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This Sunday, 13 September, sees the beginning of a major outreach initiative in the Presbyterian Church. Throughout Ireland 26 rallies are planned to publicly launch the Life 2 campaign which is designed to help congregations take the good news to people in the community who have lost touch with Christianity or indeed never had any contact with church life. These rallies are just the start of a whole series of events organised by individual congregations that will take place in their own communities between now and June 1999.
'While Life 2 is a church wide campaign, the focus is very much at local level,' explained Rev John Parkes, convener of the Presbyterian Church's Evangelism Committee. 'After the Rallies launch the programme next Sunday, the onus is very much on local congregations to carry Life 2 forward in their own communities. For the last year congregations have been considering how effective their witness is in their own area, what age groups and sections of the community they are good or bad at communicating to and what opportunities exit for churches to take advantage of. Then on the basis of this research they have developed practical programmes which will be put into practice between now and June 1999.'
The 26 Rallies, most of which are happening on Sunday 13 September, (see list at end and contact names for your area) are an opportunity for congregations to come together, hear what others are planning to do and give the whole programme the added momentum that comes from realising that many others are also involved. The rallies will be addressed by a variety of speakers and will include special music, drama and continued prayer for the project.
'Prayer has been another important preparation for Life 2,' says Presbyterian Evangelism Promoter Dr Brian Kingsmore. 'Thousands have been involved in prayer triplets - where groups of three people gather together for regular prayer. This has been a great encouragement that so many have got involved in this vital aspect of the whole programme.'
After the rallies 'launch' the programme then it is over to the local congregations doing their own thing which is the key element that makes Life 2 very different to other evangelistic programmes tried in the past according to Rev Harold Boyce, chairman of the organising committee. 'In the past when evangelism is mentioned, it conjures up images of huge events with visiting speakers and vast choirs. In some places that approach may still be appropriate but the key factor in Life 2 has been for congregations to do what will be appropriate, and more importantly, effective in their community. Many of the events being organised are quite different including social events like golf tournaments and dinners, keep fit programmes and video events as well as the more traditional 'meetings' but all of which will somewhere include communicating the essence of the Christian faith.'
'Telling the Good News is the prime role of the church,' added John Parkes. 'Life 2 we hope will give an impetus to that in all our congregations enabling people to share the good news appropriately and effectively while realising that ultimately it is only by our own lives and attitudes that people will really see the authenticity of what we proclaim.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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