NEWS AND EVENTS

2013 24 hour Conference

This important conference for our members will include opportunity to reflect on the changes taking place in rural society, to review strategies for rural evangelism, and address the mission needs of rural churches.

Get up to date on appropriate resources available.  Share your vision.  Enjoy fellowship with others of like mind.

REN is awarding one free space to a representative of any of our member bodies.  For all others the Conference fee which includes full board is £60.

The dates are 13/14 March 2013.  The venue is the International Missionary Centre, Selly Oak, Birmingham.

If you are not already a member but are active in rural evangelism within the UK we may be able to include you.  We cannot offer places for anyone outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

To book send an email to the REN Secretary with "2013 Conference" as the header.

FEBV gets a new Name

With effect from April 2012 the Fellowship for Evangelizing Britain's Villages has relaunched as"Village Hope".  This is one of the oldest contiuing rural evangelistic missions in the UK and we pray that this new development will enable them to continue with increasing effectiveness.  More information will be passed on as it becomes available.

What hinders?

The latest issue of Rural Evangelism News explored what might impede rural churches from engaging with the task of evangelising their local community. Members' opinions were canvassed anonymously.  The report of the survey results can be obtained by clicking on the link below.  

 Research into Rural Evangelism

Barry Osborne has begun a research degree with Winchester University exploring how rural churches in Britain understand and practice mission and evangelism.  The research will reflect on how the rural context might affect theological understanding regarding community, church, mission and gospel.

Aware of the degree and speed at which rural communities are changing barry hopes his research will resut with a better and more effective engagement with telling the gospel story.

Articles for Country Way

We are once more looking for anyone who is willing to help gather/write articles for Country Way.  This is not onerous but will be a great help to Barry and will also help to ensure a steady flow of information from REN into this important magazine.

The latest copy of the magazine is being circulated to REN members.  Details about Country Way can be found on the Resources page of this website.

Regional Consultations

On March 18th Barry Osborne met with rural church leaders in Hampshire.   The meeting is near Andover.  Further details from barry@ruralmissions.org.uk.

Regional Consultations are proposed to be held in the following locations:

• Norfolk/Suffolk - Return visit to Ditchingham
• Essex - Cheltenham area
• Kent/Sussex - Maidstone
• Wales - venue to be arranged
• Scotland - Edinburgh
• Midlands - venue to be arranged