One year ago, I stepped into the role of Chief Executive at Rural Missions, taking up the baton from our founder, Rev Barry Osborne. Barry’s vision and dedication over many years laid a strong foundation for the work we continue today, and I want to take this moment to honour his legacy and thank him for his faithfulness to rural ministry.

This past year has been one of growth, learning, and incredible opportunities.

What does your name mean? There are so many different names in the Bible but a lot of them have meaning behind them and that person has been given that name for a particular reason. I wonder if there’s a story behind why you were given your name?

God has many different names that we ascribe to him, king of kings, the good shepherd, prince of peace, everlasting father, the list goes on. But what about God’s personal name “Yahweh” what’s the story behind that name?

Indecisiveness is one of the most infuriating of feelings. In our society we have a HUGE amount of choices presented to us on a daily basis, varying from the mundane: our choice of breakfast cereal or which Netflix show to watch, to the more serious: which job should I do, who should I marry, or where to live. We are constantly bombarded with option after option, and are encouraged to make our own decisions, primarily driven by what we want!

What was the last decision you made? How did you make it?

So many followers of Jesus find themselves stuck—discouraged, frustrated, and stagnant. We've fallen into the trap of expecting instant transformation, like instant coffee. Pour the water in and there you go the finished product. But for most of us, becoming a Christian doesn’t result in this instant and complete transformation. 

"We've prayed, been baptized, had spiritual highs, yet still grapple with doubts, sins, and unchanged lives. We wonder, 'Is this it?' "I thought I'd be different by now. 

Let's look at coffee enthusiasts and what they can teach us.

This week I joined the Rural Missions family and I wanted to take this as an opportunity to introduce myself. But before that, I want to say thank you to all of you for supporting the work that this incredible charity does. Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to join the team for two days as they spent time away together dwelling in the Word, sharing the vision for 2025, and exploring what doors God may be opening.

This weekend, I had the privilege of visiting a church in the picturesque hills of Somerset as part of Rural Missions’ Tailor-Made Consultancy. It was a day of reflection, discovery, and bold planning, designed to equip the church to share the love of Jesus in fresh, impactful ways. 

The day began with the question at the heart of it all: What is mission?