Ben Askew

About Ben Askew

Posts by Ben Askew:

2025-01-31 14.52.13

Short adventure in Sicily

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Helen and I are a part of the leadership of The Order of Mission, a charity connecting missionaries, church planters and community leaders. Though we’re not a huge network we have a global reach. Last week I was able to gather with some other members from accross Europe. It was an inspiring adventure!

We were led by Mark Burgess who, as many of you know, leads a network of missional communities in Peru. Over the two days Mark unpacked 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 and called us to embrace the weakness of knowing nothing but Christ crucified and the determination to demonstrate God’s power through signs and wonders.

It was amazing to be able to hear stories of very ordinary people making disciples in Peru, working among asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking in Finland, seeking renewal in Germany and the Netherlands and planting churches full of all generations in Italy.

My friends Marco and Cinzia took us to see their garden project – quite miraculously God enabled them to buy an unused vineyard which is being transformed into a garden. They are employing young adults to work the land, teaching them life skills and sharing with them the gospel. Their amibition is to turn the land, and its buildings into a centre of training and mission for southern Europe.

I left full of thankfulness (and amazing Italian food). The trip was a reminder that the things God has called us to here – building and releasing communities of followers of Jesus – are a part of renewal around the world!

Launch Week (3)

Launch Week – January 6th – 12th 2025

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We believe that prayer is powerful and are looking forward to beginning January with a week of 24-7 prayer, thinking about anchors, foundations and roots.

The prayer room will be available from 9:30am on Monday 6th January. 
Booking an hour or more means we know that the prayer room can be kept open. 
You can do that here:  https://signup.24-7prayer.com/signup/873d46.

If you’d rather just turn up and pray the room will be open for drop ins –
Monday 6th to Friday 10th 4-6pm. 
 
New for Launch week 25. 
We are hosting 3 Prayer Workshops, 7:30 – 8:30pm.
Monday – Praying the Bible
Wednesday – Creative Prayer
Thursday – Contemplative Prayer

We’ll finish the week with a worship and prayer evening from 7:30pm on Sunday 12th January.

Cold Weather Update

Because of the cold weather we are making some more changes.  
We are going to extend the prayer room until 12noon next Thursday. This should give people the chance to visit in (slightly) warmer weather. 

Tonights Creative Prayer Workshop is rescheduled to next Wednesday, 15th Jan, in the Kairos Room.  

Tomorrow’s Contemplative Prayer Workshop will be on zoom, Thursday 9th Jan, 7:30pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737969046

Meeting ID: 847 3796 9046
Passcode: pray

The prayer room is bookable during the day this week: https://signup.24-7prayer.com/signup/873d46. 
You can also pop in and pray without booking between 4-6pm weekday evenings. 
It is quite icy around the hall so please don’t come down later in the evening or night for the next few days!

The cold weather will mean that some people aren’t able to travel to the prayer room, or don’t feel comfortable there.  Helen B has put together a prayer home guide using the same themes.  Thank you Helen!  You can download that here:  Launch Week Pray at home Jan 2025.pdf

We’d love to hear what you feel God is showing you, or leading you, as you pray this week. 

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River of God

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Two Old Testament Prophecies have been very much on my mind these last few weeks.  The first is Ezekiels vision of the river in Ezekiel 47:1-12.  The second is Joel’s promise of the Holy Spirit in Joel 2.  We’ll come back to the second some other time (it’s really significant and what Peter chooses to help people make sense of Pentecost).  

But the river – its fascinating!  Ezekiel sees a new temple, described in quite a lot of detail! From this flows a trickle of water, it comes from the altar.  As the water flows from the temple it gets wider and deeper until we’re told it becomes a river you can swim in and too deep to cross.  It keeps flowing and flowing until it crashes over a ledge into a place called the Arabah, where the salty Dead Sea is found.  This fresh water makes the salty water fresh and life starts to flourish.  

