Vision Sunday: Breathing In to Breathe Out
Humility at the Heart
We’re coming up to our Church Birthday Party next weekend! Together we’ll be celebrating six years of Kerith on the Isle of Wight, and one year in our current venue at Carisbrooke CE Primary School. What an amazing journey it has been so far, and we are so grateful to God for all He has been doing in and through us as a community—both over these past six years and in this last year in particular.
Our mission statement is, Helping people find their way back to God through communities growing in their love for God and love for people. That’s what we’re all about.
So it’s been so exciting to see growth, both in number and in depth. Already this year we’ve celebrated three baptisms, with more on the horizon! Each baptism is such a joyful milestone as people publicly commit their lives to Jesus. We’ve also welcomed new people into our church family—some discovering church for the very first time, others reconnecting after a long time away. Many have stepped into serving on Sundays, joining faithful teams who consistently give their time, energy, and comfort to serve Jesus by humbly serving others.
This is what it looks like to live out one of our church culture values: humility. We humbly serve Jesus by humbly serving each other. True greatness in the Kingdom doesn’t come from being noticed or applauded, but from the quiet, faithful acts of love that put others first. It is such an honour and joy to be part of this growing, forward-moving church family.
Breathing In and Breathing Out
The Christian life is like breathing. We breathe in God’s love and presence—not to keep it to ourselves, but so we can breathe it out into the world around us. This rhythm of receiving and giving is at the very heart of following Jesus.
Faith was never meant to be one-sided:
If we only breathe in, focusing on personal growth and private devotion, we risk becoming self-absorbed.
If we only breathe out, giving and serving without being replenished, we burn out.
Jesus shows us a better way: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8). First we receive—then we witness. First we are filled—then we pour out.
As a church, this year is a time to lean into both: to breathe in God’s Spirit and to breathe out through mission and justice. We started the year considering how we breathe in, and over the next term we will be focusing on how we breathe out—individually and as a church.
Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13–16)
Jesus uses everyday pictures to show us who we are and what we’re for. Salt only fulfils its purpose when it comes into contact with something else—it preserves, it enhances, it draws out flavour. But left in the jar, it’s useless. In the same way, our faith is not meant to stay sealed off in private, but to come into contact with the world around us.
Light works the same way. Darkness cannot overcome it. Even the smallest flame transforms a dark room. In Jesus’ day, when the sun set, a single oil lamp could change the atmosphere of a whole household. And Jesus says: that’s you.
That’s both inspiring and daunting. Jesus Himself declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Yet now He tells His followers, “You are the light of the world.” The difference? His light lives in us. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in you (Romans 8:11). That means wherever you go, His light goes too—bringing hope into despair, peace into storms, comfort into sorrow, and transformation into places of desperation.
But light was never meant to be hidden. Jesus’ challenge is clear: don’t cover it up. Don’t put it under a bowl. Instead, put it on its stand so that everyone can see. And when they do, they won’t glorify us, but our Father in heaven.
A City on a Hill
One light can make a difference. But many lights together cannot be ignored.
Jesus likens His people to “a city on a hill.” In the darkness of the ancient world, a cluster of homes on a hilltop—each with its own lamp—would glow for miles around. It was a beacon, impossible to miss. That’s what the church is called to be: not just isolated individuals shining here and there, but a gathered community whose combined witness lights up the landscape.
As a church, this means we shine in two ways:
Individually: carrying the light of Jesus into our workplaces, families, neighbourhoods, and friendships.
Together: joining our little lights to create a radiant glow that points people to God’s goodness.
That’s why we serve, give, pray, and act as one body—because together, we shine brighter.
We want to be:
A church that grows the Kingdom of God—not for our own size or name, but for the sending and blessing of people into God’s calling. – This is important to remember as we send off and say goodbye to some of our dear friends. It’s always sad when people move away or go to another church – but we love them and bless them on their way – knowing God will use them where they go and trusting that God will continue to bless them wherever he plants them. We’re not trying to grow the biggest church or fill a hall. We want to see God’s kingdom grow!
A church that shares faith—inviting friends, telling our stories, and stepping out with courage.
A church that impacts the community—standing against injustice, serving the vulnerable, and bringing God’s love to the Isle of Wight.
When our little lights combine, they become a beacon of hope for the world around us. That is what it means to be a city on a hill.
A Call to Boldness
The world is more open to faith than we often imagine. We are living in the midst of what some are calling a quiet revival:
One in three people say they are open to an invitation to church.
One in four would be open to reading the Bible with a Christian friend.
2 thirds said they would be happy for a Christian friend to pray for them.
These are extraordinary opportunities. The harvest is plentiful—more plentiful than we might realise.
This is a moment to be bold.
Consider how you can step out boldly to share with those around you this term by thinking about:
Share life. – Who is already in your life that doesn’t know Jesus? Who is on your frontline? How could you deepen the relationship further? If you’re in a Christian bubble – break it!
Share faith. – Do those people know you’re a follower of Jesus? Be real about your faith with them, talk about going to church. How prayer makes a difference in your life. Why you go to small group.
Share Jesus. – Who could you invite to encounter Jesus with you? Could you invite them to church or a church event/group? Ask if they’d like to know more of what it means to follow Jesus.
Step beyond the Christian bubble. Start with the relationships you already have. Be intentional. Be courageous.
Write down and pray for someone in one or all of those categories. Commit to pray for them regularly this term. Not because they’re a project, but because we love them deeply and desperately what them to know the joy of knowing Jesus and the salvation that he brings.
For more on this visit https://i61m.org/ and check out their app, videos and resources.
Breathing Out Together
We breathe in God’s presence so that we can breathe out His love. Together, like a city on a hill, we shine brightly—not for our own sake, but so that our island and our world may see the goodness of God.