An Army of Wounded Healers

Euan: So I was praying (as all good Christians should) the other day for Germany and I got to start thinking about this idea of 'wounded healers'. Henri Nouwen wrote a book with the title of "Wounded Healer" in which he talks about how Jesus could only heal because He had been wounded; that healing power is bought with woundedness*.

If Nouwen is right, then Berlin won't require spiritual 'hot-shots' who were born praying in tongues and were prophesying as soon as they could talk (or before), but rather people who have been wounded. Whether wounded by the church, by those who we've trusted, or just by life itself but then drawn into the Father's embrace and experienced the healing power of the words of Jesus. Wounded healers are those who carry the scars, the humiliation, and the wounds of Jesus as their own (didn't Paul say something about bearing on his body the marks of Jesus?), so much so that the very power that Jesus bought with His wounds, lives and breathes through them and the lives they live.

John says that Jesus, the Ultimate Missionary, showed up in His mission field "full of truth and grace". Maybe we should do the same? Truth and Grace are two beautiful concomitant notions; both powerfully independent yet inescapably intertwined in the love of God. Apart from unprecendented amounts of humility, I reckon if there are two things that we as a team planting a church need to bring to Berlin it's those divine twins of Truth and Grace. Truth to break the lies that imprison the city and Grace to release forgiveness and to break the shame of the past.

May we bring truth and grace to the city of Berlin. And not just in our theologies and our sermons but in the lives and hearts that we are bound to.

Shalom.**



* This won't suprise some of the team but I haven't actually read all of the book. I own it and read parts when I first got it some years ago. But I've heard it's really good so if you get the chance read it.

** Keen to hear others opinions on these matters, this blog has been decidedly quiet for over 6 months now, maybe we liven things up a little?

Walls come down

Romona: I would just like to share a helpful prayer method. When you pray for Germany, try imagining the walls (in the Spirit) that hinder the ministry of the Holy Spirit or the preaching of the Gospel etc. Imagine what the graffiti would say etc. then pray as if you are holding a huge hammer in your hands.

Here's a photo that really inspires me - it was taken just before the Berlin wall came down. In the photo you see a group of YOUNG people, mostly students...they are praying.

Relevance in Germany

Chris: I found this pic of German's doing parkour outside the reichstag! It got me thinking about using the redemptive aspects of German youth culture to be effective witnesses. I keep thinking about how with this church plant we have this amazing blank slate to draw on, and we can draw whatever the Holy Spirit wants us to! New ideas, creative ways of reaching out to a culture that's going to be different and postmodern and yet alive with possibilities...

Team Profiles

Hey guys, well done for putting up the team profiles - they look great :) I'm excited about this team ... we all look dashing! But there's one more person who I think we should pray to join the team ...

The song of nations

Anita wrote: this is part of an email that one of our worship leaders recently sent to the rest of the band. I think it catches the heart of what God is doing in Grahamstown... thought you might enjoy a read, tell us what you think!

"I really feel that God is doing something big in our church at this time regarding going to the nations. God’s obviously always doing great things in the nations and in our movement but never before has it become so personal for us and come so close to home. There is an acceleration happening – almost all at once with the World Conference, the Stellenbosch Conference (which was apparently FAR TOO hectic) and of course our very own church plant to Germany. Definitely in my own life since the World Conference there has been a stirring in my heart for the nations that is only increasing.

It’s almost like God is saying to us corporately “I’ve deposited a lot in you, it’s time to do something with it, time to realize you have a lot to give.” This is essential to coming to maturity as a church.

Also, we need corporate faith that God is the King of the nations and that He is coming to take His place as King. That faith needs to be released as the church plant heads out – otherwise it’s like “Cheers guys, hope things work out for you” and there is no corporate power backing it up – that is, the church is not birthing the plant, just the people that are going.

Our corporate worship needs to release something that goes before them and goes with them. The time is right for people to receive callings and commissioning for the next step. We need to track with what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Let’s not miss what He’s doing! This is a critical time.

So basically to facilitate all this we need to write songs of faith about the nations coming to the Lord and about us going to the nations. And to do this we need to get into the word and find out what God is saying now – let’s be in the word, looking to see God’s heart for the nations. I am sure that God will release songs as we do this.

Ryan"

july-august update

Anita wrote: The last few weeks have seen some exciting developments in terms of the Berlin church plant plans and team. God made something happen in the hearts of people at His People Grahamstown, and suddenly we have grown from a group of 6 to 13. It really feels like the church plant has become something the whole church is carrying in their hearts, which is very very cool, and an answer to prayer.

A lot of us have just gotten back from the Every Nation World Conference in Manila, where we did a bit of advertising (if you were at conference and found a book mark under your door at the Holiday Inn, that was us...hi!). So some more people from other nations know about the plans. We as a team are very excited to meet and work with people from different backgrounds, so we are happy to hear that we have brothers and sisters from other countries who are praying about whether to join. We have been praying that God's voice is clear for each of you, and that He grants you peace and clarity, whatever your decision.

Welcome to the Berlin Churchplant blog

This is the official blog of the Berlin Churchplant under leadership of Gareth and Taryn Lowe of His People in Grahamstown, South Africa. Watch this space for constant updates about the churchplant. Thanks for visiting our site!