Why PreachIt!?
At PreachIt! we believe that preaching should be biblical - and to be biblical it must be Christ-centered. The apostle Paul described such preaching as the “power of God” (1 Cor 1:18) - “power” because Christ-centered preaching turns our eyes away from ourselves to Jesus, in whom there is grace, love, hope and freedom.
At PreachIt!, we also believe preaching is something we continually learn and grow in, and that is best done through regular support, training, feedback and in conversation with other preachers. The apostle Paul gives us an idea of the work involved in preaching. One does not need “eloquence or human wisdom” or “wise and persuasive words.” Self-confidence is not a requirement, but a humble demeanour and a sense of one’s own weakness is. A preacher must understand that a sermon is ultimately a “testimony about God” motivated by a resolve “to know nothing . . . except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” This means that in the end preaching is “a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” so those listening may be so attracted to God’s power in the person of Jesus, that they might respond in faith (1 Cor 2:1-5).
Doctrinal Statement
We recognise that God’s people do not always agree, leading to varying convictions and distinctive beliefs within the church. However, we believe that in such cases love, mutual respect and gracious acceptance should transcend any differences - irrespective of how deeply such convictions are held.
There are however fundamental beliefs that have historically characterised God’s people for two millennia, to which we affirm and hold. They have been expressed in The Apostles Creed: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/apostles-creed
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Introducing Alan Stanley
I am a Kiwi with a wide range of experience in training people for pastoral ministry, 15 years of which have been spent in Australia. This includes 10 years of pastoral experience, nearly 20 years as a Bible College teacher, being a published author and 10 years of cross-cultural work in theological institutions and churches in Southeast Asia.
The experience gained from working within a variety of denominational, theological and cultural settings has shaped, formed and enriched my worldview in ways that I could never have envisioned 30 years ago. My heart and eyes have been opened to the value of listening, learning, and most of all, loving. The end result is that God has used my experiences, together with life’s trials, to expand my appreciation and love for the diversity that exists within His Church. Since returning to New Zealand in late 2017, my focus has been preaching, training preachers, Bible College teaching as well as theological education and working with pastors in Asia. I live in Cambridge with my wife, Kathleen, and three boys. I love running, writing, and am always partial to a good vanilla latte.