Summer Evangelism 2008

Sheffield District Summer Campaign 2008 July 26th – August 9th

After months of planning, the ‘It’s All About Him’ Summer Campaign started in Sheffield hosted in the Carter Knowle Church,see the photos.

In planning the Summer Campaign, the Planning team had continued the Theme taken from Spring Evangelism held in April at the Carter Knowle church, focussing on the centrality of Jesus Christ in everything that we do.

One aim of the Programme was not just to have the evening preaching and worship session, but to also have community focussed programmes running through the day, so for the second year in succession, the Noah’s Ark Play scheme ran at the Church.

On average, 45 children and young people attended each day, and were engaged in bible-based arts and crafts, sports and trips out, with a theme around Egypt and Moses.

One of the highlights of the Play Scheme was the Old-fashioned ‘church trip’. This was so successful, with over 200 people, including a large numbers from the community enjoying a day out in Skegness.

The spiritual side of the Campaign was about as ‘high’ as we have had in Sheffield for many years.

Evangelist Costa Vaggas had been one of the Speakers during Spring Evangelism and was invited back to minister again for our Summer Campaign.

The preaching and persona of Costa truly impacted the District.

Jesus Christ was made real, relevant, and radical to us all both visitors and regular members.

Costa spoke with passion and reality about the need to ‘Let it Go’ focussing on people, things, and situations that hold us back from being what God would have us to be.

With the creative use of IT-based visual aids, the Bible became simple real and relevant.

What was striking in this Campaign, perhaps more so than others, was that parents of the children who came to the Play Scheme visited the Campaign in the evening, then kept coming back and also brought visitors with them!

One of the highlights of the Campaign had to be the Healing Service held on the second Wednesday, when non-churched visitors from as far away as Nottingham came – it was standing room only, even with the use of the Marquee provided for the purposes of the Campaign.

It’s always hard to objectively measure ‘success’ after these events.

Yes, 9 precious souls were baptized into the kingdom, and we give God thanks and praise for allowing us to be part of his programme.

Visitors who started to attend during the Campaign are still attending, and with God’s help, we’ll love them into the church family.

We have a healthy list of contacts to follow up who at some point, by the prompting of the Spirit, will make a decision for time and eternity.

So in the traditional measures of success, the planning, effort, and hard work was more than worth it all.

The true measure of success must be however the impact that all of this has had on us.