A WHITE Englishman kneels before a black Zambian, and tenderly washes his feet before drying them, gently, with a towel as the words of "Brother let me be your servant" resound around the Jesus Centre auditorium.

This foot washing demonstration expresses the heart of the Multiply Network's vision: to serve leaders and churches, and to refresh them for the next stage on their journey.

For the 55-plus overseas delegates, there was much to be refreshed by in visiting the Jesus Fellowship: Many came for more than just the conference, some for two weeks or more, staying in various of the Church's community houses. Days were full: touring the chapel, community businesses and Northampton Jesus Centre; listening to, and questioning, leaders old and new(er) on various distinctives of the Jesus Fellowship.

The Goodness Foods' walk-in freezer cabinet (at 26 degrees below freezing it's so cold your nostril hair freezes) proved a challenge for many, and the bathroom display at Towcester Building Supplies was a particular hit with the Ivory Coast contingent. Little-known concepts, such as the "Kingdom Servants Declaration" which all employees in the businesses adhere to, provoked lively responses.

The main conference, held at Northampton Jesus Centre, explored servant leadership - apostolic, pastoral, prophetic, evangelistic - plus how to train a new generation of servants (and keep the old ones radical).

Servant leadership? When Samuel Brengle applied to join the Salvation Army, he thought he'd be given a prominent place. General Booth sent him to the dingy cellars to clean the boots of 300 men. "If you're not able to do this, you're no use to me," he said. Brengle did it.

Multiply director Huw Lewis had started the week by saying, "One ox can pull eight tonnes. Two can pull 32 tonnes. And four oxen can pull 128 tonnes", emphasizing the importance of teamwork and togetherness. So it was good to strengthen the bonds with brethren in Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast, and to create new ones with the Philippines, Zambia and India, among others. As the days passed, the clamour for your "contact" so as to be able to keep in touch increased.

On the last day, the old ballroom at Cornhill Manor, one of the Jesus Fellowship's community houses, witnessed a dance like none it had ever seen. Dancers from Bhutan to Belgium, Hungary to Liberia, and many more, formed a lengthy conga line which snaked its way through the maze of chairs before obeying the call to change direction and to weave another way.

The stiffness of the that first afternoon when the group had had to be exhorted to look at one another when singing "Let us open up ourselves to one another" had faded. Now we were a people joined together, a rainbow stream determined to bring change across the world.

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