Roy Todd's BLOG

Is it wrong to feel melancholic?

2012-01-18T11:50:00.001Z

Did you know that every individual person is actually three people? First, there's the person you think you are. Second, there's the person you want others to think you are. Third, there's the REAL you. This blog address number 3 - the real you.

In that spirit of realness, lets think about something that 90% of us have to one level or another. It's called 'melancholy'. Is it a weakness or a strength? Some say it's a weakness - a hinderance that stunts effectiveness and slows progress. The latter view can be right….if we don't know how to handle it. The danger of feeling melancholic is that it can lead to a downward spiral of insularity and intraspectivness which can ultimately knock a persons confidence (and those around them).This is especially the case when you derive your value merely from your performance. The problem with this is that you can't perform all the time - something which many try to do! But thats physically, emotionally and mentally impossible. And even when performing at full speed, there will inevitably be bad days. So when those days come, what are you going to do? Where do you find solace? What is going to lift your confidence and make you feel valuable again? For a leader, that search can sometimes lead to dangerous places. It's never wise to build your whole foundation merely on how well you feel you're performing.

But can there be strengths to having touches of melancholy? Well, I find there can be. And the secret is in knowing how to handle them. I've found that my greatest creativity has emerged from moments of melancholy. There is incredible power in taking time to be still. Perhaps melancholy (for me) is the tension between inaction and action - the coming to terms with where I've been and the getting to grips with where I'm going. When you're full of idea's and vision, it is incredibly challenging to be still. Those melancholic moments can be painful. But when you learn how to make the most of them, what can actually emerge is a touch of genius. For me, it's a time to reflect, pray and allow my creative juices to be replenished. No, that doesn't mean they're pleasant. But then, life is not always pleasant! It's like revising for an exam - hardly the most wonderful experience - but absolutely vital.

Instead of allowing melancholy to work against me, I've learnt to make it work for me. Either those moments can drive us to a place to negativity and despair - or we can use them to help us become better, more rooted people. It is worth pointing out however that the latter will never happen if we cut ourselves off from other people. If anything, that's the time you need to be around the right people more than ever.

I'm always inspired by the life and music of George F Handel, a composer who was broken, bankrupt and deeply melancholic. But in his moments of melancholy, he allowed his music to develop, exploring new avenues and sounds. Then his opportunity came - and his creativity poured like a waterfall. He composed his famous 'Messiah' score in a mere 21 days! But the REAL truth is that his ingenious music was birthed in his moments of melancholy. He made them work for him.

So is it wrong to feel melancholic? Not necessarily. Melancholy only becomes a problem when you pander to it and let it overcome you. But learn to use those melancholic moments to your advantage, and you'll discover creativity and beauty like you've never known before. Hold your nerve and dare to be still for a while.

Errrrr....WHY?

2011-12-15T16:03:00.006Z

Archie Norman, chairman of ASDA UK, conducted all his board meetings without seats. He claimed standing up for the entire duration of each meeting caused members to think and speak more succinctly. I reckon he had a point.

I hate committee meetings. I was once part of one – and to this day, I have no idea why I was there. Even the mice in the room were throwing themselves into the traps! It was pointless because nobody knew the answer to the most important question....’WHY?’

Here are 3 questions every team ought to ask: 1. WHY are you here? 2. WHERE are you going? 3. HOW are you going to get there?

Long committee meetings and endless debates are the sign of one fundamental problem: NO VISION. Vision should ALWAYS be obvious. The WHY is what determines the WHERE and the HOW.

Vision needs to excite people. It needs to be cheeky. It needs to warm the cockles of a person’s heart and send a goosebump or two down the spine. Vision explains WHY you do WHAT you do. When it’s clear, it keeps people focussed. But when there’s no vision....frustration grows and grows and grows. And when you don’t know ‘WHY?’, that, ladies and gentlemen, is fatal.

Church Planting Lessons 1 year on...

2011-10-18T11:05:00.006+01:00

J24 church is just over 1 year old. It was planted from scratch. There was literally nothing there before. Now, there’s a church. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s a work in progress. But I think it’s brilliant! So a year on into the church planting journey, what have I learned? Here’s some lessons:

Hold your nerve
One of the best bits of advice I ever heard is ‘You’re never as good as you are on your best day. But you’re never as bad as you are on your worst’. Know where God wants you to go. It’s gonna take while. But you are going to get there. So hold your nerve.

Enjoy it!
Lots of church leaders take themselves far too seriously! But in church planting, if you’re too intense about it, you end up getting burnt out. Enjoy the ride – bumps and all.

Do the best you can.
Excellence isn’t about having all the resources in the world. It’s about doing the very best you can with what you’ve got. And it’s AMAZING how much you can do with a little.

Focus on who IS there!
It’s not wise to invest time focusing on who doesn’t show up. What’s the point? We’ve got a bunch of awesome people who love being there week after week! So I invest all my energies in them. They are brilliant – and they inspire me more than they know.

Ban the 80/20 rule
You know THAT 80/20 rule? It’s the conventional wisdom that says that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Well, that’s just banned at J24. It’s all hands on deck for us.

Do a few things – and do them well
Don’t think that needs much explanation.

Lead
Lots of people think leadership is easy. It’s isn’t. Especially in church. But no-matter how much you try to explain that – it’s unfair to expect people to understand if they haven’t been there. That’s just leadership for you. But whatever you feel, whatever you’re going through, whatever is happening....LEAD!

Receive great input
We’ve had input at J24 from people like J John, Stuart Bell, Duane White, James Galloway, Jon Cook, Paul Benger, John Andrews and others. I love and respect these guys – and bringing them in has made a HUGE difference to the life of our church. Why? Because they’re further on than us – and they want us to succeed. I like that.

Learn
Ok...confession time: “I, Roy Todd, am a work in progress.” I’ve learned loads in the past year. I’ve learnt about people. I’ve learnt about church. I’ve learnt about myself! Honestly....by the time I get to 150 years old, I’ll have cracked this church planting business. Learnt lots.....lots to learn. And I’m loving it!

Model Culture
Culture doesn’t come naturally. It’s the behaviour we learn. One of our cultural values at J24 is honour. But as a leader....it’s a bit pompous to stand up and say ‘Right you lot....you must now honour me. That’s an order!’ The best way to define the culture you want is to model it. Honour people. Love people. Respect people. Journey with people. People follow the behaviour of the leader. They’ll do what you do! So take responsibility.

One year on...we’re still a church plant. But looking back over the past year, we’ve made great progress. The church is growing and we’re seeing people released to serve God. Still a long way to go. But hey...the best is yet to come! Promise.

Don’t get fooled by easy victories!

2011-07-29T11:11:00.003+01:00

I know boxing isn’t to everyone’s liking – but I must say, I like a good boxing match. Must be in my blood!

Well, I’ve been on vacation in Spain for the past two weeks (suffering for our Lord). On one particularly hot day, I decided to have a look through the boxing video collection in the apartment where we’re staying (as you do). Now I mean...these are VIDEOS...remember them...videos? In case you’ve forgotton, they were huge big blocks that made a louder noise than a Boeing 747 each time you inserted it into the VCR machine.

Anyway, I came across a video I just HAD to watch. ‘The Rumble in the Jungle 1974 – Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman’. Now THAT was a match.

George Foreman had been the world heavyweight champion for 2 years. During that time, no match he’d fought had gone longer than two rounds. He destroyed every opponent he faced – and dominated the sport. But along came the former champion, Muhammad Ali. Now at the grand old age of 32, he was by this stage past his prime, a little slower and not as agile as what he’d once been. But still, a serious challenge – far more serious than anyone Foreman had faced so far in his reign as champion.

Foreman’s tactic was to go hard and knock out Ali within the first few rounds. After all, that’s how he’d dealt with every other opponent over the past two years. And he knew Ali wasn’t quite the ‘float like a butterfly’ boxer he’d once been. But Foreman badly underestimated his opponent. Ali’s tactic was simple...get in there, take the biggest beating of his life, defend himself, hang on for dear life...and then when the opportunity arose, STRIKE. And that is exactly what happened.

As Foreman went in for the quick win in those early rounds, he over-exhausted himself. As the match went on, he became weaker and weaker. Meanwhile, Ali cleverly exploited this, taunting Foreman with words like ‘Is that the best you’ve got?’ Then in round 8, as Foreman was tiring and faint, Ali did what he still could do...and stung like a bee! And boy oh boy did he sting...with pin-point accuracy! That right hook had once again won him another famous KO. The old champ was back! Hip hip...

As I watched, I was struck again (no pun intended!) by a huge lesson to be learned from George Foreman’s tactics in this match...which is the danger of quick fix victories. It was because Foreman didn’t pace himself that he lost. He’d exerted all his energies into winning in the first few rounds. But he’d not planned for the match going on for longer. By round 8, he had nothing left to give and succumbed to defeat.

Lots of people invest all their energies into getting the quick result. There’s an impatience and ambition that, in many ways, is admirable. But little thought is given to the long haul. Truth is...the crowd will always find Charisma far more attractive than character. Quick results and easy victories are pleasant to the eye. Charisma has a certain pizzazz about it that actually attracts the crowd...until of course, it loses a battle. Then the crowd turns. And the truth is...not every battle will yield an easy victory. Foreman found this to his cost.

In the long term, character is what people will respect. While charisma goes for the quick win, character goes for longevity. Charisma tires quickly. Character is like a fine wine...it just keeps getting better and better. And here’s a truth that may come as a shock to many charismagics! Ready? There are NO quick fixes with God. What he does is ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’. Until we learn this, we will never reach anything like our full potential. Lots of people want success NOW! But it’s not the way God works. God is a builder. He is BUILDING His church. If we’re going here, there and everywhere in search of a quick fix...and NOT involved in God’s building process, then we are well and truly out of sync with the Almighty!

The Rumble in the Jungle must have felt more like ‘humbled in the jungle’ for George Foreman. The 24 year old had got it all wrong. Yet in the midst of it all, he learnt a powerful lesson about pacing himself for the long haul. And that’s the thing about George Foreman that earns him so much respect today...he learnt the lesson. How do we know? Because 20 years later...at the grand old age of 44 when boxers should be retired and in the care home (or wherever they go), old George Foreman went on to become the world heavyweight champion once again...one of the greatest comebacks in the history of boxing.

We would do well to learn the lessons too. Don’t be fooled by easy victories. It’s what happens in the long term that REALLY counts. As Paul the apostle neared the end of his life, he looked back and said ‘I have fought the good fight’ (you see, he must have liked boxing too!). And that’s what we all ought to aim for.

Hold your nerve!

2011-07-24T17:29:00.004+01:00

If Jesus’ success were to be measured by how many disciples stood with him at the very moment he really needed their support, then he’d be deemed to have failed. One of his disciples (Judas) was treacherous and disloyal. Another (Peter) denied even knowing him. In fact, every single one of his disciples deserted him. Interestingly, the only people who really stayed loyal to the very end were...women. Mary (his mother) and the sisters Mary and Martha simply refused to leave...and showed far more courage than all the men put together.

In leadership, people come and go. It’s disappointing when they do go. But it happens. You can love them, care for them, believe in them, help them, cry with them, laugh with them, encourage them, champion them, water them, burp them, pray with them, journey with them...but the harsh truth is, all that can be so easily forgotten in a moment. When someone has a gripe, you can go from being hero to villain in a day! That’s leadership for you!

Think about it....Jesus healed thousands of people. He performed numerous miracles. He even raised the dead. But all that was soon forgotten. Within the space of one week, the crowd went from declaring him ‘BLESSED!’ to shouting ‘CRUCIFY!!’ Fickle? You’d better believe it! That’s people for you!

So there you have it. There is nothing new under the sun. Poo happens. Leadership is tough...even for Jesus. Anyone who thinks leadership is easy has clearly NEVER led anything in their life! Oh yes...it’s easy to carp and snipe from the sidelines. And yes...it’s easy to have an opinion when you don’t have to do anything about it! But leadership isn't merely about having opinions...it's about about making decisions, often tough decisions. Good leadership takes them thoughtfully and decisively, whether they’re popular or not.

