Follow the Cloud
It’s almost a year since we went into our first lockdown. I remember very clearly how difficult it was as the nation was told to stay at home!
As a church leader, my team and I had to look at all aspects of church life and adapted as best we could in a relatively short space of time. I found it all rather stressful! And now we are looking what emerging from lockdown will look like – which is also just as stressful!
I recently read in the Bible how God led Moses and the nation of Israel when they were in the desert. God had sent a large cloud that hovered over the Tabernacle, their place of worship, which was centred right in the middle of the camp as a sign of His presence...
“Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites set up camp. At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they set up camp. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.”
This must have been quite a sight, and it was very clear to them to know when to move on. The image is a helpful metaphor for us when thinking or asking is God moving on, and where is he leading?
I know that all church leadership teams are thinking about what church will look like as we emerge from lockdown.
Here in Basingstoke, there is a weekly ‘prayer and fellowship’ time open to all ministers, clergy and church leaders. When I can, I join them, as it’s always a rich time of sharing and prayer.
Please could I ask you to pray for these fabulous people, my fellow leaders, as they consider what to do in their church?
Pray that God will make it clear what to do and when to do it. Pray that the pathway out of lockdown will be as clear to them as when God’s cloud moved in the time of Moses. Thank you!
Please check out our live stream every Sunday at 10:30am, simply go to www.hopebasingstoke.org/livestream
Stay safe & God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader