Deeper shade of grey | Faith House 12

The reality of heaven on earth | Gordon Cotterill

A regular feature at Faith House has been the development of a thought to round off the evening, each of the volunteers take a turn to share something of their thinking. This week it was my turn and I finished my thought by thanking the guys at Faith House and by letting them know how much they bring to my life.

“This has become an important part of my community; I don’t come to Faith House to make cups of tea and give out fish finger sandwiches … I come because I want to be here, I am who I am because of what you share of you with me… together we are community”.

Frank chips in, looks around at the 10 or so of us in the room. 

”I don’t come because of the tea and fish fingers either, I come because it is important that I am with you all as well, you are family..!”

Last week Frank managed to stay behind as we were clearing up after the drop in. “I’d like to pray with you all…” This was not a scam to stay longer and Frank’s heart felt prayer of thanks will be a prayer that I will not forget … ever!

It’s really made me think about how mission is not want we magnanimously do for others but is about what we become together, bringing the kingdom into being. This is the reality of ‘heaven on earth’.

Writer: Capt. Gordon Cotterill lives in London, England, is married to Kate and has two daughters Bethan and Eryn. He has been a Salvation Army officer for ten years and ‘cut his teeth’ in ministry with his wife as the corps officers at Poplar in the East End of London. The lessons he learned there in his day-to-day ministry, amid the chaos of the inner city, continue to shape his understanding and passion for biblical and grace-centred mission. His latest appointment as Spiritual Programme Director at the William Booth College, London now offers him the opportunity for the fusion and exploration of ‘mission’ and ’spiritual formation’ while trying to inspire a new generation of Salvation Army officers as to their role in God’s plan for His creation. Gordon keeps a blog where he mulls over themes of mostly, mission and spiritual formation.

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