• 27 November 2020

Supporting our Church Planting Fund

Ahead of our Advent Gift Day, Bishop David highlights the Church Planting Fund which will receive 10% of the total raised across the diocese. He writes…

Church planting is not a new phenomenon. It goes right back to the New Testament. Indeed, the Church of Ireland in every generation has planted new churches.

I am committed to seeing our existing congregations strengthened, blessed and renewed, but also to planting new churches where the traditional model no longer works, or where there is little Christian witness.

My prayer is that every year there will be at least one new church plant in the diocese. Already I have five places in mind, and I am looking for leaders and resources.

I would love our parishes to join with me in making this happen. Already a church in the diocese wants to partner with and resource a church plant and I would love to see more of that. We can share our finances, our people and perhaps even our buildings.

Our system is a parish system and we have a responsibility for every household, street and townland – to seek out those who don’t know Christ, to bring them into a relationship with him and into the family of the Church.

Please pray, and please give on 29 November and beyond. Let’s partner together in church planting to reach more people for Christ throughout the Diocese of Down and Dromore.  

+David

Note

Six churches have been planted since the Church Planting Fund was launched in 2013:

  • Glen Community Church (Newtownards) led by Revd Stephen Doherty (OLM)
  • Moneyreagh Community Church led by Revd Rory Blake–Knox (OLM)
  • Braniel Community Church led by James Crockett
  • Killough (outreach through Kids and Youth Clubs in the village) led by Sarah Irwin
  • The Gathering (meeting in St Martin’s, Ballymacarrett) led by Ross Munro
  • Killicomaine Community Church (Portadown) led by Revd Jim Fleming (OLM)

Pictured above, some of our leaders at a recent church planting seminar hosted by the bishop.