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a healthy church...transformingLIFE

Tasmanian Anglican

June 2004

 

 

 


The Rev. Peter Adkins, facilitator of Burnie's 'Friend to Friend' evangelism course.


Transforming friends: participants met weekly.

 

Transforming friends

 

 

'Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.'

For many people, words such as these from 2 Corinthians 5:18, describe well their desire to share something of their love of God with those who are close to them - to help others understand the life, joy and closeness to God that is their experience.

It is this desire that has motivated the 'Friend to Friend' evangelism course, which has been running in the Anglican Parish of Burnie during April and May. A group of a dozen or so people from the Parish and surrounding areas has been meeting weekly at St David's, Cooee to participate in this course. The Rev. Peter Adkins has been our facilitator and his experience and wisdom in this area has been invaluable.

Genuine friendship

The 'Friend to Friend' course recognises that much effective sharing of faith does not require soap-boxes and big tents, but can take place as part of simple, genuine friendship. There has been much to learn, and much to be encouraged about, as we have sought to improve our understanding of the gospel and how we can share it.

'Evangelism is not just for the really confident out-going person,' one participant shared. 'I can be myself.'

The group itself has had a great time, with fun and humour, play-acting and spontaneous singing, as well as some wonderfully deep times of sharing, and also prayer. As we have helped one another grow in faith and hope, so we look forward to sharing that faith with all.