Encounter Henley Welcomes Lead Pastor: Tim Littleford

What does it mean to live “on mission” in an increasingly secular culture? In this inspiring message, Pastor Tim Littleford breaks down the true theology of mission, drawing from personal family history, church tradition, and Paul’s journey in Acts 18.

From a simple plate of fish and chips at Henley Beach that changed his family’s trajectory, to unpacking why our spiritual impact relies on both proclamation (speaking it out) and demonstration (living it out), Tim reminds us that mission isn’t something we control—it’s something we participate in.

Key Takeaways

• The Origin of the Mission: Encounter Church’s core vision—to see every person from city to beach encounter Jesus—stems directly from real life-changing moments, including Tim’s father coming to faith as a 16-year-old in Henley Beach.
• Proclamation + Demonstration: True Christian mission requires both speaking the gospel and living it out. Doing one without the other turns us into either hypocrites or just well-meaning social workers.
• God’s Mission Has a Church: Quoting theologian Christopher Wright, Tim reminds us that the responsibility of mission sits with God, not us. We are simply everyday, ordinary people invited to participate in His extraordinary work.
• Strength in Weakness: The gospel becomes credible to the world not through polish, image, or perfection, but through authentic, imperfect believers who faithfully follow a crucified King.
• Overcoming Fear: Just like the Apostle Paul faced fear and hesitation in Corinth, we often fear the social consequences of speaking our faith in a secular culture. Yet, Christ’s encouragement to Paul remains true for us today: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking.”