Yet, in the midst of pressure and disappointment, Jesus remains by far our GREATEST example of great leadership. What did he do when it seemed everyone else had given up? How did he respond when he was betrayed and denied? Well...He refused to quit. He kept going. He stayed the course. He held his nerve, saw the big picture and paid the ultimate price for what he passionately believed in...PEOPLE!

In leadership, never underestimate the power of holding your nerve. When disappointment strikes, don’t permit cynicism to creep in. Sure...learn the lessons. But remain on course and pursue your convictions. Short term pain is nothing in comparison to the dream of seeing future generations impacted. Remember, as a leader, if YOU don’t see it before THEY see it, then neither YOU nor THEY will ever see it!! Heb12:2 explains what kept Jesus going despite suffering and pain‘...for the joy set before him’.

So leader...hold your nerve! Chances are, you're doing better than you think.

Christmas! WHAT?!?!?

2011-06-29T17:06:00.007+01:00

OK...it's only June...I know...its ridiculous!! But those 180 or so days left to Christmas will go pretty quickly. And I'm sure you're aware that here in Britain, Christmas is, by far, the most fruitful time of connecting with those who are unchurched.

So I'm asking you to prayerfully consider hosting my new Christmas event this year which I'm touring with from 5-17 December. It's called 'Christmas: Hope & Wonder'.

It's a relaxed evening of music and inspiration that really captures the spirit of the season. I'll be performing some Christmas piano instrumental music - and sharing some inspirational Christmas stories - maybe a bit of humour too! (You can find out more about my music at www.roytoddmusic.co.uk ). I'm really looking forward to this and I'm confident people who come will really enjoy the evening. As well as myself performing, I'm delighted that Monique will be joining me. She's a brilliant R&B singer whose music is becoming increasingly popular in the UK and beyond. I know people will love her music. You can read about Monique at www.moniquemusic.com

All in all, it'll be a great night for people to invite their family and friends along and hear the message of Christmas in a really relaxed atmosphere. One thing to note...this event will not be suitable for kids under 12. So, it's a good excuse for parents to have a night out on their own! Then again, maybe you can provide a creche?

So whats the cost? Well...I'm not charging. Thats up to you...though your generousity would be appreciated. It will be best to ticket the event so we know how many are coming. I'd love to see your venue packed to the doors.

And what about advertising? Well...we'll design and provide that for you. This is really high quality at very low cost (e.g. 1000 flyers for £100.) and this would be sent to you well in advance.

If you're interested in hosting, email me at info@roytodd.org back and I'll let you know what dates are available.

Culture that brings out the BEST in people

2011-05-06T13:33:00.007+01:00

When I studied at the school of music in Belfast, I had two piano teachers over a 7 year period. The first was a man called Tom Davidson. He was a fantastic performer who used to mesmerise me with his brilliance. But as a teacher, he wasn’t the greatest. He’d come into the lesson smoking a cigarette - and would continue smoking throughout the entire lesson! And as for his temper....well, that was extremely short. I was on the receiving end of many a telling off (although in fairness, I wasn’t the best of students!). Tom didn’t do compliments either. If his response to a performance was ‘Errrm....not bad’, that meant it must have been excellent! As time went on, I actually grew to like the old man – but the truth is, his lack of encouragement didn’t do a lot for my confidence.

Tom unfortunately died. So I was sent to a new piano teacher called Rita Goldsmith. She wasn’t the best pianist in the world, certainly not nearly as good as Tom - but an outstanding teacher. She was encouraging – and her ethos was very different from Tom’s. Whereas Tom was a perfectionist who would go ballistic over every note that wasn’t played correctly – Rita took the encouraging approach. She used to say ‘If you play a wrong note, make it THE most wonderful wrong note that has ever been played!’ She allowed for failure – and gave her students the confidence to make mistakes. She’d say ‘If you make a mistake...don’t EVER stop. Keep playing. Do it with a bit of pizzazz and no-one will ever notice!’ It wasn’t that she was encouraging mistakes – she was encouraging confidence! And the result was that her students tended to make far fewer mistakes because they stopped being self conscious of always getting it wrong! That was an atmosphere in which I thrived – and loved!

If we REALLY want people to succeed, then we do well to remember that this will not happen in a culture that’s critical and mean spirited. That kind of environment just draws out the insecurities people already have and accentuates the negative. Real leadership is about having the courage to define a culture that brings out the best in people. It allows for mistakes – whilst journeying with them to see them get better.

Out of both my piano teachers, it's interesting that it was the less gifted of the two who helped me most. She wasn’t the best musician in the world. But that wasn’t the point. Her job was not to impress me week after week with her performances – but to help me get better. And that’s what true greatness is...or as Mark Twain put it ‘Great people are those who make others feel that they too can become great’

Radio Interview on Derren Brown

2011-05-03T22:53:00.003+01:00

Last week, I was interviewed by UCB radio and asked my thoughts on Derren Brown's latest television programme. Here's the interview...

News

2011-04-27T11:54:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 14th May 2011, I’ll be hosting a one day conference called ‘Release’.

It’s all about creating a culture of faith and expectancy in local churches – so that we can see lots more of the miraculous. Truth is...EVERY Christian can see God work miraculously in and through our lives. It’s got nothing to do with being flaky or weird – and everything to do with faith and expectancy.

I’ll be teaching on ‘How to see more healing.' This will be practical and applicable – helping us get to grips with the kind of faith and wisdom that will help us see a greater manifestation of God's healing.

Then, Ps Dave Carr will be teaching on ‘How to be naturally supernatural’. Dave leads the 2000 strong ‘Renewal Christian Centre’ in Solihull – and we’re really honoured to have him with us on the day. Dave has seen many incredible breakthroughs in his life and ministry – and he’ll be sharing invaluable nuggets of wisdom on the day that will truly inspire you to see more.

The day starts at 10:30am and finishes at 4:30pm. Venue is: The Well, Retford (just off the A1 in Notts)

The cost for the day is just £10 per person – and this includes lunch and all drinks. If you’d like to come, you need to book ASAP as we will be finalising numbers in the next few days.
To book online, visit http://www.roytodd.org/conference.html .

A response to Derren Brown

2011-04-26T00:35:00.010+01:00

If the pre-programme publicity were to be believed, Derren Brown’s ‘Miracles for Sale’ (aired on Channel 4 – 25/04/11) was set to be some of his best television work yet. And was it? Well...it was pretty disappointing actually. It certainly wasn't objective - rather, Derren’s attempt to show that ‘faith healers’ (as he calls them) are all frauds. He claimed that there has NEVER been any medical evidence of someone being supernaturally healed. But to make such a sweeping statement without doing some research and at least presenting some evidence so the audience can make up their own mind as to whether or not this is true - that’s just cynical. If he had in fact done some research, he could have been objective and balanced, pointing out that there are indeed cases of medical evidence which could indicate instances of healing that are out of the ordinary. Instead, Derren focusses on a small minority of 'healers' whose practises are undoubtedly questionable - and paints that as the picture of every person who prays for people to be healed! Its like urging people not to eat eggs just because there are a few bad ones around!

The entire premise of Derren’s show was his attempt to expose what he believes to be fakery. But fighting deceit with deceit is just not credible. Its as logical as trying to extinguish fire with fire! And deceive is exactly what the show did. The member of the public who Derren trained as a ‘faith healer’ was clearly extremely uncomfortable at times at the sheer extent of the deceit in which he was involved. To advertise a healing meeting, knowing that this meeting was going to be complete fakery based on a fake ‘ministry’ of a fake ‘healer’ – well, that’s as bad as some of the charlatans who he’s trying to expose in that it knowingly gave entirely false hope to those members of the public who actually turned up! The manner in which the fake healer left the auditorium at the end (after giving a speech in which he wished a special place in hell for faith healers) was deeply unfair on members of the public, who clearly looked confused by the whole thing. And as for Derren’s quest to expose greed and selfishness – I wonder how much money he was paid for making this show? A lot...I suspect. He will not be unhappy with the publicity he’ll be getting from it either.

But despite the deeply flawed premise of the show, it does bring up some valid issues that those of us who passionately believe in God’s healing would do well to take note of. For example, it emphasises the importance of a heart of compassion that truly loves people and wants to serve them by seeing them healed and whole through the message of Jesus. If our heart is sincere to see this happen – then money will NEVER be an issue or a demand. On a personal note, I never make financial charges for events that I lead where I pray for people to be healed. Often, I’ve actually been out of pocket! The important thing is to keep a servant heart. There’s no point in talking about faith if we’re not prepared to practise it.

Then there’s the necessity for wisdom that avoids hype and hysterics. Why would Almighty God, the creater of Heaven and Earth, ever need us to hype Him for a healing meeting? God is REALLY good at what He does!! So there is no need for gimmickry when it comes to praying for people to be healed. Blowing, shouting, screaming, whipping the crowd up into a frenzy and the like – it actually takes away from the power of what God wants to do. Those who pray for the sick MUST be keen to let God be seen – not just in our words, but in action.

We would also do well to learn how to handle testimonies of healing. So often, this is handled with such insensitivity and lack of wisdom. Before giving a story of healing wide publicity, it is wise to allow the recipient opportunity to live in the experience for some time instead of being opportunistic and airing it on TV or publishing it in magazines straight away. The latter will undoubtedly gain a lot of attention for a ministry in the short term – but the former will undoubtedly give credit to God in the long term. Although it is rare for a doctor to write the world ‘MIRACLE’ on a medical report (something which they’re unlikely to do even if they truly believe a miracle has happened), the medical reports can emphasise the ‘out of the ordinary’ nature of someone’s recovery. So to have this actually gives extra credibility to the testimony.

Overall, I was disappointed with Derren’s show. I’m sad that he has taken such a cynical approach and focussed on some of the bad examples (most of the people he mentioned I’ve never even heard of!). Derren is a really likable guy – and it’s not surprising to me why he’s got such a following. I do wonder though if, behind that cynical veneer, there is a heart that is searching for the real thing? Hmmm.

As someone who strongly believes that God heals today – my faith has not changed one iota. I’m convinced the best way to combat bad practice is to model good practice. I will not stop believing...and I actually believe the BEST is yet to come.

Why Clarke Kent is MORE cool than Superman

2011-04-15T22:31:00.000+01:00

Its official. Uncool is the NEW cool! So there is hope for me after all. And this new trend gives me an opportunity to expound a theological position that I have held to for quite some time now which I have never before revealed. Here goes....Yes...I have always believed that Clarke Kent was more cool than superman. Yes I have.

For a start, Superman wore tights and a cape. Now... I must admit, this has often troubled me. The idea of a man trying to project a macho image dressed in tights and a cape is....not believable shall we say. Clarke Kent, on the other hand, had an air of quirkiness and vulnerability about him. He was an eccentric...trying to find his identity and journeying his way through life.

For superman, life was all apparently sorted out. He could save people. He could beat other men up (even while wearing blue tights). He could also blow stuff up with lasers coming out his eyes. Each time he saved someone, he gave them an arrogant look and a cocky wink before flying off into the sunset. Superman was tough and strong...but distant and aloof. And I'm telling you...behind that exterior was a man with issues. Oh yes. And for the record, I do perceive he was a bit of an idiot too. So I really don't care that much about his issues to be honest. Sorry.

Now I know many people will profoundly disagree with me here and take the opposite theological position to me concerning this important issue. Many will love the idea of superman much more than Clarke Kent. But I'm sticking with Clarky boy. To me, he was was the real deal you see. Clarke Kent never tried to be cool. And that's what made him cool. Superman's problem was that he tried too hard. Honestly, trying too hard just gets awkward and unbearable after a while. But Clarke was real and down to earth. He made loads of mistakes. He fumbled around and messed things up sometimes. He was imperfect in very obvious way. But in a strange sense, that's a likeable quality. Oh...and who was the funnier? Tell me? Huh? Yes...Clarke was! Superman wasn't funny at all. In fact, Superman took himself much too seriously. He was boring. Clarke on the other hand was interesting and unpredictable. He didn't have life all worked out...but he was making discoveries along the way.

