Charleston Church plant

“Accompanied A. B. in one of his rounds through some of the most miserable habitations I ever beheld. Such scenes I never before dreamed of. Ah why am I such a stranger to the poor of my native town? I have passed their doors thousands of times…What embedded masses of human beings are huddled together unvisited by friend or minister! ‘No man careth for our souls,’ is written over every forehead. Awake my soul Why should I give hours and days any longer to the vain world, when there is such a world of misery at my very door? Lord, put thine own strength in me; confirm every good resolution; forgive my past long life of uselessness and folly!” – Robert Murray McCheyne – Minister of St Peters, 1834

Why plant a church in Charleston? Charleston is an area that St Peters already has connections with Charleston is an area of great social need Population – 4612 60% of the population live in the bracket of the 15% most socially deprived people in Scotland 43.8% of the population are unemployed 23% children, 62% working age, 15% pensioners On average just over ¼ suffer from some form of depression BUT most importantly…. 3. Charleston is an area of great spiritual need There is NOT ONE evangelical gospel witness in Charleston

The church is the primary means by which people will hear about Jesus and respond to his gospel The people of Charleston need the gospel Therefore the people of Charleston need the church

What is the aim of the Charleston church Plant? Charleston Free Church REACHING DISCIPLING SENDING TRAINING To have a community of God’s people at the heart of Charleston, made up of people from Charleston, which seeks to reach the lost in the area with the gospel, build committed disciples in God’s word, train God’s people for service and send out gospel workers and church planters.

How are we going to do this? Assemble a small Launch team of around 10 people The Launch team will be involved in the community of Charleston and will spend most of their time building up connections with the community The Launch teams purpose is to get the church to launch stage Over the first year the launch team will do three things: Get integrated into the community Fortnightly strategy meetings Weekly bible study

Interest Group There will also be a wider interest group. This is people who are not on the launch team but interested in coming along to the services/study we will run on a Sunday.

Long term goals

5 years People from the local area being converted and evangelising to those in the area. Local converts being discipled and taught the Word of God. Regular Sunday services of around 40 people in which we sing, pray and listen to God’s word together. Continual evangelistic events and programmes that are culturally appropriate. A variety of established “mercy ministries” addressing the social needs of the community. Midweek small group Bible studies meeting in people’s houses across the scheme. Full time employed family/woman’s worker. Apprenticeship programme to train leaders and church planters. Apprenticeship programme in discipleship for those who are from Charleston with a view to potential ministry work. The church to be launched and planning towards becoming independent of St Peter’s. Church to start generating income through the giving of others.

10 years Charleston Free Church to be recognised as an important and integral part of the community. Sunday services to grow and develop with two services now happening on a Sunday. An established eldership and deaconate and self-sustaining income. Social renewal and reform in the local community through people’s lives being changed by the gospel. Charleston Free Church to begin another church plant in a similar part of Dundee involving people from Charleston Free church and those who have been trained through it. A strong support to both local and international mission through the provision of people from the church and through financial giving. A strong, established and recognised training programme for future gospel leaders and those who want to plant churches in a similar area.