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Looking for a Christian Gap Year?

exeter, Devon

Are you or someone you know thinking about taking a gap year from September?

How about Ten:10 here in Exeter?

Quoting the Ten:10 website:

John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”

Ten:10 is Exeter YMCA’s year long internship programme. For 2014-2015 we have six internships available. These internships are bespoke, predominately being shaped by the character and interest of each individual intern. However each is an opportunity to put faith into practice and join Exeter YMCA as it seeks to transform young lives.

During the year interns get to serve, love and support local young people, young offenders and some of our most disadvantaged communities through a number of on-going community projects.

Watch the video below to hear why Megan has enjoyed being an intern this year.

Check out the Ten:10 website for more information.

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Martin Smith shares his sofa choices

So I recently got back from the 2011 Worship Central Conference, while I was there I learnt many things. Including that one of the worship leaders from my church is even crazier than I had previously thought and some pretty interesting stuff about social media thanks to Vicky Beeching.

However most interestingly this is what I discovered when I ran into Martin Smith…

Martin Smith Church Sofa from Andy Hood on Vimeo.

Do any of you have a favourite sofa?

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On the sofa with Tom…

So you may have noticed a picture on the side of The Church Sofa about Laughing with some guy named Tom. We thought you all might like to find out a little more about who this guy is so we invited him to join us on the sofa for a while and tell us a bit more. Please sit back, relax and enjoy our interview with the man behind ‘Laughing with Tom’

If you could be any vegetable, what would you be and why?

Ooh, I think that would have to be a carrot. For no other reason than because I love carrots and houmous.

What is your favorite pudding and why? 

Banoffee pie. Taste it and see. I tell you, it’s the desert of the heavenly banquet – believe me, I’ve checked.

Are you a funny man, a magic man, a speaker man, or a preacher man? Or a combination? 

A combination – A little bit like Banoffee pie. Special.

Tell us a joke… 

Went into tesco’s and all these dwarfs were stacking shelves, I thought ‘Every little helps…’

What’s your book about?

It’s a combination of stories, both humorous and serious, illustrating quick thoughts and biblical reflections.

Continue reading “On the sofa with Tom…”

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The Big Bible Project Interview

Well.. a couple of weeks ago I heard something called “The Big Bible Project” mentioned on Twitter… it was then mentioned by Church Mouse… and the rate they’re going I’m sure more people will hear of The Big Bible Project soon.

One thing has led to another and we’ve managed to get ourselves our first interview, please read on and find out about the Big Bible Project, and have a think if you’d like to get involved.

Please enjoy our interview with Dr Bex Lewis;

What is the Big Bible Project?


The @BigBible Project is an ecumenical project, promoting Bible reading within a community setting, whether that be online or offline. It is part of the #Biblefresh initiative, which Biblefresh is a movement of churches, agencies, organisations, colleges and festivals which has a vision to reignite and re-enthuse the church in its passion for the Bible. For many in our churches the Bible has become tedious and toxic rather treasured, trusted and true. The aim of the Biblefresh initiative is to encourage a greater confidence and passion for Scripture across the Church, in 2001, a year which celebrates the 400th anniversary since the publication of the King James Version of the Bible.
The #BigRead2011 will make use of Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone: Matthew, encouraging people to meet together in housegroups to read the Bible. The Big Read offers opportunities to go much bigger and much more creative and join in online (inter)nationally. From quiet sitting rooms with Bibles and books, to coffee shops and internet chatrooms across the world, we will offer tips & tricks on how to gain confidence in new media, so that you can engage with the project as much as you like. If you want to just read the book, or just download the housegroup materials, that’s all good. If, however, you are keen to understand the possibilities and options offered by the online world, we aim to help you get online, offering inspiring interviews, tips, tricks & training to enable you to engage with the Bible online. We plan to launch it with a Mardi Gras event on Shrove Tuesday, and will provide a ‘party pack’ for that!

Why was the Big Bible project started?

Over Lent 2010, the people of the North East got together for “The Big Read“. Through a series of housegroups and public meetings as well as private reading, they worked their way through Luke, using the first of three texts to be written by Tom Wright. BigRead2010 was such a success that Pete Phillips, Director of the Centre for Biblical Literacy and Communication (CODEC, St John’s College, Durham), buoyed also by the strong interest in a conference last year ‘Christian Communication in a Digital Age’, and a strong passion for enabling stronger Christian communication in the digital age, was determined to turn it into a national project, and tracked down funding.

Continue reading “The Big Bible Project Interview”

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The future of The Church Sofa

The Church Sofa lads seem to be moving in a new direction. We’re already involved in tech support, youth work, worship leading, trying to follow God, researching into the best direction for church in terms of seating and various other things that come to mind. However, in the fairly near future we’ll be venturing into the art of interviewing.

No neither of us have been given a promotion to be a manager or team leader or anything like. Rather we’re going to be interviewing people that we think will be helpful in our journey of following Christ so watch this space for some great looking interviews with organisations and people who have a great story to tell.