We live in challenging times. The newspaper headlines and the news bulletins give us cause for concern at almost every level of human existence. The ‘credit crunch’, the rising cost of everyday commodities, hundreds of people losing their jobs, many losing their homes and all of us experiencing the effects of the most serious recession in recent history. It paints a depressing picture – how can we navigate our way through such a maze of problems and come out with answers that give some positive direction in what seems to be an almost wholly negative environment?
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Wisdom
God is the source of our wisdom - let's go to the Bible for help! |
The strange thing is that so often we have thrown out the very standards and values that we need to combat the problems of our fractured society. If we are looking for inspiration to replace the faulty and self-seeking mindset we see around us the Bible is the place to go. Proverbs is full of the very best advice – pithy perspectives on life as it should and could be lived. We need to recapture our confidence in a God who is the source of all wisdom.
This is not only true for those in positions of leadership in the nation – but also for each of us as individuals. About 100 years ago there was a series of articles in The Times on ‘What’s wrong with the World?’. G.K. Chesterton wrote a letter to the editor in response to the question. This is what he wrote: Dear Sir, I am. Yours sincerely, G.K.Chesterton. When we all take responsibility for seeking out that wisdom that ‘is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold’ then our lives, our communities and our nation will find more discerning approaches to national problems including the next difficult stage of the recession and to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.
This is where the CCF is germane – the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF) contributes to the life and thinking of the Conservative Party and inspires its members to make a radical difference, where they are. The CCF was founded in December 1990, by David Burrowes M.P. and Tim Montgomerie whilst they were students at Exeter University.
There are three key focuses to the work of the CCF:
a)To train, equip and support our members. The CCF offers a development programme to those who are under 35 and are starting or considering a career in politics. The CCF also seeks to encourage those applying for Westminster and European parliamentary seats and those applying to be local councillors.
b)The CCF provides a relational bridge with the Conservative Party – it exists to be a vibrant Christian witness within the Conservative Party encouraging its members to play a part in the redemption of our culture and of individual lives.
c)The CCF is a fellowship founded on prayer. Each month, when parliament is sitting, the CCF holds a prayer meeting to pray together for the Fellowship, parliament and the nation.
We have a wide denominational diversity and our members come from many denominations including Catholics and those who worship in Black Majority churches.
The CCF has a full calendar of events, held throughout the country, all year round. All our events are open to members and non-members alike and you are welcome to bring guests. If you are interested in attending any of the activities, please email mail@ccfwebsite.com or call 020 7984 8305.
Prayer Pointers
- Pray for those in positions of leadership in the nation – in particular those who serve as local councillors, those who are Members of Parliaments and Assemblies in the UK and for those who serve as Members of the European Parliament – that they would all seek that wisdom which is ‘supreme’.
- Pray for the ‘Engagement in Public Life’ Seminar to be held on Saturday 25 April 2009 in St Michael’s Chester Square London – for David Burrowes MP, Cllr Mary Douglas and others who will be taking part. Pray that it will be both informative and inspiring for those thinking of becoming involved in public life either as an MP or a local councillor.
- Remember the next CCF Prayer Meeting on Monday 12 January 2009 in Portcullis House – Room P – from 6.30-8.00pm.
- Pray for the many CCF members who are parliamentary candidates for the next election.
- Pray for CCF Chairman David Burrowes MP, for Caroline Spelman MP – Party Chairman and for Andrew Selous MPwho is Chairman of Christians in Parliament.
- Remember Elizabeth Berridge in her role as Director of CCF – that she will have wisdom and creative ideas for its development.
- Pray for the Board of Trustees – that they will have a clear vision for the future direction of CCF.
- One of the key aims of the CCF is to act as a relational bridge between the churches and the Conservative Party. Praise God for relationships that are already being developed with churches of all denominations and across the ethnic diversity of the nation – pray that there will be further fruitful engagement.
