Church Army sees New Strategic Mission Opportunities

A great new mission opportunity has been identified in new towns across the UK by Church Army's Mission Research Unit in the Sheffield Centre. The Director of the Sheffield Centre and the UK’s famous evangelist, Rev George Lings, has explained his vision in the latest issue of Encounters on the Edge.

A mass new house building programme is currently being initiated by the Government. As Rev George Lings made his research visit in the new housing developments in Elvetham Heath in Hampshire and Cambourne in Cambridgeshire, he discovered that multi-denominational churches tend to plant very well in these new towns.

Rev Lings tried to explain this new light in the spiritual desert for evangelism. He believed that relocation and re-settlement have a large impact in the lives of people, therefore people living in new towns are "more open to new ideas and reassessing values", creating a very good atmosphere for preaching the message of Christ.

"These new villages and towns are arguably the most physically obvious new mission field in England, in terms of numbers ... and spiritually they may be the most open ... there could be a strong case for putting some of our best pioneers into this kind of development," Rev Lings said.

While the role of churches as skilled partners in the creation of a sustainable community is increasingly recognised by the Government, Rev Lings lamented that "too often churches struggle to respond to people who turn out to be highly mobile, living disconnected privatised lives" such as those living in the new towns.

In addition, Rev Lings shared his observation that many younger people are tending to think more "post-denominationally" and are actively seeking a church "exhibiting spiritual reality, family provision and authentic community." It is the LIFE in the church that will attract people and not labels.

Rev Lings suggested that multi-denominational churches headed by leaders with overseas cross-cultural experience have been very efficient to meet the challenge. He commented that this kind of church is a classic example of the best emerging practice that attracts those on the fringes of church life and the "de-churched".

In building the multi-denominational church, Rev Lings has also warned evangelists to avoid the sort of ecumenical bureaucracy that can often stifle the growth of a church plant.

Week-long community use, cafe church ideas and space for the visual and contemplation are the long term visions for the new church buildings in new towns. Rev Lings applauded the new idea saying it would enable the church to become well-equipped to meet the future challenges of counter cultural communities.

Rev Lings concluded, "In today's wider church climate which more freely admits the present crisis of decline and so welcomes responsible pioneers more readily, these stories show permission for mission is being given and allows for a positive message to the surrounding community of churches working instinctively together."