Migration
A discussion about the changing nature of congregation migration, particularly around student centres.
Watch/Listen on:
Early in 2018, Ray Evans (Church Leadership Consultant and Pastor of Grace Community Church, Bedford) gathered a small group together to talk about crucial topics affecting church leaders. The group are (from left to right)...
- Eric Harmer (Pastor, Barton Evangelical Church)
- Gareth Russell (Pastor, Westgate Chapel, Bury St Edmunds)
- Al Gooderham (Pastor, Grace Church Doncaster)
- Ray Evans
- Mark Howson (Pastor, Mickfield Evangelical Church, Suffolk)
We decided to be a fly on the wall as these five pastors discussed church attendance; the effect of internal migration on church life; and the changing face of our communities.
In this second film on ‘Migration’, the discussion covers the changing nature of migration, particularly around student centres. But what does migration look like in more rural areas and on hard-to-reach housing estates? What are some of the challenges facing churches and how should leaders seek to address them?
We’d suggest watching this with your leadership team and then considering the questions below.
Questions for Discussion
- The video discusses the differing ways in which internal UK migration affects different parts of the country. How would you describe the positives and negatives of this internal migration where you are?
- Throughout a life-time, due to migration, Christians may be members of quite a few churches. How can churches make the most of this? How can you help them overcome the dangers to mature discipleship which moving away often may lead to?
- What are you finding about the pattern of people moving churches within an area? Are you growing because of problems at another church nearby? How do you handle this in a Christ-honouring way?
- Have you thought of ways in which your church may attract Christians migrating into your area? Presumably they will go to church somewhere, so why not to your church? Discuss how will they know you are there, and the kind of welcome will they find if they try you out. Could you improve both these things?
