Terry Diggines

My name is Terry Diggines and I was born in Leytonstone in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and in 1970 moved to the London Borough of Newham. I am married to Pat and we have two daughters and six wonderful grandchildren.

With a background in Retail Management I moved into "full-time ministry" and for 25 years was pastor of Plaistow Christian Fellowship. For the past 10/11 years I have been on a journey which has radically changed my thinking. Much of this journey was God engaging me in a two-way conversation which led me into a different understanding of "full-time ministry" and the importance of the marketplace. He has been very patient and gracious as we have journeyed together and revelation has come. It has been exciting and challenging and is not over, as God wants to go to even greater heights or depths or both! The journey has challenged me to the pit of my stomach and has created a deep passion which sometimes can border on frustration.

At a personal level the challenge has been to step up to the podium and take responsibility for what I have heard and do something about it. It has including unexpected healing of areas in my life that I was not even aware of, and healing that has also come in unexpected ways. There have also been major attacks of the enemy because he knows the power and potential of the marketplace. It has been a journey of humbling and in some cases tears, as I have had to repent to God and say sorry to marketplace people on behalf of church leadership for the way in which, on the whole we have not valued, supported, encouraged or released people into their ministry in the marketplace. Although at times difficult, it has been followed by a sense joy both for me and those I have said sorry to.

I have sensed the sadness in the heart of God I as I listened to the sense of frustration in many marketplace people over not being understood or valued, feeling isolated and in some cases a just a cash-can to keep the church going. The other side of the coin has been the great sense of joy both in God and in people as they have been assured that the sense of calling in their heart as a work place ministers is also in the heart of God and it is OK!

In January 2007 this journey led Pat and I to move out of church leadership and set up an organisation called AYG (As You Go) which is based on two scriptures:

• Matthew 10:7 - "Jesus said 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; as you go preach the good news of the Gospel'."
• Matthew 28:19 - "Jesus said 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'." The tense here is as you go or wherever you go make disciples.

Our passion is to see the people of God equipped and encouraged into their calling and anointing to serve in all areas of society with a particular focus on the workplace and so fulfil the great commission as a lifestyle rather than a project.

My passionate plea (and truly this is passion and not frustration) is particularly to my fellow Pastors and church leaders to please look afresh at God's people and see the hidden, neglected army in your charge. There is a wake call to church leaders to be more Kingdom minded, to see that primarily our role is to release people and equip them into their spheres of influence in the marketplace. I believe this is going to happen - why not be in vanguard of this move? But be warned - it will cost you!!