Jesus taught us to be peace-makers, who pray for our enemies. But what does that mean when “the enemy” is someone you constantly rub shoulders with? Hostility from your family, your workmates, or your neighbours, can leave you feeling blocked at every turn - even under siege. Some people can appear totally unreasonable, wearing you down with a persistently negative attitude. It’s hard then not to be sucked into a downward spiral of despair, blame, recrimination or counter-attack.

It sounds so exciting and gritty, moving to the city and exploring how to be church. Working with people from all over the world, with experiences so far removed from our own life experiences. Finding God at work amongst the tower blocks, seeing people discover freedom and life. But what are the realities of Church planting in the inner city, what issues are to be faced if we engage fully in Urban Mission?

Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. Transforming Church Conflict: A Foundation Course for Senior Church Leaders is a new training course for those in positions of oversight in the church. Attend this training course if you want to:

• Develop new skills for handling conflict
• Give time to personal growth as part of a worshipping community
• Be part of a movement that is changing the culture of the church
• Help put the church’s energy to more creative use

The SPEAK Network hosts a warehouse gathering, creating a space to draw out the passion, vision and prophetic voice of our generation. A weekend of exploration of how our Jesus-centred spirituality leads us into radical prayer, creativity and action for justice.

Gareth Higgins writes: “Going to the cinema can be a spiritual experience akin to worship, which can inspire and convict as well as any sermon.” Discussing films, and the relation between films and theology, is all very good, but there is something magical, and potentially spiritual, about dimming the lights and watching films together before we move into discussion.

As Anabaptists we believe that God has created a wonderful world and that it is up to us to respect it and care for it. One practical way we can do this on a personal level is to consider how and where we obtain the foods that we eat.

Conflict is normal and inevitable – but Christians often feel ill-prepared to handle conflict in the church. Transforming Church Conflict: A Foundation Course for Leaders is a new training course intended for those in leadership positions in the church, and also for other Christians who want to deal better with conflict.

Attend this training course if you want to:
• Develop new skills for handling conflict
• Give time to personal growth as part of a worshipping community
• Be part of a movement that is changing the culture of the church

This course in Church Leadership and Family Systems at the London Mennonite Centre is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as mature leaders within their churches. It will provide a safe forum for processing challenging situations in ministry, while also facilitating reflection on a way of thinking about the human condition which has implications for all aspects of life. Following successful courses since 2005, Bridge Builders is pleased to continue to offer the course in 2009.

What is our response to a world in need and what is our ability to make a difference? How do we create a climate of change?

What can you do when a relationship between fellow Christians is strained? While you can pray for them, you may also be in a position to bring them together to try to overcome the tensions. If your training with Bridge Builders has given you an appetite for practical peace-making, and you want to be equipped to mediate between individuals, then the Mediating Interpersonal Conflicts course is for you.

Christians in Britain (and across western culture) are facing profound challenges and fresh opportunities. The long era of Christendom is coming to an end. We now live in a plural society, with multiple religious options alongside secular assumptions, in which Christianity has largely lost its position of dominance and privilege. Although we seem to be declining in numbers and influence, this new environment offers many new possibilities - if we have the courage and imagination to grasp them.

Crucible is a training programme for Christians with courage and imagination. It assumes: