Christians@work - Wednesday

Today we explored the church as a place of 'hopeful possibilities'.
Research shows that religion is essential to the flourishing of the human species. Mission, therefore, is not just about helping people to discover Jesus or about growing churches. It is about the viability of human life!

We were introduced to studies that have concluded:
Religious experience is associated with increased psychological well being.

It helps people survive when they are at rock bottom.

It makes people more open to the needs and fragility of others.
It helps older people to feel useful and to adjust to the limitations of old age.
It gives young people a sense of purpose.
Going to church once a week is better for well-being than having your salary doubled!

How do churches offer hopeful possibilities? By providing a place of encouragement, nurture , hope and belonging. By encourage people to think differently and act differently. By helping people overcome the constraints of their circumstances.

We grossly overestimate the power that circumstances have in our lives and we underestimate the power of ‘intentional activity’ – that is, the things that are within our control to bring about by our own choice. Our well-being is affected by our genetic endowment (50%) by our circumstances (10%) and by our intentional activity (40%). This is where our greatest potential for meaningful and life-giving action lies.

The Methodist revival is a great example of the church at work in awakening and directing people’s ‘intentional activity’. People in need became the solution to their own problems, by awakening their sense of power to change their circumstances. Only Britain can claim, as part of its heritage, a revolution that was rooted in the love of the Lord! It is a heritage to be proud of.

Worship has its place in realising the hopeful possibility of churches. But it is not enough!

Each evening we have a short 'Perspectives' session to hear from individuals or groups about their particular experience as Christians@Work. Tonight it was the turn of young people fresh from the Mission Impossible! International work camp in Amsterdam. Four of the team introduced the three community projects they helped with, and talked of what they have learned about mission and about cultural diversity.