Church Army’s Mark Russell welcomes new fresh expressions guide

1 Nov 2006 

Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell has welcomed the launch of the new guide Listening for Mission published by Church House Publishing, which has been produced in a bid to get churches to explore growth opportunities in their local communities.

Up and down the land, Church Army evangelists are exploring fresh expressions of church through their many different and varied roles in the community. From skateboard ministries to café churches, nightclub chaplaincy and community service, Church Army evangelists are meeting the needs of their community and reaching people where they are.

Mark Russell states, "I welcome this report, it tells us what Church Army has always believed, the church needs to learn to scratch more where people itch. This report helps challenge the church locally to respond to needs. This double listening, to God and to the local community, will help us discern what are appropriate mission initiatives."

Church Army listens and it is this 360-degree listening that influences its works as evangelists continue to make a real difference through work that impacts the lives of individuals where they are in schools, clubs, pubs, and community centres. Church Army encourages churches to listen to their local communities more and as Mark adds, "Church Army gets to present the Jesus of the Bible, bold, exciting, radical, and let him speak for himself. We are about helping the church to reinvent itself in a new generation, to be more real, relevant, radical, dangerous, and I hope more fun!"

To find out more about the work of Church Army, please visit the  page. For more information about Listening for Mission or to order copies, visit Church House Bookshop or telephone 020 7898 1300, email bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk