Welcome...
This blog is a place of gratitude for the support and inspiration of two people. Phil and Nicola Garnham have taught Mission Studies in different guises at The Salvation Army Training College for 12 years. Their time at the college has come to a close as they continue in local church at Raynes Park.
Their influence through never accepting the status quo; through championing authentic 'grace centred' mission; through always asking why and being quiety subversive for the kingdom will be missed.
This blog represents a space for you to say thank you for the influence they have had on you and your ministry.
Please just leave your comments and thoughts through clicking on 'comment'.
posted by Gordon @ 1:29 AM
28 Comments:
Phil/Nicola thanks !
Thanks for your gentle encouragement, support, and motivation. Thanks for your interest and influence. Thanks - above all - for helping me to see mission for what it is and for what mission isn’t. Thanks for opening ministry for me by guiding my thoughts to discovering the power of ‘grace’ centred mission.
We’re going to miss you guys from the ‘mission commune’ of the second floor.
Gordon
'Evangelism is mission but mission is more than evangelism, discuss.' Because of the both of you I am still discussing this topic. I want to thankyou for the way that you have preached and lived out the Kingdom. Thankyou for helping me on to this Kingdom journey, and for the way you have both been so passionate and souled out to what you are about.
When you become the Sally Army's first joint General position, Catherine and I would be only to willing to carry your bags.
Blessings and prayers,
Jonny Smith
I remember our first induction, at Thetford, where I stood up and said "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Major David Evans was our DYO at the time and leading the induction and he asked afterwards "Was Phil Garnham your Mission Tutor at the college." Must have been something I said. We are now at Bourne and replanting the corps at Stamford. Interesting that you were once the officers at Stamford when it was the thriving corps that planted us at Bourne. It is wonderful how God links us all together in His ministry and for His glory. We learned a lot from you both and will always be grateful for your influence and contagious Christianity which we caught a little of. The ripple effect of your ministry during your time at the college will go on to touch the whole world.
Captains David & Diane Kinsey
Bourne
Phil helped me in Doctrine, to clarify my own theology. It may never be quoted in an essay, but it will continue to mould my life, my beliefs and how I approach my ministry.
We also had a wonderful weekend of fellowship when Phil led our Corps retreat, which was a great weekend. Nicola too, whilst quieter where I saw her was a great tower of strength for her own ministry, for Phil and the family.
I pray God's blessing on them both, thank God for them and know that Raynes Park are in Good hands.
Captains Stuart & Paula Ashman
Haverhill
Hi Phil and Nicola,
What can we say! Your heart and passion for mission have influenced us tremendously. Your influence as individuals and as a couple have moulded us in how we see our ministry and directed us in how we work it out. You taught us not just to do, but to think mission. Your integrity and humility have been a great example to us. Thank you too for all your continuous encouragement.
And who can forget Phil's doctrine lesson "The Holy Spirit... yeah... good stuff! What d'ya reckon?" (The rest of the lesson left open for discussion!)
May your influence continue to impact many more - especially Raynes Park.
Lots of love,
Chris and Liesl Baldwin
Falmouth
Phil and Nicola you were our inpirational sectional officers from 1994-95 and we loved your laid back approach and genuine care for us. You were an inspiration and continue to be our inspiration. The college has been richer for your investment in cadets.
Your legacy at Cliff College Nicola, lives on for those 10 of us in our 2nd year of the MA in Evangelism. Martyn Atkins continues to hold up your dissertation as the model dissertation. Hope you continue to thrive on God at Raynes Park.
Every blessing
Iain and Alison Hudson
Phil and Nicky,
Well, at last you escape the madhouse! Which will be a great shame for those inmates who won't benefit from your passion and commitment for God's mission.
Mission lectures with you were one of the reasons that I survived the first year of college...and I know that's the truth also for many of my session mates. Your 100% barmy-ness for God and cracking the post-modern question were a real inspiration for someone who was struggling to find their identity.
But now you can be free to serve the guys at Raynes Park - I know you feel privileged, and I'm sure they do too. I know you're going to see incredible things happen in you and through you.
God is good eh?!
Martin Thompson
Phil and Nicky - thankyou! That word seems weak really for what you guys offered but its the best i've got. Your support and encouragement was unfaultable - not just as tutors but as fellow worshippers.
I will always remember my time at the Dawn project as my PIP. I am building on experiences there in my current job working with guys at the Skinnergate Resettlement Unit in Perth as manager of our furniture project. Plus, I still have the powerpoint slides from when you (Phil) spoke at Souled Out on "The Battle belongs to the Lord". Who can forget that epic united Bible Reading from 2 Chronicles 20 on Jehoshaphat!!
I know God will use you guys in a mighty way at Raynes Park. That's a fantastic place for you as it's a church that's never been frightened to tread new ground in the name of Jesus. Continue to give 'em Heaven!
Carol-Anne joins me in wishing God's richest blessings on you and your family.
