By Samantha Blowers
J.John’s just10 series was run by 525 churches in Autumn 2010 resulting in thousands of people hearing teaching on the Ten Commandments, many for the first time.
Wayne Dulson, minister of Loughton Baptist Church, Essex was one of the church leaders to sign up to the series. Here he shares the impact just10 had on his congregation:
“just10 has been great for us as a church. People really engaged with the Ten Commandments in a new and fresh way. The just10 Tool Kit had everything we could possibly want and it all ran very smoothly. People now see these commandments not as a set of rules but as a template for living so that we experience God’s best for our lives. All ten commandments were extremely challenging, especially as the series helped us see them in the context of modern day living. People keep telling me how just10 has made them think much more about how they live their lives, and also how much they have learnt about the commandments, as they found out things they never knew before. I would say that people’s lives have been changed and they are closer to each other and to God. In the days following the final Sunday, I kept hearing people still discussing the last commandment that we looked at.
One of the best things for us has been the kid’s programme which is just the best kid’s resource I have ever come across.
For us as a church the whole series has been engaging and compelling and a huge thank you must go to J.John and Philo Trust.”
Last Autumn UCB TV broadcast the just10 series each week, resulting in many viewers contacting the station to say how moved they had been by J.John’s teaching. One UCB viewer wrote in to say, “I have enjoyed the just10 series by J.John on the Satellite channel and would love to buy a copy of the series if it is available on DVD. I think just10 is something to be shared with others in my church; we could use it as part of our home bible study course.”
just10 is compatible with every type and size of church and can be used in so many different ways, whether it’s in your church meeting on Sunday, as part of the children’s work or as a mid-week study for small groups - you decide where it can be most effectively used.
So what does the future hold for just10? “We are already very excited about the number of churches still registering to take part in the series and we know that these timeless principles will always impact whoever hears them. Our prayer is for thousands more people to hear these life-changing values and see their lives transformed.” J.John.
If you weren’t part of a church that ran just10 last year, it’s not too late. The just10 Tool Kit is available to purchase from the just10 website, along with accompanying material for church leaders. Simply visit www.just10.org for more information.
Samantha is Philo Trust's Projects & Events Manager.
just10 Feedback
During the early part of 2010, I began wondering if there was something we could do as a church that would bring together Home Group members and other people in the church, with the aim of strengthening, challenging and deepening faith. At the same time we were thinking about our outreach strategy for the year. So, when it came to my attention via Philo Trust that the challenge was issued for 2,010 churches to run just10 in the Autumn I was very excited indeed!
We decided to go for Wednesday evenings. Home Groups stopped meeting. People came along and brought friends, and we invited couples who’d recently enquired about baptisms for their children. A short amateur video advert was produced click here and we wrote to as many people as we could think of. A large banner appeared outside the church building and a local Residents’ Association magazine agreed to publish an advert for free.
When 91 people turned up for our first Wednesday evening I was delighted. One or two cynics had suggested that only a handful would come to a mid-week event like this, but over the course of the ten weeks we averaged about 80 people every week, and we estimate that about 110 different people attended one or more sessions. People loved it!
Every evening began with tea, coffee and cake with music in the background. There was a great feel to the welcome people got. Conversation was buzzing and we tried to choose background music that was contemporary and relevant to the talks. The conversation hushed as people had to endure my terrible jokes for 2 or 3 minutes every week, but I think that helped people get to know one another, and then we watched the talks on DVD using the big screen in the church building.
Many, many people commented that the talks were funny yet fascinating, humorous yet humbling, never cheesy but always challenging, well thought-out and hugely thought-provoking – or words to that effect.
After the DVD, there was an opportunity for prayer, conversation and discussion informally as more tea and coffee was consumed, and by the end of the course 24 people decided to place an order for their own DVD sets. Some were giving them as Christmas presents, some were buying them to watch with other friends and family at home, and one or two bought them to use with their Home Groups in the future. One young couple with a baby felt they could not commit to Wednesday evenings but specifically asked if they could borrow the DVD each week so they could watch it at home. They were very challenged, so much so that they also bought a DVD set for themselves, and it was lovely to be able to baptise their young son in January.
We thank God for this wonderful resource!
Warner Pidgeon
Vicar – Christ Church, Billericay, Essex
