3rd July 2017

South African twin Diocese visitors help Lancashire churches at mission events

Thousands of primary school children in Lancashire and in South Africa will be linked together at a huge stadium worship event organised by a Lancashire parish that takes place in July.

Some 4,000 children and adults from parishes throughout Lancashire will be at the home of Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park, on July 10 from 10am – noon for St James’ Lower Darwen’s South African Cross Culture Event.

And the whole experience will also be beamed live to a similar gathering of youngsters from churches in Blackburn Diocese’s twin Diocese of Bloemfontein in South Africa.

The get-together is part of ‘Mission Possible’, a week of events and celebrations organised by St James Church, Lower Darwen and neighbouring churches from July 3 to July 10 which will be supported by a team of visiting Christian leaders from the twin Diocese.

The big Ewood Park party will be the culmination of a week of events, services and celebrations beginning on July 3 and organised by Rev Tim Horobin, the Parish Priest of the three churches and his team of volunteers and helpers from St James, Over Darwen; St James, Lower Darwen and St Paul’s, Hoddlesden.

Highlights include an outdoor Songs of Praise at St Paul’s, Hoddlesden on Monday July 3, a South African Beach Party at Roman Road in Lower Darwen on Thursday July 6, a huge family event ‘Our God is a Great Big God’ at St James, Over Darwen on July 9 and a village carnival at St Paul’s School, Hoddlesden on Saturday July 8.

For more on the entire week of events visit this website where you can also donate to support the mission work if you want to. All the events are open to all, except the stadium event which is by invite to schools and family and friends of pupils only.

The South African visitors are Kgosi and his wife Sandra, from St Margaret's Anglican Church, Bloemfontein; Isaac, from Holy Cross Anglican Church, Bloemfontein Township; Tlagu (pronounced Clar hou), a member of the cathedral congregation and lay ministry team and Thapelo, the Diocesan Youth Officer and member of St Peters Church, Rocklands.

Rev Tim Horobin said: “There are a great variety of events taking place culminating in a celebration event at Ewood Park for school children across the whole diocese.

“The aim of the mission is to make the gospel relevant to the generation today, working in a cross cultural way and training and equipping young leaders in mission and outreach.  We will be bringing communities together at a time of division in a time of great celebration.

The South African mission team will move to St Peter’s Church in Fleetwood on July 11 and will spend the week working alongside Canon Fr John Hall and his local team there.

Highlights there include a service of Prayer and Benediction on Wednesday evening July 12, with special guest Rt Rev Philip North, the Bishop of Burnley; food cooked in the South African style by the visitors on Thursday 13 July; a service of ‘Prayer, Dance and Drumbeats’ for young people on Friday July 14; a Prayer Breakfast for men on Saturday July 15 and a farewell Praise Party at St Peter’s on Sunday July 15.

The South African visitors continue their mission work in Lancashire at All Hallows Bispham the following week, working alongside the Rev Canon Dr Simon Cox and parishioners there.

Speaking today, Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev Julian Henderson, the Bishop of Blackburn said: "To coincide with the visit to the Diocese of our South African friends, churches in Blackburn and on the Fylde are clearly demonstrating how enthusiasm for mission can translate into many events that will engage people of all ages. 

"As part of our Diocesan Vision 2026 we want to put our mission work at the heart of what we do and I want to encourage the churches involved to take full advantage of the opportunities these events will give them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"From the spectacular Ewood Park event for thousands of local schoolchildren, being organised by St James Lower Darwen, to the 'Prayer, Dance and Drumbeats' event coordinated by St Peter's Church in Fleetwood and much, much more to participate in, my prayer is that God will use our visitors to share the challenge of the Gospel of Christ with many who haven’t heard it before and, as a result, there will be those who decide to become followers of Jesus Christ.”