Welby: “We exist to show the world that Jesus is the Son of God”

A new training session for churches, small groups and individuals is going to be launched by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The video, to be released on 20th March, forms part of this year's Thy Kingdom Come international prayer campaign, which encourages believers to intercede for their communities and evangelise.

Ahead of the campaign, believers are being urged to 'Pledge2Pray' individually, as a family or with their churches, that people would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News.

“IT'S ABOUT GROWING AS A WITNESS”

The Archbishop appears in the video alongside the Archdeacon of Hackney Ven Liz Adekunle, youth worker and Romance Academy founder Rachel Gardner and the Bishop of Chelmsford Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell.

The group explore why and how believers share their faith, what some of the difficulties are, and how to be a more confident evangelist.

In it, Justin Welby says: "We witness to hundreds of things every day. Being a witness isn't unusual, but it's about growing as a witness to Jesus Christ.”

“WE EXIST TO TELL THE WORLD TAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD”

The Archbishop's aim is "to tell people about Jesus because 43 years ago he found me and my life was changed. Through all the really bad and really good, he's never changed. He's always there."

"We exist to show the world that Jesus is the Son of God, that really matters", he points out.

PRAYER AND EVANGELISM

According to Bishop Stephen: "Prayer and evangelism belong together. When we pray, we pray that we would see ourselves, others and the world as God sees them, and want to be part of God's work of transformation.”

"Evangelism is God's work, he wants the world to be transformed, he wants the world to know Christ. That's our motivation", he adds.

THY KINGOM COME CAMPAIGN

Running between Ascension and Pentecost, the Thy Kingdom Come international prayer campaign, urges Christians to organise events such as worship nights, prayer walks and prayer vigils.

Justin Welby hopes this year's campaign will build upon the success it enjoyed last year, when thousands of people got involved.

Thy Kingdom Come has grown to include Christians from different denominations living in various countries around the world.

“THE CORE POINT OF MY LIFE”

In a video presenting the campaign, the archbishop says: "Following Jesus has been the core point of my life and that's one reason I want everyone to hear His voice calling to them, and to learn what it is to find His love, His call, His direction, His purpose."

"The most important thing I've ever done is to become a follower of Jesus”, affirms.

The Archbishop recalls that he "took my first steps with him about 42 years ago. Over those years, He's been a faithful friend, a sovereign Lord."

“TRUSTING IN HIM ALONE”

Anticipating the time when he will meet Jesus, Welby adds: "When I meet Jesus Christ at the judgement, He isn't going to care what size of archbishop I was or, I think, whether I was an archbishop."

"What matters is that I loved Him and sought to follow him and above all that I trusted in Him alone”, he concludes.