Now, here is my conclusion to this deeply profound blog. Quit trying to be like Superman and fall down on your knees and thank God for the Clarke Kent within you!! (Somebody shout AMEN!!). You haven't got it all worked out. You don't have the answer to every question. You can't be everything to everybody. But what you do have going for you is that....God has made you YOU. And YOU are the only YOU you're ever going to get. So chill out. Enjoy your eccentricities (I don't have any of course). Be confident. You can't please everybody. But that's ok. That's not what you're called to do. Be who God has destined you to be. Now THAT'S cool. Yeah baby! (ok...that last bit wasn't).

Roy 'Mr Cool' Todd

Why I decided not to buy Rob Bell’s book.

2011-04-06T11:28:00.004+01:00

‘Wait a second! How can anyone comment on Rob Bell’s views without having first read his latest book?’ That’s the cry of many people. Hey...and who could possibly argue with that?

So I’ve decided not to make any comment on the purported contents of the book. In fact, I’ve decided not to buy it at all. Why? No...it’s not because I don’t believe in reading something I may or may not agree with. No no...it’s nothing like that. This is my little protest you see. Yes I know....I’m weird...eccentric...idiotic...not cool...or whatever. But it’s my right. And I’m exercising it.

Actually, maybe my decision isn’t as ignorant as it might first appear? Think about it. This whole chapter (excuse the pun) has been a lesson in not much other than ruthless marketing. And boy oh boy...has it worked! To have bought this book means to have bought into the marketing strategy behind it...which said ‘You MUST read this. This book is controversial. This book is important. If you don’t read this book, YOU’RE an idiot.’ The marketing people must have jumped for joy each time they heard people say ‘Wait a second! How can anyone comment on Rob Bell’s views without having first read his latest book?’

No doubt hundreds of thousands of copies have already been sold (perhaps millions). And a few publishing executives are now sitting in their cosy offices thinking....’Haha, those stupid Christians! Thank God for them (if there is a God?).’

They’ve achieved exactly what they wanted. They’ve done all the things they needed to do in order to stir controversy, create intrigue and make money. And many thousands have bought into it. Rob Bell’s done well. The publishing company have done well. In two or three years time...when the book is but a distant memory, they’ll still be living off its ‘blessings’. ‘We win’ might have been a more honest title.

Fair game to them. They’ve done a good job. But not on me. Oh no. I didn’t buy it. Thats my personal decision. I’m a bit cheeky you see. You know...I’ve never been cool. I tried it once. Didn’t work. Oh well.

Now then...where’s my copy of ‘Lord of the flies’? Toodaloo.

Sobering Thoughts

2011-03-15T11:09:00.005Z

As someone who has given his whole life to communicating the message of Jesus and believing for people to experience miracles, I admit this is a tough blog. It’s not a rant – but it is tough because it gets to the heart of everything people like me are about.

I have observed a common misconception in Charismatic circles. It’s the mistaken assumption that manifestations like prophecy, deliverance and miracles are confirmation and justification of a person’s ministry. For example, I recently heard this kind of teaching promoted on the basis of Peter’s words to the crowd in Acts 2:22:

"Jesus of Nazerath was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs".

The suggestion was that if miracles validated Jesus’ ministry, then they can do the same for any person’s ministry too (i.e. validate the teaching and practices etc). But such thinking really is ludicrous – and dangerous. Acts 2:22 could not be clearer – miracles confirm Jesus ministry – not any person’s. And in Mark 16:17, Jesus himself clearly defines the purpose of miraculous ‘signs’ as being for the purpose of accompanying – or confirming HIS MESSAGE. He says:

“Go into all the world and preach the good news...And these signs accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

There is nothing about them validating a person’s ministry or character. The purpose of the miraculous is ALWAYS to point towards the Lordship of Jesus Christ – and they act as ‘signs’ of his Kingdom rule. If this purpose is not clear in our minds, then the danger is that we could be deluded into thinking that miracles act as validation (and even excuse) for all kinds of erroneous teaching and dubious character.

Take the events of Lakeland, Florida in 2008 for example. Were people healed there? Well...of course they were. Because when people come with faith and expectancy to ANY event, it is inevitable that miracles happen. But was the teaching dubious? Of course it was. And were there serious character issues that remained undealt with in the main personality involved? Absolutely - although, it’s interesting that the ‘prophets’ nearby didn’t spot this and bring protection. Yet the dubious teaching (remember the stuff about the angel ‘Emma’? etc) was glossed over by so many – and actually accepted by many on the basis that miracles were happening at the time – so it must be from God. But in the long term, the damage was catastrophic – and many of those who SHOULD have spoken out clearly against this (and even put a stop to the flawed teaching) remained silent - and to this day are convinced that it was all ok.

Some of the most sobering words of Jesus are in relation to those who operate in the realm of the miraculous. In Matthew 7:22-23, he says

“Many will say to me on that day (of judgment), ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

If categorical words were needed to emphasise that miracles are NEVER a justification for a person’s ministry, character or methods – then there they are in Matthew 7. And then compare this to the words Jesus later speaks to those who he finally welcomes into his Kingdom in Matthew 25:35-36,

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Interestingly, Jesus makes no mention of charismatic phenomena on that final day. Why would he need to? After all, HE is the deliverer, healer and saviour. HE is the miracle worker. The purpose of the miraculous was always to confirm who HE is – not to validate a man’s ministry. What’s important to God is the state of our heart. Selah.

A few thoughts on the ministry of 'Evangelists'

2011-02-23T19:12:00.001Z

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of the ministry gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. They aren't merely around today - but absolutely VITAL for the equipping and maturing of the Church (Eph 4:12).

The gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 aren't merely manifestations (like spiritual gifts in 1 Cor 12), but they are people - individuals who God has set in the church as gifts which reflect the headship of Jesus.

Put very simply, Apostles are 'sent ones' who are at the forefront of bringing leadership and influence. Prophets are those who carry the 'now' word of God. Evangelists are those who stir the church to action so it can see increase. Pastors are shepherds of the flock and teachers are those who expound the word and bring practical application.

Working together, these gifts are incredibly powerful. However, when they function in isolation, they become dysfunctional and cease to fulfill the purpose for which they've been set in the church.

So what about evangelists? This ministry is often viewed with both wonder and dismay - the latter because of some bad examples. But how can this ministry function in such a way that it is as effective as possible? To give some kind of answer to this question, it seems to me that we need to approach it from two angles:

A) The responsibility of evangelists to the Church
B) The responsibility of the Church to evangelists.

So let's think about the responsibilities of the evangelist to the Church. Here are 3 observations to ponder:

1. Evangelists need to understand the needs of the local church and how their gifting can help see growth at local level. When this doesn't happen, then there is friction and misunderstanding between both.

2. Evangelists need to be a part of a local church - and be willing to be accountable. Of course, every ministry gift needs this. Without involvement at local church level, you become aloof and out of touch.

3. Evangelists need to appreciate and respect the diversity of Eph4:11 gifts - and work hard at complimenting them. Different gifting fulfill different purposes. This must be understood and respected by evangelists.

And what about the Church's responsibility to Evangelists? Well, here are 3 observations

1. Churches would do well to embrace and celebrate the ministry of evangelists - after all, they are God-given gifts to the Church.

2. Wise Church leadership will want to include the perspective of an evangelist in terms of decision making and furthering vision. If reaching the lost is not a priority for a church, then something really is desperately wrong.

3. As much as evangelists need to stay servanthearted and humble, churches need to be sure to honour the gift of the evangelist. Get this right, and evangelists can prove invaluable assets to churches where they serve.

Evangelists can at times be a bit eccentric. But any evangelist worth their salt gets results - both in terms of equipping the church AND seeing many people won to faith. Too often, the God-given gift has been the butt of many a joke because of bad and dysfunctional examples. But when all is said and done 'God gave some....evangelists'. It's time for the negative steriotype to be smashed. The best way to counter bad practice is to model good practice.

Get it right, and the 'gift' of the evangelist can be an incredible help to churches - ultimately seeing greater growth.

John Barry - The silent passing of an icon.

2011-02-10T09:45:00.004Z

I find it a bit strange – the silence and lack of celebration for the life and music of one of Britain’s most successful composers, John Barry - who died last week age 77.

Barry is probably the most iconic composer of the 20th century – most famous for defining the style and feel of the James Bond movies, particularly in the 1960’s. His music is a classic example of how music defines a movie – becoming as important (if not more important) than the actors involved. It is arguable that had it not been for John Barry’s music scores, the Bond films would not have been nearly as successful as what they were (and still are).

I can always tell when John Barry music is playing – it’s distinctive, often with sweeping strings and punchy brass - all making for really interesting and memorable music. A number of his compositions included beautifully constructed melodies too – like his main themes for movies such as ‘Somewhere in Time’ and ‘Out of Africa’.

In years to come, it is inevitable that appreciation for John Barry music will grow. Its influence on a new generation of composers will be heard – of that, I have no doubt.

Maybe the immediate silence and lack of celebration at Barry’s life is a lamentable sign of how we fail to honour true greatness in Britain? After all, less talented people who have achieved far less than Barry have been lauded as saints and legends at their passing. But perhaps the sense of silence is, in a strange way, a fitting tribute to John Barry. He was, after all, an intensely private man who shunned the limelight and rarely courted publicity. He simply allowed his music to speak for itself. And when all is said and done, the music of Barry lives on.

An APPEAL to Pastors!

2011-01-28T13:18:00.003Z

Picture the scene. You’ve prepared a brand new message. Then you stand up to preach it. Everything is going fantastically well. You’re feeling confident in your delivery. It's anointed. You really sense you’re hitting the mark. So far so good. BUT... as you finish your brilliant preach...suddenly......there’s a moment of crisis. Reality dawns...and the question comes to your mind 'what next?'. How are you going to facilitate a response? Have you thought about it? Then at that moment, it all becomes too much and you just want to cry out to God ‘I’M A PASTOR, GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!’ (Ever been there?)

Truth is, the downfall of many a great message is an ill-prepared appeal. It’s like a pilot who has taken off beautifully, cruised along wonderfully and crashed landed horribly! For an appeal to be effective, it takes prayerful consideration and proper preparation. So often, this isn’t the case – and the result is an embarrassing disaster that totally undermines the effectiveness of everything that’s happened before.

There are various kinds of appeals (healing, re-commitments, responding to specific challenges etc etc). But let’s think about your evangelistic appeal. Here are 5 thoughts for you to mull over:

1) Be intentional about it

Whatever you are preaching about, be intentional about making it evangelistically effective. Yes...on Sunday mornings too. Always assume there will be people who are not yet Christians listening to your message. Therefore, EVERY message you preach should include something that will help them find faith in Jesus. Recently, a pastor told me that 5 people became Christians after he’d preached a message on tithing! TITHING!! So be sure to make an appeal for salvation at every Sunday service. Yes....I said EVERY Sunday service. That in itself is a statement of evangelistic expectation to the people in your church. So pray about it and plan to do it. Take time to consider how it will be done most effectively.

2) Preach to a point

The whole point of an evangelistic message is the build-up to a moment of response. So as you’re preaching, put it in people’s minds that there will be an opportunity to respond at the end. That will be the time when everything you’ve preached about culminates in a challenge to the listener. So build it up well. Make it inspiring. Excite people about it. And do it with real conviction. This, after all, will be a life changing moment for some people...something that will last forever!

3) Avoid pathetic appeals

Here’s an example of a pathetic appeal: ‘If you’re here today (WHAT???? WELL OF COURSE THEY ARE!) and you feel you’d like to respond, there is no pressure but you might like to consider some kind of response’. NOOOO!!! Never put the word ‘IF’ in an evangelistic appeal. It implies ‘doubt’. It’s not a word that instils confidence. You must EXPECT a response. ‘Those of you who are going to respond’ is a far better way of introducing your appeal. Do it with confidence and authority. Make it compelling. Make it more difficult to say ‘no’ than ‘yes’!

