CF – So what have you been up to Chris?
CH – preparing Alpha, preparing sermons, leading and speaking at four services on Sunday, driving my daughter to Canterbury and carving out time to pray.
CF – What gets you out of bed in the morning?
CH – I love seeing people come to faith in Jesus, realising that God has gifted them to take a role in His Kingdom and encouraging people to practice and develop those gifts in the church.
CF – Lovely summary. How was your Christmas? Highlights?
CH – It was very family oriented – all three children were with us – the highlights were watching the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to find Them” in Bury, and spending New Year’s Eve with friends.
CF – Not sure why anybody would want to go beast hunting in Bury, but hey. This is a toughie so sorry. Is it true that you leave your dirty socks lying around on the floor?
CH – Nope – I value my relationship with Debbie far too highly to take that risk!!!
CF – Very diplomatic. What is your favourite book from the Bible and why?
CH – I love John – he brings to life the drama, the passion, the energy of the gospel.
CF – Mine too. It just seems to manifest beauty, power and truth. And what is your favourite verse?
CH – Isaiah 40:31
“but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
CF – Is it true you never win an argument with your children?
CH – Yes. These days – it was different before they went to primary school!
CF – I know the feeling! Much has been made of 2016 as a year of shocks – BREXIT, Trump in particular. Thoughts?
CH – The world seems like a much more divided and unloving place after Brexit and Trump. I want to play my part in including everyone in God’s family – the safest but most audacious family in the world. I’m looking forward to Michelle Obama’s election as president in 2020.
CF – I agree. Should she stand, I hope it doesn’t go the same way as Hillary!
Choose one of two – hotel or camping; summer or winter; Italian or French cuisine; Bach or Wagner; Blue or Boyzone?
CH – Hotel, Summer, French Cuisine, Bach, Blue (but only in preference to Boyzone!)
CF – I love Bach, especially Jesu Joy of Our Desiring. You speak passionately about reaching out, stretching ourselves and moving out of our comfort zone. How can we best achieve this?
CH – By taking care every day of our relationship with Jesus. Spending time with him so that he can fill us with his love, his Spirit, his vision, his reassurance, his healing….. fill to overflowing – so that we can then bring that to all those we engage with during our days.
CF – What do you love about your job and what do you find less enjoyable and why?
CH – I love developing people – I love building partnerships with complementary organisations – schools, councils, Cap etc – I love listening to other Christian leaders – McManus, Hybels, Gumbel, Ortberg – for inspiration – I love preaching and leading – I love sitting down with one person to listen and pray and to walk with someone on their journey of faith. I really don’t like committees, institutions – did I say committees? I’m a really bad choice for school governor.
CF – I bet you don’t miss the City!! What do you feel God has gifted you to do in His Church?
CH - Well I’m a bit of an all-rounder really – reasonable at lots of things – but not outstanding at anything. However, I do feel my main gifting is to help people find faith, find their place in the family of God, find their gifting and encourage them to get on with it – within the context of the church and our community.
CF - How do you express that at St Mary’s?
CH - Well its difficult sometimes – because there is a lot of day-to-day work that needs to be
done – just to keep the kettle boiling – but I do try to spend as much time as possible face-to-
face with people.
CF - How do you feel about the impact it makes?
CH - I just love it when lives are transformed by God and if I get to play a very small part in that I’m as happy as!
CF - Would you recommend others doing try this particular role?
CH - We send a steady stream of people to discern their vocation – lay and ordained – and I
always love having those conversations.
CF – Sum yourself up in fewer than 20 words
CH – I want to change the world – but by encouraging not controlling – I am an optimist and I look for people to partner with on the journey. (and I can’t count to 20).
CF – Thank-you for time
CH – preparing Alpha, preparing sermons, leading and speaking at four services on Sunday, driving my daughter to Canterbury and carving out time to pray.
CF – What gets you out of bed in the morning?
CH – I love seeing people come to faith in Jesus, realising that God has gifted them to take a role in His Kingdom and encouraging people to practice and develop those gifts in the church.
CF – Lovely summary. How was your Christmas? Highlights?
CH – It was very family oriented – all three children were with us – the highlights were watching the film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to find Them” in Bury, and spending New Year’s Eve with friends.
CF – Not sure why anybody would want to go beast hunting in Bury, but hey. This is a toughie so sorry. Is it true that you leave your dirty socks lying around on the floor?
CH – Nope – I value my relationship with Debbie far too highly to take that risk!!!
CF – Very diplomatic. What is your favourite book from the Bible and why?
CH – I love John – he brings to life the drama, the passion, the energy of the gospel.
CF – Mine too. It just seems to manifest beauty, power and truth. And what is your favourite verse?
CH – Isaiah 40:31
“but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
CF – Is it true you never win an argument with your children?
CH – Yes. These days – it was different before they went to primary school!
CF – I know the feeling! Much has been made of 2016 as a year of shocks – BREXIT, Trump in particular. Thoughts?
CH – The world seems like a much more divided and unloving place after Brexit and Trump. I want to play my part in including everyone in God’s family – the safest but most audacious family in the world. I’m looking forward to Michelle Obama’s election as president in 2020.
CF – I agree. Should she stand, I hope it doesn’t go the same way as Hillary!
Choose one of two – hotel or camping; summer or winter; Italian or French cuisine; Bach or Wagner; Blue or Boyzone?
CH – Hotel, Summer, French Cuisine, Bach, Blue (but only in preference to Boyzone!)
CF – I love Bach, especially Jesu Joy of Our Desiring. You speak passionately about reaching out, stretching ourselves and moving out of our comfort zone. How can we best achieve this?
CH – By taking care every day of our relationship with Jesus. Spending time with him so that he can fill us with his love, his Spirit, his vision, his reassurance, his healing….. fill to overflowing – so that we can then bring that to all those we engage with during our days.
CF – What do you love about your job and what do you find less enjoyable and why?
CH – I love developing people – I love building partnerships with complementary organisations – schools, councils, Cap etc – I love listening to other Christian leaders – McManus, Hybels, Gumbel, Ortberg – for inspiration – I love preaching and leading – I love sitting down with one person to listen and pray and to walk with someone on their journey of faith. I really don’t like committees, institutions – did I say committees? I’m a really bad choice for school governor.
CF – I bet you don’t miss the City!! What do you feel God has gifted you to do in His Church?
CH - Well I’m a bit of an all-rounder really – reasonable at lots of things – but not outstanding at anything. However, I do feel my main gifting is to help people find faith, find their place in the family of God, find their gifting and encourage them to get on with it – within the context of the church and our community.
CF - How do you express that at St Mary’s?
CH - Well its difficult sometimes – because there is a lot of day-to-day work that needs to be
done – just to keep the kettle boiling – but I do try to spend as much time as possible face-to-
face with people.
CF - How do you feel about the impact it makes?
CH - I just love it when lives are transformed by God and if I get to play a very small part in that I’m as happy as!
CF - Would you recommend others doing try this particular role?
CH - We send a steady stream of people to discern their vocation – lay and ordained – and I
always love having those conversations.
CF – Sum yourself up in fewer than 20 words
CH – I want to change the world – but by encouraging not controlling – I am an optimist and I look for people to partner with on the journey. (and I can’t count to 20).
CF – Thank-you for time