New church planting school opens in London

Last week I went to meet with the founder of the new Amnos Church Planting School in London. Since then an article about the school has appeared in the local newspaper the Brentwood Gazette. What follows is excerpts from that article:

"The Amnos Church Planting School is opening at Trinity Church in Coxtie Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch, to create Christian leaders for the future and "plant" new churches where old ones have died out.

It is hoped the newly qualified pastors will help to reverse the rapid decline of Christianity in Europe, with more than 10,000 churches having closed in the UK alone in the last half century.

"The school is the brainchild of South Korean-born pastor the Rev Dr Daniel Chae, who says he is keen to pay back the debt of the gospel to the UK church.

"He said: "I was shocked coming from Asia and having such a high respect, especially being from Korea, where we are indebted so much to the UK church. I think the decline is sad and I think British people in general need to feel sad about this, whether they are Christians or non-Christians."

"Dr Chae has plenty of experience spreading the word of God, having previously been the managing director of a floating Christian community that travelled the world on board the MV Doulos ship.

"He most recently founded a new church on the outskirts of London but decided to launch the Pilgrims Hatch-based school in a bid to revitalise Christianity in Europe.

"He said the new school was unique in the way it incorporated the practical side of "showing the gospel" and working in the community in a positive way.

"The planting school will officially be launched with an inauguration service at Trinity Church, with Mr Kavoor [the Rev Canon George Kovoor is chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen] as guest speaker, from 11am on October  1."

Koreans call for ethnic leaders to come together in London

I just received an invitation to the 7th London mission conference organised by Koreans living in the UK. In fact there are lots of Koreans in the UK -- enough to make up some 100 Korean churches.

More than 40 Korean churches and 20 Korean and international missions like WEC, OM, Wycliffe  and YWAM have agreed to cooperate on this conference.

If you find yourself at it, don't worry -- they are going to arrange a simultaneous interpretation into English for as many people as need it. Here is the website, with an English translation too: www.lmc.name

After the two main plenary sessions are addressed by Dr. George Verwer something exciting will happen (not implying that the time with George won't be -- it always is!). There will be a meeting about the next mission conference -- but instead of it staying just Korean the organisers plan to welcome all ethnic church leaderships and mission partners to be part of discussions for the formation of the next mission conference in London.

I find it wonderfully encouraging that Koreans living halfway around the world from their homeland are calling those from other lands to join them in a conference focusing on taking Jesus to those who still don't know him. Is there anything better to draw us together?

Not every European church is European!

This afternoon was a good reminder that a lot of people living in Europe today are not European. I attended an event hosted by a Korean church from London. They served a brilliant Korean bbq spread complete with two kinds of kimchee (one just isn't enough). From time to time loud cheers erupted from the next room where Korea was beating Greece in an early game of the World Cup. But the true reminder that this wasn't a typical European event was the free accupuncture being offered! I decided to not accept their kind offer...