Messy Church Around the World Part I

Messy Church Leaders of the World Part I

The official MCIC 22 conference ended on Saturday afternoon May 22^nd when the majority of the 150 or so participants packed up and headed up. The fun did not end though for a group of about 20 Messy Church (MC)international leaders. These extra 48 hours together provided a great opportunity to learn how the Spirit of God is moving in, through and beyond these leaders. 

This month, rather than focusing on one MC in the USA, we are focusing on our global partners around the world. Today we focus on the teams from the UK, global ‘home’ for MC as well as the teams from Australia and New Zealand, who joined the international days via zoom links.

Messy Church UK/ Bible Reading Fellowship

Meet the Team

Our international leaders’ summit was led by the MC team of Bible Reading Fellowship. Three of the four team members are new to their role since the last MCIC and two of them, started their roles within the past year.  Aike Kennett-Brown, MC leader, Jane Butler, MC Training and Development Lead, Sally O’Hare, MC Volunteer Coordinator and Canon Richard Fisher, Chief Executive of Bible Reading Fellowship.

a few Highlights from Messy Church UK

• A planned team retreat in June
• Move to ten focused volunteer teams rather than regional coordinators that occurred in January 2021. This has allowed volunteers to use their specific gifts and talents in an area they enjoy (Learn More Here)
• The four 90- minute webcasted Masterclasses that are resonating with MC leaders. 1) Starting MC, 2) Re-imagining MC for context, 3) Discipleship in MC, and 4) Baptism and Communion in MC
• The 63 new MC in the UK since January 2021 in the midst of a several month projects up updating with current information all of the MC on their web directory

Hold Messy Church UK in Prayer

• Discernment as they revision the Get Messy publication perhaps moving to more downloadable material that is able to respond to current events
• Intentional focus on diversity of leaders and teams
• Leadership planning for Messy young leaders, discipleship and the international movement of Messy Church
• Some rest after a busy several months preparing for the MCIC

Messy Church Australia

Meet the Team

The team from Australia zoomed in from a Messy Motivation gathering in Western Australia. At the gathering they were able to watch the bible studies provided by our plenary speaker Dr. Paula Gooder.  The team of Chris Barnett, Sandy Brodine, Jonathon and Katrina Holgate, Greg Ross and Stacy Wilson began their presentation with a land acknowledgment of the indigenous people of Australia. Australia is a vast country so being able to spend a few days together was renewing and energizing for the group.

a few highlights from Australia

• Messy Church is making a difference in individual lives and it is a receiving and giving ministry. At a local Messy Church, a mother who appreciated the prayers for her Cancer diagnosis at the Messy Church, asked if she could provide a meal. Rather than bringing it, they all worked together to make sushi at the Messy Church. It was a time of healing for all
• A recently completed National Church life Survey that helps to Map the Landscape of Messy Church
• The growth of Messy Minecraft via zoom over the time of the pandemic
• Messy Discipleship zoom huddles.
• The team asked the question of the other leaders of ways that we can collaborate together

Hold Messy Church Australia in Prayer

• Prayers for continued collaboration with indigenous leaders of Australia in Messy Church
• To listen closely to one another as they acknowledge the historical role of institutional church in removal of indigenous children
• Prayers for finding ways to collaborate with one another and with other international leaders

Messy Church New Zealand

Meet the team

Jocelyn Czerwonka and Richard Stevens joined us via zoom from their homes in New Zealand. Jocelyn served on the international planning team for MCIC and Richard, Jocelyn and Carrole Lewis led a workshop at the conference titled “We all Belong”.  The workshop examined the values of belonging and connecting to a local Messy Church, team or regional, national or international team.  How do we celebrate our differences and gain strength and wisdom from each other?

A few highlights from new Zealand

• New Zealand hosted two national church conferences just prior to the pandemic shut down. Greg Ross from Australia and Dr Dave Gregory from the UK presented at the conferences and everyone was inspired and also happy that everyone made it home before shutdown
• There has been changes to the national team as Jocelyn has retired from her role with Messy Church in the Anglican Church
• The team has viewed these past two years as preparing the soil and can see that the seeds that were planted at the February 2020 conference are now beginning to grow

Hold Messy Church New Zealand in prayer

• Prayers as the continue to work on a constitution/ by laws for a national Messy Church New Zealand team
• Prayers as they continue to mentor new leadership
• Prayers of thanks for God’s help in building a firm foundation for what comes next in Messy Church New Zealand

Prayer

Come Holy Spirit, continue to pour out your power on all of the Messy Church leaders from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. We give you thanks for these servants who bring their experience, wisdom, strength and love of Christ to their work of leading Messy Churches in their countries.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.