Church Plant Open Evening
Partnership in Church Planting was the focus of last night’s Open Evening in the T3 Conference Centre outside Lisburn. This was an opportunity for anyone in the diocese to meet and hear directly from our church planters about their pioneering work and to come alongside these ministries in hard–to–reach communities.
Keith Gardiner, our Fundraising Officer for Church Growth, chaired the evening which began with Bishop David posing the question, “Why plant churches?” The chief answer is mission. “The Great Commission hasn’t changed,” said Bishop David. “We’re still tasked with winning the world for Christ.” He went on to say that church planting is not a new thing in Down and Dromore, nor indeed in the Church of Ireland, and was happening at a fast rate in parts of the Anglican Communion. Church plants have also proven to be the most effective way in the long term to reach people with the Gospel, with their ability to be more targeted and responsive than settled congregations.
Down and Dromore’s current church planting initiative began in 2013 and since then, nine new worshipping communities have been established in Belfast, Dundrum, Killough, Moneyreagh, Newtownards, and Portadown. The emphasis has been on hard–to–reach communities in inner city housing estates and in rural areas.
Church Plant leaders Revd James Crockett (Braniel Community Church), Revd Jim Fleming (Killicomaine Community Church) and Colin Morris (St Donard’s Community Church, Dundrum) each gave a short presentation on their church plants. They were encouraging but also honest about the challenges they face, particularly in relation to a shortage of leaders.
A short panel discussion followed with Matthew Gault (Tullycarnet Church) Revd Ross Munro (The Gathering) and Revd Willie Nixon and Nigel Quinn from Drumbeg Parish which has partnered with St Donard’s Dundrum. Finally, Keith shared the various ways in which those present, indeed anyone, could become involved by receiving ministry reports, praying for this work, visiting and volunteering in church plants and contributing to the Church Plant Fund.
To find out more about Church Planting in Down and Dromore and/or to donate, please visit these pages on our website:
Church Planting in the Diocese
