A Vision for the Valleys

When we planted Hill City Church almost 5 years ago, our passion was to be a church plant that plants churches. In my experience churches that aren’t committed to gospel expansion quickly move into consolidation mode (and consolidation is just another word for stagnation) Therefore, it was crucial that we established church planting as part of our DNA right from the off. A couple of years ago we identified nearby Garndiffaith as the first place we were going to plant and things are now moving forward with that vision at a rate of knots (more about that in another post!)

Church Clothes

Regular readers of the rant know that I love rap, especially when it’s God-honouring, Christ-exalting…and bangin’!! If you don’t like rap then this post will almost certainly do your nut in and you probably want to stop reading now!

OK, if you’re still with me, I’ll make it simple:

YOU NEED TO GO DOWNLOAD LECRAE’S BRAND NEW MIXTAPE ‘CHURCH CLOTHES’ NOW!!!

If you’re not familiar with Lecrae you can check out his profile here. You can also watch a short video of his testimony here. Lecrae is one of the most high profile and well respected Christian rappers out there and each time he records a new album it seems to push the bar musically and lyrically and is always well worth the price tag. Which is why ‘Church Clothes’ is such a gift cos it’s an 18 track mixtape that’s COMPLETELY FREE to download! However, unlike his previous releases Church Clothes is clearly not aimed at the ‘safe’ target Christian market, but rather it’s aim is reaching out to those without Christ, and I think that’s why I love it. It’s gritty, raw, uncompromising and uncomfortable, but never gratuitously or unnecessarily. Some of the tracks literally put a lump in my throat, especially the penultimate track ‘Sacrifice’. The title track is pretty immense too (check out the video below!)

Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give Church Clothes is that it really stirred up my passion for reaching the lost. Furthermore it inspired me to start writing lyrics again. I’m kind of in the middle of a mixtape project myself but haven’t written anything for almost 9 months. But last night, I finally put pen to paper again and it felt good!

Anyway, back to Church Clothes – don’t take my word for it, go download it and see for yourself. You can get it here.

Blessinz!

Ignite Hope 2012

Really excited because today’s the day that Ignite Hope 2012 kicks off!

Ignite Hope is a youth-led initiative that runs from 4th-7th May. Essentially Ignite Hope is all about demonstrating and proclaiming hope to communities across South Wales in Cardiff, Newport, the valleys and the Vale.

What that’s going to look like on the ground is 800 young people putting the love of Jesus on display by dishing out an unfathomable amount of social action, acts of mercy, community outreach events and such like. But be in no doubt, the gospel is at the heart of it all, with Bible teaching sessions each morning and gospel preaching services in the mahoosive marquee located at the Hope village in Sophia Gardens. We are trusting that God is going to save mightily this weekend as many are exposed to the power of the gospel in both Word and deed.

You can find out more about Ignite Hope 2012 here.

I’m posting this to ask you to pray. My role this weekend is to teach all of the morning sessions at the Valley hub in Blackwood and also preaching the gospel at the main event in the marquee on Saturday evening. We’re also hoping to bring a couple of car-fulls of Trevethin Young People on the Monday evening too.

I’d be so grateful if you’d pray for all of this with us.

As you could probably imagine, an event like this is not cheap. If you would like to stand with Ignite and bless Ignite Hope financially, you can do so here. Your support would be gratefully received.

May God be glorified across South Wales this weekend!

The Parable of Pip the Pigeon

This is the parable of Pip the Pigeon.

It’s a true story that occurred last Sunday.

I had just enjoyed a fantastic time with my Hill City Church family at our Sunday morning gathering at Cold Barn Farm. The venue was packed, we had a load of new visitors (including a honey-mooning couple – cos there’s nowhere more romantic than Trevethin!) The time of sung worship was a very special time and I really knew God’s help as I preached. As usual the service was followed by great fellowship and laughter, and I was also approached by a lady who wants to get baptised – buzzin! However, as people went home full of the Word and good coffee, God still had one last message that he wanted to convey to me, and it came from the most unlikely source…

Sunday’s Coming

I know this video isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea…but I though it was EPIC!

Hope you do to.

JESUS IS ALIVE!!

Happy Easter.

My Little Girl and the Gospel Fan

Being a dad is one of the greatest joys of my life. Me and Michelle were commenting the other day how incredibly different all 4 of our kids are – even the twins! Each has their own unique little personality. Each has their own skills and quirks – Elen is compassionate and creative, Josiah is a fearless pioneer, Ezra is strong and reassuring, and Anastasia is irresistibly fun. Each of them is so special and it’s a joy to see them growing into the people that God has created them to be.

