Baby Jones lends a hand with collection boxes

30 March 2006

Six-month old baby Jones provided a helping hand to launch Church Army's new style  this week. Around 4,000 of the boxes have been shipped to Church of England parishes across the UK and Ireland, and over 800 parish representatives, whose role it is to help promote and fundraise for the work of the 124 year old Anglican Society of Evangelists, have been tasked to get them into as many churches as possible.

The collection boxes reinforce the  theme for home mission launched by Church Army last year. The campaign highlights the message that mission really does begin at home in a country where two-thirds believe the pub has more to offer the community than the church, and twice as many young people believe in horoscopes than the Bible.

Kate Vigurs, Church Army's Donor Development Officer comments: "By filling one of our new Church Army Collection Boxes with loose change supporters could raise up to £30 which would provide around £120,000 for our home mission funds.  Each new child born in the UK receives at least £250 from the government as a Child Trust Fund investment in their future. The church needs to know that around £307,000 is committed to frontline work by Church Army to get the Gospel message out to children and young people with the aim of helping to secure their eternal future."

Philip Johanson, Church Army's Chief Secretary, comments: "We find that Christians are really shocked to discover that although there is a growing interest in spiritual issues amongst the public these people don't seem to view the church as having the answers to their questions. We feel that the time is right for this campaign to share how important our work is on the home front in reaching those who would otherwise have little or no opportunity to hear or respond to the Gospel."

At present around 60% of people are outside of the reach of the church and consider it irrelevant. Church Army positions itself at the cutting edge of building relationships with these people. Johanson adds: "This is long term work, and needs profile and funds to ensure that existing projects can be consolidated and that similar work can be established in more areas."

To request a Church Army collection box please either order or call 020 8309 3519.