What if the Church came together for the transformation of our towns?
Over the past year, as a small group of local church leaders, we have met to pray and discern where God might be leading the churches in the area. This has resulted in an exciting and developing vision for churches working together with local authorities, businesses, community organisations, health services, and schools, in mission and service to our communities.
During this time, we have been supported by Dave King of Gather Global, who has worked as a Church leader in Salford for over thirty years, and has a powerful testimony of how God has been moving there, as churches of different denominations and streams have come together in unity.
Our vision is to establish a local Unity Movement, which will not seek to replace the existing Churches Together Groups, but bring together churches that although diverse, will find unity in our shared faith in Jesus Christ and our common desire to see hope restored, as we bless, love and serve our communities.
During these meetings, as we disclosed to one another our hopes and desires for both Blackburn and every town comprised in the M65 strip, one word kept coming up – RISE; a word that describes our sincere desire to see an all-rounded transformation of our respective towns and a genuine renewal of hope. RISE also summarises the nature of the partnership by which we seek to be:
R - Relational – determined by a spontaneous coming together of both Churches and individual Christians for one purpose and in one Spirit
I - Intentional – about our Christian identity and seeing His kingdom come.
S - Spirit-led – acknowledging the Holy Spirit as the ultimate leader and seeking to align our plans to what he is already doing.
E - Entrepreneurial – Christians serving in every aspect of society to promote transformation.
This is only a glimpse of a fast developing vision that we would like to invite you to take part in. Soon we will set up an extended meeting to shed further light on what we are sure is the beginning of a new move of God in this corner of the UK. We’d love you to be part of it.
During this time, we have been supported by Dave King of Gather Global, who has worked as a Church leader in Salford for over thirty years, and has a powerful testimony of how God has been moving there, as churches of different denominations and streams have come together in unity.
Our vision is to establish a local Unity Movement, which will not seek to replace the existing Churches Together Groups, but bring together churches that although diverse, will find unity in our shared faith in Jesus Christ and our common desire to see hope restored, as we bless, love and serve our communities.
During these meetings, as we disclosed to one another our hopes and desires for both Blackburn and every town comprised in the M65 strip, one word kept coming up – RISE; a word that describes our sincere desire to see an all-rounded transformation of our respective towns and a genuine renewal of hope. RISE also summarises the nature of the partnership by which we seek to be:
R - Relational – determined by a spontaneous coming together of both Churches and individual Christians for one purpose and in one Spirit
I - Intentional – about our Christian identity and seeing His kingdom come.
S - Spirit-led – acknowledging the Holy Spirit as the ultimate leader and seeking to align our plans to what he is already doing.
E - Entrepreneurial – Christians serving in every aspect of society to promote transformation.
This is only a glimpse of a fast developing vision that we would like to invite you to take part in. Soon we will set up an extended meeting to shed further light on what we are sure is the beginning of a new move of God in this corner of the UK. We’d love you to be part of it.