OUR men's group raised a glass to Ray Ashley at their June get-together...and no wonder.

For Ray is the founder of Pub Church, a new organisation that aims to spread the Word in a completely different way - through your local.

Some people may shy away from a pew but feel very comfortable at the bar. So why not include God in a little social fellowship while you whet your whistle.

The idea is to encourage those who might not necessarily want to commit themselves to their church discussing the bible secular issues in what is a more comfortable environment for them.

"Basically the idea is to raise three glasses: 1) to give thanks to God; 2) to ask Him to help us in what we are facing in life, and 3) to ask God to use us - that is, help us achieve whatever we are aiming at.

"Should anyone feel the need to pray at any time during the discussion he or she merely has to raise a glass and we do just that. So we can pray together as well as share part of our lives."

Pub Church is slowly taking off. Ray, a baptish minister currently working as a freelance funeral celebrant, explained:

"We are trying to do things in a different way to appeal to different people. In many ways we are saying ' refresh your spirit with us' - albeit with a pint of beer.

"Every seperate project has its own identity. But the common link is the three Ps: People, Presence, Proclamation.

"People getting together with a common goal in the Presence of God and in a situation where it's easier to get to know one another, and Proclomation in that in this situation we can tell God's story in a number of different ways.

"I believe in the positivity of Pub Church and especially the words of Albert Einstein who insisted: 'There are two ways to live your life: one as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle.

"That's my philosophy, too. And along the way Pub Church groups have enjoyed lots of laughs, been inspired, offered one another support and experienced some really special times."

Why not start your own Pub Church group. Visit www.pubchurch.co.uk if you'd like to learn more.