ReSource - what do people say about us?
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ReSource is an initiative with an Anglican distinctive.
We offer spiritual resources, retreats and practical training sessions
for churches of all types, traditions and denominations. We believe
that every church is different, and work with each according to its own
needs and context. We work primarily through a scattered and travelling
team of people with complementary giftings and experience. |
"Renewal is when the temperature in the church is raised until it reaches apostolic point - at which point the church begins to evangelise naturally"
(Bishop Michael Marshall)
Comments on our work:
"Thank you for the care in listening to help us get the fit right. Keith is a very good speaker, able to sit down alongside strangers, engage in conversation and be good fun... all in addition to having good things to say. Together he and Matthew created an environment of trust, laughter, openness and depth. The ministry empowered our people." - Rev. Geoff Read, Chaplain, Anglican church in Basel, after a ReSource weekend, May 2008
"I felt it was a really good day on Saturday and I've had lots of positive feedback. People found it very helpful, and felt that there was a very good balance between excellent input and opportunities to engage with the issues, as well as appreciating the space and opportunity to take in for themselves." - Revd Helen Bence, after a Quiet Day for Gartree Mission Partnership, Leicester diocese, May 2008
"We have had a wonderful Parish Weekend with Fred and Ellen Brodie over Pentecost. They are so gentle and everybody warmed to them. Karen and I were particularly impressed with the amount of preparation they put in. Certainly this is a Pentecost we shall not forget in a hurry. Their personal ministry to me was just inspirational. We cannot thank you enough for recommending them to us. I don't know whether this link can continue, but there are certainly those in this fellowship who would like it to do so!" -
Timothy Buckley - Rector Belton Group of Parishes, Diocese of Lincoln, May 2008
A group of about ten of us finished Season of Renewal last night. It was unanimously agreed that it had been the most inspiring and helpful Lent course we had ever shared in. We particularly appreciated the various practical items included in it, especially the "hot seat" during the fourth week... This did much to help us believe that we might be of some use to the Lord in his mission after all! - Canon John Gunstone
"I am writing to thank you both for a wonderful weekend. I was conscious of the pressure you were under. Yet no one in the congregation would have realised it. You gave so much time to everyone, even at the cost of your lunch! People used to say of these renewal weekends that after the leaders had gone away you had to pick up the pieces. ReSource is different - you picked up the pieces while you were with us! I have heard not a single negative comment, and nothing but universal support" - Revd Raymond Adams, Haydon Wick, February 2008
"A big THANK YOU for a great weekend of teaching and receiving. I have written so much down that I can't wait to make time to sit down and go through them all, with God. I think the work that ReSource is doing to support transformation from within the church of England is amazing, and your gentle, humorous approach is perfect" - Shuna George, after a weekend for the Ironstone villages in Leicester diocese, February 2008
"That was the best thing I’ve heard all year. It was profoundly simple!"; "What life-giving pleasure to hear someone speaking who knows where her speech is taking her, and not a word wasted. Alison demonstrates ministry of the Word!" - comments from participants at the Baptist Mainstream conference, January 2008
"Thanks again so much – your content was thought-provoking, spot-on and delivered with such clarity and grace" - Stephen Rand, Mainstream, January 2008
"Thank you so much for a really great day yesterday – it was fantastic to have you with us and we achieved so much thanks to your gentle guidance and clear thinking. Thanks too for all the material you brought for us – we have some reading and thinking to do in the next weeks – it was a bit like an early January feast, that we will be able to live off for a few weeks, talk about together, think and pray over" - Alison Coulter, from a day facilitating vision for a Christian management consultancy, January 2008
"This is a much belated note, to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for our service on the 6th January 2008. The service was extremely moving and cathartic. I found your sermon inspirational. The message to us was eloquent, moving and sensitive to our recent difficulties.Your message of reconciliation was so clear, that I hope that we will all open our hearts and mind to it. Your sermon was a powerful reminder of what we as Christians should be to each other. I thank you for your efforts on all our behalf." - Joy Okoye, after a weekend in Finchley, January 2008
"Completely focussed, very positive and clear programme, should be in every diocesan CME and at regular intervals!"; "The silent meditation was brilliant - I need that space"; "It scratched where I itched" - comments from a CME day for the diocese of Chelmsford, November 2007
"We are enormously grateful to you for what you have enabled among us, and for doing it with a style and process that has sought to be acccessible, connecting and practically enlivening. Thank you for your care, vision, enthusiasm and sheer hard work." - Ven Robert Freeman, after a week on 'Transformation', for the clergy and PCCs of the diocese of Wakefield, October 2007
"Thank You for your teaching and sharing last Saturday.There was a real move of God. Many people were greatly blessed and many said they met with God. Many felt refreshed and went back to the Parishes excited at seeing God at work. Thank you for your time and allowing God to use you to bless others" - Revd Ralph Goldenberg, after a diocesan renewal conference in Lichfield Cathedral, October 2007
"Words cannot express our gratitude to you both for a tremendous weekend. God not only did a powerful work in the life of our church family, He did a powerful work in our personal lives too. We feel closer than ever and more united in ministry together. Thank you so much!"
