‘The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the very power of God.’
The words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians opened REVIVE, Co-Mission’s Annual Bible Festival which took place at the University of Kent at Canterbury in June. In a Big Top filled with attendees from 28 Co-Mission churches across London, the weekend began with an evening of praise, prayer, interviews and a talk by Richard Coekin, CEO of Co-Mission, on ‘The Power of the Cross’. While the message of Christ crucified is despised as weak and foolish by the world, it is central to the Bible, history and Co-Mission. Indeed, it remains the only way that Co-Mission will grow as a network.
This year’s theme considered the eternal impact of the cross of Christ. Helping attendees think deeply about the topics of particular atonement, redemption, propitiation, and justification, were Kevin DeYoung (Senior Pastor, Christ Covenant Church, North Carolina); Yannick Christos-Wahab (Co-pastor at Brixton Local Church); Jason Roach (Senior Pastor, the Bridge Battersea); and Ed Drew (Director of ‘Faith in Kids’) who led the all-age service.
Spending a whole weekend focusing on the cross gave attendees an opportunity to dwell on this ultimate act of sacrifice by Christ. Through testimony, spoken word, dramatic reading, and teaching, there was space in the weekend to meditate on the word, pray, and see God open eyes and reveal the work He has done for His people. Young and old were impacted and humbled by truths that we can often take for granted.
Sixteen years of growth
This was the 16th year of REVIVE – an event that started off as a joint church weekend away and is now a weekend festival with 1,900 attendees, live music, seminars, evening entertainment, and a full programme for the 750+ children and youth in attendance.
As well as teaching from the Bible, one of the main sessions focused on news from churches across the network. Attendees heard about planned plants for Beckenham, Queens Park, and North East London (in collaboration with London City Mission, the FIEC, and other local churches) as well as stories of God’s work through joy and pain on estates in Vauxhall, and Longheath, Croydon. Each taking up their cross to follow Christ sacrificially.
By God’s grace, REVIVE grows year on year, but the aim of the festival remains the same – to unite the network around the gospel of Christ, deepen the conviction of individuals, and strengthen the churches within Co-Mission to reach the lost of London for the glory of God. We thank God for the opportunity to gather together as an increasingly diverse body of Christians around His word. Our prayer is that we would continue to see diversity grow in Co-Mission and that REVIVE would increasingly reflect God’s kingdom as we humbly cling to, and proclaim, the message of the cross – for it is the very power of God.
