Draft 3 (24.3.11)
Life and Work article
775 words
CHURCH UNITY IN MISSION - EDINBURGH CHRISTIANS REACH OUT USING
CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED
Many people would agree that church life in Scotland, both past and present, has too often been scarred by disunity and conflict. But in Edinburgh there are some encouraging signs of a very different trend towards co-operation as churches embrace a united, cross-denominational approach to mission. And, perhaps surprisingly, that trend is based firmly on a very popular evangelistic course.
The story began in 2008, when three churches in the city, Carrubbers Christian Centre, Charlotte
Baptist Chapel and Duncan Street Baptist Church, all happened to be commemorating significant anniversaries. To mark either 150 or 200 years in existence (and a combined total of 550 years) they combined to jointly run a Christianity Explored course. [what were the results??]
Two years later they decided to hold a similar event, but this time six more churches joined in, including three Church of Scotland congregations - Holyrood Abbey; North Leith and Palmerston
Place. They also chose a somewhat unusual venue for the course, the very popular Costa Coffee, in Hanover Street in the heart of the city.
Again, results were above expectations as more than thirty people were introduced to the message of Christianity, many for the first time, and a sizeable percentage responded in faith .
They were partly attracted by the familiar and highly informal location. But they were equally struck by the quality of the course itself. What did they find so special about Christianity Explored?
It worked so well, really striking a chord with many who know virtually nothing about Christianity, because it focuses on introducing participants to the real Jesus from the pages of the Bible. It explores who Jesus was, what he achieved and what it means to follow him today.
It does this by taking participants through Mark's gospel. So every session is based around a Bible study and a short talk or DVD followed by questions. Topics covered include the significance of
Jesus’ death and resurrection, what grace is and what it means to be a Christian.

Many hundreds, if not thousands, have come to faith in Scotland as a direct result of doing
Christianity Explored since it was first used here about 10 years ago. Its impact has also been felt right across the world. 5,000 courses are now being held at any one time, in 60 countries, and it has been translated into 20 different languages. It is used in many different settings too, ranging from traditional church missions to outreaches in schools and prisons.
Such was the success of this coffee-based format that this inter-denominational approach is being repeated, in the same location, from this April. On this occasion , [Number???] more churches took part, including Kirknewton & East Calder, and St. Stephe n’s Comely Bank, Church of Scotland congregations. It was preceded that same month by another keynote event which reinforces the fact that Edinburgh churches are developing a welcome taste for working together. This was
Passion For Life 2011 where, during a busy week of varied activities, every attendee was invited to sign-up for Christianity Explored at Costa Coffee.
However, the 2011 outreach is using a revised and updated version of the course. The 3 rd edition, which comes eight years after the previous one, has been shortened from ten sessions to seven.
Furthermore the DVD, which is sometimes used instead of a talk, has been reshot in the most stunning way to add a wealth of new material, including an account of a most amusing – and slightly embarrassing – personal encounter with an unrecognised VIP who is very much in the news at the moment.
As well as being a force for unity, the course is having other, slightly surprising results. One is the interest shown in it by UK churches beyond its normal heartlands where it has hitherto proved most popular. So a significant number of churches representing a much broader constituency in
UK, from right across the denominational spread, have begun to include Christianity Explored in their evangelistic programmes. The feedback reveals that these churches, too, have been highly satisfied with both the course and the outcomes
The last word should be left to Glasgow-based Craig Dyer, who is Christianity Explored’s Director of Training. He commented:
‘
CE has been used successfully all over the world. In Scotland, it is a particular joy to see so many churches use it to let the gospel tell the gospel as they build the

course into their outreach strategies. And if they can do that in a way which simultaneously proclaims their unity in Christ that can only be for the better.’