The momentum is building for Passion for Life 2010; five Norwich churches are working together as partners in the Gospel to bring a month of mission activity to the city this March – with help from sports stars, university professors, and even a retired general! We are training together (below), praying together and will soon be working together, as will churches across the country under the same banner.

But Passion for Life in Norwich is a Mission with a difference; it is not centred on large meetings and famous speakers, but the lives of ordinary Christians, the churches to which they belong – and through them Christ. The goal is to encourage regular church members to be vocal about their faith and confident about their Lord, not just for one week or one month, but for the rest of their lives. And so the backbone of the mission effort is small scale – individuals, house groups and activity clubs making contacts in context and introducing Christ. The key activities take place behind the scenes in kitchens and canteens, corridors and cafes.

To serve this goal, each Church is offering one or more events on a larger scale, available to the other churches and the wider Christian community. We are playing to our strengths, in the areas where we have active ministries, and aim to provide something for everyone.

Here are just some examples:

• Doug Horley (better known as Duggie-Dug-Dug) will be visiting Surrey Chapel with his team to lead a Praise Party for children and families.
• Retired Army chief General Sir Richard Dannat will speak at a breakfast for men at Holy Trinity, who will also be hosting a week-long Arts exhibition and workshop.
• Norwich Central Baptist Church will be taking students and 18-30’s by the coach load to a beach bonfire.
• South Park Church Evangelical Church have organised an evening of sumptuous food, music and talk at the Ramada Jarvis hotel for those with more mature tastes!
• Business people in the city centre will be welcome to a series of lunches at St Andrews Church, and there will also be a presence on the city streets and in the media.
• Sportspeople can enjoy an evening with former international cricketer and singer Henry Olonga (right) and a Sports quiz with Christians in Sport.
• Those with more academic interest can be invited to hear not one but two university professors address their areas of expertise – the horrible history of the church and the realities of climate change - from a Christian angle.

All our church services through the month will connect with the theme, and the mission concludes with two evenings at Norwich Cathedral on March 26 and 27, for young people and for adults, with the help of Norwich Youth for Christ and exciting local New Frontiers evangelist Toby Skipper. These will bring home the message of Christ and point forward to the glorious wonders of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At every occasion is the guarantee, not only of top quality event, but a clear presentation of him.

A busy programme? Too much to take in? Of course! We don’t expect anyone to be clued in to everything, but to find perhaps three or four things that suit their opportunities, interests – and indeed friends. That’s why there are no details or times here – this article is just to whet the appetite. Specific information about times, dates and tickets will be appearing very soon so watch this space, and look out for the Passion for Life logo that guarantees we will be proclaiming Christ’s Passion for the Life of the world.

Tom Chapman, on behalf of Passion for Life

For more information contact any participating church:

Holy Trinity Norwich, Norwich Central Baptist Church, St. Andrews City Centre, South Park Evangelical Church, Surrey Chapel Norwich,

National website: http://www.apassionforlife.org.uk/

Download the Passion for Life Programme of Events here