INTRODUCING OUR VISION CHAMPION ...
... Linda Pounder.
Our Vision Champion is Linda Pounder. Linda is a long-term member of St Stephen's and is committed to doing everything possible to enable and encourage church members to fulfil the objectives of the Blackburn Diocesan Vision - to embrace God’s call to make disciples, to be witnesses, and to grow leaders, and to inspire children and young people.
VISION 2026 RATIONALE:
The Church of England in Lancashire (Blackburn Diocese) desires to make the Good News about Jesus Christ more widely known, because we believe:
→ He is the One who brings 'life in all its fullness'
→ Healthy church communities have a positive and transformative impact on our society.
We will work together to achieve this by:
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST
- Knowing the Scriptures better through reading, teaching, preaching and study
- Praying with greater depth and urgency for the Kingdom of God to come
- Giving generously of our time, talents and money to the cause of Christ.
BEING WITNESSES TO JESUS CHRIST
- Sharing the Gospel of salvation with confidence
- Holding regular enquirers' courses in as many local churches as possible
- Showing God's love in action through projects that meet a local human need
- Offering thorough and accessible Baptism preparation and follow-up
- Planting or renewing 50 new strategic congregations by 2026
GROWING LEADERS FOR JESUS CHRIST
- Supporting and equipping the current leadership for today's contaxt
- Enabling missional leadership in every Christian community
- Liberating lay leadership for greater participation
- Creating the varied patterns of Sunday and weekday worship necessary to welcome all kinds of people, especially the newcomer
- Prioritising work among children, young people and schools to raise up a new generation for Christ
For further information on Vision 2026, visit the Blackburn Diocesan Website: http://www.blackburn.anglican.org