A Personal Update II

Reflecting on Horizons Behind and Ahead

At the end of 2023 I began my “personal update” post by saying, “Well, that was quite the year!” Although that year was certainly one of the most disruptive I’ve experienced, 2024 possibly surpasses it on the disruptiveness Richter scale.

In some ways this post gives me an opportunity to reflect on what I’ve been up to over the last year, to take stock of the challenges and highlights and look on to the year that lies ahead. For those of you who’ve followed my story and continue to support my ministry, perhaps it may act as a spur for your prayers in months ahead.

At this point I have given up predicting what the next year will or will not deliver. The last several years in a row have been wildly out of sync with my plans, so I shall continue to reflect on the wisdom of James, as frustrating as his voice may often sound to us at this time of year…

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

With our very grandest of plans and dreams and projects, we remain ever in the providential hands of our loving, wise, and sovereign Lord.

Surprising Encouragements

Among other things this past year I had my tribunal against Cliff College, which I wrote and spoke about here and here on this Substack, and elsewhere for Persecution magazine. The appeal will hopefully take place sometime later this year, though we do not yet have a court date, as far as I’m aware.

Just before Christmas, I was delighted to receive a 6-page document from Christian Concern, full of their supporters’ personal messages to me. This was a very pleasant surprise to receive the day before Christmas Eve, like a sack of encouraging letters arriving down the chimney. Here is just a very small selection of them:

“Emmanuel....God is with you. Be of good courage my friend in Christ...He is faithful. God is moving. Justice is coming. Hold on like Elijah, there are more than you think. The Fear of the Lord is coming on the land. Blessings Jesus grace and love.”

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“It is unbelievable that a Christian institution should have treated you as they have treated you. Stay loyal to your beliefs for many institutions are losing their way today and can no longer claim to represent the apostolic faith of Christ as handed down to us through the Holy Bible. The gate continues to be narrow. Thank you so much for having the courage to stand up for what you believe.

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“Aaron, Your courage is inspirational. Stay strong, and be assured you are doing what is right.”

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“I continue to pray that you will be mightily used by our sovereign Lord who is your protector and provider, working out all things for your good. May you continue to trumpet the truth! Thank you for staying up for truth in academia.”

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“Dear Brother in Christ, I wanted to tell you that your courageous stand for truth and purity will not be in vain, and that we your brothers and sisters are praying for you and your family. The world will rage against the truth and reject God and all his ways, but be assured you will be vindicated in the day of our Lord Jesus. Hold fast and trust yourself to the One who judges justly.”

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“This is just a message to lift you up. It is sad to know how Christians across the world/country even are being persecuted for merely sticking to our Lord's word and not being ashamed of it, however it fills the Church with joy to know that God has held you steadfast and is fighting the corner of his sons and daughters who are being persecuted.”

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“Your standing up for the truth is encouraging us all. The animosity you are enduring is that faced by faithful disciples down the centuries. The devil hates us. But this proves we are disciples of the Lord Jesus, prepared to take up our cross and march towards our eternal reward. God the Son says to you: ‘Blessed are you when others…utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…’”

I quote these here not to gloat, of course, but to encourage others by how I have been encouraged in courage. It is often through such mutual encouragement and solidarity that God awakens courage in others and fosters greater love between His faithful followers as they help and support one another in times of suffering. As Jesus Himself said: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

This is especially important to remember when we are seeking to reclaim the “offensive” aspects of Christ’s message too, not least when this involves confronting other professing believers for beliefs and practices which are corrosive (and thus, ultimately unloving) to the body of Christ.

Oppositions and Transitions

Another reason such encouragements are especially welcome is because they serve to remind us to remain steadfast under trial and enemy assaults. I received even more opposition this year, even in unexpected places, losing old friends and associates who either become quietly distant or loudly oppositional, actively misrepresenting or undermining what I stand for, believe, or live out in my life.

So many of our trusted networks and social circles seem to have been disrupted within the last year alone, including church movements, friendship groups, homeschool co-operatives. It has been a significantly testing time in various ways. Whilst some of the broken or strained alliances have not surprised me at all, some have, and they remain painful. I believe this is often the reality of any front line ministry which seeks to challenge existing conventions of how things are seen, thought, and done.

The pursuit of integrity is rarely convenient. It is often the case that whenever it might cost someone a little too much to agree with something—wherever too large a life change might be at stake—they are inclined to disagree with it (and vice-versa); and in some cases, not only to disagree, but to attack and undermine that belief, caricaturing and catastrophising it in the worst possible light. I have been on the receiving end of this kind of approach many times.