Dan & Carol-Anne Rous
(webmaster@perthuk.co.uk)
Phil and Nicky -
I think that you are probably the most affirming people I have ever met!-
Which was a very healing thing for me when I experienced it at college and so I was encouraged to do likewise (I'm trying..)
I also think that God has blessed you with great intellect, great love and the power of his Spirit, and I know he will use all of these gifts and others for his glory in what I think I'm starting to understand is the foundation for all ministry - leading the local church.
(But keep writing and speaking elsewhere, won't you!)
God bless
Paul Knight
P.S. What shall we do today?! (Mission statement)
Phil and Nicky,
Your influence on both of us extends way back before college to our Southwark days. I would be surprised if we'd even gone to college without role models like you. Knowing that you guys were on the staff made it a lot easier taking the plunge.
Thanks for the fantastic lectures and seminars throughout college, your encouragement and above all your spirits that are so obviously immersed in Christ.
We hope to catch up with you soon and we often remember you and your ministry in Raynes Park.
nick and kerry Coke
Phil & Nicky
Well an era is certainly coming to an end as you guys finish your time at WBC! You are two fantastic people who really do model Christlikeness - thank you for your example. Mission classes with you were just the best. You really helped me to understand what mission is about and stretched my thinking. What really shone through was that you not only studied and taught mission but you were actively engaged in mission. So thank you for your integrity in putting into practice all that you taught us. Thank you too for your encouragement and interest.
May God bless you in your ministries at Raynes Park - remember its God's mission - he just allows us to take part!
Looking forward to continuing to work with you guys on the pastoral team of Roots.
Praying God's blessings on you both
David Williamson
Dear Phil & Nicola
Simply your quiet, gracefilled ministry changed mine. There are too many moments to relate but your love for the(interesting!!)people of Camberwell changed my perspective of ministry and taught me more than you realise about grace. Your integrity in family life, church life and life in general was a lesson to anyone who cared to observe; your lectures weren't bad either.
As I approach my wedding day I want to say a heart felt thanks to Phil for being one of the very few people who took time to listen to me and actually believed what I was saying, and prayed as if he believed. Thank you Phil, you have no idea how much that meant to me.
Love to you both
Darren Cox
Quietly subversive... This has usually been true of Nicky, but not always of Phil, particularly when behind closed doors. Another blogspot called "noisily ranting" might be more appropriate for him... However Phil and Nicky, it was a joy to be in ministry just down the road from you both.
Early on at Southwark, you encouraged Sandra and I to step out in faith in ways that we might not have had the courage to do otherwise. And then when you took up local ministry in Camberwell, it was great to support each other and work together, and be part of an amazing Officers' Fellowship together!
You taught us so much about living with passion and grace, and we thank God for you. We look forward to seeing how God will continue to use you both in
the future.
Yours with love,
Steve and Sandra Calder
There's a scene in Dead Poet's Society where the class tutor is confronted by the establishment for encouraging students to rip up the books, think freely, challenge the way things are done . . .the climax being, one by one, students climb their desks with the words "Captain, my Captain" - it is an awesome demonstration of student loyalty, tutor influence and combined revolution.
Helen and I are on our desks.
Enough said.
Love Oz & Hel.
Dear Phil and Nicola
I don't think you will ever really know just how profound an influence you have both been (and continue to be) on people like me - people who've had the privilege of experiencing your leadership. I can only agree with the many others comments posted on this site - references to your grace, your friendship, your passion for the Kingdom are all justified. You are two people who embody the love of Jesus and his values in the world.
Phil - I will never forget my Doctrine classes during my first year in College. I quite literally loved every minute of them - even when I thought my head was going to explode with questions.
Nicola - like Iain (Hudson) says, when anyone at Cliff College enquires whose dissertation they should look at to see how it should be done - Martyn Atkins always mentions your name!
Thank you for being the inspirational people that you are.
With love and prayers
Janet Robson
Dear Phil and Nicola,
We did not have either of you as tutors or sectional officers during our time in college, but we were inspired by your passion for mission and for relevant engagement with the lost. We were also very conscious of your yearning after God. We have always loved how 'normal' you have been in everything - your family life, your zeal for prayer, your constant challenge of the status quo.
You are great encouragers too - you were in college as we talked together whilst walking our children to and from school, as we ate meals in the canteen. And you've carried on being an inspiration and an encouragement to this day everytime we've met up and had an opportunity to talk.
We know that the influence you have had on so many people during your time in College will impact the effectiveness of the Army for the Kingdom for many years to come.
We pray that you will continue to have a fantastic time at Raynes Park, and that you leadership there will be just as fruitful.
With our love,
Norman & Christine Ord
You had a BIG impact on us. It meant a lot to be uplifted and affirmed by you in the conversations we had through training, and the teaching never failed to invigorate. You are authentic - as disciples and officers (not least because you taught and did mission simultaneously). Not a whisper of the petty, destructive debates that preoccupy many Salvationists. That's why we left College wanting to do the biz as you did it.
