A new initiative has been launched by Christian Aid to raise finances in order to help 'new churches'. Christian Aid's 'Act Justly Appeal' will be launched on today (Friday 18 March) at Christ Church and Upton Chapel.
Christian Aid, one of the UK’s leading agencies has expressed its desire to aid the growth of independent, evangelical and Pentecostal congregations.
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland are the official backers of Christian Aid, and historically just the traditional denominational churches have been aided by the agency. However, over the past five years, since the ‘Jubilee 2000 – Drop the Debt’ campaign, a new direction has been undertaken and a more outward approach has been evidenced.
The appeal will involve various resources, and in particular a pamphlet of six study sessions will be provided for use in small groups. The study sessions will look to make people aware of a number of key issues and topics currently affecting the Church and its works. Among these issues are: Make Poverty History campaign, HIV/Aids, debt relief, trade justice etc…
In addition a video is set to be released in support of the initiative, which will be narrated by Steve Chalke, the famous Baptist Minister. Featured on the video will be US evangelical Tony Campolo, Louise Donkin (SPEAK), Jim Wallis (Sojourners) and Durham bishop, Tom Wright.
The Christian Aid advisor for new churches in Britain and Ireland, Roger Allen said, "God requires us to ‘act justly’ and to ‘loose the chains of injustice’. More and more new churches are taking action to tackle the root causes of poverty and the global injustices of our world."
Christian Aid’s new church co-coordinator in London, David Muir commented, "We believe this is a very good time to be talking with these churches about justice issues and the root causes of global poverty’. Evangelical and Pentecostal churches have previously gravitated towards other relief agencies but in recent years people have become less concerned with ecclesiastical labels."
Although Churches Together in Britain and Ireland will not have any direct relations to the initiative, it does give the cause its full backing. The new drive seems to compliment CTBI’s Churches Commission on Mission’s recent work with new and emerging churches, and its ‘Building Bridges of Hope’ mission project.
[Source - Ekklesia.co.uk]