4) LEAD the appeal

Don’t faff around. Make it direct and to the point. (By the way, you don’t NEED musicians in the background – silence IS actually great music too.) Let people know exactly what is going to happen in those moments. If you really know what you’re doing, then people will sense it and that will help them feel more confident to respond. The main thing is for people to put their trust in Jesus. But in another sense, they also need to feel comfortable enough to trust you to lead them in that moment too.

When people have the courage to respond to the message you have preached, then it is YOUR responsibility to lead them. So what are you going to do? Bring them to the front? Do they stay where they are? Do you have something to give them afterwards (e.g. a book). All these things must be carefully thought through beforehand. Respect people. Be sharp. Be decisive. Do what you’ve been called to do – LEAD!!!

5) Quit begging and pro-longing

A good evangelistic appeal avoids the appearance of desperation that almost begs for new converts. A REALLY good appeal actually does the very opposite and helps people see that God’s salvation is brilliant – and that it would be stupid to miss out! So an effective appeal only needs to happen in one moment – NOT over a prolonged period of time.

When I give an appeal for salvation, I always count from 1 to 3 – and when I get to 3, that’s the moment when people know to respond. After that, the appeal is finished. From there, I go straight to leading those who have responded in a prayer. The prayer itself is simple, short and profound – helping people to acknowledge their need of Jesus forgiveness, accepting him into their lives and asking Him to help them live in his forgiveness.

Conclusion
Above all, pray. Then expect a response. Just let the Gospel do its work. Ok...I’m off now.

5 Lessons of a Novice Church Planter

2011-01-10T10:42:00.007Z

Well, I guess 15 years of travelling as an evangelist gives you some kind of perspective on Church. I’ve pretty much seen ‘em all. Big ones, small ones, good ones...and the other kind too. I’ve sat with hundreds of leaders and asked loads of questions – wanting to learn from their successes and failures. And that has proved invaluable to me. But there’s nothing like getting your hands dirty and getting stuck in! I’m doing just that. I’m a novice – but I’m enjoying it. REALLY enjoying it!

Ok...so after 4 months, what have I learned?

1) Its HARD work!

J24 was not planted out of a mother church – with the financial backing etc that brings. Nop...it was started from scratch. We don’t have a building. No-one is salaried. And most of the people who now come actually came to faith in Christ through it.

The thing is...when you want to model something that’s built on excellence, you can’t then just turn up at your venue each week and hope for the best it’s going to be a good service. You’ve got to do the very best you can with what you’ve got. So that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do. And there needs to be a mindset that says ‘WHATEVER it takes’.

Some mornings, I wake up feeling like I’ve gone 10 rounds in a boxing match. But the tiredness is worth it – and in a strange way, is a brilliant feeling when you put into perspective what you’re building towards.

2) Use whoever is journeying with you!

We are blessed at J24 church with lots of incredibly gifted people. And that’s so helpful in a pioneer situation. But the truth is, in a church plant, you’ve got to utilise EVERYBODY who is a part of what you’re establishing! Give them a job to do. Encourage them, help them, motivate them and CONSTANTLY remind them what they’re building towards is BIG.

But there needs to be MASSIVE flexibility so that people don’t get too comfortable in a particular role and then claim it as their territory. As new people come in, you find others better suited to doing certain things. So we’re learning to let people do a little bit of most things. ‘Whatever it takes’ is the constant reminder.

3) Enthusiasm

Negativism and cynicism need to be ruthlessly stamped out. It is simply not tolerated at J24 because its soooo not our culture. That’s not to suggest for a moment that poo doesn’t happen in life – it does (yes, I said ‘poo’). But faith is not about denying present realities – but believing and speaking blessing in the midst of WHATEVER we’re going through.

So we constantly encourage people to serve with enthusiasm. That’s our culture. That’s the way it is. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea. But it’s just the way we like it at J24. And I have a sneaky suspicion that many people are looking for a place that like that. Well, that’s what I think.

4) Shamelessly Evangelistic

I know this isn’t politically correct. But frankly, if a church doesn’t constantly reach out, it doesn’t deserve to exist. Think about it...the best salesmen are those who get out there and shamelessly plug their product. Yet somehow in church, it has become cool to be ‘seeker sensitive’. It’s RUBBISH! And...it doesn’t work. RESULTS are what it’s all about.

So at J24, we have people out on the streets regularly – telling people about Jesus and shamelessly plugging J24. And the new Christians are the BEST evangelists. Once they ‘get it’, they want everyone else to get it too. So the vast majority of salvations that we’ve seen at J24 since our launch have been friends, family and colleagues of the NEW Christians. By the way, since our launch on September 26th, 57 people have made decisions at J24 services. Have they all stayed? Nop. But many of them have. And I want to see hundreds of decisions during 2011. We will.

5) Take responsibility

As a leader, I’ve learnt not to blame anyone for anything. I will challenge – but I will NOT blame. Some battles just aren’t worth fighting. In the end, the buck stops HERE. I am responsible for leading J24 church in the direction I believe it should go. That’s both the privilege and the responsibility.

If I see that someone can do something in a way that’s better, then I journey with them, mentor them, help them and empower them. It doesn’t always work. Some ‘get it’. Some don’t. But whatever happens, it is never helpful to become cynical about people. If someone needs to move onto another area of serving, then our flexibility allows that.

The leader sets the tone of the church. The church, in effect, becomes a reflection of the leader. So it is important to maintain a healthy spiritual life and to be the EXAMPLE of everything you’re seeking to establish. Don’t just preach a great message – BE a great message. And thats what leadership surely is....being the example of how you want things to be.

Conclusion
Alright...that’s your lot. Bye!

Why doesn't everyone get healed?

2010-10-14T10:52:00.005+01:00

Here goes....ready? I DON'T KNOW!

Anyway, thanks for reading. Till next time then!
Bless ya, Roy Todd

p.s. I have decided that despite all the questions I DO have, I will keep believing - despite all the answers I DON'T have. That's my decision. What's yours?

Don't just preach a great message - BE a great message

2010-09-08T17:01:00.009+01:00

So what’s the secret of remaining fresh? How can we be even more effective as time goes on? Is it about jumping on the latest bandwagon in the hope it’ll work? Or is it simply about trying harder? After all, who could dispute the importance of hard work. Is it about reinvention? Surely there are times when vision needs freshening up and re-presented. Or maybe a change of personnel can help keep things fresh – sometimes, new blood can help bring new vigour and passion? But as valid as these things are, the real answer is a lot closer to home.

I sat in the Grapevine celebration in August and listened to Ps Brian Houston from Hillsong Church preaching. I found myself thinking about Hillsongs – and how they’re still on the cutting edge after 20 years. 20 YEARS!! Why is that? How come they’re still at the forefront of things after such a long time. Then it struck me. As brilliant as Brian’s preaching was – his preaching isn’t actually the message. HE is the message. On stage (and off it), he exuded everything he talked about. He was generous, affirming, vulnerable and down to earth. So his public persona isn’t an effort – but flows from who he is. Some dislike the positivity of his message. But like it or not, that is who he is. And a truly confident person doesn’t need to put on an act. Surely that’s what authenticity is all about.

Lots of churches want to be like Hillsongs – but don’t really get the DNA or journey of the church. They think that if they just copy what Hillsong church do, then that will lead to growth. But it misses the point. It fails to capture the heart and spirit of WHO they are. And after a while, staleness sets in. Be inspired – YES. But be sure to live in the freshness of your own revelation of God. Otherwise, you just become a boring imitation of the real thing.

Truth is, the secret to keeping your personal cutting edge is – YOU. It’s not about searching for the latest fad. Nor is it about trying something different in the hope it might work. And it’s not about looking for techniques that may lead to growth and development either. It IS about making sure that ministry's not a mere public performance – but a reflection of personal heart & values and a growing revelation of God. If I stay fresh, then what I do stays fresh. It's not just about preaching a great message - but BEING a great message.

Planting a church Roy? No...surely not?

2010-08-17T16:46:00.004+01:00

Yes, it’s official. Roy Todd IS planting a church (cue the Hitchcock music). The dastardly deed IS being done. It’s all true. Every single bit of it. And please don’t let too many people know...but I’m absolutely loving this!

Actually, what’s brilliant is that there’s a whole new generation of leaders rising up in the UK who are fed up with the old mind-set of backbiting, sniping and threat. And Church GB is all the better for them. Truth is, I’ve had so many messages of support and encouragement from friends in ministry around this nation...and beyond. It really is great to have people around you who believe in you enough to cheer you on. Nothing warms the heart more than a friend who is willing you to succeed. That’s the kind of culture I want to be a part of. And by the help of God, I really want to champion others too.

We made the decision earlier this year to launch Junction 24 church later in 2010. It was something Lydia and I took our time about. And yes...we prayed about it too. Prayed lots in fact.

It all started when we began to meet around a year ago on Thursday nights in a local hotel in Kegworth. A small crowd of 10 people turned up on the first week. The next week, there were 7. The next, there were 5. But with a few committed people, we met together, had some fun, enjoyed the presence of God, taught the bible and worshipped Jesus. The little crowd slowly grew to 20 – then 30 – then 40 – then 50. How many now? Oh...I don’t know really. Probably about 100. Maybe more. But we have a core group of committed people – about 50 strong. And I have to say, they are incredible.

So then, does this mean I will no longer be travelling as an evangelist? Are my days of itinerating over? Well....no. Next year’s diary is already virtually booked out. ‘But Roy...surely you can’t lead a church AND travel’. Well....yes I can. The planning for next year’s diary has been meticulous. I’m doing more than ever before – just working smarter. And besides, we are very blessed with an amazing team at Junction 24. I will also be at the church for our 4:30pm main event every Sunday and on Thursdays for Thursday night Live.

So...let the journey begin. Pray for us. Cheer us on. Help us build a house for God’s glory. Sunday 26th September @ 5pm is the launch of the new church. I really can’t wait to see what God will do.

Mediocrity: a dishonour to God's mercy

2010-07-01T00:57:00.010+01:00

The Gospel is about God’s lavish generosity. He poured out everything for us - even to the point of sacrifice. John 3:16 sums it up when it says ‘God so loved the world, he GAVE...’ Salvation is free. But it isn't cheap. It was costly.

As Christians, we enjoy the forgiveness Jesus bought for us. We relish the hope that he has paid for us too. Everything we are and have is rooted in what Jesus accomplished through his selfless sacrifice at the cross. So Romans 12:1 then talks about what our response should be to God's kindness that we've received. Paul says‘In view of God’s mercy, I urge you to present you bodies as living sacrifices unto God'. In other words, whilst nothing we ever do could repay the mercy that we have received, the impact of that mercy on us is to challenge us about how we live. The language of ‘sacrifice’ in Rom 12:1 is strong – and deliberately so. It's about how we respond to His love. Surely if we have been forgiven much, then we ought to forgive much. Surely if Jesus gave His everything for us – our response should be to give our everything to Him and His cause, not out of legalism or an attempt to repay a debt which frankly could NEVER be paid, but because His lavish mercy compels us to live beyond mere mediocrity so others can receive it too.

Yet sadly, many churches still continue to live in mediocrity. They use the language of ‘stewardship’ to excuse meanness and tight-fistedness. The spirit of what they do appears respectable enough on the outward – but behind the apparently honourable veneer lays dishonour - huge dishonour. Yes... it’s the very opposite of the selflessness Jesus showed us. It fails to capture the spirit of the Gospel - and actually completely misses the point of the very message we’re meant to be communicating. 'Just enough' is actually not enough. Truth is - it's an insult to God and His gospel. Shoddiness and half-hearted service are as far removed from 'sacrifice' as you can get. And yet amazingly, this is how so many conduct themselves. What is a sobering thought is that churches and leadership will one day give account to God for how we've communicated His gospel. In light of the Romans 12:1 charge, question is, did we give our all?

