Today Scott Jester and I head for England to experience a church that is impacting many in the kingdom through house churches and missional communities. 

The last time I left for England I was in 1990 as a sophomore in college (see pictures above).  I spent two semesters over there studying for my degree in philosophy.  It was quite an experience.  Things like:  watching John McEnroe live on centre court at Wimbledon, watching the Rolling Stones in concert at a famous soccer field, seeing Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall, sitting in the House of Commons with Margaret Thatcher, hitch hiking through England, Scotland, and Wales, not to mention a total of 11 weeks of traveling in 17 different countries.

What was most significant, however, is that I arrived in England spiritually lost, and I left England spiritually born.  While studying philosophy, God opened my eyes to the greatest philosopher ever:  Jesus Christ, the king of the universe.

Today I head back to England for the first time in 18 years. Many things have not changed:  I am still a philosopher at heart, I still have a lot of questions, I am still on a journey of discovery, and God is still working in my life.

My discovery process, however, this time is not the inauguration of a relationship with Jesus, but the discovery of his church and what that can authentically mean when it is within community and when it is on mission.

The journey is as important as the destination.  I look forward to what God has in store during this 10 day journey.

Grace Gathering Note:  As you pray for Scott and myself, please also pray for the 60 people our church will be sending to Mexico on June 13.  Lastly, Steve Longbrake will bring the message these next three weeks.

One week from today, Scott Jester and I will be heading to England for some intense house church training for 10 days. There is a church there in Sheffield, England called St. Thomas that is one of the largest churches in England. They have been practicing house churches for many years and have had a major influence in the U.S. and in other countries in the house church movement. They were the ones who originated the triangular UP, IN, OUT language and many other practices that many churches today are following.

In our research of house churches over the last year with other churches and leaders in the U.S., many have suggested that we send a couple of leaders to live the experience of Sheffield. It is called the Pilgrimage, and they offer it to leaders once a year. We will spend our time over there staying with a family of the church and living out many planned experiences within the house churches and with their leaders. There will be one hundred of us there – 25 from the U.S., 25 from the UK, and the other 50 from Europe and other countries. It should be a rich experience and one that we anticipate will have very positive affects for Grace as we seek to move forward with as much training and wisdom as we can – particularly at the beginning of our house church journey. Please pray for us, and please begin to pray for the 60 people going to Mexico, who leave in two weeks.

Also, please pray for Aubrey Anderson (who has led worship for us many times over the last couple years). He was involved in a severe motorcycle accident in Indianapolis this past Sunday. He was seriously hurt but is now slowly improving. He is in an Indy hospital. Praise God his life was spared.

Look forward to our time together Sunday. ..See you then.