United Kingdom Part 2
6 There are signs of hope — water these tender plants with prayer:
a) Traumatic social change and the devastating consequences of violence, family breakdown and fear for the future have brought a new openness to consider spiritual solutions.
b) Renewal movements. Many pastors and congregations experienced charismatic renewal between the 1960s-‘80s. This also gave rise to a new family of churches. The house church movement, or Newer Churches, grew fast and have become a significant spiritual force in the nation, deeply affecting church structures and fellowship patterns, and have enlivened worship across the denominational spectrum. Their growth slowed in the 1990s. Nation-wide, these changes have been stimulated by major trans-denominational gatherings such as Greenbelt and Spring Harvest.
c) New younger generation movements are emerging with radically new approaches — Internet café gatherings, WEB prayer and culturally appropriate worship styles, such as Tribal Generation, flowing from the Church of England, and also others spontaneously springing up in different parts of the country.
d) The Alpha Course phenomenon has spread across the country to nearly every denomination and across the world as one of the most successful outreach programmes run by churches in the UK today. These user-friendly introductory courses explain Christianity in a relaxed and informal environment. About 6,400 congregations were using the Alpha courses in 1998 with over 650,000 individuals having completed one.
e) Christian leaders from across the denominational spectrum are meeting regularly for prayer together in many cities and towns. This is leading to cooperative efforts in ministry.
7 Evangelical Christianity has grown slowly in percentage of the population, of church-goers and as a proportion of active membership in mainline denominations, but there are definite challenges:
a) To maintain and increase unity in fellowship and vision. The Evangelical Alliance has done much to encourage this and give credibility to Evangelicals in national life. The EA represents 1.3 million Evangelicals, 30 denominations and 800 agencies.
b) A widespread loss of confidence and certainty about models for church life and outreach. There were a number of initiatives in the 1990s which fizzled out or did not halt the overall malaise and decline.
c) A common cynicism about the future and the state of the Kingdom of God in the world which cripples enthusiasm for missions locally or overseas. Pray for restoration of vision and faith in God’s ability to change Britain once more.
8 Christian leadership is under intense pressure — church members are more demanding, less committed, giving less and often more interested in self-fulfilment than sacrificial service. There is a lack of effective Bible teachers and expositors. Pray for effective discipling and training of a new generation of leaders in both congregational and more formal theological training. There were 59 residential denominational colleges and 25 interdenominational colleges with a total of 7,150 students in 1999. Pray that these may not only impart a theological education, but also spirituality and world vision.
9 Young people are more spiritually open, but increasingly come from dysfunctional families, a history of drug abuse and promiscuous lifestyles. They need intense, loving help to become effective disciples. Pray for:
a) Religious education teachers in schools. RE is a core subject by law but is often ignored, resisted or even opposed by school authorities and students. Pray for Christians involved in this ministry and for meaningful ways of making the message of the gospel come alive.
b) Commitment to Jesus and His will, to the discipline of Bible study and to the church. Few have come from a background of church life.
c) Effective discipling of children. Sunday School is a fading institution and viable alternative models are lacking.
d) Youth movements. Covenanters, Crusaders, SU and British YFC have long had significant impact. Newer movements such as Soul Survivor and Oasis are proving innovative and effective.
e) Missions vision — few young people have much exposure to a vision for the world. The ministries of OM, World Horizons, YWAM and Worldwide Message Tribe are seeking to redress this with short-term training and exposure.
10 Students are exposed to great pressures in the secular education system. A largely godless and materialistic younger generation is being formed by it. Relatively few secondary schools have a live, outgoing witness from staff or student groups. Pray for:
a) The SU and Christian Union groups in schools — for their growth and multiplication, and for Christian teachers to be used of God to help launch such groups.
b) The Campus Christian groups among the 900,000 full-time students in colleges and universities. Their growth and diversity is encouraging, the main ones being Agapé (CCCI), Navigators, Fusion and UCCF(IFES). The oldest and most widespread is the work of UCCF with Christian Unions in nearly 600 colleges and universities, yet a further 300 have no permanent group. Pray for mature, stable leadership, effective support and advice from the 45 travelling secretaries, and establishment of a viable witness in every college. The student population is one of the more receptive segments of society.
c) Overseas students. About 400,000 overseas students are granted visas every year — 80,000 to do university degrees. Outreach to them is varied but too limited, and many return home without ever hearing the gospel. UCCF(IFES), International Student Christian Services with 40 staff in 18 cities, In Contact Ministries, and others have ministry to them.
11 Britain’s contribution to world evangelization in the last 200 years is unique. Interest has waned and many congregations have never even sent out their own missionary. In 2000 there was only one Protestant missionary overseas for every 6 churches. There is a widespread conviction that either the job has been done or that efforts should be concentrated on Britain’s need. Pray for:
a) A renewed commitment by local congregations to world evangelization, to pray out their members to the areas of greatest need, and to care adequately for those who go.
b) An increase in recruitment for missions; pray that the growth in short-term involvement may lead to increased long-term recruitment and support.
c) The coordinating role of Global Connections (EMA) in promoting vision and cooperation among mission agencies and in local churches for world evangelization.
Read Full Post »
Heritage and Destiny 