Think about it: God the Father took Heaven to the brink of bankruptcy when He sent Jesus. He did it for the sake of fallen humanity – i.e. you and I. Creating the stars cost Him nothing. Speaking creation into existence by the power of his word didn’t exhaust His resources in the slightest. But to forgive us, he was willing to put everything on the line by sending His most prized asset – the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t merely give the best – he gave EVERYTHING.

In light of that, a mediocre ‘anything will do’ mindset really is dishonourable to God – the one who invested everything He had for us. He doesn’t just deserve our best – He deserves our all. Mediocrity just isn’t good enough. Giving our ALL is actually the least we can do. Selah.

Release Conference 2010 - WOW!

2010-05-19T00:51:00.002+01:00

Well...what a day that was. On Saturday 15th May – hundreds of people from right across the UK came together for our annual ‘Release’ conference. From the very beginning, the presence of God was tangible. Worship was led by my good friends from Birmingham. These guys create a sound that is both distinctive and musically brilliant. But more than that...the anointing of the Holy Spirit is on them. It’s obvious when you hear them.

The conference received input from leaders of growing churches from around the nation as well as outstanding ministry from Jarrod Cooper.

I wanted this conference not just to be another event in the calendar – but an encounter with God. So plenty of time was given to prayer, prophetic input and for people to receive from the Holy Spirit. All I can say is that from the emails and messages I’ve since received, that’s exactly what happened.

On the day, a number of people also spoke publicly of healings they’d received – including a woman who’d previously been in considerable pain – not anymore! Someone else who’d had an accident on the morning of the conference and was in a lot of pain told of how the pain instantly disappeared after they were prayed for!

At the end of the day, we worshipped our amazing God. It really was quite a sight to see hundreds of people from different denominational streams and backgrounds all dancing to the same beat. Someone wrote saying it was like ‘Heaven’. It really was powerful stuff.

Our next ‘Release’ conference is on Saturday 14th May 2011. Online booking information is at www.roytodd.org/conference.html

FIRE, WIND, QUAKE...and a still small voice

2010-05-14T01:35:00.008+01:00

Elijah was a man who saw the dead raised. Yet he became so discouraged by his discouragers that he himself wanted to die. The irony of that is never lost on me.

Yet as he’s in the desert - defeated, depressed and wishing his life away, it’s there that he has his most profound encounter with God. But it’s not what you might expect. He sees the fire. But God isn’t in it. Then the wind . But God’s not there either. Then comes the shaking of the earthquake. Surely God would be there? But no. God isn’t even in the earthquake.

The way that God chose to minister to Elijah that day was so much more powerful than the symbols of power that had just gone before. Instead, it was a still small voice – a ‘gentle whisper’. It certainly wasn’t as obvious as fire, wind and quake – yet it couldn’t have been any more powerful. Think about it...God’s own voice – personal, real, profound.

Those of us who passionately believe in the work of the Spirit today like to speak of ‘fire’. It captures the sense of what the Holy Spirit did to the believers at Pentecost when what looked like ‘flames of fire’ sat on each of the disciples heads. We believe the same can happen today. Fire changes everything. It purifies. It sanctifies. It gives a supernatural jolt – and causes us to live passionately and lead others to personal faith.

We also like the idea of Wind – which represents the reviving power of the Spirit – bringing what was dead back to life and purpose. And of course we LOVE the shaking of the earthquake. There’s nothing quite like a meeting that’s shaken by the Holy Spirit. I never speak of it – other than to say I have personally been in a room that was literally shaken by the power of God.

All these things are important. Yet there is one that’s more important than them all. It’s not always spectacular. It’s not always obvious. And it’s not always glamorous. But in the midst of the silence, there is God’s still small voice.

Truth is...few ever hear it. Why is that? Well...for a start, it takes discipline and patience to listen. When the fire falls, that’s different. It’s quick. It’s visible. It’s easily apparent. Same when the wind blasts and the earthquake shakes. Yet the still small voice requires a willingness to be quiet and attentive to what God is saying. When we learn to hear God’s still small voice speaking into our lives – it’s that more than anything else which will be the catalyst for the kind of change that lasts forever. Not only does it affect us – but others too. Think about it. After Elijah heard God’s still small voice, he was supernaturally encouraged to get back in line with his God-given purpose. Not long after, Elijah’s GREATEST success came. What was that? Seeing more healings? More Miracles? More dead people being raised? No. As amazing as all these things are – his greatest success was in raising a successor, Elisha.

No-matter what you're going through (good or bad) – the point is... take time to listen to God speaking to you. Read the Word. Pray. Seek. Listen. Be patient. Remember... one gentle whisper from God can cause your greatest failure to be turned into your most magnificent victory.

one million hits & ONE incredible story

2010-05-03T13:08:00.009+01:00

About a year ago, after a long time of being away from the piano - I decided I'd record and release a piano instrumental album called 'Serenity'. It's 15 tracks of pure piano instrumental music, all original compositions and all played on a very beautiful Bosendorfer grand piano.

To give the album some wider exposure, we posted some clips on youtube as well as samples of some of my other piano instrumental albums too. To date, there have been over one million hits. Every day, there are literally dozens of emails from people enquiring about the music. I really am always humbled when people take the time to write. The stories they tell are pretty incredible...from students who say the music has helped them study better to people who've been struggling in life and have found the music has helped them receive hope and healing.

One email in particular I received was from a person who told me how they found their challenges in life were so overwhelming that they genuinely felt they couldn't face living anymore. But they happened to stumble upon one of the piano instrumentals from 'Serenity' on youtube - and as they listened, something happened inside that gave them hope - and a reason to keep going. It's stories like that encourage me to keep going too!

Music is a gift from God. For years, I stayed away from the piano in order not to be distracted from my calling in life. I thought that was the right thing to do. But now, I'm not so sure it was. Far from distracting me - it actually helps me be more focussed. I'm glad some others have found it helpful too.

For more information on the music, visit: www.roytoddmusic.co.uk

10 things you should never say to God

2010-03-21T09:05:00.010Z

Christians do pray some unbelievably ridiculous things to God. Here are 10 things you really ought not to pray...

1 "Lord, if I were you, I would do things differently..." – Well it’s a good job He isn’t.

2 "Lord...I’m gonna be honest with you" – He already knows. That’s why He’s God! It's yourself you need to be honest with.

3 "Lord, I'll be in touch with you later" – Oh what an hononur for God! I'm sure He can't wait.

4 "Lord, may I know your leading as I choose this week’s lottery numbers" - Err...God doesn’t do gambling

5 "Lord, I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but..." – Believe me, he’s aware!

6 "Lord, I give you all the praise for blessing me with healing AND incapacity benefits" – Get back to work you scoundral!

7 "Lord, should I really forgive him/her?" – Yep.

8 "Lord, show me who I should steal from today. Amen" – Well...no-one.

9 "Lord, thank-you for the exemption clause you’ve given me from tithing" – WRONG!

10 "Lord, the problem in this church is...." - Errrrr....YOUUUUUUUUUUU!

Releasing the Miraculous

2010-03-17T19:19:00.008Z

In a 2007 Harris poll in America, 79% of respondents said they believed in miracles. I've yet to see a similar poll here in the UK (though I'm sure there's one out there somewhere). But I suspect that there would be a high percentage of people who would say they believe in miracles too.

Certainly as I've travelled extensively in Britain and spoken at hundreds of venues around the nation, it has been noticeable how many people have attended events where I communicate the message of Jesus and then pray for people to receive healing and miracles afterwards. Sometimes up to 80% of the audience are made up of people who wouldn't normally go to church!

It's not that I have all the answers to issues like healing. I certainly don't. But in obedience to the words of Jesus in Mark 16, I have an unquenchable expectancy to see God's Kingdom manifested wherever I find myself. You see...that Kingdom isn't a place with defined boundaries. Actually, there are no limits to where God's Kingdom can be manifested. In fact, it is God's people who carry His Kingdom wherever they go. Of course, in one sense we are waiting for the full coming of His Kingdom. Thats why Jesus taught us to pray 'Your Kingdom come'. But while we wait, we can still see his Kingdom demonstrated in and through our lives.

Interestingly, Jesus spoke about the 'Kingdom' more than any other subject. He then demonstrated that Kingdom with signs and wonders. The writers of the Gospels thought the miracles and healings of Jesus important enough to spend significant sections of their work focusing on them. For example, Matthew invests 44% of his entire Gospel writing about the miraculous in Jesus ministry!

Healing and miracles are clearly signs of God's Kingdom - demonstrating his authority and reign over every situation. That's why we need to have an expectation to see the miraculous TODAY - the message still stands!

On Saturday 15th May, I'm hosting a one-day conference which focuses on how we can carry the message of God's Kingdom with us everywhere we go. It's the kind of event that inspires and equips people to action - rather than merely informing them about the subject.

I've invited my friend Jarrod Cooper to speak. I'll also be speaking throughout the day. As well, we will have input from a number of significant church leaders who are seeing incredible things happen in their churches and communities. There will be interaction, worship and prayer - all helping us to carry the message of Christ and His Kingdom with us back to our towns and cities. And that's the point of the day - sending people back to their local churches to serve, build and believe for God's Kingdom to be manifested.

There aren't many spaces left so if you're interested in coming, you'll need to book in ASAP. For more information and details of online booking - visit www.roytodd.org/conference.html .

On Saturday 15th May

Ten

2010-03-02T00:17:00.003Z

Here are 10 things by which I try to live. These are very personal to me – so all of them will not be relevant to all. Somebody might find them interesting:

1) Don’t ever waste time deviating from what you're called to do
2) Remember, spontaneity and order are a powerful partnership
3) Always be humble about how you view others. The 'least' are often the greatest in God’s eyes
4) Be willing to release others with the proviso that you will ruthlessly help them get better - otherwise, there's no point
5) Acquire knowledge - Avoid ignorance. Stupidity isn’t cool.
6) Stay interesting by developing pure interests
7) Set goals. Good goals are good.
8) Be serious about having fun
9) Remember, serving God is ALWAYS a privilege – NEVER a right
10) Be embraced by the Father, led by the Spirit and honouring to the Son

The Jesus Manifesto

2010-02-28T22:34:00.005Z

Before elections in Britain, political parties each produce a ‘manifesto’. This is a statement of intent – promises of what they’ll do should they be elected to power. Politicians usually say things like ‘judge us on whether we deliver or not’ – although interestingly, when it comes to the next election, you’ll rarely hear them mention previous manifesto promises – especially the ones they didn’t deliver on!

In Luke 4, Jesus presented his manifesto. It’s mesmerising. It’s life-changing. And it still stands today. Here's an extract:

‘ The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." Luke 4:18-19

When Jesus ascended, he sent the Spirit to empower the Church to carry on fulfilling that manifesto. Now, it’s up to the Church to deliver what he promised - in the power of the Holy Spirit. Truth is...un-churched people have every right to judge whether we’re delivering or not.

Pride vs Humility

2010-02-26T16:01:00.007Z

Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:5 are very sobering. In the context of encouraging an attitude of humility, he makes the strong statement (actually a quote from Proverbs 3:34) that ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble’

What is the pride that God resists here? Well, the following words sum up the kind of attitude He detests: arrogant, un-teachable, un-submissive, unaccountable. These are character traits which God absolutely ‘resists’ – one translation says he ‘opposes’. In other words, the implication is that if pride is the prevailing attitude in a person’s life/ministry, then that person will find himself/herself in direct conflict with God Almighty Himself. Not a good place to be in. Problem is...pride does have a blinding, deceiving effect. The more it grows, the less a person can see what’s really happening.

Truth is...the most dangerous thing in Christian ministry is when ‘success’ goes straight to a person’s head. Or when a false sense of self importance becomes the motivating factor for what they do (even if the language of spirituality and ‘glory to God’ are used in the process). It is a grave mistake for any ministry to believe it's own publicity. To do so is to venture towards a downward spiral which eventually leads to conflict with God. Let's get this absolutely straight: God's purpose doesn't depend on any of us. He will get the job done with or without us.

