Some of our friends are lost.

As a Christian who happens to work full time for a church, I'm increasingly becoming aware that I need to spend more time than I currently do with non-Christians. "Eh?" you might be asking yourself. 

Just ask yourself "how much time do I spend with people of little or no faith?"  We can get so wrapped up into the mechanics of church that we forget who we are really called to be amongst. I love church, and for the vast majority of weeks in the year, I can't wait to be worshipping on a Sunday morning with my fellow brothers and sisters. Sunday (or whenever it is that you meet) is a celebration of time together and ultimately a collective time worshipping God.  But attending a service isn't where our responsibility ends, it's where it begins. 

I've heard it said before that the church exists for the messed up people. I like this idea, just because when we think we've got it all sussed out, and we're fine and dandy, it helps us put a perspective on what we're about. Its not about those who've got it all sorted. In fact, I'm just as much a messed up person as is anyone else, so who am I to think I'm sorted and "you're not".  

Are our churches full of broken and lost people? And if not, why not! 

Sometimes churches can implode on themselves. I've heard it actually does happen, sadly. It becomes too focused on itself, on "me" that it forgets who it exists for and what it's purpose is in the world. We live in a culture that is driven by "me", and not "you". In your heart ask, is church a place for "me" or for "you"?  The truth is, a church couldn't exist on just "the found", on "you" because no one is ever just found. It takes someone to find us. 

Church should be a home. A safe place. A sanctuary. A dwelling where people are invited, welcomed, nurtured, looked after and discipled. A place for messed up and lost people. 

Jesus tells us the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15. The Pharisees where verbally attacking Jesus for eating with sinners and taking them under his wing. He then told a story of how a shepherd lost a sheep and although it was only one sheep, he searched until he found it and brought it home. 

I suppose I'm asking us to think about our attitude towards the lost. Is all our attention on those within the church? Or is all our attention on ourselves even? We are called to be shepherds in the world. We live among lost sheep. Even we sometimes go astray and need shepherding back. Yes, even you. 

God is so desperate to find his lost sheep, that he goes out to find just one. Are we prepared to honour God and go out into the rain, the wind and the storms to search for his lost children? How messy are we prepared to get in bringing the messed up back to the father's house? 

 

Sometimes I wake up and my attitude is "I'm found so thats ok" (even without intentionally thinking it). Instead, I should wake up and my attitude be "I'm found and some of my brothers and sisters are still lost, so I'm going out to find them and bring them back to dad!" 

We occasionally have to ask ourselves difficult questions. Like, "what do I do in finding the lost?" God's passion is bringing the lost home. So should ours. Being in relationship with the father is the best thing ever! So let's share the joy. 

Some of your friends are still lost...

My Marriage Proposal Story!

Just before Christmas 2011, I said to Rachel "if I asked you to marry me what would you say?" and her reply was "you know what I'd say". From that moment I knew Rachel was the person I wanted to marry  (although I did have an idea a little before that).

In the months leading up to our return visit to Uganda in August 2012, I imagined proposing to Rachel on Lake Bunyonyi. This was to become a reality as I purchased the engagement ring on Saturday 21 July from Samuel Lawrence Jewellers in Beverley with Ben and Ellie there. A bacon sandwich and a cup of tea provided a welcome break in deciding the right choice of ring. A visit of a known Revd in the jewellers also confirmed the ring choice. 

On the morning of our departure, I asked everyone to leave my house so I could "check that all the electric sockets are off". In fact, it was to enable me time to go upstairs and grab the ring hidden above my wardrobe and put it firmly at the bottom of my bag. 

The journey of the ring to Ben and Ellie's house in Cambridge was eventful. I decided to wind Ben up by sending him a text saying "I've forgotten the most important thing". He tried ringing me but I prolonged the joke by not answering. 

As we arrived outside their home, Ben arrives alongside my car with a ring box in his pocket. What a joke! It turns out he manically rode from shop to shop in Cambridge looking for an alternative ring. Once inside,I gave Ben the real engagement ring and he was to look after it until we arrived at the lake. 

Once in Uganda, I made a nervous effort to visit the ring every night in Ben and Ellie's room. I knew it was right, but I was beginning to gather nerves. I never doubted Rachel would say "yes". The week prior to the deed, many Ugandan friends where quietly and openly asking me "when are you going to propose?" At Caleb's giveaway, his neighbour called Franco turned to me and said "I see the way she cares for you. You will make a good husband and she will be a good wife and you'll have a good family." I took these as prompts from God? 

On the Sunday night, the evening before we set off to the lake, we were at Hilary and Judith's home. Amos asked me "when is the day?". My reply was "you'll be one of the first to know Amos!" Ali Doolan overheard and laughed as she knew it was to be very soon, sooner than Amos probably expected. 

