The Evangelical Alliance has announced its latest drive to re-ignite church growth in Wales. The new enterprise by the EAUK will look to bring about Church-life back to the formerly Christian-rich country.

|TOP|As part of the move, the Evangelical Alliance will hold a unique conference, being the first of its kind, on Nov. 8th to kick-start the initiative.

It is planned that leaders from 160 various evangelical churches will assemble to discuss options on how to plant workable churches in numerous regions in the country that are not currently being served.

In addition, the conference will look to find ways to encourage churches going through hard times, and facing declining congregant numbers.

Elfed Godding, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance Wales stated, “There has been a huge decline in church attendance since 1904 and now there are many parts of Wales where there is no viable congregation.

“The only hope is for a fresh work to be started. This initiative is looking at planting new churches where there isn’t an active witness, and also helping struggling churches.”

Rev Godding concluded, “The aim is to see the Gospel communicated, proclaimed and demonstrated in a way that people can connect with throughout Wales. Working all together to achieve church planting and transitioning is not an optional extra, it is essential.”

In September the Evangelical Alliance Wales appointed a new Assembly Liaison Officer, Jim Stewart, who is a former BBC journalist.

|QUOTE|Stewarts role will involve him being a representative figure for the interests and concerns of Christians and churches from over twenty denominations to the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff.

Stewart, 40, was brought up in Canada and has a diverse background to bring to his new role with the Evangelical Alliance, including care, teaching, youth work as well as church work.

The new Assembly Liaison Officer has travelled and experienced a variety of cultures also, including a year spent with the Welsh speaking area of Patagonia in South America.

The General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance in Wales, Elfed Godding said, “We are delighted to have Jim join our team. His journalism and research skills will definitely prove an asset in representing the Christian viewpoint to the Welsh Assembly.”

The Evangelical Alliance Wales was established in 1990, and is part of the Evangelical Alliance UK as well as the World Evangelical Alliance, which were both established in 1846.