Its a beautiful picture, full of evocative imagery, and it reaches back into the ancient stories of God’s people.  When they wandered in the desert God stopped rivers for them, provided water from rocks and led them to fresh watering holes.  It resonates with some of the Psalms that picture a good life as one lived by streams and rivers, it reaches forward to Jesus.  Jesus who said a couple of times that belief in him would cause streams of living water – flowing inside God’s people, never stopping. 

Its an image that comes to John’s mind in Revelation as he pictures the final coming of God’s kingdom.  A city where people live with the King.  The city is green and vibrant, fed by the river of life.

I think its an image that pictures what God wants to do in his people at all times, and at this time.  Through the places of worship, prayer and encounter, Jesus opens up a spring of refreshing water.  So that we will never go thirsty, so that we know God’s refreshing and love.  This is what God offers us in the places of encounter in our lives: A spring of living water!  This is why we’re giving a bit more time over to waiting, ask God to speak and move, letting Holy Spirit work among us together.  We are making space for the spring of living water!  The water starts in the places where we meet Jesus, from their flows to the places of work and everyday life getting deeper as it goes.  

How might you make space to meet God in prayer and worship?
How might your household and your community see God’s springs welling up?

The water starts in the places of encounter (where we meet God) but it flows to the places of work and everyday life.  It moves from the temple into the Arabah, the dry place.  Its as the streams of God’s presence flow into our every day, our frontlines, that it starts to get deeper and stronger.  The waters not just in the supposedly-holy places, it flows with us into everywhere.  Making the places it goes healed and holy.  

Ultimately the water heads into the driest and hardest places – the Dead Sea. 
Even there its ability to bring life is irrepressible! 

I believe God wants to open up the springs in our lives.  To meet us as we worship, as we pray.  To encounter us in our Gatherings, in our Kairos Communities, in our homes, on our own.  I believe God wants to refresh us with a deeper sense of God’s love, God’s strength, God’s presence.  And I believe God wants to flow with us, carry us, into our everyday life.  Meeting us in those places too, binging greater amounts of his healing and presence:  for us, for others.  

Where does the river take you?
What do you see God doing in your everyday life?
What dry places are there around you where you sense the river wants to flow?  

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Poetry and Prayer

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Helen Brockelhurst has writtten a book of poetry and prayer. You can pick up a copy at Kairos gatherings.

Helen says: “I’ve been writing poetry for about 10 years, inspired by everyday life and faith and I’ve gathered a selection of my poems and prayers into a book. The suggested donation is £5 per book and proceeds will be given to support the work of Kairos two areas:

At The Feast in October, Ben spoke about loneliness in the younger generation and shared a vision for renovating the space at the end of Westcliffe Hall to make it a place of meeting and welcome for young people. There is still lots to do to make this a reality.

We are partnering with the charity A Rocha to learn how we can take practical steps to care for creation as a church. Some of the world’s poorest communities which contribute the least to carbon emissions are also those most negatively impacted by climate change. Working for climate justice is part of our discipleship and A Rocha exists to help churches and Christian communities put this into practice.”

Rekindling
“A smouldering wick he will not snuff out…” – Isaiah 42

The oil is consumed, the lamp burns low.
Bright, dancing flame becomes a flick’ring glow.
Exhausted, tiny, failing source of light
almost overpowered by the night
but its last efforts catch Compassion’s eye.
He refuels the lamp that has run dry
then cups his hand and breathes, life-giving breath
rekindling a light so close to death
Flame glows and flickers then begins to dance,
revived, renewed, receives another chance.
Compassion gives his breath, love, energy –
He sees not just what is but what could be.

Walk this way

Would you walk with me this way of grief and loss?
Deny yourself, each day take up your cross?
Would you see your own agenda laid aside?
Give up control, security and pride?
Would you sacrifice your comfort and success?
Lose yourself and break your heart for this world’s mess?
Would you give yourself for someone else’s gain
and open up your heart to hold their pain?
Would you walk this way though the world calls you a fool
for obedience to a different kind of Rule?
Would you trust my call and follow my direction?
Walk on through death by the power of resurrection
to a spacious place where new life is revealed.
You will be transformed and welcomed home and healed.

