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A team of
Ugandan and Zambian Christians who were visiting the UK as part of the 25th
anniversary of the Anglican organisation SOMA (Sharing our Ministry
Abroad) joined CTWD for our AGM in June.
Although
the theme of the evening was `The exciting and challenging story of God
bringing Revival, Healing and Community Transformation to Uganda and
Zambia', the real message was what we should be doing here in the UK to
bring about such transformation.
This was
a `mission in reverse.'
The scene
was set by John Simons, chairman of SOMA in the UK, who created a visual
picture of the river of God flowing into the sea. But the challenge came
from the Revd Patrick Kyaligonzo from the diocese of Renzori in Uganda. In
his powerful address he asked whether as an image of the presence of the
Holy Spirit within our churches the river was at high tide or low. And if
it is was low tide, what was the reason.
He asked
why the witness of the Church was having so little impact and he spoke of
it compromising itself, and trying hard to please the world. He also spoke
of the Church looking to the past for evidence of the Holy Spirit at work.
`Every age is entitled to see the power of the Holy Spirit in its own age.
Not live in the past, because that is futile and dangerous.' He said the
Christian Church may have theology of the Holy Spirit but have no
experience of His presence or power. 'That is useless theology. It is
useless to call people for baptism if the living Christ is not in their
hearts.'
Abridged from an article written by Brian Kellock.
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