What a time to be alive! God is doing extraordinary things. Over the past few days I’ve heard so many stories of people responding to the gospel across the North East. I've heard of whole families coming to faith in Northumberland, I've heard beautiful stories of people meeting with Jesus in Newcastle.
The testimonies from our baptisms on Sunday were so beautiful and powerful!
Jesus really does give life, and it is life to the full. He really does transform lives.
It was a bittersweet Sunday saying goodbye to Jess, our fantastic ordinand. While we’re so sad to see her go we are full of expectation for everything that Jesus has in store for her ministry.
Jess, you are extraordinary. In all you do, you point people to Jesus and you love people so well. You are a fantastic leader, and your heart for serving is inspiring. It’s been a joy to watch you throw yourself into the church family and you are so loved by us. You make us want to love Jesus more!
We can’t wait to see what Jesus does through you in the coming years and we are praying for you as you are ordained in Peterborough this coming June.
Huge congratulations to Canon Elect, Mr Chris Elder! 🎉
Chris is being made a Canon of Newcastle Cathedral this Saturday at 4pm...a well-deserved honour!
It's been a privilege to work with Chris, who has been integral to the Resource Church for the Newcastle Diocese since it was just a dream and a vision, and a fundamental part of St Thomas' story from the launch.
Chris has faithfully met with Lee and myself every month since 2019 and has served on the St Thomas' staff team for the last few years, and for the last year has been juggling alongside becoming Diocesan Secretary! We've loved to see how God has used his faithfulness and how the Holy Spirit uses him to turn vision into a strategic plan!
Chris and I first started working together on the Resource Church plan for the diocese in 2017 and I can tell you...he is a joy to work with!
Come and celebrate! 🗓️ 4pm, Newcastle Cathedral on Saturday!
It feels like we’re living in the middle of a story only God could write...and the plot keeps getting better!
The stories of people meeting Jesus are coming in so quickly it’s hard to keep up. Just yesterday, while I was away in York, I heard multiple stories from St Thomas’ of people meeting Jesus. Yesterday I also heard from friends leading churches across the country—and they all tell the same story: Jesus is on the move and lives are being changed.
People are remarkably open to the gospel right now. Some call it a “quiet revival,” but it’s only quiet because we haven’t been paying attention! And it’s no accident. This is exactly what we should expect: Jesus has ascended and is on the throne. The same Jesus we meet in the Gospels—who healed, saved, and proclaimed the Kingdom—is still doing it today. Only now, through his Spirit, he’s doing it everywhere, all at once!
That’s why we can be sure, as Hebrews 13:8 says, that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He hasn't changed, what he is doing hasn’t changed, and that’s why every day we see the story of salvation unfolding. As @kirkbylee put it recently: every day it feels like we’re living on a film set! We don’t know what the script will bring each day, but we do know the Director and we know it will be good!
So let’s not miss it. These are extraordinary days. What a privilege to witness God's Kingdom coming and his will being done! What a time to be alive!
"You'd have thought Newcastle were 3-0 up in the Champions League Final!"
Yesterday, something incredible happened. A young man, just walking past our church, was invited in for the morning service by a member of the church family. He came, he heard the gospel, and he left with the book "So What Next?" and Mark's Gospel. He came back in the evening, ready for more.
What he found was a joy so overwhelming, it "completely blew his mind." He said the atmosphere was "like nothing else". He said "When the flags came out during the songs, you'd have thought Newcastle were 3-0 up in the Champions League final, but this was even more electric because you're celebrating Jesus!"
Yesterday evening he repented of his sins and gave his life to Jesus.
Come and Try Church and meet Jesus. It will be the best thing you ever do!
New Wine Festival 2025!
I feel so privileged to have played a small part in gathering with over 13,000 people on a showground in South West England this summer. It's amazing to see God at work in such a powerful way across the nation.
Some of my takeaways...
1. Something bigger than ourselves.
It's easy to get caught up in our own church or our own context, but gathering with people from all over the country reminded me that we are part of something much, much bigger. God is doing an extraordinary thing in our nation at the moment, and it's a joy to be part of it.
2. A hunger for more of God.
I was struck by the incredible hunger for Jesus this year. It's a beautiful paradox: the more you get of Jesus, the more you want of him! I'm praying this continues to grow over the coming weeks and months!
3. A generation on fire.
This hunger was especially evident in our children and young people. I loved spending time in the kids' venues and seeing them worship, pray, and read the Bible together. Jude and her team are doing such a fantastic job, and it's a powerful reminder that we have so much to learn and that we need to become like little children (Matthew 18:13) to grow in maturity.
And wow, what can I say about @weareluminosity ? @kirkbylee and his team are doing an amazing job. The hunger for the presence of God was off the charts, and the maturity of faith on display from the teenagers was something special. As Lee so perfectly put it, "This is the sight and sound of a generation on fire for Jesus." The quiet revival is not so quiet at the moment!
4. Amazing Volunteers.
New Wine simply wouldn't happen without our incredible volunteers. I was blown away by the 1,800 people who gave up their annual leave—not just during the event, but in the run-up to it as well—to serve with such joy and dedication. It was so fantastic to see so many people from St Thomas' serving in Luminosity and across the site in different teams. Thank you to every single one of you; you are amazing.
5. Local Churches Changing Nations!
Ultimately, the reason we do all of this is to serve the vision God has given New Wine: local churches changing nations.
Huge congratulations to all those being ordained in the coming days!
Reflecting on the wisdom of the ordinal, and on the inspiring example from my colleagues at St Thomas'—especially Lee, as he is ordained Priest tomorrow—here are six lessons that are shaping my own understanding of ministry.
(Picture of Lee's ordination as a Deacon last year)
