Church Army Scheme Strengthens Communities

To encourage people to join the evangelical ministry, Church Army has launched the “First Contact Scheme”, in which participants spend a whole year in serving a ministry. Recently, a team formed in September 2003 reported great success in their work in Liverpool.

Together with Church Army’s experienced evangelists, the team of 14 members have been leading the Kidz Klub, a club for 4-11 year olds at the Trinity Church in Page Moss, Liverpool. It is one of a number of Kidz Klubs running worldwide, based on the model pioneered at Bill Wilsons Metro Ministries in New York.

Since last September, the team has organised weekly meetings, which have been action packed and fun, with relevant Bible teachings, prayer as well as worship. In efforts to become a true spiritual guides, they have also made weekly home visit to build a closer relationship with each child. Over three hundred homes are visited each week.

Reported by the Church Army, a celebration service was held recently at the Trinity Church. The team members received certificates for their hard work from the Chief Secretary of First Contact Scheme. Young people, teachers from local schools and members of the local church told stories of how the team based in Liverpool had made a significant impact in their lives and on the life of their communities.

Church Army evangelists expressed their joy in seeing the team members grow and develop not just in skills but also in their faith.

Many team members testified how God had guided them endlessly during this special year. One of the team members, Martin from Ireland said, “I’ve had a very challenging year that has helped me grow, manage new responsibilities and learn loads more about God and working for Him.”

All of them are amazed to discover their potentials in being able to bring Jesus Christ into the lives of people. Jonathan from another team in the First Contact Scheme, spent the year in Scotland for adventure ministry, In2Venture, he said “God has used me as a tool in His ongoing process of salvation to all people for God’s outreach knows no bounds. God has enlightened me to the opportunities of exploring new forms of church and the various ways it is possible to introduce Jesus into the lives of different people.”

Church Army is a society of evangelists within the Anglican Communion, which exists to enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ. The Church Army’s First Contact Scheme is free of charge, all accommodation and work expenses will be supported by the project that is volunteer-based.