6 Feb 2026, 12:05Dr Kirk Thomas, South England Conference PresidentWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Pressing Toward the Upward Call
Pastoral Letter 6-Feb-26
Do you feel like you are in reverse, in a stationary position, taking a detour or in a state of progress in life? These alternatives reflect where each of us will be at any given moment regarding God's will, plans, and purposes. Every choice of thought, word and deed will influence us by bringing us closer to one of these conditions. In addition, some of you might respond to the question by saying that the answer depends on the area of life we are applying it to. I want the best for our Church. This is why I would like us to all become students and observers of all that can foster healthy spiritual growth, so we see progress in our churches in every aspect, with each individual, each group, and each congregation represented.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians Chapter 3, verses 13 to 14: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul lived during the heyday of gladiators and Olympic competitors, part of the cultural entertainment in the Roman Empire. Here he applies the determination and discipline associated with them, achieving their earthly wins to our goal of growing by being closer to God and reaching our home in Heaven and the Earth Made New.
A close connection with God is not something to be taken for granted in our own lives or in our congregations. Always look up as an individual and in a collective sense, on behalf of your local and wider Church. This has led to awesome developments, like those represented in the Bible and in our history, through people who drew strength and inspiration from God to bring blessings and good to those around them. Several authors on the theme of Mission, e.g., Alan Hirsch and Robert Warren, refer to a simple framework for viewing life as a Church that is useful for reflecting on where we are in terms of our development. The framework refers to three areas: “Up, In, and Out”. Upward refers to our relationship with God, inward to life within local churches and outward to our mission to the wider community around us.
Look upwards. We have entered the second month of the year since the last time I wrote to you, but in this moment, there is still time to look upward and seek a closer connection with the Lord, our Redeemer and Friend. We can still improve our devotional lives and mature in our faith and trust in God. There is still time to grow in our connection with God through Bible Studies, perhaps by reading through the Bible or researching a topic that will be very helpful for our own growth or for someone else we would like to encourage. There is time if we grab the opportunity to enrol on a training course, as referenced in our Newsletter here, week to week. There is still time to make arrangements to attend the event organised by the Department or Ministry that promotes spiritual development.
Sometimes pressing onward to the upward call means addressing disappointments, failings and regrets of the past where possible, then moving on to life beyond them. Seek counselling from a trusted source like the counselling service offered by the South England Conference (SEC), the Cornerstone Counselling service if necessary. Likewise, when it comes to looking inside the churches, there is still time to assess the climate within our local congregations and put in place whatever is needed to improve the experiences of our brothers and sisters there. The same goes for the condition of people whom God is waiting for us to band together to reach in our local communities. Our interactions with family members, church brethren, those who visit us and local communities are areas I pray we can make great strides so we can see Christ reflected there, as stated in the 4 Mission Areas of our SEC Inspired for Mission Strategy.
This concept of looking upwards towards God, inwards at life within the church and outward to the communities around us as areas for spiritual development and growth is one I would like for us to consider. We can look at these aspects, reflecting on how we can use what we have to promote growth and whether we need new approaches or resources to facilitate this. Doing so will help bring a good balance to what we do and also to how we evaluate it. For example, it will bring balance to how we carry out our daily tasks if we do so while being aware of potential effects on our connections upward, inward and outward. Looking up, in and out will bring balance to our Workers Meetings, Area meetings, our local Church Pastoral, Board, Business and Members meetings. It will bring balance to every Church Department, every interaction and all we do.
I pray for churches not to be in regression or only focused on maintaining things so they remain as they have always been, as an end in itself, but for those who are looking for spiritual growth and improvement. While we can, let us “press to the mark of the high calling”, bringing ourselves, our communities, our families and the Church in the SEC to new states of growth, upward, inward and outward.
GO SEC! BE INSPIRED FOR MISSION!
Do you feel like you are in reverse, in a stationary position, taking a detour or in a state of progress in life? These alternatives reflect where each of us will be at any given moment regarding God's will, plans, and purposes. Every choice of thought, word and deed will influence us by bringing us closer to one of these conditions. In addition, some of you might respond to the question by saying that the answer depends on the area of life we are applying it to. I want the best for our Church. This is why I would like us to all become students and observers of all that can foster healthy spiritual growth, so we see progress in our churches in every aspect, with each individual, each group, and each congregation represented.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians Chapter 3, verses 13 to 14: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul lived during the heyday of gladiators and Olympic competitors, part of the cultural entertainment in the Roman Empire. Here he applies the determination and discipline associated with them, achieving their earthly wins to our goal of growing by being closer to God and reaching our home in Heaven and the Earth Made New.
A close connection with God is not something to be taken for granted in our own lives or in our congregations. Always look up as an individual and in a collective sense, on behalf of your local and wider Church. This has led to awesome developments, like those represented in the Bible and in our history, through people who drew strength and inspiration from God to bring blessings and good to those around them. Several authors on the theme of Mission, e.g., Alan Hirsch and Robert Warren, refer to a simple framework for viewing life as a Church that is useful for reflecting on where we are in terms of our development. The framework refers to three areas: “Up, In, and Out”. Upward refers to our relationship with God, inward to life within local churches and outward to our mission to the wider community around us.
Look upwards. We have entered the second month of the year since the last time I wrote to you, but in this moment, there is still time to look upward and seek a closer connection with the Lord, our Redeemer and Friend. We can still improve our devotional lives and mature in our faith and trust in God. There is still time to grow in our connection with God through Bible Studies, perhaps by reading through the Bible or researching a topic that will be very helpful for our own growth or for someone else we would like to encourage. There is time if we grab the opportunity to enrol on a training course, as referenced in our Newsletter here, week to week. There is still time to make arrangements to attend the event organised by the Department or Ministry that promotes spiritual development.
Sometimes pressing onward to the upward call means addressing disappointments, failings and regrets of the past where possible, then moving on to life beyond them. Seek counselling from a trusted source like the counselling service offered by the South England Conference (SEC), the Cornerstone Counselling service if necessary. Likewise, when it comes to looking inside the churches, there is still time to assess the climate within our local congregations and put in place whatever is needed to improve the experiences of our brothers and sisters there. The same goes for the condition of people whom God is waiting for us to band together to reach in our local communities. Our interactions with family members, church brethren, those who visit us and local communities are areas I pray we can make great strides so we can see Christ reflected there, as stated in the 4 Mission Areas of our SEC Inspired for Mission Strategy.
This concept of looking upwards towards God, inwards at life within the church and outward to the communities around us as areas for spiritual development and growth is one I would like for us to consider. We can look at these aspects, reflecting on how we can use what we have to promote growth and whether we need new approaches or resources to facilitate this. Doing so will help bring a good balance to what we do and also to how we evaluate it. For example, it will bring balance to how we carry out our daily tasks if we do so while being aware of potential effects on our connections upward, inward and outward. Looking up, in and out will bring balance to our Workers Meetings, Area meetings, our local Church Pastoral, Board, Business and Members meetings. It will bring balance to every Church Department, every interaction and all we do.
I pray for churches not to be in regression or only focused on maintaining things so they remain as they have always been, as an end in itself, but for those who are looking for spiritual growth and improvement. While we can, let us “press to the mark of the high calling”, bringing ourselves, our communities, our families and the Church in the SEC to new states of growth, upward, inward and outward.
GO SEC! BE INSPIRED FOR MISSION!
