So here we are in the middle of a rather damp field in Kent, under an overcast sky, for our annual New Wine experience. However, the problem I’m facing at the moment isn’t the weather nor the lack of internet but this keyboard which keeps acting up - and so I’m not sure if I will be able to complete this blog!
It has a continual urge to add as many s’s as possible, like thissssssss. Even sssso I will have a go, even though I have to re type nearly every word. This bluetooth keyboard seems to have a life of its own. And so it’s taking me forever just to reach this second paragraph. I’m tempted to say to it: “Well, just write your own blog then!”
Sssssso why are we here?
The great things about New Wine is that is gives us a sense of scale, the wonder of worshipping Jesus with several thousand fellow disciples and learning with them how to follow him more closely. For many of us our experience of worship is limited to around 50 or so, sometimes more but often less, even rattling around in a big building.
But of course, the local congregation is at the heart of our Christian faith. We will know most of our fellow members, many in some depth. This allows genuine fellowship, something which God has designed us for and for which our hearts reach out. This allows accountability, even more so as safeguarding becomes so important (and about time too).
We are answerable to one another. As the apostle Paul writes “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
Moreover the local congregation is ideally placed for service, an active engagement to serve our local community invariably acting as yeast, as a ginger group. For often there is no other grouping which can come together to meet a particular need. I only learned this week, for example, that most food banks are run by churches.
So the congregation is essential for discipleship - but it cannot cover all the ground. There will be gaps of all kinds, in ministries, in resources and types of people - age, culture, ethnic.
This is where New Wine and other large-scale celebrations come in, in their sheer size. In a word they offer economies of scale. No way any church can offer the scale and quality which the large gathering can provide. For a start the worship experience is very different as several thousand join voice in worship.
We benefit from a whole range of speakers covering a wide spectrum of topics. Only last night for our main Arena meeting we had a remarkable speaker, Damilola Makinde, I assume from the English Nigerian community. Both her content and her delivery style I found entirely unique - and totally challenging.
For you meet all sorts of disciple, people you wouldn’t normally bump into in West Lancashire. In the worship band, a whole mix of people and types reflecting our multi-cultural society. So many more black musicians, for example.
And given the size of New Wine, 5000 people this week, 7000 last week, you can get lost in the crowd -which can be an advantage if you need anonymity for a particular issue to be addressed. Sometimes we feel more comfortable if no one knows us!
I think it was missiologist Peter Wagner who argued that to grow as a Christian we need three types of groups: cell, congregation and celebration - different sizes each with their own dynamic. The cell is the house group or equivalent - again hugely important for our spiritual development. Incidentally, I met Jacqui through the house group at her house.
All - cell, congregation and celebration are under pressure, especially since the pandemic. But it is the celebration ministry most under pressure. Certainly New Wine - and the various equivalents, like Spring Harvest - are facing strong head winds. I am continually meeting people wary of crowds, of large gatherings. Also we have lost our rhythm.
Furthermore, it didn’t help that the East of England showground in Peterborough, where New Wine planned to settle, suddenly pulled the plug soon after the meeting last year. They wanted to sell land for housing. This meant that the only showground New Wine could book last minute was in Kent, hardly a central location. The upside is that I can see Eurostar trains travelling at 186 mph on HS1, just down the road.
Moreover, coming to New Wine and the like can be expensive, both in finance and in time taken out of annual leave - but I would argue that it is essential if we are to thrive as disciples of Jesus. And if expensive, we can legitimately ask God for help! Our Heavenly Father delights to bless his children.
So how about it?