how do you see your world?

It’s interesting how much we are able to learn from the science of sport; especially when you observe the psychology of sport.

Our top sporting achievers attribute their success to outlook or vision. They begin to change their viewpoint and look upon themselves in a positive light; they see themselves winning!

Job 9:27 says ‘I will forget my complaint; I will put off my sad face and wear a smile’.

How we see are world has a massive effect on how we live in our world. If we focus on the negative we will never enjoy the wonders of the great things that are happening around us.

I recently moved back to Stoke on Trent and have been astounded at our negative outlook on a city that is really gaining momentum and going places. This is truly an awesome city that has a tremendous future. What is more, the people of this city are awesome!

We tend to struggle with this paradigm. It is easier to criticise and moan; beat ourselves and others up; down the city down.

Maybe we should learn from the sport scientists. Maybe we should learn from scripture. Maybe we should view things a little differently.

Some of the amazing things that are happening everyday in this city cause me to smile. I’m privileged to live here – it’s a great city. All too often the headlines major on the terrors of city life but if you read the small print ‘good news’ stories are happening everyday.

The business and investment world is recognising this city, the media is turning its attention a little and the church is also looking at us.

This summer hundreds, no thousands of people from across the UK will be coming to Stoke on Trent for events, concerts and programmes hosted by churches and organisations in this city.

There are people in the church that I lead moving their careers, families and homes from cities across the nation because they want to be in Stoke on Trent.

You know what else I learnt? It is more difficult to frown than to smile!

We use so many muscles when we frown that it actually causes our face to ache. We all know a smile goes a long way to cheering up our day. And, it is easy to do.

I honestly believe that we, the residents of Stoke on Trent, need to smile a little more. Things are good, real good.

Yes there is plenty of ‘stuff’ that we can moan about but there is far more that can cause us to smile.

We would rather live in Stoke on Trent than anywhere else. We love Stoke.

Look up, look out and begin to see the great things that are happening around us. We can choose to change our disposition. Life in Stoke on Trent is great!

Smile.

 

James Galloway is the senior Pastor at Bethel City Church and his views are his own.

 

becoming Bethel City Church

The greatest crime in the 21st century is identity fraud.

It is amazing to think that with all the painful images that we relate to crime the one that is doing the most damage; costing the most to deal with; creating the biggest headache is about your image and identity.

With all the things that one could steal, an identity, you’d think, wouldn’t be high on the agenda – but it is in the 21st century.

Throughout scripture, names and identities play a huge role.

A name is not merely a tag that others call you. A name is about who you are.

Isaac, in all the pain of his birth was prophetically call ‘laughter’.

For God our identity is more than a tag, it’s about who we are.

It’s interesting to see that identity fraud is the biggest crime in the 21st century when church seems to, not had it’s identity stolen, but we have simply lost it!

We recently changed our name. We are now known as Bethel City Church – the church where the bounce is in the house!

We are now becoming Bethel City Church!

On Sunday I saw Bethel City Church for the first time. We are becoming Bethel City Church!

The bounce is in the house. This is most definately NOT the place for the sour face!

Bethel City Church is being birthed. Bethel City Church is being formed right before our eyes.

We are breaking through with a great sense of Jesus building His church.

Loves. Inspires. The Church we are building..

Dear Pastor James,

 

After my experience with you last Sunday, I thought I should write and inform you.

 

Last Sunday was my first time in church for many years. I don’t know why I came. I just knew I had to be there.

 

As I drove in the car park and the man directed me as to where to park; the welcome he gave me and then the welcome I received at the door I began to wonder if they knew that I was coming here even before I did. It was as if they were prepared for my arrival.

 

The people that welcomed me talked about where I could find the toilet and asked if I would like a coffee. I was too nervous so said “no thank you”.

 

They were cool with this and actually it made me feel more at ease.

 

They walked in with me to the auditorium and directed me as to where to sit. I felt really important. I had only just arrived and received more in my arrival than I ever knew I could in church. I think I made a good impression on them – they liked me!

 

One of the stewards, just before the service was to start, sat in front of me. He turned to ask if I was ok. He remembered my name. He introduced his girlfriend to me, I think his name was Mike (small chap with a moustache).

 

Then a group of musicians got up and the music started. WOW! I have been to many concerts and this music was good. Please tell them so! However it was more than that. I saw how people responded. They weren’t singing hymns. I looked it up on the internet and learnt that they were singing ‘love songs’. It was the most powerful thing I have ever heard.

 

I began to smile as people jumped. They called it dancing or bouncing. I’m not able to dance but I can bounce. I did once. It felt good!

 

On tv, church has a real issue about money, but when it came time for the offering there was no pressure and what was said from the front made sense.

 

Then you got up to speak (I think it was you). You talked about being ‘awesome’. You talked about being a princess. You talked about church being unstoppable. I have never heard such stuff. You talked as if you had been rooting through my inbox or talking to my boyfriend.

 

You talked about Jesus and it was so passionate.

 

You talked about becoming a Christian; you made it sound like the most amazing thing on the planet.

 

As a left people even made me feel special, I had that many goodbyes’ I smiled in the car on the way home and thought ‘they like me!’

 

By the way, as I left a lady said, ‘see you in church next week’. I replied ‘Yes, Yes you will.’

Yours Sincerely

 

…

More Seats Vicar!

Hey, what do we do about negative stereotypes?

My answer is do our best to do the opposite so that ‘new’ types can be birthed.

For instance, Christians are hypocrites – then be blameless and live without reproach. Or how about Church being about one day a week – then become a Church that never sleeps, serving the needs of the community and city 24/7.

How about Church being small, old and diminishing – then be BIG, young & extravagant.

Acts 2 says ‘People in general liked what they saw. Everyday their numbers grew as God added those who were saved’.

We have just added 2 more sections of seating to our main auditorium as we continue to grow. Our numbers do actually demonstrate that we are growing daily and Bethel City Church is thriving.

Our Sunday City Gathering is fast chasing 300 in attendance and Kid’s Church is booming also.

We are demolishing the false paradigm that says church is peripheral and retiring.

Sorry – Jesus says ‘I will build my church’.

This thing called ‘CHURCH’ is awesome and is something that Jesus is committed to.

No wonder we’re bouncing!

volunteer and paid staff

I’m in the privileged position of recruiting our next Bethel City Church staff member.

‘Steffy’ is awesome!

She begins week Monday and we know that her gifting and abililty will enhance life here at Bethel City Church.

At present I am spending time evaluating our working practice. We know have 9 full time paid staff positions and 12 voluntary staff.

These people are brilliant. Often we consider church activity to be restricted to Sunday morning. Not here!

It’s a hive of activity that continues to grow.

Recently we took on an orphanage, humanitarian effort and a church planting initiaitive in Romania. The 2 guys that run this work so hard.

I am so blessed to work as part of such a great team.

Love you guys!