I have in the course of my ministry a number of hard conversations. Sometimes they are in surprising places. The best of them are completely unexpected.

Yesterday afternoon, I was talking with someone who does not now attend church regularly about how my efforts, sometimes paltry, to lead the churches, which I serve, into growth.

‘The problem for you’, he or she said, ‘is that you do not realise how critical things are and you seem to have forgotten that the church is supposed to be full of good news?’

The person then added, ‘you are starting the long way round’

I have been pondering about what that might mean.

Church, community, mission, people are not meant to be easy. They are all inherently a bit messy.

Sometimes in my ministry, I do forget what I am meant to be about. That is to say, a person of good news, sharing that the Jesus I believe in has indeed conquered death.

And the churches I serve…. maybe we have forgotten that we are meant to be places of healing and grace… and much more than imitations of other clubs yet with a tower or spired roof