I found this recently that I wrote in September 2007 when Alison and I worked at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea
You often hear people talk about what church should be like; what are the principles, what are the key issues that we have to deal with? Last night I saw church in action in the most unlikely place, in a form that many would not recognise as church but had all the hallmarks of New Testament Christianity
I was sat on the beach at Swansea Bay, trying to get comfortable on a large log while smoke from the bonfire was making me cry like a baby. It was late in the evening and a bunch of students had invited us to celebrate a birthday as well as our 25th wedding anniversary.
I looked around at the ecclesia of God, a gathering of God's people, with Jesus in our midst. At one point two of the students were entered into a serious discussion about John the Baptist, others were getting excited about an upcoming wedding. It was dark and getting cold but the bonfire seemed to be both a literal and figurative fire in our midst.
Later on two local guys, who were clearly the worst for drink stopped and started chatting. I was interested to see how the young students would respond; it was a pleasure to watch. Both were accepted into our midst without any condemnation but with warmth and acceptance. Our guys started to chat with them and were able to talk with them about their faith.
It was well past our bedtime and we got up to walk home; I looked back to see something beautiful and simple continuing on the beach - the people of God gathering and sharing their lives together.
What was this happening? Beach church? Sand church? Organic church? No, this was just simple, unplanned, dynamic, earth shattering church - something worth giving my life for!
Later on two local guys, who were clearly the worst for drink stopped and started chatting. I was interested to see how the young students would respond; it was a pleasure to watch. Both were accepted into our midst without any condemnation but with warmth and acceptance. Our guys started to chat with them and were able to talk with them about their faith.
It was well past our bedtime and we got up to walk home; I looked back to see something beautiful and simple continuing on the beach - the people of God gathering and sharing their lives together.
What was this happening? Beach church? Sand church? Organic church? No, this was just simple, unplanned, dynamic, earth shattering church - something worth giving my life for!
