Vital and ambitious churches

Stibbe and Williams (vicar and associate vicar at the time in view) describe how the church was transformed from ‘cruise liner’ to ‘lifeboat’ mode — from a ‘come-to-us’ to a ‘go-to-them’ model of mission. Essentially this was achieved by assigning church members to ‘mid-sized communities’ (MSCs) of about 40 adults which meet most Sundays in community and school halls, cafes and the like and only once or twice a month gather all together. These MSCs are mobile, flexible and able to engage easily and naturally with the community. The result has been an adventure for the church, much greater mobilisation of its members and significant growth in both numbers and discipleship.

Steve Wilmshurst