Librarians' Christian Fellowship

Members of LCF gathered on 21st April 2007 in the 70 Club Room at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, in a much-changed central Birmingham. The conference, opened with worship led by Stuart Glover and LCF Vice-President Elect Richard Waller. The third hymn was most appropriately, “Blessed Assurance” containing the line "This is my story, this is my song ..."

Some of the delegates in the 70 Club Room

At the Annual General Meeting Chair Kirsty Robinson reported on the activities of 2006 including the conference in London, attendance at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park and the annual lecture in October in Oxford.

Speakers: Kevin Vaughan and Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson, Head of Biblical Studies and Library Supervisor at Redcliffe College in Gloucester, began his talk, "Storytelling and the mission of the Church", by distributing homemade biscuits! Mr. Johnson noted that every librarian, every child and every pre-industrial culture knows the importance of stories. Lack of stories would make one defenceless. Storytelling can be more than pure entertainment.

• Counsellors talk about narrative therapy.
• In Biblical studies there has been a shift in emphasis to narrative theories. In mission there is an increasing recognition of the importance of storytelling.
• In the area of discipleship communication is vital. Discipleship involves replacing the stories you are living by.

Mr. Johnson told two short stories, "The Army" and "The Rabbi and the Grandfather".

Dr. Kevin Vaughan, Associate General Secretary, Christian Medical Fellowship, is a former missionary in Uganda and has also worked as a GP in Smethwick.

The title of his lively presentation was, "Going public with your faith: becoming a spiritual influence at work". Many of the example she gave were drawn from the medical profession. People listen to what medical doctors say.

In Harlesden he joined representatives of a church interviewing fifty children shopping with their families on Good Friday. Only one child knew the true meaning of Good Friday. However when people who do not go to church are interviewed, 75% admit to spirituality and religious experience.

Dr. Vaughan pointed out that faith flags will create opportunities later on. We are vulnerable in relationships. In our vulnerability we are closer to God. We should take an eternal perspective: this conversation is a divine appointment. People may have had a bad experience with judgmental Christian groups or people they regarded as hypocritical. We should not make evangelism too obvious.