New year, new yearning?

 

‘And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21 v 5 (ESV)

 

Welcome to this first newsletter of the new year and indeed the new decade, and may I take this opportunity to wish you a belated but nevertheless very happy new year. As ever, if there is any content you would like to see in our newsletters that is currently missing, then do get in touch– and please do invite others to sign up to receive our news. We hope you enjoy reading this month’s newsletter.

Reflecting

The start of the year provides a good time to both reflect both on what has passed, but also on what our plans might be for the months and year ahead. Often it is only when you stop and reflect that you realise all that has happened, how things have grown, and all that God is doing. Below are some highlights, which we thank God for:

• Growing our online social media community to over 5000
• Across radio and tv in 2019 we reached over 1.5 million people.
• In the Christian Media, we were featured on UCB Radio, Premier Radio, TWR Radio, and various written Christian publications.
• Faith in Later Life was also represented on Revelation TV with a feature interview by Gordon Pettie on the Church without Walls Programme.
• Across BBC Radio we had slots on over 15 different regional BBC radio stations across the nation.
• We had encouraging meetings with parliamentarians and senior government officials, sharing about our work.
• We featured at the Neighbourhood Prayer Network (NPN) 7th anniversary celebration at Lambeth Palace, where our strategic partnership was announced.
• We followed this by partnering with NPN on the first ever ‘Neighbour Sunday’ which saw around 450 UK Churches participating.
• In partnership with London City Mission we produced visiting cards based on the “I AM” sayings of Jesus.
• We grew our Church Champion network to across 37 counties in the UK, Wales, Scotland, Rep Ireland, and 11 countries further afield, including encouraging a church pastor in South Sudan who held a church conference focusing on older people.
• I had the opportunity to speak at the New Wine Christian conference as well as at multiple churches in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, London, Leicestershire and Loughborough.

 

Being a voice for change?

As we reflect on what we see God calling us into in the new year and even the new decade, do you have any new year yearnings? The Societal context across the next decade will see our older population continuing to grow, but what does that mean for Christians? In our January blog, author and cognitive behavioural therapist Louise Morse reflects on how Christians can “Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable”. (Proverbs 31). To read her blog, click here.

 

Parliamentary Reception

Following the calling of a General Election before Christmas, we rescheduled our planned November parliamentary celebration reception, and this will now take place on 13th February. This is a key event at which we will be updating on our work and casting the vision to Christian leaders, parliamentarians and others. Please pray the evening goes well.

 

Keswick

The Faith in the Second Half conference is now at half capacity, there is still time for you to book in though! Do have a look at the website for more information. We also have posters and postcards we can send you for your church if you would like to promote what will be an excellent four days.

 

Praying forward

Together we achieved much, by God’s grace and for His glory, last year. What does the Lord have planned for us this year? He knows. One thing we do know is that your support is critical to our mission. And whether you can support us financially or not, please would you commit to praying for us and our work? That would be such an encouragement, to know we are being held up in prayer as we start a new year.

 

Yours in Christ,

Carl Knightly
Chief Executive, Faith in Later Life