This is yet another reason why it is obvious that lasting missional partnership cannot be based on merely pragmatic relationships but must be rooted in genuinely shared convictions, beliefs, and purposes. This does not need to mean total agreement on everything. In many ways, it may mean partnering with those of somewhat different convictions in one area, but resolute agreement on the need of the hour.

Unity need not mean uniformity, and it may often surprise us. Much depends upon the demands of the mission and the faithfulness of the soldiers, who must be willing to ^“share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2Tim. 2:3), whatever that may mean in the circumstances with which they are confronted.

A New Ecclesial Horizon

One partnership that came to an end for me this year was my time at City Church Sheffield, where my family and I had been for the previous eight years. I was encouraged that we were able to leave on good terms, even though such partings are always difficult and painful. At root, it became clear we could not find enough missional alignment with where the Church—and the movement to which it is connected—was heading, making it increasingly difficult to pursue what God has called me to do whilst remaining there in good faith.

We happily remain in good fellowship with many from the church, of course, including the elders, who—like many evangelical churches across the nation right now—have the extremely difficult job of shepherding congregations of increasingly diverse beliefs about mission, lifestyle, ethics, and politics all at once. Such “topics” affect the life of local churches far more significantly than is often known. I often find that what people believe about everyday life and society ends up being more influential upon what they believe theologically in the long run.

Churches must not be side-tracked into distractions but neither can they remain ostriches merely getting on with their business with no concern for the battles beyond their own immediate concerns. The culture war is already happening to the Church, whether or not individual churches choose to recognise it.

Even among those who “know the times”, the fluctuating alliances and networks can be unsettling to behold (see our podcast on some of this here, and an article reflecting on the broader implications here). The trusted ground seems constantly to be shifting. But this is not entirely regrettable. It often feels stressful in the short term, but it may serve to drives us to trust less in men and more in God. It can also be seen as a time of necessary sifting in these reformational times of ours, where the Church and its leaders are being rightly challenged to maintain the courage of their convictions.

My family and I have been very happy indeed to find a new ecclesial home with Watchorn Church, Alfreton, where we already had some existing connections (including one of my co-podcasters) and where there is a closer affinity with many of our emphases, with a genuine evangelical faith and holiness alongside a desire for kingdom advance through reforming music, worship, education, and—ultimately—culture.

From the founding of Christian schools and colleges to the staging of Handel’s Messiah, these are unashamedly Christendomian endeavours which are much needed in these times. But most crucially, behind such endeavours is a palpable sense among the leaders especially—and the wider congregation more broadly—of an unashamed commitment to uphold and live out the implications of the Word of God, however much inconvenience it may bring along the way.

Highlights From 2024

It’s difficult to sum up all the things I’ve done this year. My schedule is very variable but the bulk of time I spend working from home. This can sometimes feel quite isolating (“professionally” speaking, if that’s even the right term) so it’s helpful to get out and be involved in events further afield from time to time, whether as a speaker or as an attendee.

I haven’t made as much progress on my book projects as I’d have liked (see last year’s update for details), though they continue to plod along. This has often led to me feeling like I’m perpetually playing catch-up and not achieving all I would like to. However, I was somewhat gratified when I tried to write out a full list of all my podcasts and written articles from the last year, and a Substack notice said it was too long to fit into a single post! Perhaps that was another surprise encouragement from the Lord that 2024 had not been as unproductive as it sometimes seemed within the fray of all the difficulties and obstacles which have come our way.

For those so interested, I have now written the full list of all my written articles and podcast episodes / appearances in 2024 in a separate accompanying post here.

I have also spoken and preached at a handful of events here and there, ranging from local churches to gatherings of wider churches to training conferences to international conferences.

I especially enjoyed my time in Washington DC for the International Religious Freedom Summit at the beginning of the year (which already feels like years ago!). I wrote about the experience here.

Back in the UK I also enjoyed speaking at two weekend conferences on the North-West coast for the leaders of the Independent Methodist Church (not to be confused with The Methodist Church…don’t worry!). At the second of these I was able to bring my family along and introduce the independent Methodists to some much-needed Psalm-singing, with the children roped in to help lead the way!

This Psalm-singing was in large part inspired by David Erb, whom I met at the “choral bootcamp” he led upon my visit to Oxford earlier in the Summer to support the launch of Selden College, a new Christian liberal arts university. This was a great time and I am hoping they launch that fledgling but sharply envisioned project to the glory of God and the transformation of the nation…however long it takes.

