Evangelism Focus

Building on the evangelism focus approved by the 2007 General Assembly, this year's meeting in Japan called for a detailed evangelism plan, developed by staffs of the program agencies, to be posted on the denomination's web page in early 2009. The goal is an "integrated plan to lead presbyteries and the several churches to engage in evangelism focused on bringing new persons to salvation in Jesus Christ."

The GA Committee on Missions, Ministry and Chaplains, following in-depth discussions involving representatives of the General Assembly boards, agencies and MTS, offered the recommendation which was passed by the Assembly. The Committee concluded its report with the comment that "the intended essence of this recommendation is to call all of the identified agencies and resources of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to a 5-year emphasis on evangelism focused on bringing new persons to Christ." The plan, as it was envisioned, is to move beyond "talking about" evangelism to actually involving the members and ministers of the denomination in doing it.

Recognizing that evangelism itself is multi-faceted, committee chair Jeff Clark offered the perspective that we as a denomination and as individual congregations need help in finding ways to share the gospel effectively in the rapidly changing environment of the 21st century. The addition of numbers for their own sake has never been the goal, the committee maintained, yet the declining numbers of members and churches in the denomination was regarded as an iimportant "vital sign," suggesting that the Church needs to re-commit to the essential calling of the Great Commission. The desire to take the evangelism focus seriously was patently clear during the committee's deliberations and in the GA's affirmative response.

The Board of Missions web site features an Evangelism Focus webpage with articles and resources relating to this emphasis. A periodic electronic newsletter, "The E-Word," is also available for those interested in being part of a growing Evangelism Focus Network for the purpose of sharing ideas and resources, along with a blog, "E-Blog," dedicated to evangelism concerns. The second Youth Evangelism Conference is scheduled for December 27-30, 2009 in Nashville, TN. This conference is for 7th grade - College freshmen. Wake Up is the theme and we're excited about all the plans being made at this point.

2009 Youth Evangelism Conference

December 27-30, 2009
Nashville, TN

Click for more information

2008 NCD Matching Grant Met!
Thanks to the giving of many people, we were able to reach our goal of $75,000 in order to receive a matching grant from a very generous donor.

Builder's Fellowship Call Goes out for
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