Yet whilst God ‘resists the proud’, the verse also points out that He gives ‘grace to the humble’. What is humility about here? Perhaps these words sum it up: quietly confident, teachable, submissive, accountable. These are, of course, the very opposite characteristics of pride. Pride wants to attract attention. Humility genuinely wants to deflect attention elsewhere. Pride says ‘look at me, my ministry, my anointing, my success...me me me’. Humility instead quietly gets on with it, always keen to serve Jesus out of love, eager to glorify God, open to instuction, not worried about the limelight, not concerned with being seen and actually preferring not to be the focus of any attention.

It is to a humble attitude that God bestows ‘grace’. Remember what grace is? It is ‘undeserved favour’. How interesting. God’s favour rests on those who quietly get on with it. By implication, it’s as if God is saying ‘Don’t shout too loud about what you’re doing. Just humbly get on with it and as you do, I’ll shout about it myself!'

As much as God desires us to trust Him, He also desires to trust us. He’s all too aware of our imperfections and faults. But these are things that can be overcome – so long as humility is our prevailing attitude. Selah.

Junction 24

2010-02-21T13:20:00.002Z

Every Thursday night at 7:30pm, you'll find Lydia and I at the Whitehouse Hotel in Kegworth - just off Junction24 of the M1. The event is www.junction24.com .

I have been amazed at how many people have been impacted through this. I've been even more encouraged by the stories of people whose lives have been changed.

For more information, visit the website www.junction24.com . I'd be personally delighted to see you there!

Music on itunes

2010-01-13T22:14:00.006Z

Last February, some of my piano instrumental music was posted on Youtube. To date, there have been over 500,000 views. Everyday without fail, I receive emails from people all over the world telling me stories of how they've been touched and moved as they've listened. I really do find it deeply humbling that people would take time to write.

For me, the best kind of music is the kind that flows from the heart. In a world that's often cold, clinical and complicated - there's something refreshing about music that helps us to stop for a moment, calm down and take some time out. I've learned that if I don't learn to master my issues, then my issues will master me. So my music is very personal - conveying what I don't always find easy to speak about. What makes me happy is that others seem to find it helpful too.

Anyway, you can find out more at www.roytoddmusic.co.uk

Hello again!

2010-01-13T22:04:00.004Z

Been a while since I last blogged. I tried to relax as much as possible over the Christmas period - and then from January, it's been all go.

The recent spell of snow has only meant the postponment of 1 event in Hull. The rest I've managed to make. Driving in snow is always fun!

Last weekend, I spent some time with NLCC Sleaford. Looking forward to journeying more with these guys during this year. It's led by Chris Bowater. This guy is an incredible musician who has written many of the best known Christian worship songs around the world. A more unassuming and genuine guy you'll never meet. I mentioned to Chris that I used to listen to his music as kid in Belfast - sometimes accompanied with bombs and gunfire in the background (true)!

Anyway, really looking forward to 2010. Determined to embrace every moment - even the challenging ones!

'Releasing the Prophetic'

2009-10-15T09:18:00.006+01:00

Jarrod Cooper (left)
David Shearman (Right)

Although I’ve hosted numerous specialist conferences in the past, Saturday 10th October marked the first general 1-day conference. It was called ‘Releasing the Prophetic’. By all accounts, people seemed to really benefit from the event. Speakers were David Shearman and Jarrod Cooper. They were both outstanding. David is like a fine wine – he just keeps getting better with age! He’s a man of faith, integrity, wisdom and deep devotion to Christ. Then there’s Jarrod – well known song writer – but he’s so much more than that. His ministry was highly inspirational, marked with integrity and full of revelation which clearly stems from an intimate personal walk with God.

What I loved about the day was the emphasis on CHARACTER. The danger of an event like this is that we could focus merely on the gift more than the channel through which it flows. But both speakers emphasised the importance of good foundations, integrity, wisdom and personal intimacy with God. After all, effective prophecy comes through those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. This for me was really important – as it’s the long term we’re really aiming for and not just a short burst.

The day included an insightful Q&A session where questions were answered regarding the practicalities of the prophetic. Often in conference contexts, sessions like this can be clinical and lack inspiration. But I’ve got to say that this was the best Q&A I’ve EVER seen in a conference. It was relaxed, fun and full of inspiration – led by my friend Pastor Dave McKeown who leads a great church in Stocksbridge near Sheffield.
I brought in some friends from Birmingham to lead worship. These guys are not only brilliant musicians, but incredibly anointed – and led us right into the awesome presence of God. We ended the day off with worship, prayer and prophecy – where people had the opportunity to put into practice some of what they’d been taught. This was highly meaningful and there was a tangible sense of God being present. Afterwards, stories of healing emerged as well as others who were deeply impacted by the Holy Spirit.

Our next 1-day conference will be on Saturday 15th May 2010. We’ve already got a significant number of people booked in. For details, email info@roytodd.org . Below are just a small selection of emails I received from people who attended the event:

Hi Roy

I REALLY enjoyed Saturday and I'm so glad I came. It was all really well organised and all the speakers were brilliant. Thank you!!!!

Rebecca, Nottingham

Hi Roy,
What an absolutely amazing day. I've never been in a conference like it!! The presence of God was wonderful. I really enjoyed David - what a great teacher - I honestly didn’t think it could get any better & then Jarrod came on!!
The worship group were amazing – I loved them! ...thank-you for one of the best days of my life.
Sarah, Liverpool

Hey Roy
Saturday was by far the best day conference I have been to. I had personal breakthrough in the afternoon. The worship was amazing & powerful with no hype, AWESOME.

Sean, Retford
Hi! Thanks for an amazing day.The whole day was such an encouragement. I learned so much and it. Since Saturday i have been more relaxed in using the gifts that God has given me. I definitely would love to attend another one of these days.

Donna, Sheffield

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Toddy's ramblings

2009-10-07T09:38:00.006+01:00

September 2009 felt like the quickest month of my life so far! It'd just arrived - and now it's all over!! Confined to history. No chance to repeat it. No opportunity to retake it. Nothing we can do to get it back. Finished. Done. Period.

The question we need to ask ourselves is...how did we invest our time? Did we make good use of it? Have we been good stewards of the time God gave us? Have we 'made the most of every opportunity'? How much have we learnt in the period up to now?

The thing about time is that once lost, it can NEVER be redeemed. Thats why NOW matters so much. Too many people have dreams that are far off into the future. But the truth is that how we live today is a prophecy of what we will be tommorrow. I've met so many people who have ambitions to change the world. Yet they can't even get out of bed in the mornings! It's complete rubbish, utter nonsense and meaningless rhetoric (I hope thats clear). Lazy people NEVER make it. And if by some chance a great opportuinity comes their way, their lazy habits will eventually be their downfall.

Charisma is NEVER meant to carry a person. Character is the carrier. To permit charisma (gifting) to be our vehicle is like setting the scene for a high speed crash. Time and again, people have deluded themselves into thinking that their gifting is enough. But history teaches us that it's not. And the Bible warns us it isn't. Any forward steps that Charisma on it's own makes in the short term will be massively undermined by long term damage. You see...charisma can't handle the pressure, the temptations, the challenges, the insecurities, the dissapointments, the discipline etc etc. Thats why Paul sandwiches his comments on Spiritual gifts (Charismata) between 1 Cor 12 & 14 with a whole section on love in 1 Cor 13. Character is THE carrier. It's the very thing that will help us make the most of our time and gifting.

One of the most effective things that we can all do with our time is to develop greater character. It's about understanding that what happens when no-one else sees us is even more crucial than what occurs in public. The time we invest in our private space is even more important than what we do in front of others. Are we living for the adulation of people? Or are we truly living to please God? If the latter is truly the case, then God really can make a long-term difference through our lives. Remember, the secret of service is secret service. Not a popular truth - but a critical truth nonetheless.

Ultimate success in this life really isn't about material prosperity (though there isn't anything wrong with that). It's not even about the size a church or ministry - honestly it isn't. One sentence is what we really ought to be aiming for. It's the words of Jesus on that final day 'Well done good and faithful servant'. Those are the words I'm longing to hear one day.

A brief thought about prayer

2009-09-19T17:58:00.008+01:00

'Seven days without prayer makes one weak.' Thats a quote I heard when I was a kid growing up in Belfast - and the truth of it has never left me since.

When you think about, Jesus went from prayer to prayer with miracles in between. If it was important enough for Jesus to pray, then it's crucial for us too.

Interestingly, even in the midst of busy periods of ministry, Jesus was intentional about prioritising prayer, often rising early in the morning 'while it was still dark' so he could commune with the Father.

And that's what prayer is. It's about us spending time with the Father. As we speak with Him, the Godhead is intrinsically involved in that conversation: i.e. we come to the Father in the name of Jesus and as we seek him, the Holy Spirit helps us to intercede.

Prayer is more than just a shopping list of requests (though we do ask God for things as we pray). It's to do with us submitting to Him - seeking His will - acknowledging Him - Recognising His kingship over our lives. That's why Jesus taught us to pray 'Our Father...Your Kingdom come, your will be done'.

As life grows in busyness, I'm conscious of how easy it can be to let prayer slip in my own list of prioities. But prayer is VITAL. A Christian who doesn't pray is like a spouse who doesn't speak to their partner. It really doesn't bode well for the future. Prayer requires time and discipline.

God is relational. It is for this reason more than any other that he values our prayers.

I believe in prophecy

2009-09-13T18:44:00.005+01:00

I believe in prophecy. No not the wacky stuff - like when people 'predict' the exact date of the second coming of Christ. And not the shallow stuff either - I already know that God loves me. No...I mean the real thing. The kind of prophecy that's genuinely faith building. Paul actually encouages us not to treat such prophecies with contempt.

Interestingly, this year, five separate individuals had spoken the same prophetic word to me. None of them have known anything of my circumstances - and each prophetic word has conveyed an encouragement that this is 'a new season.' Some of those who have prophesied have been ministers. But the most outstanding for me was a woman (whose name I can't even remember) who asked to see me at a church where I was speaking in April. She was humble and gracious which immediately impressed me. As she spoke, it was as if she was reading me like a book. It was profound and I was deeply impacted by what she said.

The purpose of the gift of prophecy is 'edification, exhortation and comfort'. It's not about pointing out everybody's wrongs. When people prophesy like that, they're actually missing the point. I usually find that a prophetic word that's genuinely from God is actually confirming what I've already heard God say to me in the privacy of my own devotional life.

Things only get dodgy when Christians are too lazy to seek God for themselves, instead solely depending on a word from God from someone else. However, as we maintain a strong and intentional life of devotion to God (i.e. reading the bible, praying etc), prophecy can be a huge encouragement to us (and others) on our journey.

On Saturday 10th October 2009, I'm hosting a conference called 'Releasing the prophetic'. The day will look at how we can most effectively communicate and receive prophecy. Two world class speakers will be with us - David Shearman and Jarrod Cooper. There's a £10 registration fee per person (which includes lunch) to be paid in advance and the venue is in South Yorkshire, UK - 10am to 4:30pm. If you'd like to book into this conference, please email info@roytodd.org ASAP with subject title 'Releasing the Prophetic'. It's going to be a great day! Hope to see you there.

Grapevine 2009

2009-09-08T13:35:00.004+01:00

Lydia and I spent the August bank holiday weekend at the Grapevine celebration. It was my pleasure to speak over three days, leading a series on 'miracles, signs and wonders'. The venue was jam packed to the doors with people, hungry to journey deeper into the miraculous. There were dozens of fantastic healings - including a woman who was deaf in her right ear - totally healed.

The thing I really loved about Grapevine is that it was so unhyped. It really is about people engaging with God, being equipped to see their world changed. Surely that's what the work of teh Spirit is all about...

