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"Churches are not putting enough emphasis on the stranger." That's the stark assessment of Presbyterian Church Evangelism Director, Rev Harold Boyce. In a strongly worded challenge issued to Presbyterians, Rev Boyce argued that many "unbelievers would never consider coming to church and those that do would be all at sea with what was going on."
Mr Boyce made his remarks in the March edition of Wider World, magazine of the Presbyterian Women's Association. He continue to say:
"If we want to be better followers of the One who welcomed sinners then we need to think deeply about the nature of the welcome we give in churches. If only we could be as accommodating, kind and thoughtful towards those we invite to our churches as we are to those we invite into our homes what a change for the better there would be. The notice board may say 'All Welcome' but do our services convey the same message?"
He observed how effective the Ford Motor Company slogan "Everything we do, driven by you" could be applied in some way to the church. "It's essential that we believe and understand the Gospel, but we also must know and understand our 'customers'. Let me say I think we ought to expect strangers in church to take time to learn something about our message and our methods. But surely we must expect churches to meet the stranger half way."
Noting the declining number of families joining the Presbyterian Church Mr Boyce said; "Our greatest challenge in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is not just to reverse statistical trends, but also to make an evangelical Church into an evangelizing Church . We need to turn a church which includes evangelism among its beliefs into a Church where evangelism pervades everything we do."
Harold Boyce has been Director of Evangelism for just under one year, having previously served as minister of Strand Presbyterian Church in East Belfast. He is currently preparing to help launch a new 'Christianity Explored' course produced by Rico Tice of All Souls, London, which it's hoped will provide new resources for churches willing to engage in outreach activity.
Issued by Martin McNeelly, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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