The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) is marking its centenary this year.
And to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the organisation has announced that it is gathering 100 gospel projects from around the country to enable church partnerships and fuel prayer for mission.
Joel Murray writes: Since ten churches and seven mission halls agreed to form an ‘association of mutual helpfulness’ in November 1922, the Independent churches that make up what is now known as FIEC have been committed to the same vision: to reach Britain with the great news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
FIEC is using the centenary celebrations this year to encourage churches to think ahead for mission and work together to bring the glorious gospel to people who need to hear it.
Affiliated churches are being asked to submit their plans for innovative and exciting activities happening to reach their communities. Of these, 100 projects will be featured in a printed prayer guide, an interactive map on the FIEC website, and through other digital initiatives.
It is hoped that each project will be held up in prayer by others across the country, and that connections with other churches nearby might be made as a result. Every mission project needs prayer, but some need extra funding too. In God’s providence, FIEC has £500,000 to grant to some of the projects that are submitted for the prayer guide; money that has come from church donations for mission or that has been released after a church closure.
Adrian Reynolds, FIEC Head of National Ministries (see photo), said: ‘We cannot support every project, but it seems to us that a great way to mark our 100th birthday is to look forward and move forward with gospel intention.
‘This is a time to give thanks, but we must not get lost in the past. Instead, it is a time to be hopeful about the future.’
The prayer guide will be launched at the 2022 FIEC Leaders’ Conference in November. Pick up a copy or find it online and use it to fuel your prayer for the gospel going out into communities across the country.
FIEC affiliated churches can find out more and submit their gospel projects (anything from appointing a new member of staff to a building development) at fiec.org.uk/100.
