"CHURCH NOW" SEC Area 7 Day of Fellowship

Sabbath, 10 March 2007 - Watford Coliseum

Pictures by Robert Hines. Report by Russell Montague.

This was an Area Day of Fellowship with a difference! It was not about big names and big statements, but about our area and the people in our area. The theme of the day was ‘Church Now’, there are a lot of more traditional outreaches happening in our area. However, that was then we wanted to be inspired with what could be and is being done know to reach the secular communities we live and worship in.

The morning did not follow a traditional structure although it had many of the elements we are used to. Mission stories were interspersed throughout the morning, showing how local churches were making a difference in their communities by going out to them rather than expecting them to come to them. Drama, music, prayer and praise were all part of the morning service. We were challenged by our speaker Pr Damian Chandler to not see our evangelistic problems like the friends and family of Lazarus saw his death. We need to free ourselves from the bonds of our human understanding and allow Jesus to show his miraculous love.

The children were not left out during the day, ‘Kidszone’, a group who run a children’s outreach in the area produced a children’s church throughout the morning. They also ran a workshop in the afternoon along with the people involved in the following; area women’s ministries, area youth outreach, and Healthy Church Growth Principles by SEC. The area also came together again in the evening for a concert featuring the musical talent in our area. Again the theme of the morning was emphasised in that music can also be a ministry and an outreach. This was typified by the Luton Community Gospel Choir which is made up of local community & church community members. We were also shown a clip of their recent appearance on ITV, winning funding to further their community efforts.

I believe everyone enjoyed the day because there was something for everyone, young or old, black or white and I believe this too is a much needed part of ‘Church Now’ and was the unspoken message of our day together.