Andy White [To All Nations project] breaks out of the shackles of religion and into our virtual coffee shop
[09.04]

Hi, welcome to our virtual coffee shop. Pull up a chair, take the load of your feet. Let's chat.
Thanks, I will.

So who are you, where you from, what do you do in life?
I'm Andy White, and I'm from Kidderminster, in the heart of England. As a day job, I'm Finance Manager of a Drug Rehab Centre, but aside from that I'm a husband, a dad and passionate about Jesus and actively working to see Church break through and break out of the shackles of Religion

Can I get you a drink? Cappucino, earl grey, dandelion and burdock, pale ale?
Actually, a straight up black coffee would go down a treat, right now.

Would you like a doughnut or pastry to go with that?
Thanks all the same, but I'll pass

So, if you had to describe the church/project/experiment/thingy you are currently involved with in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
The vision of To All Nations (the project) is to see every street in every village, town and city connected to, and being served by, vibrant, united and culturally relevant local churches in practical ways.

Are you an instigator? / new recruit? / have absolutely no recollection of how you got involved?
I started it, together with my wife, Kate.

What do you value most about being part of it?
It's a voyage of discovery about so many things - people's attitudes to God, Christianity and Church, the amazing ways you can impact a community, seeing that small things really do change the world when you do them with love, and, most of all, learning to move into places in my heart where I really have to rely on God to show up and hold my hand.

What excites you most about it?
Knowing that I am pursuing something God has laid on my heart, and from that the anticipation that God will show up big time and just turn this place on its head. When He does, I want to be here to see it with my own eyes and fall to my knees in awe.

Has anyone ever turned up out of the blue not knowing what to expect?
What did they say?
Every time we take to the streets to pass out free soft drinks, chocolate bars or ice pops, or knock on a door to had out groceries, or wash someone's car for free, or clean their toilet just to say 'God Loves You' we meet people who didn't know what to expect. And every time, we see a seed sown. Usually, they say, stuff like "Wow, that's really cool, thanks"

Three words that describe your attitude to 'being church' in the big wide world: Outward focused love.

Three words that DON'T:
Religious introspective legalism

You have this weird dream - you meet Jesus face to face.
Where does it happen, what does he say to you?
It happens in the middle of a typical manic day, and he comes to my desk, closes the lid of my laptop and says "Come and walk with me, I need to say some stuff to you, and you need to listen" I actually hope He does that one day, cos I find stopping to listen really hard. Actually, the other day I asked Him "What am I doing wrong, or what am I not doing?". I had a real sense He was saying "You are not listening". Turning down the volume of my life is a daily struggle for me.

What's the big secret you're itching to share with everyone?
You were made to love people - so go love 'em. 1 John 3 16-18.

What would your 'emerging church survival kit' contain?
Red bull, a PDA with Wifi, a Cellphone, Switchfoot's "The Beautiful Letdown", "Dangerous Wonder" by Mike Yaconelli and the Message.

Anything else you'd like to share with us before you have to rush off?
If you have seen a promised land, never forget that It's better to die by the sword than the plague.

Thanks. Good to see you. Have a good day!
No, thank you. I enjoyed it.