December 2024

Need & Opportunity...

"Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women…Mary…Joanna…Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." (Luke 8:1-3)

So, here's Jesus, Son of God who, when five thousand people needed feeding, he provided for them from five small loaves and a couple of fish; when the disciples were in fear in a storm, he calmed it; when the paralysed, blind, deaf and dead were brought to him, he healed them.

No question, Jesus was well able to meet all needs!

Yet in this scripture, as he travelled about, he was also quite happy to allow himself and his disciples to be in need! Why? Maybe, so that others could be the answer to those needs!

His need became the opportunity, an invitation, for others to share in bringing the kingdom of God through with him: to be participants with him, co-workers; to become part of the process, the strategy by which his Kingdom comes.

God could do all things himself: He could do all the sowing and watering. Yet he doesn't. Instead, he says "one man sows, another man waters and God gives the growth…" He could do all the harvesting. Yet he doesn't. Instead, he says to us "ask the Lord of the harvest for workers"!

When it comes to the Kingdom of God advancing, God makes room and invites us to be participants. And one way he gets our attention, is by allowing us to see need that we can be part of the answer to.

At Cross Rhythms we see Jesus do unexpected miracles all the time – when gifts just turn up at the right moment (sometimes when we don't even know we need them, like for our newly revamped studio!); when people with the right skills cross our path just when we need them; when equipment lasts so much longer than it should; when God 'makes a way where there is no way'.

But we also know very well that position of being in need, feeling our weakness, having insufficient resource, wondering how we will get through to tomorrow.

One reason for this is because Cross Rhythms is a pioneering ministry. We do kingdom media work that breaks open opportunities to reach people who aren't actually going to support us: those in the wider community, the cities, outside our church walls; those who are teenagers and children; or the people of Bethlehem.

So, we've always depended on the partnership of others, like yourself, who see our call and vision and want to be part of helping to deliver it through their support.

Our weakness, our need, becomes the opportunity for others to give and be part of how God is extending His Kingdom through the CR vision.

As we come to the end of another year we of course face fresh needs, which means a fresh ask. So as you consider your giving at this time, maybe your Christmas or end of year giving, I wanted to share an invitation to consider sowing support into Cross Rhythms.

There are three key aspects of the ministry you could choose to support:

Cross Rhythms City Radio – our FM community radio station with a unique model of engaging with the marketplace outside the church: being a blessing, building relationships and partnerships, whilst holding out a message of hope in Christ. New partners include the local council, university and college, and we’ve profiled more than 50 local businesses in the past year. We do desperately need new computer servers though. Our current ones are 20 years old! And new ones will be around £10,000. Can you help?

xRhythms – supporting our dedicated online presence and DAB radio station
which is aimed specifically at UK teenagers. We need about £7,000 to run the DAB station for another year.

Radio Hayah – supporting the work of Paul, Karam, Elias and others at our online community radio station in Bethlehem, at our small base 4 minutes’ walk from Manger Square. Could you help support the wage of our one employee, Karam, for another year at £7,500?

Thank you for considering us at Cross Rhythms. Your support really does make all the difference!