- Kim and John Guest, after a weekend for Stanford-le-Hope church, October 2007
"Many thanks for leading a fantastic weekend! I have returned renewed in my commitment to Christ and more supported in that commitment than ever before by family and friends. You both have a wonderful way of bringing it home, keeping it real and reminding us of the magic of being a Christian - loved unconditionally. I cannot thank you enough." - Kristin Breuss, after a weekend for St Mary Islington.
"The talks were brilliant. BIG THANK YOU for a wonderful weekend - got to go home now and think and feel it through again!"
- comments from a parish weekend for St Andrew's, Congresbury, September 2007
"I particularly wanted to write and thank you for your wonderful and enormous input to our lives in Calne two weeks ago. There was such a sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the people are still talking to me about how they could have gone on listening for more hours. It was the sweetness of His presence, and the faith-building words you gave us, the like of which some have never heard. I think people were also given an increased hunger for the things of God that evening, so thank you for pouring yourself out like a drink offering for us. We really hope you might visit and encourage us again - it was like a visit from Paul, truly encouraging and edifying!"
- from a Deanery evening in Calne, Salisbury Diocese, September 2007
"Many thanks for yesterday. Your superb sermon set the day going in such an inspirational way"
- Derek Chambers, St Paul's, Hook, September 07
"It was good to be led on the road of discovery towards God. Joy and laughter underpinned the week, which has been more about being with God, renewal in his Spirit, basking in his love and fellowship, rather than doing - although it has led to many thoughts about the future"
- comment from a Stewards Trust house party, September 2007
"Excellent input, clear and inspiring"
- ReSource Partners' day in Warwick, July 2007
"Everything was awesome"
- Renewal Weekend" at Langenbruck, Switzerland, June 2007
"Today has been a refreshment, encouragement, exciting to hear of how God works in unexpected ways - a great boost to my faith"
- Lincoln Regional Day on Renewal for Mission, June 2007
"It has refreshed my relationship with God"; "everything has been helpful beyond belief!"
- Wickham Market Parish Weekend, April 2007
"The best CMD day I have ever attended – thank you!"
- comment from a CMD day for Salisbury diocese, May 2007
"It has opened my eyes and heart "
- Revd Michael Anderson - Salisbury CMD day, May 2007
"The inclusion of historical contexts, modern day situations and biblical content was altogether very effective. Thank you very much for your presence and input, it was excellent and really appreciated"
- Emma Lovett, after a parish weekend on renewal for mission for St Paul’s, Holgate, Feb 07
"Thank you again so much for your excellent and superb contribution to the Strategic Thinkers Forum, and for the enormous number of hours that you spent in preparation. We really are very grateful to you for presenting what was a hallmark paper"
- Peter Brierley, Christian Research, Jan 07
“Thank you so much for the last couple of days. All that you gave us was just right and greatly appreciated. I have already heard from three of the Rural Deans saying how much they valued the time, and I know the others did, too. I personally also greatly benefited from all your encouragement and nourishment”
- Bishop Richard Frith of Hull, after a retreat for bishop, archdeacons and rural deans at Wydale Hall, Jan 07
"I want to pay tribute to Martin Cavender and ReSource – they are on the money at the moment. Their combination of emphasis on holiness and renewal on the one hand and evangelism and mission on the other is exactly where the Church needs to be nationally"
- Paul Bayes, National Officer for Evangelism, speaking in Lichfield
"I do want to thank you for all your ministry here with us last weekend. Everyone I have spoken to has talked of what a significant time it was"
- Revd Hugh Scriven, St Germain’s Edgbaston
"ReSource’s involvement has transformed the church’s approach and life. I don’t know where we would be now without them"
- Revd Nicholas Pye, St Paul’s Finchley
I am leaving feeling refreshed, hopeful and motivated"
- from the BARD Residential for the rural deans of the East Riding, January 2007
" A sympathetic challenge; the teaching content gives us much to work on in the future. Pointing us in the direction of good resources was extremely helpful. The sharing of stories was inspiring!"
