National campaign to encourage confidence in the Scriptures
A 13-city tour to help the Church gain appetite and confidence in God’s Word is now underway, with events still to come in Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool, Bournemouth, London and Exeter.
The Biblefresh tour will be exploring the theme of "The Bible: Tedious, Taboo and Toxic, or.jpg)
Transforming, Treasured and True?" and sharing the vision for practical ways churches can re-engage with the Bible.
The Biblefresh partnership of over 50 agencies, festivals, colleges and denominations have joined forces to see churches grow their confidence in the scriptures during 2011, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible. It is the first time so many agencies and organisations have come together to promote God's word in this way. Partners include the Bible Society, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Scripture Union, London School of Theology, CWR, UCB radio and the Evangelical Alliance among many others.
The coalition has been formed in response to recent findings about the Bible's place in the Church; for instance, only 1 in 7 churchgoers say they are confident in their knowledge of the Bible, and 76% of church leaders associate Bible poverty with the UK where the Bible is no longer at the centre of public or family life.
The strapline for Biblefresh 'It could change your world' was praised by the Bishop of Durham (above) at a recent launch in the North East on 26 January. Bishop Tom Wright spoke of the Bible as having a transforming effect.
He said: "The Bible is there to enable us to be the people of God for the world, the people through whom God's story becomes the world's story. Bible readers, Bible prayers and Bible understanders are world transformers."
Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, said about Biblefresh: "Any time people begin to engage with the scriptures in new and fresh ways, unbelievable things begin to happen. Who knows what Biblefresh will lead to, but it will be interesting and unforgettable.'
Ann Holt, Executive Director of the Bible Society, said: "The Bible has become toxic for many in British Society and the confidence of Christians to rely on their scriptures publicly has consequently been knocked. Biblefresh will help confidence recovery."
The remaining Biblefresh gatherings are:
Belfast: 1-4 February, Kingdom Come, Spires Conference Centre
Exeter: 3 February, Belmont Chapel
Manchester: 10 February, Fresh Thinking
Bristol: 28 February, Bristol Cathedral
Liverpool: 16 March, Grace Family Church
Bournemouth: 18 March, Moorlands College
London: 30 March, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Anyone interested in attending can register with name and event location by e-mailing biblefresh@eauk.org
(Photo: Bishop of Durham's office)