In pursuit of the miraculous

2009-08-23T21:31:00.013+01:00

I'm looking forward to the release of my new book 'In pursuit of the miraculous' this week. I wrote it because I really want to stir and challenge people to believe like never before for miracles to happen today. Miracles are not optional extra's to the Gospel. They are an intrinsic part of it. If the amount of space an author takes to focus on a particular theme is an indication of it's importance, then the writers of the Gospels must have considered miracles as highly significant. For example, 44% of Matthew's Gospel focues on Jesus' miracles. 27% of Acts focuses on miraculous activity in the early church too.

I really am convinced that it's time for us to pursue the miraculous like never before. Even in the 21st century with all our technological advances, people still need miracles. The book isn't a theoretical idea of what COULD happen. It's intentionally practical showing what WILL happen when we step out in faith, helping us see miracles released in our own lives and for others too.
As well as looking at a number of key bible references, I also relay some of my own experiences of having travelled as an evangelist over the past 13 years and praying for thousands of people. But more than that, I actually dare to believe that in the next few years, we are going to see a manifestation of God's glory the like of which has never been seen before. We'll see it as we grow in confidence in the good news of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I actually believe that the best miracles will happen outside a church building through ordinary people who have extra-ordinary faith.

'In pursuit of the miraculous' can be purchased from http://www.authenticmedia.co.uk/ and in all good Christian book shops. It will be widely available from September. For more information, see www.roytodd.org/news.html

al-Megrahi should NOT have been released

2009-08-21T18:30:00.002+01:00

I don’t often veer into the world of politics. But the decision of the Scottish justice minister to free Lockerbie plane bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds due to ill health is yet another sign of a lamentable failure of political leadership in the UK. Politicians are now crying foul at the celebrations which greeted the convicted mass murderer on his arrival in Tripoli. But how silly of them not to have expected this to happen in the first place. These were clearly orchestrated and not spontaneous– after all, how many Libyans happen to keep Scottish flags in their homes so they can wave them when the occasion requires it? The waving of Scottish flags in Tripoli was actually an insult to Scotland.

Although the justice minister was right to say that al-Megrahi will one day face ultimate judgment from God – his decision to grant early freedom was unfair to those families who lost loved ones as a result of al-Mehrahi’s actions. Remember, he was convicted in the courts and has since shown no remorse for what happened. It is this fact alone which should have determined any decision. For the sake of justice, he should not have been released.

What a year so far!

2009-06-10T14:00:00.007+01:00

This year so far has been a very fruitful and productive six months of ministry. I've criss-crossed the UK (north, south, east and west) - prayed for thousands of people at events - and seen 1074 people commit their lives to Jesus Christ at events up to now.

The healing outreach event Healing4Life has been a revelation to me in terms of the number of unchurched people who have attended - sometimes making up to 80% of the audience. By and large, it's the middle classes who seem to come - interesting. Some come out of need. Others out of curiousity. But those who have responded to the Gospel know exactly what they're doing. And then there's the stories of healing too - hundreds of them.

Looking forward to what God yet has in store

5 things I've learnt

2009-05-13T08:10:00.003+01:00

Here are 5 things I've learnt over the past 12 years of journeying as an evangelist.

1) Stay on your God appointed course
2) Don't permit the elements to cause any deviation from your main purpose in life
3) Remain true to the distinctivness of your anointing - popular or not
4) Determine to be fresh and positive
5) Listen most to those who believe in you enough to journey with you

Scotland tour

2009-05-11T23:32:00.002+01:00

Saturday, Sunday and Monday have been three brilliant days here in Scotland. On Saturday, I spent the evening in Fraserburgh. My friend Neil Cameron and I answered questions on all kinds of issues at an event for 20's and 30's. Great evening - including Starbucks coffee.

Then on Sunday, I spoke at all the services at New Hope Church, Peterhead. What a brilliant church led by Neil Cameron - a really fantastic guy. I was delighted that lots of people responded to my message in the evening event - including 11 kids! Reminded me of something Spurgeon once said. He told a friend that 2 and a half people got saved after his previous preach. The friend asked if he meant two adults and a child. But Spurgeon replied 'No. Two children and an adult!'

Monday night, I was in Bellshill, Glasgow. Great to see the auditorium filled - and 13 people standing to give their lives to God. Some good stories of healing too. Exciting times!

Dundee, Scotland

2009-05-09T08:42:00.004+01:00

Friday 8th May was the first date of my ten venue tour of Scotland. First stop - Dundee. The event was supported by 7 local churches and we were delighted to see the auditorium packed with hundreds of people. Lots of first-time responses and stories publicly told of healing too. At the end of the meeting, there was an incredible release of God's presence. I'm excited at what God is doing in this great city. Impressed with the church leaders too who are doing such an amazing work.

Dozens respond over the weekend

2009-04-28T22:25:00.003+01:00

There are lots of unsung hero's out there. They're the kind of people who just get on with what they need to do without making any kind of fuss about it. Peter and Janice Bird are one such couple. They pastor Revival Church in Derbyshire - a small town numbering 6000 inhabitants. Yet they lead a growing contemporary of around 200 members - which includes loads of young people.

I was delighted to work with them and their daughter church near Ashton under Lyne. There were dozens of first time responses over the weekend - and many stories (told publicly) of healing too. All in all, an awesome few days.

We desperately need the Holy Spirit

2009-04-24T01:04:00.002+01:00

Someone once said that if the Holy Spirit were taken out of the Church, 98% of what it does would remain the same. Certainly thought provoking. Truth is, without the Holy Spirit, Church just turns into a social club and evangelism becomes a mere marketing exercise. Or as I heard Reinhard Bonnke once say ‘The less Holy Spirit a church has, the more coffee and cake it needs to keep going.’

This is my twelfth year as an evangelist. The further along I go, the more desperate I’m becoming to know the Spirit’s power in my life. I’m simply not prepared to have anything else. It’s not about slick programmes. Nor is it about clever marketing. It’s not even to do with understanding what leadership is all about. It’s really about submission and surrender – being more interested in how to be led above how to lead.

Only when there is recognition of this will the Church really become what it’s supposed to be.

Great Sunday!

2009-04-20T18:11:00.000+01:00

Amazing day yesterday in ‘Life Spring’, New Ollerton. The auditorium was packed to the doors both morning and night – and lots of fantastic things happened. Mike and Liz Philips are the leaders of this church – such great people to be around! I also love the enthusiasm and openness of the folks in this church – I always find that inspirational.

River Church, Tampa, Florida

2009-04-16T22:23:00.002+01:00

I’ve just arrived back in the UK from America – jetlagged but spiritually refreshed. During the trip, I was honoured to preach at the River Church, Tampa, Florida. This church is led by Dr Rodney Howard Browne and his amazing wife Adonica.

As well as ministering at the River Church, Lydia and I spent time with Rodney and Adonica. When you spend time with someone, that’s when you find out what they’re really like. There are a few people I’ve met on my travels who are disappointingly different off stage to what they are when they’re on it. But this was definitely not the case with Rodney and Adonica. They really are a genuine case of ‘what you see is what you get’. They clearly love Jesus, are in pursuit of revival – and they have an infectious passion to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ. Their ‘Great Awakening tour’ has seen nearly 1 million Americans come to personal faith in Christ.

We’re already making plans to return to America next year for a significant period of time. America is such an amazing country – and I’m convinced God has not finished with this great nation. God Bless America.

The passing of a Hero

2009-04-09T18:25:00.004+01:00

I'm in America at present having an awesome time. I'll blog on this later. Meanwhile, I've just received news of the passing of a true hero of the faith. John Wildrianne was a tireless promoter of missions as well as a prolific trainer of missionaries - particularly through the IBTI (International Bible Training Institute). My involvment with IBTI goes back around 5 years when John came to see me and asked me to lecture on contemporary evangelism at the college. I'd really enjoyed getting to know him over these last few years - always looking forward to spending time with John and his wonderful wife Doreen during my teaching stints. John was 77 years old and died peacefully in his sleep. Thank God for a man who made a difference.

Weekend in Ireland

2009-03-30T09:37:00.004+01:00

I spent the weekend speaking at a fantastic church in Newbridge, just outside Dublin. PJ and Liz Booth planted Open Arms Community Church around 10 years ago with just 4 people - and today, the congregation is in the hundreds. Over the past two nights, over 70 people made commitments. Last night at the healing outreach event, over 80% of people in attendence were TOTALLY UNCHURCHED - many of them responding . This is fantastic. I really am delighted to see this happening in Ireland - and as John Wesley once said, 'the best is yet to be'.

It's so refreshing being back in Ireland - the people really are full of personality, wit and charm. Whats really encouraging about the church is the amount of young people involved. Their sincerity and passion are inspirational and I'm looking forward to hearing stories of how God will use their lives to make a difference both in Ireland and beyond.

Over the weekend, there were some outstanding healing stories too!

It's America next. Looking forward to travelling over tonight.

Aston, Birmingham

2009-03-26T10:43:00.002Z

Spoke last at Mount Zion Community Church, Aston, Birmingham. I’ve been ministering there once a month for the past three months. The church is led by my friend Ps Calvin Young. He’s currently the deputy chairman of the British council of black led churches and a significant community voice in Aston and the Birmingham area. When Charlene Ellis and Letitia Shakespeare were tragically gunned down as innocent victims of the cross fire during a gang war on New Years day 2003, Calvin was massively involved in rallying the community and providing powerful leadership.

In 2007, the church moved into their new building – a fantastic complex including an 800 seat auditorium that is often filled to capacity for their services. I feel excited at what is doing in this great church. There is an atmosphere of expectancy for miracles – exactly the kind of place I like to be in!

Revival in the Welsh Valleys

2009-03-22T22:47:00.005Z

Over 100 years ago, Wales experienced revival. The problem is, there has been a tendency among many Christians to merely live off it's legacy ever since. However, on my visits to Wales over the past few years, I've noticed something very significant. A new generation is rising up. They are hungry to see God do something TODAY. They're unimpressed with religion and hate pretense. They're not sentimental either. They actually believe the best miracles are yet to be seen. And I really like them.

I was honoured to speak at the Tab Life Church in Pontlanfraith (a town in the South Wales Valleys) - and what a weekend of signs and wonders we had! Sarah and Graham Trinder (leaders) are an amazing couple, passionately in love with Jesus and truly full of the Holy Spirit. Sarah has an incredible anointing on her life to release the miraculous, which I'm convinced God is raising up to have a huge impact in the valleys and beyond. Carl Hickling is the youth pastor in the church - but he's more than that. This guy is a revivalist who is inspiring many to dream of a fresh revival today. With people like this around - Wales had better watch out!!

I really love Wales - and I genuinely believe that revival is coming, specifically in the valleys. I'm delighted to be returning there soon for a significant outreach. More details later...

Meeting with church leaders from Rotherham

2009-03-18T20:41:00.003Z

Spent some time with church leaders from Rotherham this morning in prep. for our healing outreach event coming up in June (5-7). There's a real good sense of unity among these guys who represent churches from a wide spectrum of denominations. I was honoured to minister and pray for each of them - and there was a rich flow of prophecy. I'm believing for a spark to ignite that town with revival.

Happy St. Patricks day

2009-03-17T20:31:00.003Z

A very happy St Patricks day to whoever reads this blog (I've just discovered there are one or two of you out there).

I noticed today that President Obama has taken the opportunity to claim his Irish roots. He said “My mother’s family can be traced back to Ireland, and it turns out that our first Irish ancestor came from the same county that the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) once represented. ' Perhaps his name should be actually be spelt O'bama then? It is amazing to think there are an estimated 50 million Americans who can trace their ancestoral roots back to Ireland.

Anyway....spent today working on writing a book that's way behind schedule. I've got someone from the publishing coming to see me next week - so need to get it done!

AXIOM

2009-03-15T20:02:00.008Z

The latest 'cool' thing to do in Christian leadership is come up with axiom statements - practical proverbs that are guide's to further achievment. This largely stems from Bill Hybels latest book called 'Axiom' which contains 80 of his very own. The point is....when Bill Hybels speaks, leaders listen. I heard Hybels talk on this recently - and it was inspiring stuff. He communicates honestly and from the heart - I think thats why so many leaders are drawn to him.