- from a retreat for Bristol West Deanery Chapter, January 2007
"I would like to say THANK YOU for a
wonderful
Renewal Day and your
teaching, encouragement and vision as well as time for each and every
one of us to spend in God's presence"
- Sandy Hughes, after a day on renewal for mission in
Llandudno for the diocese of Bangor
"The story of the last couple of years, following
the induction of a new vicar who brought with him a new vision and
style and new ideas, with the inevitable accompaniment of new tensions
and challenges, is a case study in how ReSource can help a bemused,
defensive and (in parts) hurting congregation move forward towards a
shared vision and ultimately into renewal."
- from a church in north London
"This is a wide, open, generous, hospitable place to
be, with access to the deepest and best spiritual resources of our
church and not caught up in anything narrow or sectarian or merely
ecclesiastical; open to the future, relying on grace rather than law
and with a vital message of the living Christ today, moving in the
power of the Spirit"
- Ron Treasure, after a ReSource retreat in Yorkshire
"Just to thank you again for your
hugely helpful and influential input at the conference last week.
Enormously refreshing and nourishing! "
- Paul Bayes, after the Diocesan Missioners' Conference
"You had some wonderful light moments of humour; you
made use of some extremely visual and memorable imagery and language;
your delivery is refreshingly different and the content was so helpful."
- Bishop John Went, after the Diocesan Missioners Conference
"Today has been superb, just what this group needed.
Thankyou. The balance of input and discussion was excellent. I shall
certainly be recommending ReSource to my colleagues in other Dioceses"
- the Revd Jo Conley, Warden, after a day for Readers/LLMs in
Oxford
"I was given "Wild Gospel" by a colleague who had
heard you give a presentation to the Archbishops' Council. I loved it!
Found it spiritually and intellectually stretching. Thankyou for
writing it - and please pray with us that the breathtaking reality of
the new order will break out in the lives of the people in this
Diocese, through renewed vision and purpose"
- Gillian Oliver, National
Communications Officer, Church House, London
"Your input reflected very sensitively where many of
those present are in their thoughts and understandings of mission. You
gave us a great deal to think about and I am looking forward to the
meeting of Church Leaders later today - we will think about ways of
taking forward what you gave us"
- Canon Tony Dickinson, Churches Together in East Wycombe
"Thankyou so much for this weekend on "Renewal in
the Holy Spirit for a mission-shaped church" - the Lord was powerfully
present and at work in our lives individually and as a church. So, so
many people have spoken so warmly about the Saturday sessions and the
Sunday services - and people who weren't present wishing they had been
as they heard from those who had! So thank you again for taking us to
the Cross and lifting up Jesus, and leading us in praise and worship
and teaching. Please, please will you come again?"
- Methodist Superintendent Minister in Highworth, Wilts
"We must give thanks - for the sense of the presence
of the Lord and his leading - for Martin Cavender and the way he gave
himself to us for two days, and for his sensitive enabling of the
vision-seeking process - for fellowship as a church leadership team,
and the sense of enjoyment and fun - for the ideas and wisdom that were
generated"
- the Revd Richard Coombs, after a Burford Leadership weekend
"I was on retreat last week and managed to read the
whole of "The Wild Gospel". I found it absolutely inspirational and
agree completely that it is a prophetic word for our day"
- James Newcome, Bishop of Penrith
"Thankyou so much for that wonderful Parish renewal
weekend at Compton. The Holy Spirit was present in power and grace, and
I don't think our parishes will ever be the same again!"
- the Revd Keith Powell, the Hatch Beauchamp group, Somerset
"The Lord was moving so clearly during the weekend,
in all his healing mercy. Many people were touched and moved on in
their faith. It was a great time - Thankyou!"
- the Revd Michael Wenham, Stanford in the Vale, after a
Church renewal weekend
"Your website has put the "new" back into "renewal"
- at last, an offering which isn't just pious or religious but
expresses the fun and life of Christ!"
- the Revd Shaun Henson, Woodstock
