Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. As a church, we want to dedicate ourselves to praying this time. This years theme is “God with us”.

• This year, from 14th to 24th May, a video reflection on exploring a different Bible story will be release each day, which demonstrates God’s transformative presence, power and love at work in the lives of people and places. These will be available on the TKC app and also on blog on the KCW website/app
• Allow this to inspire us as we pray for 5 friends who do not yet know Jesus,
• What would it look like for the 5 people we are praying for to know that God is with them and has always been? Be inspired by this story God With Us | Thy Kingdom Come
• Set aside time to prayer walk your street.
• For resources and creative ideas to help you pray: https://www.thykingdomcome.global

Beyond Reasonable Doubt
 

 
In 1966, as a volunteer technician, I was working in what was then the Bechuanaland Protectorate in southern Africa. Part of my job was helping with the broadcasting of the independence ceremony of the new Republic of Botswana. Positioned close to the dignitaries in the National Stadium I shook hands with the new President, Sir Seretse Khama and met HRH Princess Marina who ceremonially represented the Queen.
Even though it was some sixty years ago I clearly remember just before midnight the Union Jack being lowered and all lights extinguished. Then at the stroke of midnight, the lights came back on to show the new Botswana flag at the top of the mast but still wrapped up. A Kalahari dust storm had just started, and the violent wind prevented the flag from unfurling. I remember a lone policeman, not wanting to bring the flag down and start again, frantically tugging at the cord to release it.
I remember the deafening roar of the crowds when it finally happened and the flag unfurled.
For me it was a major event, one that has stayed with me throughout my life. It has led me to follow the country’s story, and I’ve been collecting books and documents relating to its history ever since.
Sixty years later I may have forgotten some of the details of that night. But I remember very clearly the central act: the Union Jack came down, the Botswana flag was eventually unfurled, the band played the new National Anthem, and the Republic of Botswana was born.
For my children and grandchildren, I have written down what I remember of my time there, including small unimportant details that have stuck with me.
Someone else’s memory of that night will be very different to mine. Does that mean that one of us is lying or the event didn’t happen? No, of course not, everybody recounts past events both from their own physical position and what mattered to them.
If for some reason I had to prove that I was there that night, what could I do?
I would have to present evidence much as in a criminal court.
To reach a verdict, judges and juries weigh testimonies, assess the credibility and reliability of witnesses, compare different accounts, consider their motives and examine surrounding evidence.
In civil cases, the standard is the balance of probabilities.
But in criminal cases, where liberty is at stake, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt. But mistakes can still occur.
Although many people who were there that night and could verify my story have sadly died, some are still alive. The event was widely reported in the newspapers. The National Archives of Botswana holds records of it. Although there was no TV in the country or in neighbouring South Africa, recordings were made by photographs, cine film and audio tape (one of my jobs). Other people have also written down their memories. These all could be compared to what I claim to have remembered.
However, my memory has been jogged by other people’s accounts I have read since.
If one of my great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren read my account, could they say that my memory was influenced by what I had read in Wikipedia or Chat-Gpt has told me? Absolutely!
But I do have a letter from the Chief Engineer thanking me for my part in the broadcast.
So, for me to convince a court that I was there sixty years ago shouldn’t be a problem. I hope!
However, to piece together something that took place thousands of years ago and separate fact from fiction is very different.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is just such a case.
I have often been asked why people believe that a man who was publicly executed could be alive again three days later. “Prove it!” has been the challenge.
Scientific proof usually requires a repeatable experiment to test a hypothesis. To do that for any historical event is impossible. I can’t un-birth Botswana’s independence and then do it again.
A court faces a similar challenge. To decide exactly what happened in the past, it looks at the evidence that has been submitted. A crime cannot be repeated.
The claim that three days after His public execution, Jesus Christ rose from the dead must therefore be examined as an historical claim rather than a scientific one.
A major problem is that compared to now, few written records were made, and even fewer have survived. Events were recorded by people repeating the story to each other, a system that wasn’t infallible. However, if someone changed the details, other people would notice.
Of utmost importance is that Jesus is not a mythical figure. He is mentioned by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and by the Roman historian Tacitus in two surviving documents from the secular world. Neither writer was a Christian. They weren’t attempting to promote Christianity; they were historians recording what was known.
Both record that Jesus lived and was executed by Pontius Pilate, which is accepted by the majority of historians.
The main source that gives information about Jesus Christ is the New Testament section of the Bible. It is of course written by Christians and isn’t neutral in the way that Josephus and Tacitus’ writings are.
But the Bible is not a magic book. The New Testament is a collection of four biographies of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John known as the Gospels), a history of the Church (Acts), some letters from the early leaders of the Church and a vision (Revelation). These documents mean that Jesus Christ is one of the best attested figures from the ancient world.
Critics often point out that the Gospels accounts differ in some details. Who arrived first? How many were they? What exactly was said? Sceptics attempt to dismiss the Gospels for that reason.
However, the differences between my memory of that night in Botswana and other people’s, are similar to the differences between the Gospel writers. The same event is seen from different viewpoints and whilst agreeing on the main points, some details will naturally differ.
Many historians note several features in the account:

