Mark Russell tells US evangelicals that the Gospel is more than just sin management

13 February 2009

Church Army's Chief Executive Mark Russell gave a keynote address to the Anglican Mission in the Americas - AMiA - conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, on 30 January, and kicked off by quoting author Nick Hornby’s description of church from his novel How to be good: "It feels a long way from God. It feels sad, exhausted, defeated. He’s clearly moved, shut up shop, this isn’t a place to see and be seen."

In a speech which received a standing ovation from the audience of over 1,000, Russell urged the delegates to see young non-churched people as "the majority future mission field". Russell shared his dream of encouraging and renewing Christians to reflect more of the spirit and character of the radical, exciting and dynamic Jesus - reaching out to those on the margins, and loving the unlovely.

He challenged delegates not just to move inward to outward, but to think beyond Jerusalem and Christendom to Samaria, and the ends of the earth, if the church was ever going to meet the challenge of the inspirational great commission. He described the UK as "a post-Christian country" and advised the Americans that "Christendom is dead. You are on our heels; I hope you can learn some lessons from us because we are throwing the tracks down as the train is moving!"

He praised the work done already, springing from the Church of England’s Mission shaped church report, but said there was much more to be done to re-imagine the Gospel for the 21st century, away from what it had become to some: a mere divine life-assurance policy, focused on sin management. After urging the church to be bolder and more risk-taking, Russell concluded with: "Let's go from here later today, with a renewed vision to live a Gospel of the Kingdom not just of Sin Management. Let's go from here, passionate to share our faith with those around us."

Read more at: Mark Russell - Chief Executive.