Favourite quote from Phil: "Why is it that some people emphasise the fruits and others emphasise the gifts? I want the fruits and the gifts!"
The old chums at RPCC are in the best of hands. May God give you wisdom and fire in your ministry!
Matt and Lynne
Phil and Nikki are dear friends whose ministry at the College commenced when I was responsible for the training programme.
What a valuable asset they proved to be in so many ways. People often refer to the blessing of the by-product and this story is a classic example: brought to the college specifically for mission and doctrine teaching, and envisioning cadets, they added so much more - an incalculable amount - to the mainstream spirituality of the college! They were such caring and sensitive Section Officers whose discernment at the time of the Review discussions on each Cadet proved to be nothing less than inspirational. Their contribution to the encouragement of worship development - in the face of much suspicion and not a little opposition -was also profound and marked a turning point. The cadets started having their own informal worship sessions midweek initiated and gently pastored by P&N was a tremendously important safety valve amidst the frustrations of much very traditional and rather formal mainstream worship at the College. I was personally greatly blest by this ministry and always very glad to give unconditional and wholehearted support to this powerful and crucial ministry (all of which was behind the scenes stuff and hugely valued by a large cross-section of Cadets).
Cadets loved the classes and lectures provided by P&N and yet they were both so self-effacing and humble in their estimates of what they were doing. I am not sure to this day if they are able to fully appreciate what they have added to the lives of so many people.
There is so much more I could say: I must restrain myself or this will become a dissertation! Sufficient to say that I know God will go on using them and I wish I could be a member of their regular congregation. What a privilege that would be!
Alan Bateman
Will the college ever be the same? No more will its corridors ring with stories of hiding in telephone boxes and tales of odd items of furniture being thrown at Camberwell corps...
We guess the college will cope. But we know that God will be using you both mightily in this next chapter of your lives.
Thanks Phil for being an inspirational tutor. It has already been said that you taught and then lived-out what you taught. You've challenged me to do likewise.
God Bless,
Martin & Leanne Cordner
Doctrine classes, easter campaign, sectional officers, mission studies, overnight accomodation are all ways in which you have been inspirational and helpful to us.
You have both been tremendous examples of Godliness, faithfulness,grace and loads of other things. Your teaching styles impacted us both greatly and hopefully has modelled the way in which Steve is able to teach here.
You have played a special and important part in our lives and none more so than on our wedding day. We remain so grateful for what you did that day, and remember still the sermon about the wedding at Cana and the example of God's extravagant grace.
Never underestimate the impact you've had on our understanding of Christian living and leadership and no doubt you will continue to have a similar impact on others in the days that lie ahead.
Every blessing to you both.
Gillian and Steve.
Dear Phil and Nicky,
Thank you for being the bright sparks in the many dull moments of college. Thank you for your passion and your humility. Thankyou for your service at Camberwell, we pray God's blessings on you as you continue to serve Him with zeal.
Louisa and Gio Parrales.
When we think of you both, our hearts swell with love for you. You have consistently offered us acceptance, encouragement and love. Your lives reflect so much of God's beauty and peace. Thank you Phil and Nicky for modelling authentic Christianity.
In college, you opened up your lives to us so readily it both inspired and challenged us. You have been role models in all areas our lives - as husband and wife, parents, friends and Officers.
Your humility, passion, integrity, patience, wisdom and honesty have touched us again and again.
Thank you for not forgetting us once we left college but in fact investing in us more.
You know how important you are to us as a family - driving from Newcastle to London just to get a hug from you both was a sure sign!
In recent months, thank you for listening, accepting and encouraging us.
We are excited about your future and that of your children. To see their passion for Jesus is a great testiment to who you both are. We will continue to pray for you all.
Much love
Iain and Michelle
‘All men dream but not equally’.
That’s what T.E. Lawrence reckoned anyway. He went on to say that ‘those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to the day to find it was all vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.’
Over the last year there have been many times when you have encouraged us to keep dreaming and daring to act them out, and for that we thank you. Your love and support are much appreciated, while your passion and zest for the things of the Kingdom have inspired us both. You are dangerous people indeed!
Our prayer is that you will continue to ‘grasp the nettles of new wine-skins’ and dream with your eyes wide open!
With love and respect: Nick and Lisa
Phil and Nicky
What a blessing you were to us at the College.
You were down to earth, spiritual, dedicated, humble, encouraging, inspiring.
We'll always treasure the times we spent together. Our kids also still remember your kids and how they used to write messages to each other and show them through the window after bed-time.
You are a precious family.
God bless you
Love in Christ
Haris and Anna
Dear Phil & Nicola,
Thanks loads for your teaching and great jokes(!?)
I still don't know how you juggled so much when you were at College but now you are foccussing on one mission in one place we pray that God will empower you both to really 'part the waters' down in Raynes Park!
Love Matt & Jo Reid
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You turned my thought further kingdomward. Many of your lines speak to me in day to day ministry. Every blessing.
Andrew Clark
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