St. James Hope, 3 Vicarage Close, Salford, M6 8EJ
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info@salfordelimchurch.org

Author: Neil Hudson

Daring to Hope… for good leaders

From childhood we tell stories about super-heroes who will save us.

It’s easy to point out all the ways that our leaders fail us. It’s almost inevitable, they are as fragile as we are.

What Zechariah knew was that a new leader was needed. He had a job spec, but he didn’t live long enough to see the one who would take the role.

It was Jesus, the one we all need.

Daring to Hope… despite our weakness

God seems to take great delight in using people who don’t feel capable to do remarkable things.

The main reason may be that He wants us to remember that He is doing the work – it’s just that He invites us to be part of it.

So, to those who don’t feel particularly strong, there’s good news. You’re the sort of people that God loves to work through.

Daring to Hope… despite our size

For many of us, our lifetime has seen many churches growing smaller, looking weaker, feeling more fragile and many younger people have grown up thinking that Christianity is irrelevant.

But you know what?

God’s desire and plan is still to have a multi-generational, multi-ethnic kingdom. And our call is to be part of it.

Daring to Hope… in what?

How can the dreams, visions, songs from 2500 years ago help us here in Salford today?

Zechariah, a Jewish prophet, longing for change knew that it could only happen if people accepted the invitation to live as part of a much bigger story. It was a story of hope that kicked against the darkness. That invitation is still open to us.

What You Need To Know (October 2022)

Here are details of some of the things that are happening over the next few weeks, as well as one or two helpful links elsewhere.

Coming Home: The Shortest Step

You don’t need to be miles away to be away from home. Sometimes the most difficult thing is to cope with the resentment in your own heart that stops you joining the party…

Coming Home: The Long Return

It’s one of the oldest plotlines in the world: a youngster longs for adventure, burns his bridges at home, gets onto the open road and in time gets into a mess. That’s when they realise they have a choice. You can stay in the mess or you can return home – but changed…

What You Need To Know (September 2022)

Here are details of some of the things that are happening over the next few weeks, as well as one or two helpful links elsewhere.

What if Jesus meant it? (Part 2)

How do we make sure that we don’t get deceived by fake Christians – and perhaps more importantly, how do we make sure we are not the fakes!

What if Jesus meant it? (Part 1)

There are certain things that we hear said that we often just accept, but Jesus invites to see that there’s another way…

What if life was simpler? (Part 2)

Is it possible to live a simpler life that is less worried about what we don’t have and more grateful for what we do have? Is it possible to worry less?

What if we reacted differently? (Part 5)

What does Jesus really mean in the Sermon on the Mount about enemies?

Is this really how we should act towards evil people, structural injustice, and deep-seated enemies? If we think it is unlikely, what is the alternative?

If we do follow Jesus’ teaching, what might it look like today?