Ministers’ Letter

Why are we here?

What is your congregation’s Mission?

I have come to the conclusion that many in our congregations today don’t understand what “mission” means.

Mission is about Proclamation, Discipleship, Service & Justice and about being Sent.

• Proclamation:Spreading the “good news” of Jesus Christ in our communities so as to lead people to faith.
• Discipleship:Nurturing persons/seekers, baptising them,
  and teaching them to follow Jesus’ commandments.
• Service and Justice:Addressing human need through loving service,
  caring for creation, and transforming unjust social structures in our communities.
• Sent:The word mission means “sent,” reflecting the belief   that Christians are called and commissioned
  by God to be ambassadors of reconciliation in our communities and the world.

Mission is about Incarnational Living:
Being present and active in the community, rather than expecting the community to come to the church building.

I have been appointed as your Circuit “Mission” enabler.
My task is to enable you in doing the above:
to enable you to spread the good news of Christ.
to lead people to faith.
to nature them.
to address human need and injustice.
to enable persons to respond to God’s call.
to reach-out into the community.

A lot of this work has already been done in our congregations,
but the mission is not to the converted – we are called to
reach-out to those persons on the fringe of our congregations and communities.

So if mission is about “sending” it’s also about going.
It means we are to go out to reach persons on the fringe of our congregations and in the wider community.

We must note that our members are getting older and our numbers are dropping.
Gone are the days people just walked into our services and church groups.
We are to reach out to those on the fringe and community.
In reaching out to new persons, we can then nurture them
and make new Christians for God’s Church.

We are encouraged by the national church to reach people where they are, create f
resh expressions of worship and create opportunities and activities for new people in new places.

I know we all want to see our congregations grow and increase, but doing nothing and remaining as we are,
is not an option.

Friends, I am here to be consulted and help you.
So congregations, stewards, pastoral leaders let’s have a conversation or speak to your minister.

Our congregations cannot remain as we are; for God calls his church to wake up and move on to serve the present age.

Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember,     

I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Jesus commissions us, the church, with His final instructions before ascending to heaven.
He said “Go therefore and make disciples” declaring his universal authority.

This command to Go, is about sending us out to make disciples of all, baptise, and teach
obedience to his commands, promising his presence until the end of the age. 

 

Deacon Al Henry Circuit Mission Enabler

tel: 0749 4352 786 deaconalhenry@hotmail.co.uk