PACE

PACE is short for prayer, accountability, coaching, and envisioning. Whereas Living and Telling introduces the skills for a way-of-life approach to communicating belief, PACE maintains the way of life itself.

PACE groups of up to twelve meet fortnightly to spend thirty minutes praying for those around them; then up to an hour thinking through opportunities to communicate belief, and coaching one another in the relevant skills. Living and Telling provides the foundation for the latter. (Workplace groups may spend alternate weeks praying and coaching; and Spirituality of Jesus, E-mails from Hotel Babylon, and Stepping Stones can also be used in the hour-block once Living and Telling is done.)

As well as prayer and coaching, PACE groups provide accountability and envisioning, which help to maintain the momentum of a group. Accountability is provided by introducing contacts through social events and by sharing stories. Introducing contacts to other members of the group increases the probability of belief-communicating opportunities; and shared stories of what God has done provide encouragement when the going is slow. Envisioning is provided by challenging members to start their own groups, since multiplication is at the heart of PACE.

Prayer, accountability, coaching, and envisioning: that's PACE.

Contact us for more information

Living and Telling

‘The Agapé people I’ve met – and there are many of them – have been brilliant trainers and were hugely influential in my life as a young Christian – teaching me to share the Gospel, and modelling a whole purposeful, patient pioneering engagement in the world.’ Mark Greene (Executive Director, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity)

• Living and Telling will equip you to share your faith as a way of life with family, friends, and colleagues, neighbours, and acquaintances.
• It consists of seven fifty-minute sessions. It will enable you to enjoy the life that comes from God's forgiveness and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower your character, work, and witness.
• You will learn how to think through your own story and make it accessible to those around you, and also to pray constructively for them.
• You will also explore what is significant about Jesus and learn how to help people make a commitment to him, should they so wish.

Click here to watch maturity in witness (SWF 724k)
Click here to watch success in evangelism. (SWF 624k)
(Samples require Flashplayer)

Click here to purchase on-line.

Spirituality of Jesus

‘I am impressed with the innovative approach and the attempt to use modern critical insights in such a course” David Wenham (NT lecturer, University of Oxford)

• Approaches the Gospel of John through the images and literary devices used by John; so contains seven full colour images.
• Designed to be discussed over lunch in the workplace; so each of the eight sessions takes no more than fifty minutes to complete.
• Can be used by enquirers themselves or as devotional material by believers - the book has been successfully tested by adults and older teenagers, those with faith and those with none.

‘I hope that many find their way to this book’ Walter Wink (Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Auburn Theological Seminary, New York)

Download a sample of this course. (PDF 890k)

Download the SOJ Leaders’ Guide. (PDF 136k)

Click here to purchase on-line.

Dialogue Suppers

We have run dialogue suppers with groups from Schroders and Mustoes. Here is a two-part invitation e-mail from within one company:

‘As everyone seems to be working too hard at the minute, I am going to try and organise a good food, drinks and dialogue evening that hopefully will evolve into a bi-monthly event. The plan is to pick one subject matter and ask a "supposed" expert in that field to attend a dialogue supper. Over dinner the chosen matter is discussed in a free open forum. We had a few of them at my last employment and they were a good laugh as well as being informative. They are not just for philosophers or people who enjoy hanging around Speakers corner but anyone can just come and listen while enjoying the food and drink. Obvious topics are spirituality, creation/Darwinism, the church, capitalism/socialism. The venue will be local and the evening won't be a late one (unless the dialogue gets deep). Let me know if anyone is interested in attempting this later in the month (Possibly Tuesday 18th or 25th Feb). It is something different and with Sonya being in the Middle East I need something to do in then evenings. Regards ...’

‘Good response (most of the team!!!!) from the initial e-mail for a dialogue supper. Deal is as follows: Room has been booked, starting at 6:30pm on either Wednesday 19th or Tuesday 25th February (depending on votes). 3 course meal and wine costs £20 (please give to me asap). Proposed topic for the first supper will be: Does God exist or is he something that man has made up? Is there a spiritual realm? Did Jesus Christ walk this earth? Experts: Have invited Ed Holtz and Jon Horne - who have written on spirituality. Think we have enough differing views to make this work.’

Rules will be:

• food is served during the discussion
• I will chair the dialogue (unless anyone else wants the pleasure)
• You cannot interrupt anyone - no matter how long they are going on for (but the Chairman may)
• any questions may be asked
• no abusive language (Hugo!!)