Sometimes one moment can be the key to change everything in our life. What if your moments of overcoming struggles could become the launch pad for a mission that transforms the lives of others?
I’m John. At 30, I thought my life was over. I was in crippling debt, my marriage was ending... I had lost everything. Then my friend Paul invited me to church...
Jesus utterly transformed me, my family and my future. I started Christians Against Poverty (CAP), and over 25 years we saw 150,000 lives lifted from debt, and 1000s more come to know Jesus.
Jesus is the most generous gift we could offer... but somehow after handing CAP on, I found myself in a Christian bubble, struggling to share my faith personally. The Evangelical Alliance released research that showed that so many Christians WANT to share Jesus, but they’re also stuck in Christian bubbles, don’t have the confidence, or know what to do. God gave me Isaiah 61:1 and told me that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord was upon ME to share good news. I founded the Isaiah 61 Movement to find a way that EVERY Christian can start sharing life, sharing faith and sharing Jesus. It’s not an overnight journey, but I can’t express the joy I felt last month when I invited my friend to church, and by His Spirit, she found Jesus!
Today, the Isaiah 61 Movement is thriving and growing, partnering with churches across the UK to build Jesus sharing culture. We stand as a testimony to how Jesus' generosity, flowing through His people, advances His kingdom and ours as well. Even as a small team of three, we have made generosity one of our core values. We decided to give away our video series and the i61m App for free, rather than charging churches or individuals. It's incredible how God has provided for us, often just in time or even later.
John Kirkby CBE, Isaiah 61 movement
Reflect
"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty". Proverbs 11:24 (NIV)
Pray
Pray for a heart open to sharing Jesus with others, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Ask God for courage and boldness to step out of any ‘Christian bubble’ and build authentic relationships where faith can be shared naturally. Pray for those who don’t yet know Jesus, that their hearts would be prepared to receive His love and truth. Finally, thank God for the generosity of ministries like the Isaiah 61 Movement, and pray for His provision and blessing over their work as they inspire others to share life, faith, and Jesus.
Act
Acts for you to consider today:
| Invite a friend to join you at church tomorrow. | ||
| Ask a family member or a neighbour if they have anything that's broken that you can fix. | ||
| Go on a prayer walk. Find places to stop and pray. Reflect on your faith journey and give thanks. |
Share
Follow 40acts on our socials! Don't miss out as we share reaction to the 40acts movement every day during Lent.
About Isaiah 61 Movement
i61m exists to help Christians put action to their intention when it comes to sharing Jesus. So many of us want to, we just don't know how. Through a unique combination of technology (i61m app, available on all app stores) and group accountability (through church partners) they help empower Christians on a journey of sharing life, faith and Jesus through the setting of intentional ‘acts’. We launched in March 2023 and have seen 2,000+ Christians supported on this journey.
