THE FORGE SCOTLAND BLOG
Separation
I read a book this summer, “The Book of Strange New Things” by Michael Faber. It’s a science fiction novel, but driven more by character than plot. It’s the story of a man, Peter Leigh, who leaves Earth to travel to the planet Oasis. Peter’s Earth seems...
Practices of a sent people
As part of a teaching series I have been working through Mike Frost’s book Surprise the World, five habits of highly missional people. One of the favourite Bible verses used by missional people is John 20:21 “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending...
The power of connection
Alan McWilliam, a veteran church planter, Church of Scotland minister, and director of Forge Europe, urges all pioneers to stay connected to others. I was reading an autopsy report recently. Not something I do often but it caught my eye and I was drawn into...
What key’s the right one?
Gordon Cheung, a church planter in south Glasgow, thinks about how the Gospel can be seen as good news by those we’re trying to reach. On Easter Sunday 2017, Peter Brierley’s Scottish Church Census was released and commented on by the Herald newspaper. It...
Living well when change is the new “normal”
Helen Brough, Director of Forge Scotland, lists her six top tips for living in evolving circumstances Love it or loath it, this summer is hot! It’s not exactly what we’re used to…..and presents us with unexpected opportunities and challenges. Who knew that a...
1000 churches in our lifetime?
I was in America recently. Is that enough? Title and first line. Enough to put you off? Probably. Me too. And yet … I was hugely challenged by the audacity of the speakers in the conference I was in. Imagine anyone even suggesting such a thing as planting 1000...
Start with why?
Scott Brennan, member of Forge Scotland’s core team and tutor on our year-long part time pioneer course encourages us to understand why we act before we do. The tendency for activists is to do something. They tend to have a ‘fire ready aim’ approach to life....
Helping Hands
Gordon Cheung, part of a church plant team on Glasgow’s southside encourages us to overcome our isolation by leaning into the help of others. If I’m honest I’ve found pioneering to be an emotional experience. I’ve found it hard at times to take the risks that come...
Going where Jesus is already present
Lal Dhillon asks us to find what Jesus is doing amongst communities where the Church is not present. He leads ‘Project Wanderlust’, a missional project seeking to see a greater realization of the Kingdom of God in gaming culture. He is also a student at the Scottish...
Missional Muscle Memory
Helen Brough, Forge Scotland Director, shares her insight into how the body of Christ can recover the shape it was designed to be and move how it was intended. There is an ever increasing need for the Body of Christ to be on the move – reclaiming and regaining...
Unity and Training Across the Nations
Scott Brennan, pastor of Lighthouse Central Church in East Lothian, and member of Forge Scotland’s Core team, challenges us to see how releasing pioneers could help the church navigate to a faithful and culturally relevant future. The currents that shape our...