However, the greatest privilege that I have as a dad is seeking to explain and exemplify the gospel to them. Few things float my boat like hearing them talk about Jesus, spontaneously singing God-songs or independently requesting that we pray or thank God for stuff like trees and the moon. They’re precious moments that bless my heart, build my faith and make me thankful that prayers are being answered and gospel seeds are taking root.

By God’s grace, after church on Sunday I got to enjoy another one of those moments.

#ichoosejoy

This last week has been a tough time for me personally. The reason is largely down to the burden of being a pastor – caring about people, carrying their cares and devastated by the thought of some shipwrecking their faith. I wouldn’t say I’ve been depressed (I know many people who have been clinically depressed and my experience has been nothing like as a tough as theirs) but I have been feeling the strain. It all came to a head yesterday when I recognised that if I was to experience the joy that I know is rightfully mine in Christ, I was going to have to fight for it.

So I started fighting.

What followed was an avalanche of thoughts, truths and gospel nuggets that lifted my spirit and put a spring back in my step. If you follow me on Twitter you will no doubt have been bombarded by them yesterday. If not, I’ve included them below.

If you’re battling for joy right now, I hope they help.

May the God of all joy encourage your hearts!

Feel totally battered, bamboozled + overwhelmed right now, but I refuse to be defeated or destroyed. #ichoosejoy

#ichoosejoy because despite what my circumstances tell me, my God is with me and He is for me.

#ichoosejoy because despite what my emotions tell me, I know that God loves me unconditionally forever. The cross proves this!!

#ichoosejoy because the blood of Christ has covered all my sin, all my chains have been broken, my past is dealt with + my future is secure!

#ichoosejoy because I was once dead but now I’m alive. The empty grave of Jesus confirms this!

#ichoosejoy because I have been commissioned by the King of kings to be part of His divine salvation master plan for the world. That’s epic!

#ichoosejoy because to suffer with Christ is infinitely better than to prosper without Him!

#ichoosejoy because this sick + sin-scarred world is not my home, my citizenship is in heaven!

#ichoosejoy because I know that God is in control, He alone knows what’s best and He only ever does what is good, right and just.

#ichoosejoy because this light momentary affliction is preparing for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison! 2Cor4:17 #BANG!!

#ichoosejoy because the things that seek to distract me to despair are shallow + temporary, while the root of my joy is eternally deep!

#ichoosejoy because my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

#ichoosejoy because, by God’s grace, I can!

#ichoosejoy because my identity, security + acceptance are not based on my performance as a Christian, but on the finished work of Christ!

#ichoosejoy because though I’m rejected by men I will NEVER be forsaken by my God!!

#ichoosejoy because I have a Great High Priest who loves me, who sympathises with my weakness + who has more than enough grace to help me!

#ichoosejoy because my weakness is the perfect platform for God to put His power on display.

Pure Passion 2012

Several years ago I was chatting to my good friend, Tim Bannister, and we both agreed that the cross of Jesus is epic! We also agreed that Good Friday is a day that demands both sober meditation, but also joy-filled celebration as we consider all that Jesus did on our behalf on Calvary. Thus Pure Passion was born.

For the last few years we have run Pure Passon – a Good Friday event that is 100% about making much of Jesus and rejoicing in the grace of His cross. The format is simple – we sing worship, I preach the gospel, we take communion. Every year loads come and meet with God and it’s always a phenomenal time of grace.

Pure Passion this year is once again being held 7pm at Woodville Christian Centre, Cathays, Cardiff. It’s completely free and open to all.

We’d love to see you there!

Blessinz.

Inclusive Exclusivism: Christ for all Contexts

Really excited about the forthcoming Acts 29 Western Europe Boot Camp, taking place in London 24th-25th April.

The theme for the 2 day conference is ‘Inclusive Exclusivism: Christ for all Contexts’ and has as it’s main speakers J D Greear (Lead Pastor at The Summit Church, North Carolina), Mike Cosper (Pastor of Worship & Arts, Sojourn, Louisville) and my good friend Steve Timmis (Director of Acts29 Western Europe). I’m excited to learn from these godly men about church planting in challenging contexts such as those we are confronted with in Western Europe. I’m also privileged to be part of the assessment process for men who are looking to pursue church planting with Acts 29 Western Europe.

However, I’m hoping that I’m not going to be the only Welshman in attendance as I’d love to organise a road-trip from South Wales for any young men with a passion for planting churches in our blessed land! It might well involve sleeping on floors, but it’ll also involve quality gospel chanter, crate-loads of banter and hopefully a curry too – doesn’t get much better than that!!

If you’re interested, check out the Boot Camp bookings page for more info and hit me up if the road trip appeals to you!

Blessinz.

Dai

Acts 29 Western Europe Interview

Check out this brief interview I recorded at a recent gathering of Acts 29 Western Europe church planters: