Please pray for the team.  It is a smaller group than last year, but we are just as excited to get stuck into the programme. Jon is local, while another Jon is commuting from Gloucestershire. Andy is coming over from Bristol, and Rob will make the trek from Torquay each week (new commuting record!) Please pray for the six of us to grow together as we seek to respond to God’s heart in the coming weeks. Please pray for the wives of the men too, that these next few months can be a really growing experience for them as couples.

Dates for the diary:

28th April – Delighted by God, London.  This year’s theme is “Glorious Gospel” and we are really excited to be joined up front by Glen Scrivener for the day.  Glen has a heart for Christ and a passion to see Christians applying the gospel to their own lives as well as to the lost around them!

30th April – 4th May – Cor Deo Intensive, Chippenham.  Join the regular team for a week of Cor Deo studies in the Bible, theology, ministry and spiritual formation.  We begin Monday lunch time, finish Friday lunch time, spaces are limited, please email for more information if you are interested in participating.

10th May – Bristol.  An evening event in Bristol for both CU’s and open to all, let’s join together to celebrate the gospel and pray for the gospel work among students!

We should soon be confirming information on other Cor Deo training events, including our first overseas Cor Deo Intensive in Portland, OR, USA, in late July.

We really value your prayer for us to our wonderful God.  It really is a privilege to be dependent on Him together!

For the team,

Peter

Final Call! – The Cor Deo 2012 full-time programme begins five weeks from today.  While it is late in the day, it might be possible for another person to join us for the programme.  If you are considering it, or know of someone who might be interested, please get in touch quickly.  We are excited about the team God has brought together, but wouldn’t want to miss anyone that might be a fit for this next year.  Thank you for spreading the word.

Next time we will let you know about forthcoming events in 2012.  Intensive weeks, Delighted by God conferences, evening classes, etc.  But for now, let’s finish with a few snapshot highlights of 2011:

Alan, Jon and Mike, with Ron on a Sunday visit to Leeds.

Mark and Peter in Central Asia
(such a blessing to experience ministry together)

In June, the first Delighted by God event was held at All Souls, Langham Place.
(This picture was not staged!)

 

The “graduation” dinner at the end of the programme.
(This picture was not staged.  Well, sort of.)

We look back fondly on the weeks spent with Sam, Chris, Jon, Mike, Huw, Mark, Alan and Paul.  The days spent in God’s Word were so special, the evening classes in Chippenham were a blessing to be a part of, we have been very encouraged by the warm welcome from Ladyfield Church who hosted most of Cor Deo in 2011, and the encouraging feedback from evening classes, seminars and the Delighted by God conference.  It has been so encouraging to see Huw inducted as pastor of the church in Torino, Mark and Alan heading into church ministry in the UK, Paul heading off to serve in Africa in the New Year, Mike appointed to a staff role with UCCF in Brighton, Jon and Chris looking forward to their new employment arrangements to begin in 2012 as well as continuing with local church ministry, and Sam currently in Switzerland preparing for what comes next.

Now we are anxious to press on with the next year of Cor Deo. Thanks for standing with us in prayer!

For the team,

Peter

PS One more bonus picture, the first Cor Deo Intensive in September was a really special time too:

It has been quite a first year for Cor Deo and we are really thankful to those who have prayed with us and for us.  Maybe next month we’ll look back on the highlights of the year, but for now we are looking forward to 2012.  Please pray with us for the Lord to complete the team as He wants it.  From our perspective we have a couple of spaces left, but maybe He wants it to be a smaller team for 2012.  Please pray with us as we sort out venues for two Delighted by God conferences and a venue for a third Intensive (the other two will be in Chippenham, but the third is not even in England… ask if you want to know where we’re thinking).

Please pray for the 2011 team members as they serve in churches, prepare for the mission field, and apply for employment in strategic opportunities. Please pray for Ron as he continues to serve the Lord in various opportunities, currently back in the US.  Please pray for me as I launch into a busy few weeks of preaching locally here in Chippenham.  Please pray for the trustees as we meet via Skype soon.

But before all of that, we have tomorrow, in Bristol, and it would be great to see you if you can join me!

For the team,

Peter

PS I might be wrong to presume you know about the Cor Deo blog.  Just in case, if you click here you will find the archive of weekly posts that Ron and I offer on various subjects.  In the last few weeks we’ve looked at what makes people religious, the dangerous orientation of much of Christianity, what it is to be truly saved and whether we should bring back Ba’al for the sake of evangelism.  Please take a look around the blog if you haven’t been there in a while, and we always appreciate comments on the site!

