My burning desire to rejuvenate church

An instruction in the Old Testament to rebuild God’s house was reissued to The Flame church in Blackheath during the pandemic. Dan Jarvis tells how obedience to the call has revived more than just the building.

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses while this house remains a ruin?”

This was the challenge issued by God to Israel’s leaders in the book of Haggai, and the Lord directed the same question to Dan Jarvis in his early days as senior leader of The Flame in Blackheath, West Midlands.

“It was 2020 and our building was tired and in desperate need of love and attention,” says Dan. “We had a big hole in the ceiling, for example, and if it rained you’d get wet. It was horrendous.

“God spoke to me through Haggai. I sensed him saying, ‘Dan, I want the building to be looked after; I want my house to look like my house, to be warm and welcoming and to feel like I want people to come here.’”

Dan shared this word with his leadership team. They told him that funds were available thanks to the recent sale of a second building.

“You’ve got the vision, here’s the money, make it happen!” they told him.

Dan is amused that God chose him for this task.

“I can’t stand decorating; my wife will attest to the fact I’ve never decorated any rooms in our house!”

… story continues