Coming Together By Anne Baenziger  | Originally posted on VOX. From a young age, I loved gathering people. I love thinking of people, their interests, desires, skills and how we can connect. When I began my role with Praxis back in 2020, we wrestled with a role title and finally nailed down the word “connector” - one of our core pillars is ‘connect’. The importance of connection, relating, partnering, collaborating, and coming together is such a key piece of Christianity and God’s kingdom. We all have stories of beautiful gatherings and connections made with our church communities, ... [Continue Reading]

Spirit of Lausanne - what in the world does that mean...isn't that a city in Switzerland!? I thought the same thing...I had heard bits and pieces about Lausanne throughout my time in ministry and mission work. I had the privilege to participate in the Lausanne Regional Gathering at the start of November with 4 others from Ireland (North & South). Ireland Team (Rick, Fraser, Anne, Laura, Nathaniel) This gathering was one of 12 across the globe to gather, learn, share, and explore the Lausanne Movement in different geographical contexts. Lausanne Europe ... [Continue Reading]

There are a lot of models, strategies, and examples of mission out there but the best is Jesus' life! We can learn from the ways and rhythms of Jesus to better ourselves for mission...his prayer life, his communion with others, his connection with the Holy Spirit, and so much more! The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ. It gives great insights and challenges to how we can read the gospels and it is a great tool for mission and sharing about Jesus with others. Here's a piece from our guest writer, Emma Trueick, about how ... [Continue Reading]

I have never written a biography, but I do understand that writing a biography is a bit of a craft. You have to collect all the pieces of information you can so that you can have a well-rounded and sober picture of the person the biography is about, then you must then decide on what stories to include and which ones to dispose of. And finally, what order of events to produce. It’s a tough job. Now consider that the passage above came from an ancient ‘biography’ of Jesus written by John who later said ‘Jesus did many other things ... [Continue Reading]

He looks worried. Maybe he should be; his complexion is grey. I am pondering him as he stands near the entrance to Dublin’s Arbour Hill cemetery, final burial place of the 1916 leaders. His arms are stretched out as if in welcome to visitors, tourists, dog walkers, little ones coming to develop their bike riding skills. His face is handsome, his expression serious. But that complexion! If he was real you’d have serious concerns for his health. But this is a statue, stuck to the same spot since 1988, the year Dublin celebrated its millennium. Why does he look handsome ... [Continue Reading]

Esmeralda Santiago recalls a childhood memory in “When I was Puerto Rican”: Sunday morning before breakfast Abuela handed me my piqué dress, washed and ironed. “We’re going to Mass,” she said, pulling out a small white mantilla, which I was to wear during the service. “Can we have breakfast first, Abuela. I’m hungry.” “No. We have to fast before church. Don’t ask why. It’s too complicated to explain.” I dressed and combed my hair, and she helped me pin the mantilla to the top of my head. “All the way there and back,’ she said, “you should have nothing but ... [Continue Reading]

It happens more often than I would like. Some important piece of technology goes on the blink, my phone, my e-book reader, my laptop. I try to get the best out of what I buy and also try and avoid adding to the planet’s heaps of electronic rubbish so I keep my technology for as long as I possibly can. The longer you keep it the more likely it is to malfunction. When something goes on the blink I always try the soft reset first. Soft reset means the phone, reader or laptop resets itself without wiping everything clean. It ... [Continue Reading]