Over the weekend my wife Gill and I cooked a Chinese meal for Lois Richards and Paul and Amy Read.Paul spent 18 months working as an intern for Ignite about 4 years ago, and Lois spent a year with us about 3 years ago. Both of their stories are featured in 'Ignite- God's Purpose for this Generation' and the meal was the first time for ages that we had been able to catch up.
Paul is now happily married to Amy, he works in a managerial position in a local finance company, and along with Amy he runs a Sunday night youth group at his church. He's also the lead vocalist in our Ignite worship band and leads worship at our "Igniting a Passion" events.
Lois has recently returned from the Toronto Airport Church in Canada, where she was firstly a student on their school of ministry, and then later a small group leader. Whilst out there, Lois met a Brazilian called Junior and love is in the air! She's got plenty of God-given dreams for the future.
I get a real buzz out working with young adults and seeing them grow and develop, but often it's very hard to release them onto other things. Usually, they are so gifted and have so much potential that we'd like to keep them all for Ignite, but that's not always possible. Our interns in Ignite stay the same age each year, but I'm getting older so that doesn't help either.
Two other people featured in the first Ignite book are also really flourishing: Matt Gregor is the youth pastor at City Temple in Cardiff, and Pete Joyce is a teaching assistant and one-to-one mentor at the Bishop of Llandaff High School in Cardiff.
Over a delightful meal of blackbean chicken and hoisin plum pork, it was great to listen to Lois, Paul and Amy, and to see their passion for serving God burning strong. I felt privileged to have played a small part in 'fanning into flame the gift of God' that is in them.
God's words
- 1Chr. 16:31Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
CITY CHURCH CARDIFF, ELIM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH>
- CITY TEMPLE CHURCH CARDIFF
I'm on the pastoral team of this thriving multi-cultural Elim Pentecostal Church in the heart of Cardiff- the capital city of Wales.
THIRD DAY
- THIRD DAY
From 2001-2016 I spent part of my year on the road as pastor to the Christian rock band Third Day.
WALESWIDE
- WALESWIDE
I am part of the church planting and strengthening ministry Waleswide, alongside leaders from across the evangelical spectrum and geographical spread of the nation.
ELIM WALES
- ELIM INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
Both personally and in my local church role I am pleased to stand with our Elim Missions Dept. - ELIM WALES
I spend part of my time as the regional co-ordinator for Elim in Wales-working with churches and leaders.
GATEWAY MINISTRIES/IGNITE INDIA
- GATEWAY MINISTRIES/IGNITE INDIA
Lots going on in and around Rajahmundry, India- been involved in this work since 2005.
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05/22/2006
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MY PUBLICATIONS
- Lessons From The Road by Nigel James and Third Day.
- Ignite: God's Purpose for This Generation (Paperback) by Nigel James.
- Seven Ways to Ignite Your Life: Life Lessons from 1 Samuel (Paperback) by Nigel James
- Seven Myths of Youth Ministry: How to Re-Ignite Your Passion (Paperback) by Nigel James, Gary Smith
- Seven Ways to Ignite Outrageous Prayer (Paperback) by Carl Brettle, Nigel James
Some of my Sermons
- A Friend Called Grace
- Word and Spirit
- Can We Fix it? Yes We Can?
- I am the Light of the World
- I am the True Vine
- God and the Generations.
- Growing in Grace-Less judgment, more forgiveness, more thankfulness.
- Equipping the Saints-5 fold ministry.
- Led by the Spirit-Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus.
- Unnamed people are vital-the story of Cornelius.
- The Persecuted Church-Stephen the martyr.
- What's the point of Communion?
- Building a healthy future-by putting the right foundations down now.
- Incarnation-short Christmas message.
- Confidence in Uncertain Times.
- Anointed by the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit-Our director of missions.
- Burden bearers or burden makers?
- Why should I be baptized?
- From the Encounter to the Call.
- Come Over Here And Help Us- The Macedonian Call.
- Rock of Ages.
- People of the Cross- the distinctives of discipleship.
- Samuel-Listen to the Voice of God.
- Kingdom Priorities-Money, Time, and Talents.
- Abraham-Kids, Covenants and Countries.
- Gifted to Lead and Train others.
- Living Tough when things get Rough.
So great to hear about the old gang...I can practically taste the Chinese food!
Keep doing what you do - investing and releasing. We appreciate it so much!
Posted by: Naomi Hill | 05/22/2006 at 03:16 PM
Nice one Nigel - I still think about that night you chatted about legacy to the SoulTrip team at our house.
I think in ministry in order not to get disillusioned you have to take the long term view.
Isn't it great when you get to see fruit in those you have been sharing with. One conversation like that covers over a lot of "seemingly mediocrity" in ministry!
Posted by: Andrew J. Booth | 05/25/2006 at 02:53 PM
Nigel James - thanks for the shout out, I can safely say i would not be the man i am today if it wasn't for friends and role models like your good self. You never can tell - maybee we will be the new Gary and Nigel!
Posted by: Pete Joyce | 06/03/2006 at 07:10 PM