Reverend White is vicar of St George's Church, Baghdad, the only remaining Anglican church in Iraq. He is also President of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East as part of his reconciliation work in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole.
He joined David Rowe (warden of Lee Abbey), Brian Draper (author and broadcaster), a team from the Middle East and local speakers.
Organiser Rob Richards said: “Around 30 churches and fellowships of various denominations in south Dorset and nearly 2,000 people attended, with between 300 and 600 in the main tent each day. Early feedback from ministers shows their congregations are keen to continue to grow closer to God – and to bring the gospel to those who don't know him.”
"We were excited with the connections – not just with all the local churches – but also with the outpouring of the Spirit forty years ago at Post Green, the Christian Community led by Sir Tom and Faith Lees and in other places in Dorset. God is revealed as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of each generation, and so it was for us – as the next generation – to take up the spiritual inheritance from the former generation and be inspired to go back to our churches with fresh vision from our time together.
The grounds of the beautiful Holton Lee, once part of the Post Green community, were transformed with marquees for seminars, talks, camping and kids clubs.
Rob added: “The Lord God made the whole event exceed our early expectations as He came in power on many of people who came. Some came daily and others camped. A number gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus and many have been changed and have come closer to Him. Firm friendships have been made across all ages and Christian traditions.
“It was great to host Canon Andrew White, who flew over especially to speak on the first evening with his amazing stories of hope and to show how it is possible to work together and connect – even between those who have been enemies.
“Coming together and connecting was the major theme that covered the whole five days.
“At a personal level it was extraordinary seeing Paul's words, "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph 4:16) at an event which we believed was ‘For such a time as this.’”
Immediate feedback included: “The organisation was superb, the hospitality generous and the sense of God's presence with us was very real"
“It has confirmed afresh for us priorities for action over the next months, and given us huge encouragement that God is indeed at work breaking down walls and barriers and preparing the ground for the future."
“Things are not going to be the same... the Church here now knows, very practically and simply, that it is one, that our different ways of doing things, our different comfort zones in worship and in the minor application of doctrine, are pretty irrelevant beside the great love our Lord has put into our hearts one for another."
Co-organiser Paddy Bartholomew said: “God greatly blessed us all and we look forward to seeing churches connecting closer and closer, wounds between individuals and communities healed and the continuing move of the Holy Spirit in South Dorset.”
Photography by Phil Dowding. www.connect2010.org.uk
