We would really value the whole Commission family praying for our churches in the Iberian Peninsula as they gather in Northern Portugal for their annual conference ‘Juntos’ (Together).

Have you seen the image of the Pope in a Balenciaga-style puffer jacket? As a leader with Gen Z and Gen Alpha representation in our churches, whose native tongue is tech, how do we help young people build belief and grow in discernment in a disingenuous world?

Like Black Monday it was a day of financial loss for some, like bloody Sunday it was a day when excessive blood was shed. And yet we do not call it Black Friday or Bloody Friday, but Good Friday.

Jon shares on where they are now, what sort of church they called to be and plans and faith goals for this year and beyond.

Jon reflects on what came next after they were finally able to gather in person. They had garden gatherings, meetings in the school, camping trips, and saw God's faithfulness in drawing people together to form Trinity Life Church.

As we celebrate Mother’s day I am so grateful that I had a mother who prayed for me.

Jon tells the story of how they were able to move and gather the initial families under lockdown.

“I bet you’re glad to be back aren’t you?” Someone asked as we walked into church a couple of days after landing in the UK. While I knew that he meant well, I could see that he just didn’t get it. “Yes and No.” I replied.

We all tried to convince him that there must be another way but he insisted so I found myself, a day after moving to Lebanon, holding on to this man’s belt, praying that he wouldn’t fall to his death as he tried to break into our apartment!

There was a powerful sense of God’s presence as we sang together and a deep awareness, through the various Spirit-led contributions and prayers, of God speaking his name over us as his people.

This sense of community and us being the outsider was something we quickly realised would never change. It reminded us of the phrase that Paul uses, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." we were becoming something that we had never been before - outsiders - in order that some may be saved.

We are not the first people to camp in a field under an ink black starry sky, to sing worship songs and give ears to leaders reading and explaining God’s word, and we won’t be the last!

Our identity remains the same, we are loved, accepted, and secure In Christ but our purpose may change.

When we consider power, it’s not about taking control over others but taking control of ourselves.