The Church of England logoFaithWorshipLife eventsAbout the Church
Information Contact us
Media Centre Home
Media

College of Evangelists marks top ten years of spreading the word

19 May 2009

 

Four Christian leaders are preparing to join the College of Evangelists – a collective of modern-day missionaries gifted at helping others discover a living relationship with Jesus Christ – as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the group. Their special welcome service will take place on Thursday 28 May at York Minster, and will be led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

Archbishop Sentamu is himself a founder member of the College, set up by the Church of England’s House of Bishops to recognise and affirm evangelists with a nationwide ministry, or one that extends at least beyond the confines of any particular diocese. The College was inaugurated in October 1999 by the then Archbishops of Canterbury and York at Church House, Westminster.

The four new members are:

  • The Rt Revd Tony Porter, Bishop of Sherwood in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham;
  • Mark Greenwood, an evangelist with the ‘forty:three trust’, who has toured the UK with his ‘making a meal of it’ missions, ‘Men behaving Godly’ evenings, and Christmas stand up show;
  • Jenny Lowery, the Diocese of Wakefield’s Mission and Evangelism Co-ordinator;
  • Paul Griffiths, co-author of a book called ‘The 8 Secrets of Happiness’, who ministers around Gloucestershire with projects including a programme called ‘Puzzling Questions’ for those enquiring about the Christian faith.

The College is also marking its tenth birthday with the launch of a new website, www.collegeofevangelists.org.uk, which will include profiles of many of its 60 members and provide a facility for churches to invite them to speak at services and other events.

The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield and Chair of the College Council, said: “The College of Evangelists is there to support and encourage those with a ministry in proclaiming the gospel around the country. We know there are many excellent ways of sharing our faith, but proclamation from a skilled and gifted evangelist still has a valuable part to play.

“The College is steadily growing as more and more young evangelists are recommended by their bishops to join our original members such as Michael Green, Bishops Lindsay Urwin and Stephen Cottrell. We're really delighted that Archbishop Sentamu will be welcoming us to York for our tenth anniversary celebration.”