Ministers’ Letter

‘How shall we picture the Kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to describe it?  It is like a mustard seed; when sown in the ground it is smaller than any other seed, but once sown, it springs up and grows taller than any other plant, and forms branches so large that birds can roost in its shade’  (Mark 4: 30 – 32)

Jesus loved to tell parables like this one which were drawn from people’s own experiences of life and their own observations of the world.  He regularly told stories that made people think about how events they had seen with their own eyes could relate to their own faith in the living God.  The parable of the mustard seed is an example of a ‘Parable of growth’.  A parable which shows the way in which under God’s loving care and guidance, his Kingdom can grow from something as small, and apparently insignificant as a tiny mustard seed to become so large as a bush large enough that even birds can roost in its shade.

This parable is a reminder that a tiny seed of faith, sown in the heart of a believer at a young age can, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the help and support of a loving church family can become something great and strong in later life.  How many great lives, from the early Prophets to the great Christian leaders of our time have come from small and humble beginnings?  How many great achievements in our world from the abolition of slavery to the fall of Apartheid have been achieved by people of faith who came from humble origins.

I continue to believe that our churches are exciting places of growth where lives are changed as God’s purposes are found and nurtured.   Just look around the churches of our circuit and you will see countless examples of initiatives driven by ordinary people of faith with a passion for what they believe in.   Every week in our churches, people meet for  prayer and fellowship groups.  Youth work thrives in a number of our churches.  There are  coffee mornings, and even a bread making  fellowship!  As you meet, you share and sow those seeds of faith that give meaning and purpose to life.

May we be encouraged to sows those seeds of faith with hope and confidence in our world.   May we know that under God’s guidance, these seeds will grow to bear the fruits of his bountiful Grace, this day and forevermore.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Richard.