At the lake- we all decided to go out on the lake in canoes (part of my master plan). Ali Doolan decided she would prefer a walk, but a sly eye glance from me changed her mind pretty swiftly. It was cloudy but as each pair boarded their boat the sun gleamed! The boat man at the lake told me that Rachel and I had to face the same direction, which meant I had to devise a way of turning round once in the boat and in the middle of the lake (which could prove fatal). 

We all headed off in our canoes, I told the others that I was taking Rachel off for some 'alone time'. We headed off towards the left of the lake, Rachel wanted to head towards the narrowest part of the lake where the valley met. The sun was shining on the lake and Rachel kept saying that everything was "perfect". As we rounded the second corner a house appeared on the shore with a huge love heart outside on the grass mountain.I knew this was the moment. Rach commented on how perfect this would be as a honeymoon destination, I kept wondering if she knew what was coming. 

I kept reaching into my bag to pull out the ring, but I kept pulling out something different...water, my camera, water again. I was nervous! The last time I reached into my bag I pulled out the Bible. We sang a worship song together 'You're beautiful' before I read from Song of Songs chapter 7 - you must read it to get a mental image of the situation. I still didn't feel like I could 'pop the question' then so I read 1 Corinthians 13. I knew after that, that this was the moment. Just as I was about to pull out the ring a boat of white people 'muzungo' came past. After it had passed Rachel said to me "you can turn round now" so I did. I sang a line of Bruno Mars to her "Just the way you are". I knew this was the moment. I had been gradually moving the ring to the top of the bag throughout the journey. As I got down on one knee I pulled the ring out of the bag and said "so Rachel... we have been together for two years and I love you lots and lots and lots and lots. We have been through our ups and downs and I Iike the person you have made me to be. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so I have bought you a necklace". I got the ring out and opened the box, just so it was facing me. I went on to say "look, if it is the wrong size the woman in the shop said that you can change it for a better one, just like you change me for the better". Then I said "so, Rachel Melissa Banyard, will you marry me?". I turned the ring round and Rachel said "are you being serious?".  I gave her a look and then Rachel said "Lee Edward kirkby, yes I will". I put the ring on her finger. We then prayed and asked God to be at the centre of our relationship. We shared a kiss before taking some photos. Rachel was still crying - if you look at the photos you can see the tears. We were both in a moment of "what has just happened?". 

As we headed back to shore we took in the moment where it had happened. As we paddled back Rachel said to me "This is like our journey of life. It is hard work to paddle, probably steering off course. Sometimes we will be plain sailing, other times we will go round in circles...It is only when we work together that we make progress. At the end of the day it is that we are still in the boat together and that nothing will stop us". 

We got back to the shore and Ben had champagne at the ready. I shared the news with everyone, and the Champagne was popped!  We took lots of photos. I then told the story of what had happened and Martin Doolan began to cry, then Ben did, Ellie and even Annie shed a tear - Adam was speechless. 

It was the perfect moment and the happiest occasion ever! 

I cannot wait to be the husband of Rachel and to have Rachel as my wife! 

God is moving me on. From Beverley to York!

To all my friends,


I am delighted to announce that earlier this week, I was appointed as the new Head of Youth and Children's Work at St Michael Le Belfrey Church in York.


My journey with Beverley Minster has spanned a period of over 14 years in various capacities; firstly as a Chorister, then as a Virger and most recently working as the Youth Minister. I've had the absolute privilege of working with literally thousands of  incredible young people, and I've made strong friendships with many people over the years, which I am confident will last and can only grow stronger. I am sincerely thankful to many for their involvement in my life journey so far.


I am immensely proud of how the Youth Ministry has grown and developed over recent years, reaching thousands of young lives with the love of Jesus, and I'm honoured to have worked alongside a brilliantly talented team of paid and volunteer staff. I continually thank God for his faithfullness and prayerfully anticipate that greater things are yet to come in seeing God's kingdom built here in Beverley, being especially encouraged by the recent gift day generosity towards our Gap Year Scheme.


I know leaving the Minster, and my hometown of Beverley will be very emotional, but I am totally at peace knowing God has prepared and guided me to a new challenge in York at The Belfrey, Serving God's Transformation of the North!


I am sure we will have plenty of quality time together over the coming months, but in the meantime please pray for both churches and their leaders Jeremy Fletcher and Matthew Porter as they prepare for change, and particularly for our Youth Team here at the Minster who I know will be dedicated in leading the Youth Ministry into an equally new and exciting season next term.


Thank you all for your genuine encouragement, support and prayers. They really have sustained me in my faith and calling.


I am thrilled to be making this next step on my journey!


Thank you & God bless.