Nick Algeo
I worked in banking for 5 years, and while it had its ups and downs, on balance it really was a great job. But I was constantly frustrated that the day job was getting in the way of being able to explain the gospel to unbelievers in depth, or serve in more areas of pastoral ministry.
Through the Workers Conference, the Workers for the Harvest Field book, and another audio CD, 9:38 helped me to think through the need for church leaders and planters in this country and beyond. 9:38 also informed and challenged me on the character requirements of anyone in Christian leadership.
Having thought through the issues at some length, I left banking and worked part-time for my church in Dagenham for a couple of years. I have now just begun my theological training for ordination in the Church of England.
Two questions I am often asked, both as Chairman of 9:38 and as a pastor of a local church:
And it wouldn’t surprise me if the reason you’re reading this post is because you’re desperately seeking an answer.
Without being flippant, I usually make two brief comments by way of introduction:... continue reading
The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus one day with a special request. She thought she knew what kind of leader Jesus was going to be and thought her sons should occupy prominent positions of authority alongside him (preferably one on the right and one on the left).
As far as I know, the discussion was not about stage positioning, song choices, rehearsal times or whether the drums should play in the introduction. However, as Jesus responds, we begin to see exactly what his leadership will be like, and therefore what leadership should look like among all who claim to follow him (including church musicians):... continue reading
Praise the Lord.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
Psalm 112
The Christian life is not perfect. There will be times of sadness and stress. But a life lived for God is full of blessing. God hasn't promised to give us everything we want, but He'll make sure His people have everything they need. When we come to trust in Jesus, we're given His "righteousness" — being right with God. and so we're to grow in righteousness, becoming more like God.
The spiritual growth of children is an important matter. And whether we belong to a church that offers services of thanksgiving for children or one that baptizes infants, if we’ve made a promise to God to help a child get to know God better, it’s vital that we take that promise seriously.
But, if you’re anything like me, it can be hard to work out how to encourage a child that you don’t see every day, or even every month, to look to Jesus.
So here are our top tips to help us all fulfill our roles as sponsors or godparents:... continue reading
The Bible Refers to Jesus' Wife, Too
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Black Christians See No Clear Options Between Obama, Romney
Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that soap operas like Eastenders tackle some gritty ethical issues. I'm in no position to speak authoritatively on The Young and the Restless, but in Britain the stuff of soaps touches on very real (if often overblown) issues in daily life. In Eastenders, assisted suicide, paedophilia and a gay muslim sham marriage have been some of the recent storylines. Some may dismiss it as tawdry, sensationalist or immoral, but the inspiration for the writers comes from somewhere very different, according to a former series producer and storyliner.
The Bible!... continue reading
Special launch offer!
You can buy The Hard Corps on our UK website or our US website. Use the code hardcorps at checkout and get 25% off!! This offer is available until the 30th of September.
The public launch is at the Acts29 event in Manchester, UK this Saturday. Chart topping rapper Lecrae is speaking and doing a gig in the evening. Purchase your tickets here.
We'd like to say a massive thank you to 2V design for making the video. It was a pleasure to work with a brother in Christ who made into reality the vision we had for the trailer. It's been a pleasure to work with you throughout this process.
Later this week we're launching a great new book for men, The Hard Corps. Here's a little taster to whet your appetite. Pre-order with a great launch offer.
Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day. 2 Samuel 23 v 9-10.
Question: What happens to the kid whose dad was named after a soon-to-be-extinct giant bird and whose granddad had a name that only donkeys could pronounce?
Answer: He grows up to become an Old Testament Samurai legend with a razor-sharp blade and a freakishly strong grip!... continue reading
