Gather - Unity for Mission Movements

About

The story so far

All over this country, in cities, towns and villages, God has been doing a hidden work. Christian leaders and churches over the last few years have been forming vibrant mission-focused unity movements based on a foundation of prayer and friendship. So far we uncovered more than 50 such movements all over the UK and we expect to find more examples of these extraordinary partnerships. These are people who are fed up with working in isolation from, or in competition with, other churches in their area. They are laying down theological and cultural differences for the sake of reaching their local area with the love of Christ. They are taking seriously the prayer of Jesus: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” John 17:23

Vision

Gather is an emerging national network of these vibrant missional unity movements in towns and cities across the UK.

Together, we see a national network of unity movements being formed across the UK. A gathering together of those who believe that when churches and leaders put down their differences and start to form friendships, pray together and undertake mission initiatives for the sake of their local areas, God commands the blessing.

What would happen if those leaders of unity movements formed friendships across the UK from city to city, town to town, and began to pray and do mission work together for the sake of the UK?

Would we see an even greater blessing?

What would happen if places shared best practice with each other and were inspired to a greater vision of social and spiritual transformation of their areas?

What would happen if other cities and towns were inspired to start unity movements themselves and eventually all the major towns and cities had vibrant prayer-focused and friendship-based mission vision?

Could we see a fundamental change in the social and spiritual landscape of the UK?

What we do

We want to build a movement, and not an organisation, that encourages and supports unity movements to grow and develop in their prayer, friendships and missional activities.

We offer teaching through articles and seminars that encourage best practice and innovative ways of doing unity and mission together.

We encourage shared practice and to tell stories from across the nation as an encouragement and stimulus for other cities and towns to follow.

We host a website that shows where unity movements have been formed and offer links to contacts for churches wanting to join them.

We offer links to partnership organisations that work with churches in towns and cities in missional contexts.

We encourage new and innovative ways for working together for the transformation of our towns and cities through civic gospel initiatives with borough councils, business, media, health, arts as well as through the local church.

Gather is a collaboration of unity movements across the UK, served and enabled by the Evangelical Alliance.