Right now our main focus is on recruiting the team for 2012.  We still need three or four more participants to join us for 2012.  The course will run from the 28th of January to June.  We’ve been encouraged by a couple of the partcipants being able to get leave from work to join us for the season, meaning they have work to go back to at the end of the course, which is a blessing in these times.  Please pray for the right people to join us and complete the team.  We are looking for people with a real passion for God, His Word and serving Him.  Perhaps somebody comes to mind?  Please nudge them in our direction, or make the introductions by email.

If you are in the Bristol area, I will be running a morning version of the Wearing Sandals: The World of the New Testament class that we ran back in June.  For more information, please click here.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer.

For the team,

Peter

And again, thank you for spreading the word about Discover Cor Deo on the 1st of October.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer.

For the team,

Peter

Delight & Devotion, Rather than Duty

These past 6 months have been a time of fellowship, growth, and delight in God. From the outset, I knew that I was with Cor Deo by God’s providence and provision, but I could not have known just how transformative Cor Deo would be. To serve and study with 9 men as we sought hard after God together was an experience that will not only be remembered, but one that has definitively shaped the course of my life. The training and study techniques learned have further equipped me for ministry, but more than that the relationships shared within the team are invaluable, some of which will last a lifetime.

The most amazing gift, however, given by the Holy Spirit through Cor Deo is an invitation to a relationship with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit that is more personal, more intimate, and more exhilarating than any I had known before. This invitation is found in the Bible, where the heart of God is revealed to us. Through extensive time in the Word, Cor Deo has helped to define a theology in which devotion, rather than duty, is at the heart of the Christian life. Sarah and I are incredibly thankful for Cor Deo, and could think of no better preparation for marriage. Our deepest thanks and gratitude to Peter, Ron, and the rest of the team, and most of all to our gracious Saviour.

(For more testimonies, please click here.)

Discover Cor Deo – For 2012

As well as the Cor Deo Intensive (26-30th of September – limited spaces still available, click here for info), we are also holding a Discover Cor Deo gathering in Chippenham on Saturday the 1st of October.  If you would like to find out more, get a taste of the ethos and content of Cor Deo, and get your questions answered, please join us from 10:30am on Saturday the 1st of October.  Please pre-register if you plan to join us - info@cordeo.org.uk

Thank you for praying with us and for us as we seek to multiply biblical ministry that shares God’s heart.

Praise and Prayer Points

Thank you for your prayers!

• Please continue to pray for the 2011 team as they transition to the next phase of life and ministry – several of the men are prayerfully pursuing what God has for them now . . . paid employment, ministry roles, missionary work, etc.

• Please pray for Ron as he is back in the US for a few weeks to catch up on things there, and for his ministry at Good Shepherd Community Church.

• Please pray for the forthcoming Cor Deo Intensive and Discover Cor Deo day to be a blessing to all involved.

• Please pray for God to bring together the team for 2012.  We still have some places left and now is the time that potential participants are making plans for the next year.

Mini-Testimony

“Cor Deo really is sharing God’s heart, not just individually but as a group of men. It is a joy to learn, it is such a great environment to grow in and a great foundation for future ministries.” (Jon, team 2011)

Warmly,

Peter for the team

It has been very encouraging to share testimonies together over these past days of what God has done during these last months.  We will share more testimonies next time, but one that stood out to me was the comment, “I have never enjoyed reading my Bible as much as I have during Cor Deo.”

During these weeks together we have enjoyed ministry in Italy, Poland, Holland, Central Asia, Belgium, as well as Leeds, London, local churches in England and Wales, ministry literally on the doorstep, an evening on the streets of Chippenham, serving the Christian Union in Bath, as well as some great days with UCCF staff . . . the list could go on.  We all want to thank you for praying for us during these months of learning and serving together.

Please do pray for the team as they head their separate ways: Huw & Alison to Italy, Paul looking at options in Africa, Sam to Carlisle, Chris & Sarah to Essex, Mark & Janna staying in Devon, Mike back to Eastbourne, Jonathan staying in the Forest of Dean, and Alan & Jill staying in Chippenham.  Ron is now back in the US for a few weeks.  Peter is heading off for a week of family holiday!