Kairos New Year Prayer

New Year Prayer

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A New Year Prayer – Reflections by Aidan.

We welcome this year with God, who else would you want to welcome a new year with? In the beginning there was the Word from whom all things where made, so by welcoming God we are declaring a connection with our creator this year. 

The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is among us, in Revelation it ends by saying “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with Gods people. Amen.” So, this grace found in us through the Holy Spirit, is among each one of us and it comes from our Lord. 

So, we are, because of this, as a fact that we know to be true, we both collectively and as individuals are… 

Transformed as a new creation through Christ, in John it is written, “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We, therefore, inherit this as by Jesus, we are saved through his sacrifice. But not only that we as children of God. 

So, we go, as Gods children we are called to be active participants in the kingdom the great commission tells Jesus followers to go! But remember you are not alone we go… 

Filled with The Spirit, by it’s Love Joy & Peace, an everlasting sustaining Joy, the Joy of the Lord, and the peace just like that in Jesus that stilled the waters during a storm, and the Love for everyone of us, even during the hardship and troubles The Spirit remains with us. 

So, we can, acting in this power, alongside the all-powerful God because of our transformation through Christ Jesus, fulfilled with The Spirit we can… 

Dwell richly with God through Christ, Spirit, and Community. As we look to be closer to God, we move deeper into our place saved for us, into Christ through spending time with the Spirit. This is something we do together. In Genesis when Adam was alone its was “not good” but once with Eve it become “very good”. For as it says in Psalms, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” 

Amen! What better word is there to say other than, thanks. We can all be grateful for these things, for this, collective call that we can pick up and answer in Jesus’ name. With the spirit as our supporting divine. Be encouraged and take heart this year. 

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Happy Christmas

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This advent, as we’ve been preparing to celebrate, I have been reading Revelation, along with those who come along to 9:30am prayers.  I’ve found myself noticing how the story of Christmas is entwined with the hope of Jesus’ return and of everything being put right. The king who came at Christmas, as a little baby – vulnerably, weak, small, is the king who works to establish justice and mercy and goodness fully.  

Jesus often described the kingdom of God as a feast.  Perhaps our celebrations this weekend might be feasts that anticipate the final celebration when God makes everything good again.  Perhaps our acts of joy, generosity and fun over the next few days can be acts of defiance against the night: just as strange and powerful as our prayers for healing, our attempts to bring justice, our work inspired by God’s call.  

I’ve been enjoying this prayer over the last few weeks.  From ‘A LITURGY TO MARK THE START OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON’ in Every Moment Holy vol 1. 

‘Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees,
Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts—
By these small tokens we affirm
that something amazing has happened
in time and space—
that God, on a particular night,
in a particular place, so many years ago,
was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.’

‘As we feast and laugh and sing together,
we are rehearsing our coming joy!
We are making ready to receive the one
who has already, with open arms, received us!

We would prepare you room
here in our hearts
and here in our home,
Lord Christ.

Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel,
even as we long for your return.
O Prince of Peace, our elder brother,
return soon. We miss you so!’

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Reflections of an Intern – By Aidan

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Being on the New Wine Discipleship Year (NWDY for short) I didn’t fully know what to expect, other than, the rough schedule of Monday training days and Church work for three days a week – with a focus on Youth Work. But these first fifty days of the internship have been so fun, unexpected, and quite formative for me and in my walk-through faith. (And growing in my bouldering).