On the subject of cultural transformation, earlier in the year I was back in the US for the “Blueprints for Christendom 2.0” conference in Texas. One of my primary motivations for going to this one was to check out the characters involved in the growing “Christian Nationalism” movement in the US, which I could see was often criticised and represented in what seemed an uncharitable light by its many ardent detractors.

The movement is not without its imperfections, of course, but I was happy to report at the time (and wanted to say so publicly too) that these men who are so often accused by the ecclesial establishment of being immature controversialists are actually men of substance, who love the Lord and are doing and building good things with integrity.

Given the aforementioned tensions in the American Reformed world in recent months, it looks unlikely that some speakers at that conference will continue to be on the same team as others in future (the split, broadly speaking, is between the older and younger generations with different emphases). However, I still hold out hope that in time they may yet be surprised by peace.

In the Autumn, I was at The Wilberforce Academy in London speaking on the topic of “Critical Theory: A Christian Critique”. This was not without its challenges given the ways critical theory has seeped into the minds even of many faithful Christians in younger generations, so there was a fair bit to untangle throughout the rest of the week. There were some students who were initially “triggered” by my talk who, when reflecting on it throughout the rest of the week as they thought more about the implications, came to see the illusions under which they had been sitting.

It was encouraging to challenge and hopefully inspire a generation of bright young Christians intent on bringing the kingdom of God to all spheres of society. As I recall, a few of us even got into some impromptu Psalm-singing too, which prompted a visit from one of the university security guards!

Immediately following that conference I took part in the annual March For Life throughout London, culminating in a gathering of thousands outside the Houses of Parliament, where we heard various speeches, including a powerful message from a former abortionist doctor, now a full-time pro-life advocate (praise God!).

I was also privileged to be invited to the stage to help lead the national prayer against abortion alongside several national leaders from other denominations and traditions. Being one of the only ones without a dog collar on, I was introduced as a representative of “the free churches” in Britain (though, quite how many free churches consented to such representation, I couldn’t say!).

Looking Forward

As I look to the year ahead, there is indeed much going on. Alongside the usual writing projects and podcasts, I will be attending two conferences in the US in April and June. I have also been invited to take part in a philosophy panel in London in March, speaking about the impact of the sexual revolution on society. All going well, in May I will also be going to India to speak to a gathering of Reformed brothers in India on Christianity and cultural transformation—a small but exciting opportunity to sow some good seeds in good soil which may bear greater kingdom fruit further down the line within that epic nation. This year I also agreed to become an occasional speaker for Brephos, raising awareness for pro-life issues within UK churches.

In terms of “regular” work and income, essentially I continue to live by faith, with bits coming in here and there. For some time there have been plans in place for me to work for one Christian institution within the UK whose mission and values I could align with more closely. However, in light of the aforementioned tensions of the past year, I no longer see this as a workable option going forward. Whilst it would have been good to have an existing institutional home again from which to labour, it may well be that in God’s providence, the path ahead for bringing reformation to Church and culture in our time requires a posture of pioneering from the relative wilderness, as challenging as that will be.

There are, however, tentative plans for me to support the launch of Watchorn College with Nathan Paylor in/from our church. Although Nathan and I have hatched various plans and projects over the years, this one has numerous intimidating challenges afoot which are on another level. But although very much fledgling, the vision is a compelling one, and though we be weak, we look not to the intimidating obstacles before us but to the One who makes us strong in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10).

Truly, I have no idea what the next year will bring, but I am slowly learning to heed the chastening words of that awkward Apostle James once more:

“If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

And indeed if He wills, here are a few key prayer points for 2025…

1. That I would be more fervent and steadfast in prayer

2. That I will complete my current book projects

3. That my family would continue settling well in our new church, that my children would grow in their faith and adapt well (along with my wife!) to the ongoing challenges of homeschooling across many different ages

4. That my international trips would be fruitful, helping to make good deposits and to forge enriching and steadfast Gospel partnerships in future years

5. That my impact to help bring reform to the Church in the UK more broadly and missional witness to wider UK society will increase via my writing, speaking, podcasts, and other initiatives

6. That my tribunal appeal would bring justice and raise awareness for others of the urgent need for Christians to stand up and speak out their beliefs

Thankyou again to all who support me via this Substack, whether that includes those who like and share posts, to free subscribers, and especially to paid subscribers. Your support really does mean a lot to me and I do not take it for granted.

If you know anyone who wishes to support the work of my speaking and writing ministry further—whether as a one-off or as an ongoing commitment—they can do so very easily via my Stewardship account.

As we look to another year that the Lord has made, may He enlighten our eyes, embolden our hearts, and keep us far from the clutches of the enemy, that we may see both ordinary and extraordinary fruit for His kingdom; in Jesus’ name, amen.