Now of course, lots of church leaders are getting in on the act and coming up with axiom of their own. The seriousness and intensity of some in leadership often makes me laugh. As Oscar Wilde once said (not someone often quoted in church) 'Life is too important to be taken too seriously!'.
I agree.

So not wanting to be behind the times, I'm going to share five Roy Todd gems. I doubt these will ever impact people's lives in the slightest - but here goes:

1) Better to eat chocolate in hope than vegetables in despair
2) Early to bed, early to rise, makes Roy healthy, wealthy and dead.
3) Shloer is good all the time and all the time, Shloer is good.
4) Problems are like buses – they always seem to come along at once
5) Faith is: living above see-level.

Event in Northamptonshire

2009-03-12T11:12:00.004Z

On Wednesday night, I spoke at a healing4life outreach event in Rushden, Northants. There was a great attendence which included a good number of unchurched people. 14 people responded to receive God's forgiveness for the first time in their lives. Then afterwards, there was such a strong sense of the Holy Spirit's power as I prayed for dozens of people to receive God's healing. During the feedback time, many publicly talked about tangible healing they'd received - one of them being the minister of the church! These are exciting times.

Monday night in Aveley

2009-03-10T13:25:00.004Z

Last night (Monday) was yet another packed out event in Aveley (near London) with people becoming Christians and many others expereincing healing. This was a significant night for the church which I'm sure will yield ongoing positive results in the weeks and months to come.

Healings in Essex

2009-03-09T10:58:00.004Z

What a day. Yesterday morning I spoke at a church in Grays, Essex. It was great to see a packed audatorium full of people who were clearly hungry for God. After I finished preaching, I invited the congregation to stand with me. During those moments, what can only be described as a touch of the glory of God descended in that place. It was tangible. I knew in my heart that people had already been healed before I'd even had a chance to pray for anyone. Eight people then came forward to speak publically of their healing - one man telling us that he had suffered constant back pain for 7 years - but for the first time, was completely pain free.

Then at night I travelled to speak in Brentwood. Yet again, the audatorium was packed - and we had seven people commit their lives to Jesus. One of those was a young woman whose life has been riddled with difficulties. But by the end of the night, it was physically noticable that she'd been touched by God. Yet more stories of healing emerged too.

Tonight, I'm speaking in Aveley - a town not too far outside London.

Hope Rotherham

2009-03-02T08:43:00.005Z

Yesterday was a great day. In the evening, we had the launch of 'Hope Rotherham' - a town-wide outreach event supported by the churches in the town. I was encouraged to see the auditorium filled with people representing churches from accross the town. The main 'Hope Rotherham' weekend will take place on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June. This will involve my healing outreach event each night plus an event in the town centre on the Saturday. I sense this will be a significant time. If you happen to live in or around the Rotherham area, then keeping checking the website http://www.hoperotherham.co.uk/ for more details. Lets believe that thousands of people will be impacted through this.

I'm having some rest time this week with my beautiful wife. The last few weeks have been pretty busy and very fruitful. Now I need to recharge my batteries in preperation for another busy week next week!

Great night in Newport, Wales

2009-02-25T11:33:00.003Z

I've been spending a lot of time with the celts recently!
Scotland over the weekend and then Wales yesterday.

What a great night in Newport. Andrew and Karen Cleverly (pictured on the right) are doing a brilliant job leading this church. I walked into an atmosphere of faith and expectancy - and God did not dissappoint. Some good healing stories emerged. In the pre-event prayer-time, I was reminded of the Archbishop Temple quote that 'When we pray, coincidences happen'. How true that is....

If you happen to live in or around Newport, I recommend you visit this great church http://www.bethelnewport.co.uk

Off to speak at Aston Christian Centre (near Birmingham) tonight.

Scotland

2009-02-23T18:22:00.009Z

I had the pleasure of visiting Scotland over the weekend. It was great to speak at the Assemblies of God leaders day in Perth on Saturday. I was struck by the positive, faith-filled spirit amongst the guys which made it really easy for me to minister. There really was a tangible sense of God in that place.

Then on Sunday, I was in Whitburn speaking at Andrew Smith's church. Andrew is the superintendent of AoG Scotland as well as the senior leader of Whitburn Pentecostal Church. Loved it...great bunch of folks there. Picture above is of Andrew and Lois Smith.

Out and About

2009-02-18T11:53:00.006Z

This week has seen lots of travelling. On Monday, I spent the day with Dave Carr, senior pastor of Renewal Christian Centre, Solihul (nr Birmingham). I've known Dave for well over 12 years - and he has been such a huge inspiration to me during that time. The church is now around 2000 strong - and growing. It was refireshing to spend time with a man who clearly loves God. And it's that more than anything that inspires me about him.

I've also spent a few days in Lancashire - speaking at events in Lytham, Colne, Bury and then tonight in Leyland. These have all been well attended with lots of people becoming Christians and experiencing God's healing.

Off to Scotland at the weekend to speak at the AoG leaders day - and then over to Whitburn on Sunday to speak at my friend Andrew Smith's church.

It's a busy season - but really good.

Piano CD

2009-02-12T15:37:00.006Z

My new piano instrumental CD was released today. Serenity contains 15 tracks of absolute chill out music - all composed and performed by yours truly. It really is satisfying to see the final product. To hear some samples, click on http://www.roytoddmusic.co.uk/ .

North Yorkshire

2009-02-07T12:17:00.003Z

What a fantastic night in North Yorkshire last night! There was a really good crowd of people there. The atmosphere was one of revival. It felt like anything could happen. Afterwards, people told stories of healing - including one man who'd had terrible pain in his leg - totally healed and able to walk normally again. It was also great to meet some brand new Christians!

Ohhhhhhhhhh dear...................

2009-02-06T12:39:00.003Z

Well...so much all those great intentions about regularly updating my blog! But January 2009 has been the busiest January I've ever had. Many miles have been covered and the great news is that lots more people have come to personal faith in Jesus - and there have been many outstanding stories of healing too. I really am personally amazed at the kind of healings occuring - I'll write more about these at some point soon.

Lots of exciting things coming up in 2009 and into 2010 - so it's all go go go.

Meanwhile, this week has been a bit frustrating with the snow. We had to postpone 2 events in Sheffield and Halifax (both of which have been re-scheduled for later in the year). But last night I spoke at a healing outreach event at Full Life Church in Maltby, Yorkshire. Despite the snow, there was a brilliant crowd in the fantastic audatorium (they also run a conference centre - just off the M18) and yet more stories of people becoming Christians and recieving healing emerged after the event. Exciting stuff.

I'm just about to head off to North Yorkshire to speak at Hollybush CF. This is a church based on...wait for it...a working farm, It really is the middle of nowhere - and yet, every Friday night, a couple of hundred people gather to worship and receive from God. I'll be speaking and then praying for people to receive healing. I'll let you know how it goes...I promise!

Piano Instrumental CD

2008-12-14T20:11:00.006Z

I’m travelling up to Sheffield to record my brand new instrumental Piano CD on January 5th. It will be 1 hour of serious chill out music – played simply and naturally on a very beautiful Bösendorfer grand piano – all written and performed by yours truly. I can’t wait to get on with it. The finished product should be ready by the end of January 09.

Ground Level leaders day

2008-12-09T22:48:00.003Z

I spoke to around 120 leaders from the Ground Level network today. Had lots of encouraging feedback afterwards. I was also personally inspired as I listened to some of the stories of what people are doing to communicate the gospel in the communities where they're based. Exciting stuff.

Ground Level is an example of a relational Apostolic network that really works well. It's led by Stuart Bell from New Life Church, Lincoln. For more on Ground Level, click on http://www.groundlevel.org.uk/ .

Fantastic day in Harlow

2008-12-08T09:04:00.003Z

Had a really fantastic day in Harlow (Essex) yesterday. In the morning, I was with the New Life Christian Centre. In the afternoon, I spent some time with 8 church leaders from the around the town (we’re looking into putting on a significant healing outreach in 2010).

Then last night, I spoke at the ‘churches together’ carol service. The auditorium at St Marks school was filled – and at the end of the talk, lots indicated their response when I gave opportunity for people to pray a prayer of commitment to Jesus.

All in all, a really great day.
Oh…..it was -5 degrees when I left home at 7am yesterday morning!!

Release Conference

2008-12-04T14:17:00.006Z

During November, I hosted an event called 'Release'. The purpose of the day was to bring together like-minded people from around the UK for a time of inspiration, interaction and impartation. The theme was 'Releasing Evangelists' and by all accounts, it was a really good day ... with lots of new friendships made

I was so encouraged by the feedback that I've decided to put on another 'Release' event on Saturday 14th March 2009. The theme this time is 'Releasing the Miraculous' - helping us develop a greater expectancy of the miraculous in our lives and ministries by sharing from some of the things I've learnt over the past decade. The venue is Oakwood Court conference centre (see larger picture above) in the West Midlands - and the day will begin at 10am and finish by 4:30pm.

Places for this are strictly limited and already, quite a number of people have booked in. So if you're interested, please send an email to info@roytodd.org with subject title 'Release Event'. and we'll send you further details.

New Wine

2008-12-04T14:15:00.002Z

I had a really great morning with a group of guys from ‘New Wine’. It’s always refreshing to meet people who are passionate for God and hungry for more of the work of the Spirit in and through their lives.

A story of Healing

2008-12-01T22:00:00.002Z

This video was passed on to me a few months ago. It's a story of healing that emerged from a healing event that I led at Aston Christian Centre, Birmingham. This woman had a malignant tumour the size of a cricket ball on her lung and was told by doctors that they could not operate because of concerns she might bleed to death. But what happened next confounded them...

The sound quality isn't good - but it's worth a look.

Church on the Rock, Brighton

2008-12-01T13:23:00.005Z

Had a fantastic time yesterday at the Church on the Rock, Brighton. Pastors Tyler and Donna Evenson (originally from Canada) are doing a great job, planting a relevant church in the heart of the city.

Good news from Stockton

2008-11-29T18:05:00.010Z

It's always great to hear encouraging news. Today, I picked up an email from Jonathan and Cath Harris, pastors of the Destiny Church in Stocton on Tees (www.ticc.co.uk). A few weeks ago, I led a one night Healing4Life outreach event there. They were saying that nine people committed their lives to God - and there were lots of stories of healing too!

Jonathan and Cath are doing an amazing job in stockton. Having bought a former night club in the city, they've renovated it into an incredible complex with an audatorium that can seat around 500 people. Inspiring stuff.

Bible College Season

2008-11-28T23:02:00.003Z

Since Wednesday, I’ve been lecturing at IBTI (International Bible Training Institute) in Sussex http://www.ibti.org.uk. I ‘d describe it as a no frills bible college for people who are serious about the call of God. Always impressed with the quality of the students who study there – most of whom are in their early 20’s and come from continental Europe. I’ll stay here for two more days as I’m speaking at a church just down the road in Brighton on Sunday.

Interestingly, last week, I lectured at Mattersey Bible College (http://www.matterseyhall.com). Yet again, I was highly impressed by the quality of the students. I taught a course called ‘Charismatic Practicum’ (a mouthful I know) – which is designed to help put into practice our theological understanding of the work of the Spirit (e.g. Spiritual Gifts etc). Feedback from the students was very encouraging.

Can’t get over just how much the food has improved at Mattersey since I was a student there! Unbelievable.

Back again...

2008-11-28T19:16:00.000Z

Well Well Well....it's been over three years since I last blogged! To be honest, I really lost momentum through lack of discipline and time pressure (the latter is an excuse!) of doing it regularly. However, I'm going to give it another go. It won't be everyday - but I hope to update this as regularly as possible...giving anybody who's interested an idea of what I'm up to. Haven't a clue how many people will read this (if anybody at all). But here goes anyway!............