To give you a better understanding of what I have gone through, here is a brief overview of my `typical` week structure so far,

  • Mondays: 9:30-15:30 Training Days in Leeds (@ St Georges Community Centre) Looking at different aspects such as, The Bible, Anglicanism, Spiritual gifts, Homelessness and Spiritual Discipline. All very interesting topics and a great place to catch up with the wider Leeds interns.
  • Tuesdays: Day off – other than alternative weeks with Youth Blaze group! Very fun to do. – I spend the rest of the day to rest, study in the bible, and watch sermons, also sometimes go bouldering (All round a Fun day!).  
  • Wednesdays/Thursdays: 9:30-15:30 Kairos Days, on Wednesdays I have been helping with take time, and arriving on both days for the Morning prayers, (Got to host one once more to come…).  I’ve also just started helping with a lunch club for Y7-9 at St Aidan’s. These are also office days where I do what is need to, some planning for future events, and yeah get the behind the scenes of the Church experience!
  • Friday/Saturdays Currently both days off a great time to spend getting to know fellow housemates through a Weekly meal and, go climbing with others building on relationships! I’m also looking for part time work for this time.
  • Sunday – Church Day!  Joining in with Kairos gatherings and communities, eating lunch with some of you, helping at the monthly Harrogate Youth Worship Night.

So that’s my typical week layout, but so far there has been much more for me to slowly expand on, through helping where I can during Church in PA, also once with 20 German Pastors! I’ve also been on the NWDY residential which was a great time to reflect and learn more about God and meet wider New Wine interns.

For me personally, to see God at work on the NWDY residential at every meeting was a really blessing for me, and though my own time with God (almost every morning but every night), I have been reminded and have had time to reflect on the goodness and joy, that God brings me though this work and throughout the week, even on the bad days! So, to by studying into the Word and though reading books, now more than ever it seems like I am only just getting a sense of the Love, and Power of God, and developing a real Adoration of him, so I can’t wait for more revelations to come my way!  

Also… Ducks! Yes, as random as it sounds, let’s say I took a joke way to seriously and may have started an intern wide duck hunt across many different intern houses and offices (look out Kairos!)  

To summarise then, from moving out of home for the first time, to now fifty days into the internship, I has been great experience for me to invest time into, Church my own Faith and developing relationships and not just living but looking to thrive, and I am looking forward to the next fifty days and beyond. 

With a special thanks to Ben, Jen, everyone at Kairos, and Katherine in Leeds!

Space for friendshuip

Space for friendship, by Ben.

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A couple of weeks ago I shared a vision for friendship-building among us.  This Sunday gives some space to invest in relationships.

As its a 5th Sunday there is no Central Gathering and usual community patterns will be interrupted.

How, if you are around, might you be able to use that time to invest in friendship with others?
Perhaps you could go or a walk with someone, or arrange to have a coffee or share food?
Maybe you could get together for a game or to go to an event? 

There are all sorts of simple ways you could build up friendship – how could you use your 5th Sunday, or another time this week, to take a small step?

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We need friends by Ben

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At The Feast I suggested God might be inviting us into deeper friendship and connection this year.  If you didn’t get to hear the talk, or would like another listen, you can find a recorded version here.

I thought I’d share with you a couple of the things that had been inspiring me as I prepared for the feast.  

The first was this short spoken word piece by Phil Knox, I think it captures powerfully the desire for friendship that many have. 

The second is a quote by Tish Harrison Warren from her book Liturgy of the Ordinary:

“Christian friendships are call-and-response friendships.  We tell each other over and over, back and forth, the truth of who we are and who God is.”

How is it going finding, cultivating and being the kind of friends who ‘tell each other over and over… the truth of who we are and who God is’?  

Its not always easy, it takes time and attention and can be painful, but its worth it!

I thought I’d start asking Kairos people to tell me how they build friendships and what challenges they face in relationships on their frontlines.  I love what two different people told me this week:  

“I find taking an interest in what people do to relax and what motivates them/makes them tick normally provides space for relationships to grow.  Also, establishing a rapport through perhaps sharing a humorous anecdote often works quite well for me.”

“What helps me most is time to pause with others, which is also a challenge because of our busy adult working life. Friendships come from times you allow yourself to stop and take a breath with someone else.  I try to connect, listen and respond to the people I am with.”

Thank you to the people who shared those ideas with me.  What do you think?  How do you make and build friendships?  What are the challenges to relationships on your frontline?   

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