We are starting to see the team form for 2012 and would appreciate your prayers for that process.  Meanwhile we have the Cor Deo Intensive week, A Relational Faith, coming up at the end of September.  There are a few places left, but please get in touch soon if you are interested in attending.  (For more information click here.)

We have been blessed immensely to be part of this first Cor Deo.  Thank you so much for being part of it with us!

For the team,

Ron & Peter

At the start of the month we had our first day conference, Delighted by God (click here for the audio of the sessions).  This past week Ron and Peter have both spoken at two of the three UCCF Summer School gatherings on pneumatology and handling Old Testament narrative.  Then on Tuesday the whole team (minus Ron), were able to join the southern UCCF teams for the day as Peter led through the book of Hebrews.  It was great to fellowship together with the staff and Relay workers.  Please pray for UCCF and their strategic ministry on the campuses of our universities.

Ron is over in the States for a conference this weekend, then he returns in the middle of next week.  We only have three weeks left of this season, which is both exciting and sad at the same time.

Saturday Seminar – Reading God’s Heart. Next Saturday, in Chippenham, join the team for a seminar to motivate your personal Bible reading.  What does it mean to read the Bible relationally?  Can we really grow closer to God through reading His Word?  The seminar will run from 10-12:30, with the option of staying on for lunch and Q&A (bring your own lunch, drinks provided).

Cor Deo Intensive – A Relational Faith. 26-30th of September, in Chippenham.  Join Peter and Ron for a five-day intensive exposure to Cor Deo.  We’ll be looking at “A Relational Faith” with a combination of studies in the Bible, history, applied ministry, and spiritual formation.  Accommodation options will be offered.  This course is open to all, but if you are wanting to join us, please contact us to book your place.  (More information is available here.)

We continue to pray for the 2012 team to come together in God’s timing.  Thanks so much for praying for us and with us in these weeks.

For the team,

Peter

As I write this, Ron is in Brussels, with Mike and Paul, getting a taste of a ministry to Middle Eastern believers in the city. This evening, I get to finish off a series of messages at a small church nearby (following messages from Alan and Chris). Then on Tuesday we all gather together again as a team for another week of study (Acts, Evangelism, John 20-21, Malachi, Richard Sibbes, etc.) Anyway, three things for your prayers:

This Wednesday . . . Evening Class – Please pray for us on Wednesday evening (or join us if you’re local), as we dive into a three session class on New Testament backgrounds. Being able to understand what is going on in the Gospels and Acts is so important as we look to enjoy the richness of relationship with the God who revealed Himself fully in Christ. For more information, click here. (By the way, audio and notes from the Habakkuk class are now available on the Resources page of the site.)

This Saturday . . . Delighted by God – Our first day conference is this coming Saturday.  Are you able to join us?  Our theme is Heartfelt Christianity and we are really looking forward to having Mike Reeves of UCCF and Peter Sanlon from Oakhill with us for the day. Please help to spread the word about this event and join us if you can, it would be great to see you there!  (Click here for more info, or search on Heartfelt Christianity on Facebook.)

Next Year . . . ? - We are thoroughly enjoying this year and hoping the next six weeks won’t slip by too quickly. At the same time, we are looking forward to next year and wondering who will be part of the team next time around.  If you know of someone who might be a good fit, please nudge them in our direction.

Thanks for praying for these ministries.  It made a huge difference on Friday knowing we had people back at base praying for us.  It makes a real difference for us too.  Thank you.

For the team, Peter.

The team are refocusing their energies on their mentored personal studies, as well as all the other study and ministry that is going on.  Just for your interest, the subjects for these mentored personal studies include the Trinity and marriage; preaching that touches the heart; biblical mentoring; church ministry that reaches young adults; predestination in the Bible; the influence of the audience on Paul’s sermons in Acts; mysticism; and marriage in Ephesians 5.

This weekend Ron is in Lucerne, Switzerland, preaching at an international church, Peter is going with Sam to Carlisle to preach in a church there, Huw is preaching in Wales.

The next weeks are busy, but we would especially value prayer for our London Delighted by God conference on the 4th of June.  This year’s subject is Heartfelt Christianity and we are really looking forward to having Mike Reeves of UCCF and Peter Sanlon from Oakhill with us for the day.  Please help to spread the word about this event and join us if you can, it would be great to see you there.  (Click here for more info, or search on Heartfelt Christianity on Facebook.)

We really value your partnership through prayer!

Peter for the team ]]> http://www.cordeo.org.uk/update-20-mini-update-may-2011/feed/ 0