Pastors Blog

GOD ENCOUNTER

Upon a time of reflection in sunny Spain at half term, I found myself asking the questions:

- Why do I go to church, and miss it so much if I don’t?

- Why do I do what I do for no monetary gain?

- Why do I teach and impress Christian values and the knowledge of a Holy God to my children?

- Why do I ‘Love’ others when my flesh sometimes doesn’t even like them?

- Why do I unselfishly, so much want to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

- Why do we as a Church do ‘Conference’ when it costs so much?

It isn’t logical and defies reason, especially to a watching secularised world. I can actually trace these motives and actions back to a specific time and place for which I can only describe as a ‘God Encounter’!

Last week we hosted Dai Woolridge of Going Public’s production of ‘The Tentmaker’, which portrays the life of Paul, whose God Encounter on the road to Damascus was so radical that he changed his name from Saul to Paul, stopped persecuting and murdering Christians, went on to plant numerous Churches and wrote around two thirds of the New Testament and was martyred for the name of Christ.

Other God Encounters

Paul is not alone - there are countless other similar stories in fact - millions - much to the Atheists’ frustration. To name a few more famous ones;

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army and Billy Graham. In the Bible of course, we have Moses at Mount Sinai and the burning bush, Isaiah in the temple (Isaiah 6v6) and the man after Gods own heart David in Psalm 63, where he states he has ‘beheld His Power and Glory’ and ‘prefers the experience of Gods love to life itself’ and says that his life will never be the same again, he went on, ‘I’m so transformed, so overwhelmed and so unashamed, I just want to bask in Your Glory”.

Then at Pentecost in the Upper Room, the hitherto cowardly disciples encountered the Holy Spirit and become thereafter bold and courageous and proclaimed the Gospel even through torture and death - most were martyred for their faith yet they had turned the known world upside down in a few short years. Its impact brought an end to the Egyptian Pharaoic lineage and ushered in Christianity to the Roman Empire as the official religion under the Emperor Constantine.

Then there’s what many called - “the Pentecost greater than Pentecost”, the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. In one year, 100,000 people swore to their dying day that they had encountered the Living God. Mass conversions or

God Encounters of this nature smashes the humanistic theory that religious people are born with a “God gene”!

The Welsh revival swung outwards worldwide with its seed sown by the Holy Spirit into black servants of a plantation owner in America who had just returned from visiting the Welsh Awakening who became Gods instruments in ushering in the Azuza St Revival and the beginning of the rise of Pentecostalism in the world today. Today 10% of the world’s population are classed as Evangelical or Pentecostal. In a recent secular book called the “Twilight of Atheism” it cites that Atheism has suffered dramatically in the 20^th Century when they believed for sure God would be marginalised. The reason that this did not materialise was due to the millions of testified ‘God Encounters’ and experiences of so many. Today 1 in 3 people on the planet call themselves Christian. Ironically, this century the number of Atheists on the planet is predicted to further decline!

At the end of the day, one experience or encounter with God demolishes all Atheistic and Humanistic theories and philosophies.

Recently during a morning service, I spontaneously requested a show of hands from those who had experienced an encounter with God. Many hands were raised and so I chose a sample to come up on stage to relate to others their experience. It was truly both lovely and amazing to hear. These were a cross section of normal, grounded people of all ages and backgrounds.

Yet, the secular world would call these people “whackos, freaks and fanatics”. Just like their sceptical predecessors they fail to understand what exactly has caused these people to transform their thinking and in turn their hearts and lives. The Welsh hymnist describes this experience as “Mae’r Haleliwia yn fy enaid i” i.e “the Hallelujah is in my heart and soul”.

Which brings us back to the answer to the questions of; why do we go to church? Why do we do what we do? (and I hasten to add with joy and pleasure), why we teach our kids and why we are ‘mission minded’ when it comes to the Gospel and finally why do we do ‘Conference’ when it costs so much?

The Sceptic and the Cynic, the Doubter and the Atheist need just one encounter, one touch of God for their lips to be silenced, their minds to be pacified and their hearts to be filled. Unfortunately a lack of faith becomes their biggest barrier to this ever happening. We are a Spirit, that has a Soul (mind, will, emotions etc.) that happen to live in a body (which is temporal).

Most people today live out of the Soul and the body. They can experience emotions but have never experienced the Spiritual and are therefore living and are experiencing two thirds of their life potential and therefore cannot truly be fulfilled. They are what I would call ‘Spiritual Virgins’. Blaise Pascal the French Philosopher described how we all have a ‘God shaped hole’ in our lives that only God can fill. Most try and fill it with sex, drugs, drink and some even turn to Spiritualism and the occult, but at the end of the day discover that none of it fulfils a place intended only for the Divine, living God.

