Free.In.Deed campaign: Anglican mission agency to recruit 1,000 new missionaries

A poster of the Church Mission Society advertises its plan to recruit 1,000 new missionaries.(Church Mission Society)

The Church Mission Society (CMS) in Oxford, England, is planning to recruit 1,000 new missionaries to help bring about change in different countries.

It has launched its Free.In.Deed campaign based on its belief that "all of God's people are called to play a part in God's mission to bring challenge, change, hope and freedom to our world."

"But so many things can 'lock us up' and keep us from this call. Like fear or confusion or busyness...the list goes on. We want to help you break free from whatever may be holding you back from discovering your call and putting it into action. Whether that means going overseas or living mission locally," according to the CMS website.

The Free.In.Deed campaign targets individual Christians and local churches to find "a wave of people who are passionate about communicating the Christian message to this generation," according to ACNS News Service.

"For many Christians 'calling' is a nebulous concept, shrouded in uncertainty and religiosity," said CMS executive leader Philip Mounstephen. "The Free.In.Deed campaign aims to change that and revitalise our relationship with mission so we don't just see it as a responsibility to be taken seriously but rather a privilege to be called to.

He said if Christians would put their mission call to action, the world would be a different place.

"The love of Christ would renew people and places, pioneer leaders would be forging new paths of transformation, people on the margin would flourish, the healing of creation would begin," he explained.

Mounstephen added, "This campaign is more about the 'friend in the pub' than the 'man in the pew', and is calling out ordinary people, with a passion to serve their community, both here in the U.K. and overseas."

Thomas Fowler, the agency's church engagement manager, said, "For some that call will mean crossing the street but for others the call will require them to cross a continent."