Our Generation for every generation
Contents
Introduction
5
Vision & Purpose
6
The Great Commision
8
How we Got Here
9
Church Planting
10
Church Development
12
Church Equipping
14
Global Mission
16
Meet the Team
18
Prayer Notes
19
Contact us
20
Introduction
Generation is the new name for the Mission Board of the Free Church of Scotland. But it’s also much more than just a new name. It’s an idea behind which we are focusing our work and aligning our people.
The Free Church has a new strategy. This new way of looking and speaking is going to help us communicate that strategy more effectively – among our own congregations, with those who can provide support to do the work we do, and to our brothers and sisters all over the world. Generation exists to generate hope in Christ, generate positivity within and outside our church and generate confidence in our denomination, among the wider Christian church, and with our partners and our funders. Generation has four streams of work: developing existing churches, planting new churches, equipping our people, and working with the global church.
Vision & Purpose
Purpose To make Jesus known to the people of Scotland and to see the kingdom of Jesus reach all people groups in the world.
Vision A church with a heritage and a church attuned to the needs of Scotland today.
The Great Commision
How we Got Here
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
The Generation story
Matthew 28:18-20
Our purpose doesn’t change.
18
Every generation thinks that it is the generation. Depending your point of view, it’s often either the most advanced or the most wicked. In one sense, as Christians it doesn’t matter. Because as Christians of any generation and for every generation our hope is fixed on Jesus Christ. Our purpose doesn’t change. And our unique, beginning-to-end perspective on all things means we learn from past generations, serve this generation and plan for the next generation of God’s people – through the gifts given to us and through the power of the Spirit. This is our response to God’s call to mission.
Church Planting
We are planting churches that will plant more churches
Generation Church Planting is responsible for all the church planting activities of the Free Church of Scotland. We plant churches that will go on to plant more churches. We share our purpose, experiences and expertise, support and train the men who watch over our planted churches, network and raise funds. By 2030, we want to plant 30 new Free Church congregations in Scotland and partner with others to plant churches in five cities in continental Europe. We believe that new churches reach new people. To realise this vision, church planting has to become firmly embedded in our DNA, and we must partner with global funders who recognise the vision of the Free Church and want to be a part of it. Above all we need our people to make this happen.
2018
We want to plant 30 new churches by 2030
Church Development
Training leaders, to train more leaders
Generation Church Development takes responsibility for the health of our congregations. The gospel flourishes through healthy churches. Healthy churches can be small, medium or large. We need to be honest with ourselves. Some of our churches need revitalisation. We believe that God can renew and restore local churches and we believe that Generation Church Development can help. As we plant new churches, we recognise that our established churches require input, resources and prayer so that all of our churches can fulfil their part of the Great Commission. All of our churches would benefit from development. Local leaders and workers require appropriate training, and new leaders need to be identified and trained. As we assess the health of our congregations, we want to assist them in taking steps to becoming healthier and better able to contribute to the wider Christian good of Scotland.
According to 2016 Free Church statistics, only 60% of Kirk Sessions feel they train their members to be missional, make disciples or engage in outreach.
Church Equipping
A church of disciples, making more disciples
Making disciples is a lifelong process. Profession of faith is the beginning of discipleship. A discipling church is a church which grows as its members are equipped to live lives of worship, to tell others about Jesus, to give a reason for the hope that is in them and to use their gifts in serving the church and the wider community. Our congregations need to be equipped not merely for the challenges of today but for the challenges that our children will face in their lifetimes.
65% of Free Church congregations provide no formal training for office bearers.
Only 25% of Kirk Sessions feel that they take steps to develop the next generation of office bearers.
Global Mission
Loving our neighbours, in far away places
Generation Global Mission is what we call the international mission work of the Free Church of Scotland. We want to reach unreached people groups and we want people to hear and embrace the gospel. We partner with missionary organisations to share our vision, experiences and expertise with local churches and local leaders so we can play our part in planting new churches, discipling believers and identifying and training leaders. We are currently involved in mission work across four continents: Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Healthy churches, growing believers and trained leaders are urgently needed among all people groups, especially for those people currently termed unreached.
Meet the Team
Prayer Notes
David Meredith Mission Director
Sarah Johnson Mission Coordinator
David accepted the position of Mission Director in 2015 after planting Smithton Free Church, where he ministered for 30 years.
Sarah has worked with the mission board for five years, managing the day-to-day running of all the work of the mission board. She has been instrumental in the transition to Generation.
Without Him we can do nothing We are incredibly grateful for what the Lord has provided for us to date. We rely on His goodness to continue to provide for our work over the next few years and for generations to come. We would love you to be praying for the work of Generation, as without Him we can do nothing. Please pray: Vision: that our vision would be God glorifying, Christ centred and Spirit empowered.
Nathan Olson Church Planting Officer
Bob Akroyd Chairman
Nathan is involved in the administration of the church planting work. An elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), he has been involved in three church plants in South Carolina, USA.
Bob was appointed Chairman of the Mission Board in May 2017. He is the Professor of Systematic Theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS).
People: that God would awaken His people to see the opportunities for sharing the Gospel. Resources: that resources would be provided to initiate and sustain the work.
Contact us
If you have any questions about anything you’ve found here or if you would like to join in the work of Generation, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact: Sarah Johnson Mission Coordinator Generation Free Church of Scotland The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LS Tel: 0131 226 5286 www.generation-mission.org Registered charity: Free Church of Scotland (SC012925)