Jesus said in John 3 v 8 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot hear from where it comes or where it is going…so it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

As a man or woman’s Spirit which is dead encounters the Holy Spirit, it becomes alive and the promise is it will never ever die and one day that seed of Spirit and Soul will be given a new ‘physical’, ‘glorified’, ‘resurrected’ body (1 Corinthians 15).

Paul stated in the book of Philippians that everything was rubbish compared to knowing Christ, ‘To know Him’ and attain the resurrection power was his hearts desire. It all started with his own personal God Encounter on the Road to Damascus. The promise of Scripture is that as we ‘Seek Him’ we will find Him and each of us can encounter and know Him.

This is why we have decided to call next years Conference 29^th - 30^th April 2011 simply - “God Encounter”.

I am truly delighted to announce that our friend and truly great International speaker J. John is going to partner with us in encouraging everyone how to seek Him, Encounter Him, get to know him and join in the invitation to what Jesus refers to as the ‘Abundant’ life. (John 10 v 10)

In answer to the questions therefore:

This is why we ‘do whatever it takes’ and ‘pay whatever it costs’. For once you’ve truly encountered the Holy, Living God you will never be the same again - you’re just spoilt for everything else like Paul. Why? Because God has not only touched your Spirit and made it alive but at the same time He exchanged a part of His Divine heart for yours, which is the reason why we are compelled to Love Him and others (even the unlovely!).

Let’s encounter Him together,

Geraint V. Jones

Senior Church Leader

The Local Church

Is it really 12 months since the last conference? Are we really here again? Is Hillsong London really with us? Yes, yes and yes again.

The lights were gently dimmed. There was total silence. A silence that cried out high expectation and excited anticipation.

The silence was broken by background music and an incredible trailer on the Local Church which then led into the song Nefol Dad. A welsh worship song written by our own pastor, Geraint V Jones and Gerwyn Thomas which truly expresses the love for our God. This was followed by many heart felt songs. Already the Selwyn Samuel Centre was filled with glorious worship and all felt the presence of God.

Geraint came onto the platform and welcomed all to the conference. He explained that this conference was all about the local church but it would not have happened had it not been for another local church – Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia.

Hillsong, led by Pastor Brian Houston has been a fantastic inspiration to 21st Century Church. Geraint went on to explain how over the years, he and others from the church attended Hillsong conferences in Sydney and how there, they met with God. This was followed by the Hillsong Europe Conference in London and now, here we are, our own local church hosting a conference with – Hillsong London. How privileged we are.

After the welcome, Hillsong London burst into almighty worship which is something they do oh so well. We sang Take it All, Yahweh, This is our God and How Great is our God. Our God is great. He is indeed mighty and majestic. What a start to what an amazing night.

Tim Norbury, Hillsong called for the offering and did so with dignity. It was fantastic to hear Tim speak. He hails from Pontarddulais and a Scarlet’s supporter no less.
So many people were prevented from attending due to volcanic ash erupting from an Icelandic volcano creating a blanket of cloud of ash over the skies. All European flights had been being cancelled. Peter Wilson, senior worship leader with Hillsong was trapped in Sweden so the whole conference had to be rescheduled.

Kevin Adams stepped into the breach and brought forward one of his teachings to Friday night. What a fantastic message it was too, which, I hasten to add, was not without his wonderful sense of humour. We heard how Kevin travels the world from the comforts of his home – yes, via google earth. There was much more humour but the Biblical teaching was serious.

There were three main points –

• The Church is people;
• The Church is made up of believers; and
• The Church is all about relationships.

He said that we need each other and we can do nothing on our own.
We responded in worship by belting out – Tell the world that Jesus lives.
We left the centre that first night completely exhausted but so exuberant and encouraged. What would tomorrow bring? Could it get better?
Yes it did. The day dawned once again with the sun shining, brightening God’s creation but the sun shined in our hearts as well.
The Worship was, yes again, totally amazing. God was with us again. He is always with us, eagerly waiting for us to call on His name. As Geraint said last night, we only have to call Him. The Power and the Presence of God is as near as our uplifted voice.

We were treated to promotion videos of Hillsong Europe and Hillsong Colour (Women’s Conference) conferences coming up this year. We cried at the videos of Compassion where we witnessed the heartache of how so many children in 3rd world countries struggle with the challenges of life. We were encouraged to sponsor a child so that they may have a better life. Compassion is very much child focussed and Christ centred.

Steffan Jones, Geraint’s very gifted son delivered the first of the morning’s sessions. Steffan really knows how to punch a solid scriptural message. In his now recognised apologetic style of speaking he talked about ”What do you put your faith in”. Steffan, a mere 20 year old blasted the theory of evolution out of the water backing his message up with facts and figures. He has such a passion for Christ it has to be witnessed and he certainly is an inspiration to all – young and old.

