Church Army Sunday to Highlight Christian Presence in Community

The Church Army Sunday on 25th September will focus on the theme Get OUT More, which aims to encourage and equip churches to develop an effective Christian presence in the life of the community in ways such as car boot sales, pub quizzes, meeting the needs of clubbers and in other situations.

Church Army is a society of evangelists within the Anglican Communion, which works to enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ. Stimulated by the Mission-Shaped Church report published last year in cooperation with the Church Army’s research unit Sheffield Centre, it has been developing new projects to explore new expressions of churches.

In light of the declining church attendances across areas of Britain, many churches have begun to search for a new method of making a church so that it will match with the contemporary culture. Church Army, which has been at the heart of evangelism within the Church of England since 1882, has spearheaded in resourcing and assisting churches to develop in this aspect.

The fourth Sunday in September has been set aside in the church calendar for Church Army Sunday. On this day, churches have the opportunity to remind themselves of Church Army’s work and to consider providing support for Church Army in prayer and possibly finance too.

This year’s theme Get OUT More is to challenge churches to undertake a mission activity and make a difference in the community. Action Ideas sheets are now available on the Church Army’s website for Churches who would like to celebrate the day with some practical campaigns.

A 7-minute FREE DVD "What will they believe?" is also offered on request. This gives an overview of the work Church Army evangelists and projects are doing in partnership with others to reach out to individuals and communities with the gospel.

Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, fully backs the Church Army Sunday. He said more than financial and prayer support, this year’s Church Army Sunday is an invitation for churches to enter into the spirit of the day by arranging an event that makes a meaningful link between church life and a real community need.

"I urge parishes to include in their autumn planning, Church Army Sunday on 25th September 2005, with its imaginative focus Get OUT More. We all recognise the need for encouragement to be more outwardly focussed, and in this diocese we are well aware of how effective the Church Army is in helping our churches build valuable bridges into the community," he said.