Joining forces for UK mission 

The Revd Lynn Green joined leaders of other denominations to commit to renewed unity in evangelism and mission 

Mrs Green, General Secretary of our Baptist Union, and the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, planted an oak tree to symbolise church unity in evangelism last week (10-11 March). 



The planting took place at a gathering organised by the Evangelical Alliance, HOPE and the Church of England, which brought together 40 church leaders to the Lake District to consider how to help more people across the UK become followers of Jesus. 

The aim was to "gather key Christian leaders to focus on evangelism", said a statement, "to understand the current trends in our population with regard to Christian faith and to commit to prayer and action together."

During the event the leaders held a prayer meeting on a boat on Lake Windermere and discussed how churches of different traditions and styles could learn and act together in response to Jesus’ Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations”.

'It was a privilege to be part of this gathering,' said Mrs Green, 'as I have had a sense for some time that the Lord is calling us to work together across the churches for mission. 

'As we look to our growing relationships in the future my prayer is that as we pray and act together we will be more faithful in sharing Jesus in our communities.'

Steve Clifford, general director of the Evangelical Alliance UK, who also chairs HOPE, added: 'We want to raise the bar in the UK population’s understanding of who Jesus is, and increase the percentage of people in the UK who know a follower of Jesus who has positively shared life and faith with them.'

 

"I have had a sense for some time that the Lord is calling us to work together across the churches for mission" - Lynn Green 

 
As well as including leaders from across the spectrum of denominations, there were also leaders from across ethnicities.
 
Yemi Adedeji, associate director for HOPE and director of the Evangelical Alliance’s One People Commission, said: 'The presence and contribution of black and other ethnic church leaders during the summit was refreshing and invaluable in fostering unity in relationship, spirituality and common purpose.'
 
Roy Crowne, HOPE’s director, said that one of his prayers for this event is that friendships will have grown.

'Out of fellowship the kingdom of God is expressed,' he explained. 'Our dream is that the Good News of Jesus will take root in our villages, towns and cities as churches and leaders build new bonds of friendship and the kind of unity that Jesus said would show the world what God is like.'