The ever lovely, humorous, delightful, stylish and serious Andrea – yes, she is all of those things – delivered the next message which was all about the “Goodness of God”. I can’t argue with that. She encouraged us to be proactive and urged all to come, taste and see that God is good.

Andrea was quickly followed by Hillsong speaker Kris Mikkelson, who travelled down on the day to speak to us in place of Peter Wilson. Hillsong didn’t want to let us down and we were humbled by his graciousness and heartfelt message. It was about –

• The need to change the way we see God. We must say to God I know you love me, let’s do life together;
• We must change the way we see other people in our life; and
• Let’s change the way we see church.

The very talented Cath Wooldridge from the Going Public Theatre Company delivered a very moving performance of how Jesus’ death and resurrection personally affected Mary Magdalene. As of last year, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Tears flowed freely.

Next we were treated to a question and answer session; the panel was made up of members of 21CC and Hillsong worship teams. Viewpoints were shared on what is worship, song writing and the whole centre was deeply moved by Helen Parry Palfreman’s moving testimony of how we praise and worship God all of the time even in time of tragedy such as when she and her husband Martyn lost a new born child in December.

The evening session was action packed with amazing worship cumulating in “The Enemy has been defeated, death couldn’t hold you down”. The atmosphere was astonishingly electrifying and awakening to God’s almighty presence. Personally, I could feel the goose bumps on my arm.

Cath once again delivered a performance about someone who seemingly had everything she needed in life but at the same time led a very empty life.
The effervescent Kevin delivered the final teaching which was all about the Kingdom. The main thrust was about the link between Jesus and the Kingdom which is the local church. Kevin added that the local church should be an expression of the Kingdom of God. The church is meant to be a close encounter of the Kingdom. The church is the body of Christ and we are the visible body of Christ. That is so mind blowing.

We finished the evening with joyful and beautiful worship. We all jumped up and down singing with all our might. The Selwyn Samuel centre once again, for the second year running became the glorious House of God. It was not to be missed. It was so energising to see so many young people wanting to glorify God’s name and yes, it was also both encouraging and inspiring.

The theme of the conference was the “Local Church – Hope of the World” and there were so many who came from different parts of Wales – Merthyr, Bridgend, Ammanford and Llandrindod Wells to name but a few.

We were all so encouraged by the worship and wonderful speakers. We loved Hillsong London sharing this fantastic conference with us; they are such wonderful, caring and humble people. We shared a mutual love for each other and of course more importantly for the one who made it all possible - Our Amazing, Awesome God.
I’ll finish as I did last year, and I make no apology for it. Geraint our leader and pastor always tells us – the best is yet to come. It’s true; it always does somehow get better.
2011! It will soon be with us. Better start planning!

“Your name up in lights.”

“One of our great guys – Seb recently wrote a song – “Beautiful Surrender” with the lyrics “ No more waiting for the church to arise, the expansion of your Kingdom, Your name up in lights.” These words are no longer prophetic or presumption as there is a real sense that the tide has already began to turn some time ago and God is once again moving and the Church is mobilising for something great – i.e. “the expansion of Christ’s Kingdom” and His name made Glorious i.e. “Your name up in lights.”

Society is desperately waiting for the Church to take her rightful place bringing – light, hope, help and answers to Communities that are largely hurting and dysfunctional. The last fifty to seventy years despite incredible economic, material benefits has not made Wales safer nor happier. Indeed a recent survey stated we long for the days gone by. It is no coincidence this decline has mirrored the decline in influence and attendance of Church.

Hey, I am not saying the Church was perfect in the past , far from it but I believe it is time for a new, fresh, relevant and redefined Church to emerge in the 21st Century which truly can be the Hope of the World and God’s plan for Wales and the planet.

It is therefore with great excitement that we are hosting a Church Conference whose heart is to champion the cause of the local Church in Wales with fresh, new, exciting ideas born out of our God breathed creativity. We have deliberately and strategically chosen our special guests and speakers that will move, motivate and inspire you to be part of what God is doing in Wales today, to further His Kingdom and to courageously and valiantly reach out to a broken humanity. There simply is no better to help us do this in the World than the incredibly anointed Hillsong Church Worship team. We are delighted to have Peter Wilson, Hillsong Londons' Senior Worship Leader who has such a revelation of the local Church as a main guest speaker as well as Kevin Adams, a local boy, now pastoring in the USA who is an authority on the Welsh revivals of the past and who has a relevant message for the emerging Welsh Church.

Geraint
Senior Church Leader/Pastor
21st Century Church

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