Anglican Church worth contending for

Revd Ben Topham from St George’s Stanford (Lincoln Diocese) celebrated his 42 birthday in Uganda. He was part of the SOMA UK teaching team speaking at the Diocesan Youth Convention. The convention was moved to the very start of January due to Presidential elections, but still saw thousands of young people gather and encounter God. Delegates were selected by their home church, with each one only allowed to send a handful each. Ben writes:

“I experienced a wonderful week of worship, prayer, teaching, ministry and evangelism where I saw first hand how the Lord blessed the work of South Rwenzori Diocesan Youth Conversion and in His mercy, used the SOMA team to bless brothers and sisters in Christ with his presence, peace and power. I myself benefitted from sitting under the ministry of other both from the SOMA team and the local team.

I learnt so much... that the Anglican Church is worth contending for. That the faithful preaching and teaching is met with a move of the Spirit. That theological education is important. That Bishops who love Jesus and serve the Kingdom are priceless.”

Ben also pointed to three standout moments:

1) Around the Throne: After speaking on the Lion and Lamb, and how every knee will one day bow before the throne of Jesus however much power they have had in this life, Richard led us in a time of kneeling. It was as if we were kneeling before the throne of Jesus as described in Revelation. Hundreds of participants knelt where they were or came out to the central area to bow down. The presence of God was tangible and we on the SOMA team also were also deeply moved as we joined in.

2) A Wave of Kneeling: Ben was able to speak on the Lamb and the Dove from the Baptism of Christ. About 35 came forward to receive Christ, and several hundred to be filled with the Spirit. That’s when something extraordinary happened:

“After leading some to Christ, and other to respond by being filled with the Spirit, spontaneously the whole crowd gathered fell to their knees in a wave from the front to the back.”

Without any direction from the front, row after row simply knelt before the Lord - like a Mexican wave of holiness, or the Spirit blowing over His people.

“Where the Holy Spirit started to minister to people, it was very clear God was powerfully ministering to many.”

3) Hands High: After Becky Harcourt had been teaching on spiritual gifts and getting words from God, the congregation were asked who had sensed a word from God, many hundreds put up their hands. The next day one of the girls spoke to Becky and said that while everyone was kneeling like they were at the throne of God she could sense Jesus walking around annointing them with oil. She wanted to know if this was a real thing to see. She had talked to Becky on the day of her talk and told her that she wanted to hear Jesus’ voice. Now she was seeing Him at work. Becky reassured her that Jesus’ sheep know his voice, and she was on the right track!

Ben also got to preach his first ever sermon in a Cathedral service and will be back in Uganda in the summer. He was moved by the relationship he could build with Bishop Nason Baluku in such a short time and having seen the vitality of this 700 church strong diocese (70 congregations planted in the last year) and the warmth of hospitality received he came away thinking the Anglican church is well worth contending for.