Recently I spent two days in the Peak District. I urgently needed to recharge my batteries and was encouraged by how immensely restful my time away proved to be. As I returned to the coal face of church life a few days later, I did so with a renewed focus on the missional work of the church I serve.
It would prove to be a sobering experience. While the church has experienced steady numerical growth, I couldn’t ignore the stark facts behind it. Yes, we had done some baptisms of late, and even welcomed new members into the church family. However, all these people already had a connection to the Christian faith, and often they were people new to the area or looking for a new church. This was concerning, given that Jesus’ parting words to His disciples in Matthew 28 were a command to go and make disciples of all nations. Were we making any new Christians?
In the Book of Acts, the disciples were encouraged to begin their missional work in Jerusalem before venturing further afield. For us as a church, the King’s coronation provided just the opportunity we needed to make a conscious effort to connect missionally with our local community, our ‘Jerusalem’. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t that we hadn’t been doing anything to connect with our neighbours before this. A number of our activities, such as our regular toddler group, were bringing a steady flow of unbelievers into the church building, creating friendships and familiarity. The problem was that we weren’t seeing these as opportunities to gently and sensitively share our faith. The coronation would provide just the jolt we needed to begin to address the missional gap in our work as a church.
On the bank holiday following the coronation, we welcomed our neighbours to a community fun day. Activities such as a bouncy castle, face painting and crown-making kept the children entertained while the adults were able to enjoy cream teas and live music. We intentionally kept Christ at the centre of all we did – through the gospel tracts we handed out, the songs we played and the information we shared about church activities.
But our love of Christ was also intentionally communicated in other ways. Although people could make donations, the event was free of charge! In other words, we wanted our neighbours to encounter the generosity of believers who profess faith in Jesus. In relation to this, I was told of one visitor who remarked that he was astonished we had gone to so much effort as a church to bless our community.
While it is difficult to evaluate the actual impact of the event, I remain confident that behind the scenes God was at work. At the start we prayed for God to move in our midst, and He certainly did by bringing lots of people through the doors, many I am sure for the first time. We had intended for the event to take place outdoors but, with the weather forecast predicting rain, we moved it indoors. God most certainly turned this for good as throughout the entire event a wooden cross above the altar was visible to all, something that recalled me to my own journey of faith.
As a child from a Hindu family, I was struck by Christianity at school when I was told about the cost of the cross. Into my adult life, I would note the symbol of the cross, either as a necklace or on church buildings. While it would be some years before I would profess faith in Christ, the cross was quietly playing its part in opening me up to the truth of God’s love. Likewise, it is my sincere hope that the coronation event we held will be found to have played a part in seeing many of our neighbours come to the knowledge that God also loves them deeply and passionately.
The coronation fun day was a fantastic way to refocus us a church, to put a missional emphasis on all we do. It was a new start for King Charles III, and it is my prayer that it will prove to be a new start for our church and community, as we continue to celebrate Jesus our King!
Manoj is pastor of Pinner Baptist Church, and Chair of the Board of the Evangelical Alliance. From a Hindu background, he is now passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with others and building a church family where people of all ethnicities and cultures feel valued, supported and released to use their unique gifts and talents serving the Lord. He tells his story in Filthy Rich.
Filthy Rich
‘Why not spend £35 million on one big day out?’ – The Daily Telegraph on Manoj’s growing property empire, 2005.
Manoj Raithatha appeared to have it all. A booming property company, a picture-book family and the power to shape his destiny. Yet behind the enviable façade, his reckless ambition was consuming him and wreaking havoc on his marriage.
Then his professional and personal worlds were shattered. The 2008 financial crisis devastated his business and a sudden illness threatened his son’s life. With his hollow foundations exposed, Manoj found himself utterly dependent on the prayers of others and the help of a previously unknown God. What happened next would forever change his life. Morally bankrupted by greed and selfishness, Manoj would have to build his life and marriage anew with different foundations.
With profound reflections on faith, identity and meaning, Filthy Richaddresses some of the burning issues of our day.
Published September 2022 (Instant Apostle), £9.99