This Sunday churches up and down the country will be opening their doors as half a million people are welcomed back to church. But despite success over the last couple of years, the challenge is not getting people to come back to church, but getting people to stay, says Share Jesus International.

Last September 37,000 people came “back to church”, but it is estimated that only 4,000 of them returned and attend church as a result.

“It’s so important that churches are encouraged to reach out and invite people in their communities to come back to church,” said Andy Frost, Director of SJI.

“But the real challenge is supporting our churches to reach out to communities effectively and consistently, not just one week a year, but week after week.”

In recognition of this need, SJI is hosting Influence on October 20-21 at High Leigh Conference Centre, a leaders' retreat designed to share some of the cutting edge thoughts and practice in mission and discipleship.

“There are so many amazing things happening in our churches around the UK, but so often we never hear about them because we work in isolation,” said Mr Frost.

“Influence allows leaders to get together to learn from the best in the country, ask questions and apply ideas into their own context.”

Influence will include presentations from Jason Gardner, of the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity, Phil Togwell, of 24-7 Prayer, and Chris Stoddard, of the RUN network, covering subjects like sex therapy, monastic communities and Christian innovation.

The two-day event will be hosted by Andy Frost and Jonathan Haigh, with worship by David Billborough.



On the Web: www.sharejesusinternational.com/influence