1. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Rural Evangelism
Extracted from sessions prepared by Capt. Gordon Banks C.A. and used in other similar consultations. Gordon represents the Diocese of Chichester within the Rural Evangelism Network.
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2. Copyright©Barry Osborne 2013
Special Information
This presentation was designed and written by Capt. Gordon Banks C.A. It is hoped that many will find it helpful.
Should you make use of the presentation we ask that you include the contact information towards the end of the presentation.
Much of the clipart is in the public domain.
Should you wish to use any of the material in the presentation please obtain permission stating what you wish to use and how you intend to use it.
A presentation transcription can be made available.
Thank you.
Copyright©Barry Osborne 2013

3. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Captain Gordon Banks CA Diocesan Evangelist Chichester
Church Army Rural Link Officer
Committee member
Rural Evangelism Network
Chaplain to FCN Sussex/Surrey
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4. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Ministry…
Community Evangelist Marsh Farm
Luton 1986 – 1989
Parish Evangelist St Mary’s Prudhoe
Northumberland 1989 – 1996
East Wivelshire Deanery Evangelist
Cornwall 1996 – 2001
Diocesan Evangelist – Truro 2001 – 2005
Diocesan Evangelist – Chichester 2005…
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5. and previous employment before...
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Journey To Faith:
a local church training course
Most of this ‘material’ is based on this downloadable resource available from the Arthur Rank Centre.
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7. Rural Evangelism Network
Bringing together Churches and Mission Agencies
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8. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
evangelism and mission
Mission Totality of God’s activity to restore his order (Kingdom) to the whole of creation ~ Missio Dei
Evangelism That part which restores God’s relationship with humans as the Good News of Jesus is both told and lived
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1998 Lambeth Conference
The aim of God’s mission…
‘the transformation of the life not only of individuals but also society, the nations and the whole created order.’
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The Five Marks of Mission
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth
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To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
evangelism
Digging deeper…
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Evangelism as engagement
church
earth
heaven
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For God so loved the world…
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Out & Back – community engagement
Reaping
Third Agents
Particularizing the Gospel when local sensibilities make it difficult to do so – a very rural specific!
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Seasons & Cycles ~ Rhythms & Patterns
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Creating a map for the year ahead…
1. Secular celebrations, anniversaries, events, etc. taking place in 2014 in your local area, the region or nationally or even internationally?
2014 – commemoration of the start of World War 1
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Secular seasonal events…
Winter – New Year Celebrations
Spring – Easter weekend break
Summer – holidays
Autumn – new school term, Halloween, Bonfire night
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Creating a map for the year ahead…
2. What ‘seasonal’ events take place in the life of the Church? Some of these may have a local peculiarity or be rural specific.
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Creating a map for the year ahead…
Main Church seasonal events …
Epiphany (Methodist Covenant Service)
Candlemass
Shrove Tuesday/Ash Wednesday
Lent
Holy Week ~ Easter
Pentecost
Harvest
Advent
Christmass
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Creating a map for the year ahead…
Remember we are thinking of these as opportunities for evangelism, sharing faith through words and actions…
“We should do things more evangelistically rather than do more evangelistic things!”
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Creating a map for the year ahead…
Some rural specifics…
Lammas
Plough Sunday
Clypping Service
Crying the neck
Rogation
Beating the bounds
Blessing the Milk Parlour
Blessing an Equine Event
Opening Worship for County Show
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22. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Bringing it together…
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23. Yearly cycle of community engagement
KEY: Green – the world’s view of the year Purple - Church seasons Red Blobs – opportunities for engagement
CHRISTMAS
Dec
Jan
 New school year – begin Alpha or other initiation courses
 Back to Church Sunday & Harvest – Stewardship
 All Saints / Remembrance – Legacies
 Christmas – hospitality and welcome
 “Welcome to St Wilberts” course – meet the local teams
 Candlemas – just completed tax returns – another Stewardship opportunity
 Lent courses – deepening discipleship AND/OR Alpha (if not done in Sept)
 Easter – baptisms and confirmations
 Church check-up time – are we effective?
 Summer term – serving the community
 Go to summer festivals – New Wine, Soul Survivor, Greenbelt, Walsingham
SPRING TERM
Epiphany
Nov
Advent
Feb  
AUTUMN TERM 
Lent  
Oct
Mar
Yearly cycle of community engagement 
EASTER  
Apr
Sep   
Pentecost
May
Aug
SUMMER HOLS
Jul
Jun
SUMMER TERM
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24. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Foster a level of expectancy…
Always ask ‘what next?’…
Offer various ways to explore and engage with the Faith Community & in particular ensure you use electronic communication…
Facebook, twitter, web page, blogs, Q.R. reader…
Ensure something like Christianity Enquiry Agency is on your web site and all hard copy material you produce including Pew/Service Sheets and especially Carol Services…
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25. Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013
Let me tell you a story
Let me tell you my story
A framework for forming our unique faith story…
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Meet Ben…
Before
Encounter
Now
Most often conversion Christians…
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Meet Ann…
Always known God
Needed to develop owned faith
Now
Most often cradle Christians…
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The pilgrims story…
Journey to Faith
Ben – from little or no faith/knowledge of God to becoming a disciple of Jesus
Ann – from vicarious faith to owned faith
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Journey to faith –
from process to crisis
We need to meet people where they are on their journey and help them take the next step…
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Journey of faith…
Blessing
Behaving
Believing
Belonging
Befriending
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In conclusion…
The hope for all our villages, towns and cities is to develop Christian Communities rather than church congregations.
These Faith Communities will be committed at the core and open at the edges.
They will know their individual stories, their church story, the story of their context and culture and God’s overarching story for the redemption of the cosmos of which they are a part.
They will be both an evangelized and an evangelizing community drawing people into the life of the Faith Community and into the heart and love of God.
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Contact Information:
Captain Gordon Banks CA
Diocesan Evangelist
Church House
211 New Church Road
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 4ED
Copyright©Gordon Banks 2013