Surprise!!

Do you like surprises? Some people love them; others, not so much. It often depends on what the surprise is. I’ve found that organising a surprise birthday celebration can go either way - apparently, not everyone wants to celebrate significant birthdays, even if I do!

The Easter story is, at its heart, a story of surprise. Despite Jesus’ hints, everyone was caught off guard - Mary in the garden, the disciples, and the Jewish leaders. It’s a reminder of just how transformational this moment was: something impossible had happened. God had brought resurrection life out of death.

Jesus continued to surprise people even after the initial shock of his resurrection, appearing in different places and to different people - sometimes walking alongside disciples, at other times passing through locked doors.

For some, the resurrection was a welcome surprise; for others, it was not received so well. Yet those who embraced it were filled with hope - hope that God was at work in a new way, bringing change to the world and to their own lives.

Tom Wright, an Anglican bishop and theologian, captures this beautifully in his book Surprised by Hope, which explores heaven, the resurrection, and the mission of the church. The title itself reflects the magnitude of Easter and the hope it brings to the world.

This resurrection hope continues today. One of the joys of my first months at RM has been hearing stories of the Spirit continuing to surprise people across the network. Many have shared accounts of people - especially younger people - turning up at church gatherings wanting to know more about Jesus, having come to faith at home. There have also been stories of meaningful conversations in communities, with people expressing a desire to read the Bible or learn to pray.

Others have been encouraged through gifts, prayer, and the support of those around them. There are stories of community transformation, and of people sensing God’s call to move to rural areas to join in with what He is already doing there. It’s one of the reasons we’re hosting a Zoom gathering for anyone who wants to explore missional listening together (you can find here).

Alongside these stories, I have also seen God at work locally in quieter ways - through unexpected conversations, simple moments of prayer, and opportunities to share the hope we have in Jesus.

What stands out in all of this is the persistent hope of the resurrection still at work today. The Holy Spirit is moving - often in the unexpected. And rather than simply noticing these moments, we are invited to enjoy them: to take delight in the surprising ways God is at work around us and among us. As we continue our journey, may we learn to fully enjoy and celebrate these surprises, knowing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is still bringing new life and hope, here and now. 

Sam Abramian

Director, East of England, Rural Ministries