Cork Centre of Mission was launched in late 2021 and is based in Ballincolig, Cork. The Carrigrohane Union of Parishes have announced the appointment of Matt Gould as Lead Evangelist and community leader at the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig. Matt has spent thirteen years as youth worker in Carrigrohane Union of Parishes and has recently completed his training as a Church Army Evangelist. You can watch Matt’s Commissioning Service here.

The Rev. Robert Ferris, Rector of Carrigrohane Union, said:

It is with great joy that I am able to announce this appointment. This is a brand new pioneering role in the staff team, which will see him taking a lead in developing the Carraig Centre, strengthening links with groups and individuals who use the building and its activities, as well as continuing to develop the outreach and worship activities of the centre.

Matt Gould comments:

I’m humbled and delighted to be appointed to this new pioneering role within the parish in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne & Ross. At the heart of this project is an amazing community of Christians who are stepping out in faith to share the good news of Jesus here in Ballincollig. I’m excited to see what God has in store in the years ahead.

This appointment is part of the Partnership between Church Army, Cork Cloyne and Ross Diocese and the Carraig Centre / Carrigrohane Union of Parishes.

SARAH-LOUISE HOCKEY APPOINTED PIONEER EVANGELIST/YOUTHWORKER

This Centre of Mission is a 3-way partnership between Church Army, the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne & Ross and The Carraig Centre (Carrigrohane Union of Parishes) in Ballincollig.

Sarah-Louise will be working alongside Lead Evangelist Matt Gould as part of the staff team in Carrigrohane Union. For the past 2 years Sarah-Louise has been working as a part time youth worker – a role which she took on in the midst of the pandemic. She comes to the post after graduating from University College Cork and is currently studying for Certificate in Theology and Practice at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. She has much experience in leading youth and children’s ministries in a variety of settings.

Sarah-Louise said of her appointment

“It’s been such a joy to have been part of and also to have grown with the CUP youth program over the last two years. I’m so excited to see how God will move in and through us as a church family as we continue to build up and invest in the lives of our young people.

I’m also really looking forward to this partnership with Church Army as we prepare to engage with the wider community more deeply, building upon the roots that have been planted over the years and especially working to cultivate a place of belonging here for local teens who so often fall under the radar.

I’m so delighted to be taking on this new role and I’m very grateful for all the prayers and support, and the opportunity to get to serve in this way.”

More about Church Army

Who we are…

Church Army is a Christian Charity that exists to share faith and fight poverty. Since 1882, Church Army has existed so that everyone everywhere can encounter God’s love and be empowered to transform their communities through faith shared in words and action. Our work is unconditional, tackling social deprivation through partnership and collaboration to help empower individuals and communities.

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Vocations

Do you love sharing your story of faith with people, and want to bring them to a living faith in God? Do you feel more at home outside the church than inside it? Do you feel called to be with people ‘on the margins?’ If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, you may have a vocation as a Church Army Evangelist.

Church Army Evangelists fulfil a variety of roles in the church: they are evangelists; they may also be chaplains, pioneers, youth workers, community workers, and church planters. Some are employed by Church Army. Many are not. But they all have a heart for sharing the Gospel with everyone, inside and outside church.

Church Army has been training pioneer evangelists in the UK and around the world since Victorian times and specialises in teaching and learning about mission and evangelism. In studying with us, you will be formed as a reflective practitioner, with the opportunity to learn as part of a prayerful Christian community with like-minded tutors and fellow students. We have a diverse learning community and cater to a range of church traditions. After training, people are Admitted to the Office of Evangelist and Commissioned as Evangelists in the Anglican Church: the only nationally licenced pathway for lay evangelists under canons E7/E8.

For more information, click here.

Resources

Church Army’s Faith Resources aim to help Christians everywhere think about how they can share their faith confidently and comfortably with the people they know. Whether it is reflecting on your own journey with God in Faith Pictures, or thinking about how to connect others with your church in Faith Shared, our resources have been carefully developed to be shaped by your conversations, experiences, and context.

• Faith Pictures – Helping Christians of all traditions talk about their own story of faith with confidence. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/527299533
• Faith Shared – Helping Churches of all traditions think about how they connect with the communities around them.
• Faith Questions – Explore how you answer difficult questions about faith, and give you confidence to share your faith with others.
• Faith Empowered – Enabling those who feel called to evangelism in the local church to explore their calling.

Church Army’s Research Unit

Church Army’s Research Unit have been at the forefront of research on contemporary mission, evangelism, pioneering and fresh expressions of Church for over 25 years.

During this period, we have produced numerous reports of national significance, including The Day of Small Things (2016), Paid Pioneers: From The Margins to the Mainstream? (2022) and Growing Leaders on Urban Estates (2023). We also provide research and consultancy services for dioceses, Church institutions and other funding partners. Each of our projects in unique and tailored to the needs of a particular context but we most typically assist with things programme evaluations, strategic reviews, survey design, and qualitative interviews and focus groups. To find out more and explore how you could partner with us, please visit our research webpages or contact Research Team Leader Andy Wier.

Leadership Development

LEAD is Church Army’s leadership development offer for growing leaders. It’s flexible suite of online learning resources alongside learning groups make it suitable for a wide range of people. Whether you’re a new or aspiring or reluctant leader or have years of experience. To find out more check out our LEAD website and book a 1-1 chat today.

Envoy

Envoy coaching communities help you step by step to develop a way of evangelism that is authentic to you and applicable in your context.

“Envoy helped to bring evangelism alive, from concept to applied life and to bring awareness into everyday routine. The weekly input [podcast] coupled with talking about it and praying into it helped grow roots over time and normalise evangelism”.

For more information, please click here https://www.envoy.website/ukireland