WHY? Church Planting is one of the most effective
ways of reaching people with the gospel, because it enables the good news to be taken to areas which may have little gospel witness, adapting the style and location of the church to make it easier for people to hear and respond to the gospel. It is an obvious outworking of the Great Commission and in line with the New Testament’ s emphasis on the centrality of the local church in God’ s plans.
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Church planting is always painful, as longestablished relationships are broken when a group of believers are commissioned and‘ sent’, but it can be fruitful for the gospel in both the‘ sending’ and‘ sent’ church, as people’ s gifts are released, and more seats are available for newcomers to join. There is also something slightly scary and unpredictable about church planting that keeps us on our knees.
HOW? The previous three church plants from StAG
have been“ grafts”: we have sent a team of lay people( often who already lived in or near the area) with an ordained leader to join an existing congregation. In the current Huntingdon proposal, we are talking instead about a new( non-parish) Church of England church that will serve the whole of Huntingdon.
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WHERE? As we are seeking to start a new church, we are
looking for a new venue in the centre of Huntingdon. Our first choice would be some sort of school or college. These normally provide good parking, smaller rooms for children ' s work, and often are places that the local community are used to visiting. We have one or two places in mind and conversations have begun.
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WHEN? If all of the final discussions and much admin
go to plan( please pray), we hope to be able to start some sort of relationship building and outreach from September 2017. During the next academic year I will combine this with the ongoing work at HUB( our 20’ s & 30’ s ministry), and then as a family, we hope to move to Huntingdon in Summer 2018 with a view to launching a new Sunday service from September 2018.
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WHO? We need you! The Newcombe family( above)
is getting excited and other families and individuals from StAG have already committed to this plant. Around 20 of us meet on the
second Thursday of the month to talk, share news and pray. Some live in range of Huntingdon or in the A14 corridor. But we would love many more to consider joining us.
It’ s not impossible for people to remain in Cambridge and join us on a Sunday, but for the sake of outreach we hope that many( particularly those who are at a crossroads in their lives in terms of where they live or work) will consider a move with us to Huntingdon. Huntingdon is in a good location for transport links to London, Cambridge and the Midlands.
The gospel needs are very great, and we hope that all will consider prayerfully whether to join us or stay and support the work here in Cambridge. We realise that a move could involve considerable sacrifice( although the house prices are significantly cheaper!) but as a group we have been struck by John 12:24 which we are calling the plant life principle:‘ Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit.’ Christ-honouring and Christ-like sacrifice for the Kingdom is always worth it.
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PRAISE GOD: 1) For the progress so far over 2 + years of discussion, especially for support from the Diocese and Bishop of Ely.
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2) For an enthusiastic initial core team, and for encouraging monthly times of prayer and fellowship.
PRAY: 1) For the final green light for this Church Plant to
go ahead.
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2) For a good team of workers for the harvest field.
3) For all the practicalities and finances involved in starting a church plant like this within the Church of England.
4) For the 2017-18 academic year to be a good year of preparation and building relationships
5) For an effective launch in the right location in Summer / September 2018 God willing.
6) That we would do everything in a way that honours Christ and builds his Kingdom, especially for humility, prayerfulness and biblical priorities.
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INTRODUCING HUNTINGDON 1. Situated on Ermine Street
built by Romans between London( Bishopsgate) and York.
2. Chartered by King John in 1205.
3. Birthplace of Oliver Cromwell
4. Location of Hotel Chocolat factory!
5. 50 minutes commute to King ' s Cross.
6. On the busway to Science Park and central Cambridge
7. New A14 due to be opened 2020.
8. Home of the inventor of a tasty snack( 4th Earl of Sandwich)!
9. Population in 2011 census: 23,732 with large expansion proposed for next few years.
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