“In response to God’s love for all people, our hope and desire is to see all parts of our society transformed by the gospel”
The Ignite Network is a simple network of small communities who desire to see the good news of the gospel impact areas of society in need of healing, justice or an expression of God’s love.
The network exists to create opportunities for people to know Jesus and serve him in creative and meaningful ways. We hope that people will come to realise and experience that they are known and loved by Jesus. We recognise that society has changed dramatically and, whilst we still value meeting on a Sunday morning in a more traditional way, we realise that if Jesus walked in Ireland today he wouldn’t be contained solely in a building, rather he would be out meeting people where they are, loving and serving people and telling them of the hope of the gospel. It is with this conviction that we believe it is our role and privilege to serve and love likewise. To be open to all, to be loving of all.
We have 5 part-time staff who support our communities. You can find out more about them here. Belinda has written 2 short blogs on our culture and values which you can read about – here and here!
Walking on this earth, Jesus began with simple, ordinary people, calling them to follow him, and to learn about him and to learn what his heart was for. We believe Jesus was against injustice and was always for the poor, the powerless and the lost. Jesus is considered the greatest movement leader of all time. His message of hope and love and good news is still as relevant and powerful as it ever was. Sometimes people have misused and mishandled his life-giving message and, as a result, people have been hurt. We believe that Jesus came to show people a new life, a different way. With a message of love, of hope and a future, to offer peace and comfort to a struggling and hurting people. We believe that we are ordinary people but that God is extraordinary and, although like the first disciples we will make mistakes and fall short continually, we further believe that God is bigger than us and has heart for all people.
The network exists to empower, mobilise, resource and provide accountability to leaders and these communities to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of the kingdom of God. We hope to do this by encouraging and equipping ordinary people to work with God in living out the gospel to see transformation happen in our city and beyond. Our hope is to see many different expressions of ‘church’ exist to show and tell of God’s love.
Each community or micro-church has the capacity to be like the church, to be God’s hands and feet in the world. Each of these micro-churches has a particular ‘purpose’ that drives them; a mission they pursue in response to God’s calling and leading. The community is gathered around that common purpose as they encourage and love one another in the journey, together pursuing this vision as a vibrant community of Jesus-followers.
At present, most of our communities meet in Urban Junction in Blackrock. You can read more about the communities on this website and at https://www.urban-junction.com
We’re a part of the Methodist Church in Ireland and value relationships with other churches, denominations and Christians who are exploring new ways of sharing faith and life. We’re also involved in Praxis, a group of Christian leaders sharing ideas, training and prayer events encouraging mission in Ireland. https://praxismovement.com/about
We use four words to help us understand what it means to follow Jesus; to live as a Christian. Whatever background, denomination or expression of Christian faith – we believe these four aspects are important as we follow Jesus. They are like DNA, they frame our existence as a larger network but they also give purpose and structure to underpin the fundamental intention of our smaller sub-groups.
Worship is what we do in response to what God has done for us. We do this through singing, music and prayer, but we also understand it as a thread that runs throughout our whole lives. Our worship of God is continual; Colossians 3:17 says “Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of Jesus, thanking God every step of the way”. When we know God personally, and when we are known by Him, it impacts what we build our lives on.
Walking alongside other people of faith in community is one of the core purposes of Ignite. True community offers a sense of belonging. We believe every person is valued by God and has a role to play in His church. And so, we aim to love, support, encourage and care for one another in all aspects of life.
Transformation is a profound or fundamental change.
The Bible speaks of believers being renewed and shaped in their hearts and minds to reflect the way of Jesus. Stating that when we follow Jesus, we become a “new creation,” where the old ways of living are gone. We are “changed by a new way of thinking”, and we start a new life, living out the ways of Jesus.
We believe Christian transformation is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of reimagining and reshaping every detail of our lives through the lens of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, by engaging with Scripture, staying open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and finding encouragement, challenge, and support in Christian community.
We believe that God loves and cares about the world and everyone in it, that He is actively engaged in the world, seeking to reconcile and restore creation, that He intends to heal all the brokenness around us: from the environment to society and to return the whole creation to perfection. [The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the pivot that makes all this possible.] therefore, mission is not just a task of the church, but God’s overarching purpose in history.
When Jesus told his disciples to pray, Your kingdom come, he was encouraging them to expect that God’s kingdom will come! And when it does it will be a reign of justice and goodness for everyone and all creation.
As followers of Jesus are invited and called to participate in this.
Bringing his hope and healing and wisdom and good news out into our daily lives and work, in all sorts of spheres of life, is God’s call to us. The specifics vary from person to person, but each of us has the same opportunity and invitation to join in God’s mission motivated by His love. It is this purpose that directs and moves us forward.