• Scholars debate who wrote the four Gospels. They ask how much influence the writers had on each other. It’s a reasonable question, as my memory has been influenced by what I have read. But this possible influence together with the fact that the writers appear to contradict one another, makes many historians regard them as early, authentic sources. A fake news author would probably have made the four accounts identical, and made sure there was no conflict. Many scholars conclude they were written within the lifetime of those who were at the crucifixion, either by eyewitnesses, or by someone who had met the eyewitnesses. But sceptics claim that could mean sixty years or more and that people would have forgotten the details. However, my experience shows that with an unusual or dramatic experience the details remain in our memories for many many decades.
• Jesus’ disciples are not presented as flawless heroes. They, probably including the authors of the Gospels themselves, are shown to be frightened, confused and sometimes cowardly. On the night Christ was crucified, Peter, who eventually became the leader of the Church is recorded as denying he knew Jesus. Why include that embarrassing point if that wasn’t what happened?
• Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb, sealed by a huge stone and guarded by soldiers. Soldiers whose job was to prevent the body being stolen. But it disappeared! Those soldiers would have known that if the body went missing, their liberty and perhaps their lives would have been at risk. What made them run? Had they seen something really weird? A ghost perhaps? What happened? Who rolled away the stone? Jesus’ body, what happened to it? Production of the decomposing corpse would have ended the resurrection claim. If the authorities had been able to produce it, then they would have done so. There has never been an alternative explanation for the empty tomb that has gained widespread support.
• In a culture where a woman’s testimony counted for little, why would the writers show that it was women who discovered the empty tomb, unless that is what happened?
• Some sceptics have suggested that Jesus had not actually died but had lost consciousness and later revived in the tomb. However, the writer of the Gospel of John records that, to ensure Jesus was dead, a soldier pierced His side with a spear, producing a sudden flow of blood and water. The “water” may have been clear fluid that had built up around the lungs from the crucifixion. Roman soldiers were experts in killing, and it is reasonable to assume that the soldier would have carried out his duty thoroughly. This makes it very unlikely that Jesus survived the crucifixion.
• Copies of Paul’s letters, who was one of the leaders of the early Christians, that were written twenty to thirty years after the crucifixion were circulated widely. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, that’s included in the New Testament, Paul states that he is passing on what he had received. He then summarises the core statements of Christian belief, including the resurrection claim, sometimes called a creed (1Cor 15:3-7). Most historians regard that creed as originating very close to the time of the crucifixion, indicating that the resurrection belief amongst Christians originated then and was not a later invention or legend. In that same letter he states that following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to over five hundred people, many of whom were still alive at the time of writing. He implies that ‘if you don’t believe me, ask them’. If that were not true, Paul, who was a leader in the Church would have lost credibility.
• At that time Jews believed in a general resurrection from the dead at the end of history. Their belief system did not include one man rising in the middle of history, they were not predisposed to it, it was a novel idea.
• Some other sceptics claim that those five hundred had been hallucinating or suffering from mass hysteria. But hallucinations are normally private, not synchronising across multiple people or producing identical experiences. If it was mass hysteria, why didn’t it fade? Within a generation the movement had spread right across the Roman Empire. Why would a frightened, disheartened group, whose leader had been executed, risk their liberty, health and life just to spread a fairy story? Many were imprisoned, tortured or lost their lives. People generally don’t risk their lives for a lie. Something must have happened to convince them that Jesus was alive.

On their own, these points don’t prove that Christ did rise from the dead. But together they add up to significant evidence that something extraordinary happened. Significant evidence that convinces me that it’s beyond reasonable doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.
Gentlemen! What are your thoughts?
 

The Jesus March is a joyous, hopeful celebration of Jesus in London. The global movement of March for Jesus, which began in London in 1987, has continued around parts of the world and recently begun again across Europe. We are inviting you to join us as we relaunch March for Jesus in London this Pentecost weekend – this time called the Jesus March – on Saturday 23rd May.

The March will start from Marble Arch to Trafalgar square, London. We would like to encourage you to join the event or as stewards of the day. The steward duty start from 11:30am-6pm, and will meet at 11:30am at the Church Hall in St Martins next to Trafalgar Square for the briefing.

You can join the steward team by filling in the form HERE.

Palm Sunday remembers the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In less than a week, Jesus will be arrested and the crowd will turn on Him; cries of exaltation will be replaced with calls for execution. This week we will explore how we move from fickle to faithful in our spiritual maturity; drawing inspiration from the Desert Fathers and Mothers who chose to welcome hardship to pursue single-hearted devotion to God. As the week continues we’ll leave the desert and follow Jesus in his journey towards the cross, and through the grave to offer new life to all.

As a church, we’ve been exploring the possibility of purchasing the Hope and Anchor pub next door—not just for extra space, but as a resource to serve our community and grow God’s Kingdom. The Prayer and Planning Team and Trustees believe it’s right to keep pursuing this, whilst being wise and not overstretching financially. Thank you for your prayers, pledges, and increased monthly giving so far.

Where things stand
We submitted an offer based on the funds currently available. The owners declined and, although indicating they would be open to negotiation on the price, they are seeking a sum higher than the valuation amount.
We’ve communicated this to the sales agent and have left our offer on the table. We don’t believe the door is closed, and we’re taking time to pray and consider next steps. There have been no other offers, and the sellers remain keen. (please be mindful of not sharing this information too widely, as it may impact future negotiations).

How you can pray
•  For God’s vision for us as we seek to reach our community
•  For clear guidance—whether He opens or closes the door
•  For His provision, whether through a change in price or additional funding
•  For wisdom about what we as individuals and as a church are able to give

Please do speak with us with any questions or thoughts,

Thank you
KCW Prayer and Planning Team

We will embark on the season of Lent by walking with Jesus into the wilderness, and introducing the Desert Fathers and Mothers; our companions on this journey. Together we will fix their eyes on Jesus, so that we might approach Easter with a heart of prayerful pursuit.