What, is it raining again?

This is a wet, dreary country. I am including a picture I took on a walk up the hill behind Alan and Carol Wert's house. It wasn't raining during the hour walk, which was great. It did rain before and after. But despite the rain, or perhaps because of it, it is a beautiful country. The yellow on the hills is Gorse. For those who have read Winnie the Pooh, you will be familiar with the gorse-bush. It is lovely on the hill and nasty to touch. Very prickly.

There is a Roman road up on this hill, with some of the stone still remaining. Amazing to think that there are stones here that could have been laid over 1600 years ago. The empire was huge.

Our time here has been quite valuable. The Werts came 7 years ago to Ynysybwl, Wales, which is a small village (pop.5000) thirty minutes north of Cardiff. Cardiff is about three hours west of London just over the bridge into Wales.

The Werts have invested a great deal of energy into the local community, and their three children (Dylan 7, Cerys 5, and Brenin 2.5) are at least as Welsh as they are American. It is fun to hear their accents compared to their parents. The relationships are strong here and now Alan and Carol are starting to explore what it would mean to plant a church here. It was not part of the original mandate so they have been unsure on how far to push forward, particularly because the form they envision is so different than when is here.

They see a house church, or a household church, not dissimiliar to what is happening in Sheffield with the Crowded House. We met with one of the founders of that group a few days ago to glean what we could from their experience. (Oh, and yes, the group was named after the band.)

The 'churches' are quite devoid of religious trappings, and the teaching times are highly dialogical. The majority of the people involved are nonchurched.

The culture here is quite postmodern, with a strong reaction to church by some, and a complete ignorance of all things religious by many. A short illustration: A local group was presenting the Christmas story in a local public school when a young boy, about 10, came up and said I have two questions.

Why haven't I heard this story before? And, why did they name him after a swear?

There is a whole different level of religious ignorance (not knowing) here than in Canada or the US. Over the past week we have met a wide range of Welsh and English church leaders, some Anabaptist and some not.

One of the highlights was meeting with Stuart Murray Williams. He is heavily involved with the Anabaptist Network and a urban church planting organization, Urban Expressions. He has his finger on the pulse of most things Anabaptist in England, and perhaps all of the UK.

They are some exciting things about to happen in Wales because of the long term commitment of Alan and Carol and their posture of humility and desire for relationship.