GLIMPSES OF THE KINGDOM IN MIDDLE ENGLAND

Being“a church at the

heart of the city.”

Wade Street Church is a URC/Baptist LEP in the centre of Lichfield, a prosperous small city of 32,000 inhabitants in Staffordshire, 20 miles NE of Birmingham.

The church has a membership of around 170 and a regular congregation of around 180. The congregation spans a wide age range from toddler to 90+ year-olds and is based in a 200 year old listed Georgian chapel with good facilities in which many activities take place, both church-based and community-based.

Wade Street Church is a churchwhere lives are being changed by God,and his people look upwards in worship

forwards to growth and maturity,and outwards in care, concern and evangelism.

Our most significant

resources are …

MEMBERS

MISSIONAL DISCIPLES

who need to be …

E QUIPPED

NTHUSED

EQUIPPED byTeaching

PreachingDiscussion …

in order to build confidence.

ENTHUSED throughEncouragement,

Developing gifts,

Laughter, friendship, fun,

with regular opportunities on Sundays for testimony

and thanksgiving.

Something to aim for:This is what the LORD

Almighty says: ‘In those days ten people from all

languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, “Let us go with you because we have heard that God is

with you.” ’Zechariah 8:23

Where are you and what is

going on around you?

The church is surrounded by retirement flats, so …

we set up a weekly Lunch Club for the residents.

We got involved in the Lichfield Mystery Plays,

26 mediaeval plays, staged by community groups, telling the story of the Bible.

We take our Messy Church to the annual Bower Day Carnival,

along with the Youth For Christ football cage.

We take part in various Christmas activities in the city – a late night Nativity around the pubs, and windows that are part of the Chamber of Trade’s “Living Advent Calendar” …

… and schools’ weeks in the church at Christmas and Easter.

We take part in the Jazz & Blues Festival by leading a “Jazz & Blues Service” as part of the Sunday programme – closing the church building and moving to the park.

We share our story as part of the city’s Heritage Weekend.

We are involved in the city’s Town Twinning events and twin with a church in Limburg, as well as conducting tri-lingual, ecumenical services in Lichfield.

Community groups use our buildings, including a Morris Dance side. Some of our women joined the group and now others have started attending services, too. They dance at our Carol Service.

From time to time we invite representatives of all the groups which use our

premises to a dinner, where they can network with each other, but also

hear a bit about why we do what we do.

This all helps to build up trust and enhances the reputation of the church as a welcoming

and involved part of the community.

But it doesn’t all bring instant results in terms of church

attendance, commitments to Christ or spiritual revival!

We also need …

PrayGive the very best –after all, it’s for God!Learn from your mistakes – don’t be afraid to stop stuff.

Our aim is to turn contacts into

DISCIPLES

We encourage people to invite others to events at church

which can provide opportunities to ask questions or take a

further step towards becoming a Christian.

Paul JonesJimmy

CricketPaul Kerensa

Frank Williams

Henry OlongaDana

Special events with a clear Christian message:Themed services,Comedy nights,Musical eventsand testimony evenings with “famous Christians”: