Chris Lane: Ordinary Miracles; Mess, Meals, and Meeting Jesus in unexpected places. Instant Apostle Books, Watford. £8.99
This book is Chris Lane’s story of being called to plant a church on the notorious Langworthy Estate in Salford. I have never been to Langworthy but have a member of my congregation who came from there and left over 60 years ago. It was nice then perhaps even up-market, but it has changed dramatically. In part, a place of boarded up houses and burnt out cars!
This book is a very accessible account of what goes on and the attempts to minister there. It is truly uplifting and inspiring. It is testimony really but has some real nuggets of theology too. For instance, there is the realization that they are not to taking Jesus into Langworthy, “Jesus was already in Langworthy … he was already at work in people’s lives … instead of us taking Jesus into the estate he was already there calling us to move in and join what he was doing(p35).
How it all has enfolded is told with honesty and candour. The work is not neat but messy and chaotic. The first meeting they had included a loud drunk lady who kept heckling and a toddler running around repeating the “F – word”!! As Chris says, it is neat and tidy in a graveyard but messy in a nursery and we prefer the nursery every time. There are occurrences that are not commonplace in many churches – such as standing outside Greggs asking if they can pray for folk. And there are prophecies and occasions when people are healed but it is all told with humility. In fact, there is a chapter on Greatness and how the world would see it and how Jesus advocates servanthood. There is a chapter on stability. Chris has been there for 18 years and other members a similar time. This suggests that Ministering requires a longer stay but more help against burnout and staleness. There is also emphasis on meals something that was at the heart of Jesus’s ministry. This is not a book about happy-endings. Some people have chaotic lives and though helped and nurtured are too often sucked back into the lifestyle that they left behind.
The concluding chapter gives a helpful view of a typical week on Langworthy and the differing events and happenings that the church is involved in. This is not a difficult book to read but it is full of challenge and inspiration. We must not forget our brothers and sisters living on so-called “sink estates” and other difficult and dangerous places. As well as through our prayers, there ought to be more ways of linking up and supporting such work.
Revd. Maurice Stafford (Volunteer Librarian UTU)
Please contact UTU Office if you would like to borrow this book. We are happy to post books out for a contribution to cover the cost.