forming a good level of support was vital, for accountability to the wider church, and for a sense of connection and place to reflect with various levels of leadership.

    Principle: form strong links with those who have an interest in the ministry, with regular meetings and reports

  • Church - It felt difficult to maintain the link with the local parish and with church in general. This was probably due to time constraints, but also reflects a sense of feeling 'dislocated' from inherited church and its models of worship and ministry. I felt stretched in two distinct directions: church and 'the edge'. I felt called to minister on the edge, so had to let go of the other to some extent, whilst maintaining a healthy spirituality and discipleship.

    Principle: learn to live with the paradox of being of the church, but (often) not physically in it

  • Unknown - Although not attending congregational church, God was very much with me (and everyone) in Yorkshire ArtSpace – the place of mission. Prayer was key, asking for the Spirit's leading every day and for encounters with people there. Conversations happened through openness – a deliberate (although I was led to it) attitude of remaining open to the different people and what God might be doing in their lives. I would silently ask 'what are you doing in this person's life Lord, and how might you want me to join in?'

    Principle: Be open to being a 'catalyst' to the Spirit in every encounter

Colin Brown is currently working in Cornwall, as 'Creative Arts Evangelist' amongst the artistic community in and around Falmouth.

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What is left behind?

Posted by David Muir on 14 October 2009 - 07:08

Hi Colin: good to hear your story, and I would love to hear a bit more about it. In particular, how did you go about creating a Christian community that would outlive your own pioneering presence there, within a creative arts community? And what is your approach now that you are in Cornwall, in particular how you might be doing things differently on the basis of your experience?

Interesting points.

Posted by Eleanor Burne-Jones on 7 October 2009 - 08:27

My experience has been that there is almost no connect at all between my involvement in FEx and my own denomination (Salvation Army) on a local level, and I'm no longer pursuaded it's necessary or appropriate to try to create one unless the drive comes very much from the inherited church congregation. That's my personal pov and simply to do with having to budget available time and energy.

I facilitate the Cornwall Fresh Expressions Network - Colin, you are very welcome to link up - and I help with a Methodist FEx and I'm planting another. For connection with the wider church I rely in the UK on the different links I have with others in Fresh Expressions, planting and various pioneering ministries, and internationally with my denomination's vibrant presence on the internet.Having a spiritual director helps as well! I know from experience it is possible to thrive with almost no one in your denom or local church interested,ie asking what is God saying in this, how are you responding, how can we help you develop this ministry. But it's better to build links if you can. If you anyone is out there and isolated in pioneering ministry like this, I'd recommend you link up with one of the fresh expression networks/learning communities, or form one locally. It's great fun to get together, and a wonderful learning experience.