AMEN gets rolling

I was glad to find we were blessed with sunshine on Saturday mid-morning when Rukundo and Steven appeared.  With Mary, we headed off from Cornerstone to Cornhill.  The conversation turned to rhubarb (the produce, not a metaphor).  "Would you eat it?" I asked Steven.  He wriggled.  "Ah, you'd wouldn't mind being told that you had, once you'd safely digested it?"  I prompted.  He laughed.  "Remember you asked me if I'd ever eaten bush meat?  It's about the same..."  The topic of 'gun meat' arose when we teased Rukundo about Steph's dog.  He'd rankled that an apple core was wasted on a animal.

Lunch at Cornhill was pizza, followed by rhubarb crumble and custard.

Ed arrived, then Claire, and soon the Tudor room was filling up.  We'd invited the intended teams for our two visits: Kenya in August and Rwanda next March.  The welcome Reception was part of their familiarisation.  A phone call from Oxford confirmed that Gregory would be a bit late.  They'd only picked him up from Heathrow mid-morning.  Matthew and Simeon from Nigeria arrived, and folks were chatting freely.

We'll planned to let each of the international guys share something for no more that ten minutes.  Then we would give a quick update on Multiply UK and Europe.

The problem of Boko Haram is clearly in the consciousness of the church in Nigeria.  Simeon is based in the north, and Kelly described him as the bravest man he knows.  Pastors are finding it timely to link together in Multiply's regional 'chapters'.  Rukundo, too has been putting himself at risk, holding prayer conferences in North and South Kivu, DRC.  This is where the M23 rebels are operating - sometimes with the churches' unintentional shielding.  He wants to avoid tribal difference from descending into more bloodshed, prompted by his tragic experience in Rwanda.  Steven described how our UK team visit last year has produced ripples of interest in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.  By the time Gregory spoke, the atmosphere was hushed.  He spoke of being hopeful for good progress in Uganda. 

After a tea break, it was Jesus Fellowship's turn to bat.  Each of the guys from Africa had managed to stay within the allotted ten minutes!  Piet talked about his visit to Moldova and the massive impression it had made on him.  Paul Poz explained that he's due to see Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, and then Andy Flannagan in the Houses of Parliament for an article on Christians in public life.  Ed filled in some background to our (hopefully more effective) approach to practical projects, and Claire on the current Multiply admin arrangements.  We rounded off with Hilary's inspiring account of how we have had donated to us 18 new sewing machines for August's trip.

I noticed the deep conversations around the room.  Mary and I were due to stay in Coventry in the evening, and the Cornerstone saints would be collecting Rukundo and Steven after tea.  The Kings-in-Coventry has waited til we arrived before eating.  There, on the kitchen table, was a delicious rhubarb crumble. 

AMEN Programme (Final) Day 6

It had been nearly midnight before I'd finished today's powerpoint.  I also wanted to download Sam's 'Crossing the Line' YouTube video.  But, when I arrived, Cornhill's broadband wasn't up to it.  Ed found us a portable screen. "You rubbed the lamp, and it appeared," he smiled.  Another engineer.  September's itinerary sorted, I'd promised Daniel some budgets.  He wanted biog details of Steve, Nathan and Sam, too.  Ah, his merchant navy training!  More pressure.  But the pre-registration homemade cookies were delicious.  Multiply catering at Cornhill is legendary.

Huw decided to lead with inspiration and postpone the nuts and bolts (including my contribution) until after lunch.  We had a good blast of worship.  All our apostolic group was present.  Appropriately Mick talked about the apostolic ministry today.  The feedback was rich and stirring.  Steven related his challenge of faith to secure premises in Zambia.  The church was in danger of losing everything, including their deposit, if the deal couldn't be completed in seven days.  Other would-be buyers were queueing up with cash.  At 4pm on the final day a friend rang from Lusaka to enquire if Steven could make use a substantial donation.  "Faith means risk, not research," Stephen pressed.  Here we are again with the Western 'wisdom' versus African 'power' paradigm.  "Come on, Jesus Fellowship," Desmond added, "You've got to imitate this."  We could have stayed on the point for the remainder of the day.

Steve joined us for lunch.  He and Daniel set to discussing topics for the Bangalore and Thrissur conferences.  I left them to take a phone call from Wakey, and immediately passed my mobile to Rukundo.  They may meet up in Sheffield.  I just wish the planning was as far ahead with Colney; but he has to contact John in Burma before we can move things forward.

Matthew spoke of their determination, regardless of Boko Haram, to extend Multiply in northern Nigeria.  The opportunities are immense.  There's a new chapter in Benin Republic, too.  Simeon said we need unity of vigour to match unity of vision, so we shall enjoy united results.  Rukundo then described the M23 violence and tribal tensions in eastern Congo that form the backdrop to his expansion.  This is the point at which we soberly concede how our times together affect and reflect into the big picture for the gospel.    

I was about overwhelmed by the week's mass of discussions.  I could see many good suggestions slipping off the radar if we didn't nail things down.  I got the guys sharing in groups of three: how can we make the most of UK team visits?; give Huw the names of the people you'll recommend for the intern scheme; what new people do you need to add to your team to keep the expansion moving?; who will champion the projects you intend to initiate?; what would the shape of more cross-regional contact look like; and finally, how can we get warm-climate cultures small groups to work effectively?  We're heading for a monster debriefing session next week!

We prayed together, shared bread and wine, and exchanged warm hugs.  More tempting food appeared.   Ed, sporting a shirt from his Kenyan father-in-law, urged the guys to take away as many Jesus Army football scarves as they could use.  They'd been de-stocked from the Resources shop.  I smiled at the prospect of Gregory, who was looking tired now, bothering with one of these in the Nairobi sunshine.

A final catch-up with Daniel to establish when he would return to UAE, and we went our separate ways.  Awaiting at Kings was a 50th wedding anniversary celebration.  The lawns were immaculate, but some guests had spent a little too long in the bright sunlight!  Tomorrow I'll take the morning meeting in Coventry, and on Monday I have to catch up with ten days' Jesus Centre work.  Really, we need twice the time together.