(Photo: Premier Lifeline)
In the heart of Westminster, a gathering aimed at fostering spiritual growth and healing took place, uniting attendees under the theme ‘Abundant Life’. This annual Healing Conference, hosted by Premier Lifeline in collaboration with Methodist Central Hall, echoed the teachings of John 10:10, which speaks of a life filled with abundance.
Dr Ben Pugh: A Journey Into Spiritual Abundance
Dr Ben Pugh, a theology lecturer at Cliff College and author, shared insights from his personal spiritual journey, detailing his evolving understanding of living “in Christ”. Raised in the Cotswolds during the 1980s, Pugh described his childhood as materially comfortable yet lacking spiritual depth.
His spiritual awakening began during his art college days, influenced by a Pentecostal Christian classmate. “As soon as we started talking about Jesus, he was there,” Pugh recounted, describing his first encounter with Christ as a profound personal revelation.
Pugh reflected on a pivotal prayer experience in his student accommodation, describing it as “a light that seemed to brighten the gloom around us”. His conversion led him to King’s Church in Aldershot, where he initially believed he had received all there was to Christian faith through conversion and being “filled with the Spirit”.
Discovering Union with Christ
As he delved deeper into the Apostle Paul’s writings, particularly Romans 6, Pugh grappled with the concept of dying and rising with Christ. In March 2024, he experienced a deeper revelation of union with Christ, which he identified as central to living an abundant life.
“It is in that union with Christ that more is found,” he explained. “Life more abundantly flows through us out of the union.” Pugh emphasized that true spiritual life arises from surrendering to God rather than pursuing self-fulfillment.
“You have to come to the end of yourself,” he stated. “It’s by surrendering your life that you find it.”
Christ’s Incarnation and Human Experience
Pugh drew from John 1:14 to illustrate the incarnation, depicting Christ’s entry into human weakness and suffering. He emphasized that Christ endured human struggles to elevate humanity into divine union, stating, “He has entered into your frailty, your sorrows and your humanity.”
Surrender and Spiritual Disciplines
In his session “He Died, I Died,” Pugh explored the tension between spiritual aspiration and human frailty, advocating for “self-surrender” over self-annihilation or self-actualization. “People are not lost in Christ,” he insisted. “They are found in Christ.”
He also underscored the necessity of spiritual disciplines, asserting that theology must inspire active faith and practices like prayer. “The union with God is sustained by praying without ceasing,” Pugh said, highlighting the importance of continual prayer in maintaining spiritual connection.
Premier Lifeline’s Commitment
Jonathan Clark, director of Premier Lifeline, also addressed the conference, celebrating the charity’s role in providing spiritual support through its confidential helpline, which has managed 1.85 million calls since 1995. The event concluded with reflections on grace, faith, and the pursuit of abundant life through a deeper relationship with Christ.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
