The Broadcast

Ok next up is a very good friend on mine, Senior Associate Minister at Christ Church Surbiton, Tim Chilvers.  Thanks so much Tim for taking the time to chat to me.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Hi.  My name’s Tim Chilvers. I’ve been living in Surbiton, with my wife Clare, for nearly two years now.  Originally, I’m from Gloucestershire, but I’ve been living in the London area for nearly a decade.  I’m 31.  So, still young!? I’m part of the leadership team at an evangelical Anglican church called Christ Church Surbiton.  In my spare time, I love watching movies, art, contemporary culture and spending time with family & friends.

Tell us a bit about your testimony

I grew up in a Christian home, and vividly remember deciding to follow Jesus when I was a little lad.  However, to be honest, it was when I went to university that I really fully understood God’s grace – both in my experience and in my head.  Everything changed from that day on.  I felt more empowered to live for Jesus, discovered a new passion for living for him, and uncovered new gifts to serve him.  Since then I’ve been trying to do my best to serve him and help others follow him too.  In 2006, after some theological training at bible college, my wife and I felt God leading us to my current church, which has been an incredible time of learning!  I am not an Anglican, and to find myself in leadership in an Anglican church has been somewhat strange.  But God has been immensely good as he continues to build his kingdom here in South-West London.

Tell us a bit about your church

It is an evangelical Anglican church, in the diocese of Southwark, London.  Christ Church is a great group of people, who are at varying stages of life, all trying to living for Jesus.  I am the Senior Associate Minister there which involves all aspects of church leadership.  In addition, we have another Associate Minister, an administrator, one person who oversees the small groups (working for the church one-day a week), and another person who does the same overseeing the pastoral/practical care in the church.  We are about to get our new vicar – which we’re very exited about, having been without one for over 2 years!

So why did you decide to come to the Brighton Conference this year?

I have wanted to come to Brighton for years now.  But for one reason or another, I’ve never actually been.  I’d been made aware that Mark Driscoll was going to be there this year, and it seemed a good opportunity to come this year and also learn a bit more about New Frontiers too. 

What seminars did you attend?

As a church leader, I went to the ‘Elders’ stream with Driscoll.  I thought it was a good time.,.and am very glad I went.  I think the Q&A format was actually perfect for that environment. He was always worth listening too, and I sensed that some of what he said was pretty familiar stuff to many in the room and therefore well-received.  However, it seemed that other stuff was actually touching on new ground for many people.  I particularly think that his focus on ‘looking after your family’ was so helpful.  And, the way he carefully described the way in which his church (Mars Hill Church in Seattle) was structured was spot-on.  It was great to be reminded that everything we do should consider the outsider…everything should be done with the person who is not yet in the church in mind.  I naturally have my desires and likes/dislikes, and even theological leanings.  And therefore I can easily focus on these, and forget that it’s all about Jesus and introducing other people to him!

Tell us a bit about your Brighton Conference experience?

I loved it!  Let me mention 3 key things that struck me.  1) The enthusiasm…sure, sometimes exuberance is only on the surface, but it seemed that so many people there were so passionately committed to building Christ’s kingdom. Enthusiasm is infectious!  2) The diversity…because it was an international conference, there was a fantastic mixture of people.  Truly humbling. I’ve no idea how diverse a UK-only New Frontiers conference would be, but it was truly great to worship God with thousands of people from all across the planet.  3) The sense of mission…this wasn’t just a conference for people to enjoy themselves and get an inspiration-injection for another year.  No, there was a genuine sense that New Frontiers wants to reach out to the globe, and there was a tangible expectation that every individual there would play a part in this.

I was slightly disappointed by some of the teaching from the main stage, to be honest.  I love the way that New Frontiers wants to be a people of the ‘word’ and the ‘spirit’.  Without highlighting specific individual sessions, I felt at the time that some sessions were much more helpful than others.  It may just have been me (the conference schedule was pretty packed, after all, and so you can’t take everything in!!), but there were one or two times in which I felt it just wasn’t itching where people were scratching!  Scott Thomas (Acts 29 Network) has said that preachers don’t have to hit home runs every time, but they’ve got to hit singles pretty regularly.  I guess I felt that a couple of the main session were ‘singles’ rather than Home runs!!! (not that I know anything about baseball!)   Oh, and I could have done without the dodgy chairs (was I the only one who had back-ache as a result of them!?!!)…but apart from those little gripes, I absolutely loved the conference!!

I know that the times we spent in wok mania were pretty special but what was the most memorable moment of the conference?

Getting the back of my head on the final DVD promo-thing was pretty special!  Seriously, I would guess that the way in which Mark Driscoll spoke to, and about, the future of New Frontiers and Terry Virgo in that last main session was pretty memorable.  I sensed that it was a huge thing for New Frontiers, but as a leader I also thought he handled it really helpfully…a good example of handling something sensitively, yet not being afraid to confront it.  I remember hearing once that one of THE key things in church planting is to run to confrontation (rather than away from it).  If you run to it, you’ll nip it in the bud and avoid much bigger fall-out later on.  I think Driscoll demonstrated not being afraid to confront things head-on in a godly way…maybe that’s a reason why his church is growing so successfully?!  The art of confrontation is something I really need to learn, and I would guess many other leaders do too.

Are you planning to come next year?

I may well do…we’ll see!  It was good to learn a bit more about New Frontiers, and I was really encouraged by a group of people who clearly love Jesus, and have a godly biblical passion to tell others about him.  Why wouldn’t I want to spend more time with such a group of people?!

Whats on your i-pod?

Lots, but I’m currently listening to Bon Iver, Aaron Jerome and a lot of Tim Keller sermons!

 What books are by your bed?

I guess like lots of leaders, I have loads of books by my bed that I dip in and out of a lot (and some of which I dip in and out of very little!).  I’ve currently got 4 on the go:  ‘Crime and Punishment’ (by Dostoevsky), which I thought I ought to read, but is actually really good!  ‘A busy Christians Guide to busyness’ (by Tim Chester) which is very helpful, particularly for those of us who aren’t very good at managing time.  ‘Crazy Love’ (by Francis Chan), which is well worth a read – asking the question about what church is really for and what it should really be like.  ‘Black Mass’ (by John Gray) – if you’ve not read any of John Gray’s stuff, it is well worth looking at.  He’s a philosopher at LSE, and helpfully deconstructs some of the contemporary philosophies (eg. the new atheism, humanism etc) from a non-Christian perspective.   He’s a challenging read, and you won’t agree with much that he says, but he is fascinating.  (A good book to start at is ‘Straw Dogs’, or if you’d rather listen in, he did a lecture at LICC in June, which is available here.)

What author, artist, musician is doing it for you at the moment?

Tim Keller is often worth listening to…it’s fantastic that New Frontiers have got him coming for your leaders conference.  His book ‘The Reason for God’ is the best Christian book I’ve read for a while.  Artist-wise…I’m still struck by an exhibition of Anish Kapoor’s work in Munich that I saw not too long ago…particularly a huge installation involving deep red wax.