Birmingham 2020

A few weeks ago for the first time I went to the far north of Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield in order to attend a Birmingham 2020 event.  The Birmingham 2020 initiative has been set up in order to unite churches across Birmingham, in the vision of seeing 20 new churches started across the city before 2020.  It was great to meet both with leaders of established churches (from different denominations and families of churches) and also with leaders of church plants involved in doing similar to ourselves.

It’s encouraging to know that the Church across Birmingham is increasingly working together for the good of this great City.  Recognizing the essential role the starting of new God centered communities plays in this.

Exeter to Birmingham

A year and a half ago Hannah and I, and our two children (one in and one out of the womb) moved from Exeter to Birmingham. I had quit my existing job and not yet found anything in the Birmingham area but all this added to the adventure of this next stage in our lives.
We both had been carrying the dream of starting a church in our hearts for a long time. Two years earlier we had felt God was saying now is the time to start pushing doors, a process that lead us to the UK’s second city.
We initially rented in Bearwood and I was offered a job just hours before Rhian was born. The first year or so has been spent living life and making friends whilst scouting out areas, taking advise and praying about where we should be based. We have now been living in our new house in the Longbridge/Northfield/West Heath area (depending on who you speak to) for two months.
 
It’s early days but the plan that has been in our hearts and minds is now starting to unfold before us.