The Church of Ireland
Diocesan Press Release

The Rt. Revd. Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, called together 600 representatives from the parishes in his diocese to a Diocesan Conference on Outreach - and sent them out to be "look outs." Welcoming the delegates to the diocesan outreach conference -' Looking Out, Reaching Out' - held in Bangor on Saturday 24th November, he talked about the need for the church to reach out to those outside its walls.

'My own vision for outreach,' said Bishop Harold, ' is a group of people standing holding hands, looking outwards, but with big enough spaces between us to ensure that everyone who wants to come in is welcome to do so.'

The danger he said with any vision, is that 'our vision can leak, our passion can waver. I want you to be absolute nuisances as you go back to your churches, so that outreach is not forgotten.' Helping the church to focus outwards and reach out to those who are uncommitted and unconvinced is one of the diocese's priority areas through its Think Again programme - reconciliation, outreach and young people. All the Think Again Team were speakers at the conference; Norman Jardine, Charlie Leeke, Nigel Parker and Andrew Brannigan.

The key-note speaker at the conference was the Rev Nicky Gumbel from Holy Trinity Church, London, who is closely identified with Alpha Courses. He talked about the mission of the church to reach out - a mission we often view as Mission Impossible. 'Much of the church doesn't know what mission is so we find it hard to work out what we're supposed to be doing. But Jesus gave us a very clear answer "Go and make disciples of all nations".' And he visualised this challenge through the story of the fishermen in Luke 5 1-11 who moved from failed fishermen, then had a great catch of fish, and eventually become fishers of men.

Firstly, said Nicky Gumbel, the potential is vast, the lake of Galilee was full of fish, so there were plenty to catch. It is true that the potential is vast in our situation as we try to reach our generation with the Christian gospel, with so many who have nothing to do with Christianity in a meaningful way . Secondly, nothing is impossible with Jesus - the disciples brought in a massive catch of fish, and with the help of Jesus, our mission too becomes possible. Thirdly, they had to change the structures of how they were used to doing things, and that may also be true in our churches as we reach outsiders. During his talk Nicky Gumbel read out a letter from a girl who had recently become a Christian through an Alpha course in London. "I had never been to church - I didn't know what to do or say." Fourthly - it cannot be done alone - only in partnership, and just as Peter had to call his partner, so the churches today need to work together. Fifthly - it’s a vision worth going for.

At the end of his talk Nicky Gumbel prayed for revival to come to Northern Ireland; 'that this place will once again bring great honour to God. That the churches may be a sign to the world of unity, love and power, and that the name of Jesus will be lifted up, bringing about a transformation in society with a fall in crime and a fall in the number of marriages breaking up.'

Other speakers included the bishops from Down and Dromore's link diocese - Bishop Dan Herzog from Albany, New York State, and Archbishop Joseph Morona and Bishop Justin Badi from Southern Sudan, who all brought greetings from their own dioceses. Referring to the events in America of September 11 Bishop Harold said, 'We have all become suffering dioceses who have experiences terrorism is different ways. Christians in southern Sudan are still experiencing persecution. There is no place any more for the terrorist, or for one group terrorising others.'

Delegates had the opportunity to choose from a wide range of seminar options, all linked to the theme of 'Looking Out - Reaching Out.' Delegates were encouraged to work through issues such as - How to be a Welcoming Church, How to share our Faith, How to grow small churches, Outreach in both urban and rural areas, Overseas Mission, Youth Culture and Outreach, Prayer and Evangelism and How to develop Alpha.

At the closing Eucharist Bishop Dan Herzog spoke to the delegates. 'Jesus Christ has transferred us to a new kingdom - God is sovereign of a whole new kingdom to which we are invited through no merit of our own. When we want to know God we look in the face of Jesus. Jesus is established by the Father to be the "glue" of the universe, the glue of our lives - in Him all things now hold together.

'The magnitude of events of September 11 reminds us of our dependence upon God. There is an openness to the Gospel which we have not had in the United States in the past 50 years. God can make us mindful that we need to be translated to the kingdom of His beloved Son - a kingdom dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit which transforms us from inside out.' He encouraged all the delegates to receive the enabling and transforming power of the Holy Spirit personally, and recognise Christ as King.

Bishop Harold Miller commented, 'For those who have never been to Alpha - or perhaps are not in the habit of going to church - may I encourage you to watch out for one of the many Alpha courses taking place across Belfast and throughout Down and Dromore.'

As he left Belfast Nicky Gumbel commented, ' I am thrilled to here today and I'm so impressed by the pioneering work that Bishop Harold Miller is doing here. I feel so privileged to be involved in a small way in what is an amazing work of God happening in this area under his leadership. I sense there is such potential for what could happen with the Church of Ireland working with other churches - that there could be a transformation of society here that would impact not just Northern Ireland but the whole world. It could be a sign to the whole world of the unity, love and power to change lives that is found through faith in Jesus.'