The "Mission Statement" of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland as adopted by the 1992 General Assembly to mark the 350th anniversary of the first presbytery in Ireland.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland as a Reformed Church within the wider body of Christ is grounded in the Scriptures, and exists to love and honour God through faith in His Son and by the power of His Spirit, and to enable her members to play their part in fulfilling God's mission to our world.
God calls us to a shared life in which we love, honour and are reconciled to one another whilst respecting our diversity within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We are called to encourage the exercise of the gifts of every member of the Body for the work of ministry and, seeking the renewal of the whole Church, to co-operate with other parts of Christ's Church without betrayal of our convictions.
God calls us to worship Him with our whole lives, meeting together in groups large and small and gathering especially on the Lord's Day for the preaching and study of His word, the celebration of the sacraments and the offering of prayer and praise with reverence and joy, using language, form and music appropriate both to Scripture and to our time and culture.
God calls us to mission as witnesses to Christ through both evangelism and social witness challenging the values of the world in which we live with the values of God's kingdom and winning men and women to faith and discipleship. This mission is to be pursued amongst all the people of Ireland and the peoples of the European Community and the whole world: those with whom we feel comfortable, those from whom we feel alienated and those who are in any way distant from us in culture and faith.
We ourselves are challenged with a biblical discipleship which is radical in its self denial, simplicity of lifestyle, stewardship of money, faithful relationships, prayerfulness, concern for the world which God has created and love for is people whom He loves and for whose salvation He gave His Son.
FIRST PORTADOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Mission Plan 2010 to 2015.
PASSION for CHRIST
COMPASSION for PEOPLE
| Goals | Action | Facility | Evaluation |
| Prayer To increase the number of people praying for the conversion of the lost and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. | Encourage every active communicant to be involved in praying with others for the advance of Christ’ Kingdom | Prayer meetings Sunday 8am and 6.15pm Weds (Mens) 7.30am Friday 9pm Womens Prayer Groups. | Prayer life of the congregation reviewed regularly by Session and Discipleship/Prayer subcommittee |
| Encourage leaders of each activity to pray regularly for their specific group and seek prayer support from church fellowship | Activity based prayer times. Information to Prayer diary | Session Enabler. Discipleship/Prayer subcommittee | |
| Global Mission. To encourage the congregation to play it’s part in the fulfilment of the Great Commission, sending and supporting missionaries. | Create awareness of worldwide needs required to fulfil the Great Commission. | Regular Mission exposure for whole of congregation. Church Trips/Mission teams Quarterly Mission Feature. Window on the World (Evening service) | Session Missionary Committee. |
| Provide advice, practical care financial and prayer support to potential candidates and existing missionaries | Minister. Missionary Committee Prayer in services Information in Prayer Diary | Session approves all candidates. | |
| Evangelism. To present the Gospel clearly and appropriately to those who are not yet Christians | Presenting the Gospel to those who come into our premises:- | Church Services - Sunday Schools Bible Classes - Youth Fellowship Childrens Church – Sunday Knights Boys Brigade - Girl Guides Holiday Bible Club. Chatterbox – Junior CE - Edenderry CE English Classes and Basketball practices for non Nationals. Lads Dads and Grandads Edenderry Luncheon Club Edenderry Fellowship. Christianity Explored Choir and Music ministry. | Sub Committees of Session Human Resources Evangelism Youth/Family |
| Presenting the Gospel to those who do not come into our premises:- | Visitation in homes and hospitals. Tape ministry School assemblies. Nightlight. New Hope Kids Club. Christianity Explored | Pastoral team and elders. Edenderry Ministries Evangelism Committee. | |
| Discipleship. To nurture those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ. | Provide teaching from God’s word that grows the faith of all who have faith in Jesus Christ. | Church Services - Sunday Schools Bible Classes - Youth Fellowship Childrens Church – Sunday Knights Boys Brigade - Girl Guides Junior CE - Edenderry CE Senior CE - CU2. Presbyterian Women. Mid Week Fellowship Discipleship Groups. Reading Group. Choir and Music ministry. | Session through Sub Committees of Christian Education Discipleship/Prayer Human Resources |
| Training. To prepare people for works of service. | To involve more people in active personal evangelism. To develop leadership and help people use their gifts in ministry. | Offer training once each year in personal evangelism through such courses as “Becoming a Contagious Christian” Encourage each organisation to have an orientation to evangelism and mission Start leadership development course. Increase sound team. Counting team. | Evangelism Subcommittee Human Resources committee. Minister Session Elders |
| Influence. To seek to influence society. Salt and Light. | Promote the Gospel and our ministries in the community. | Buzz church magazine Church Website. Forge stronger link with Edenderry Residents Association. | Editorial committee/Session Pastoral team/Website manager/ess/Session Session. |
Click here to download the Mission Plan as PDF.
First Presbyterian Church, Portadown
Strategy For Mission
February 2010
High Priority Goals.
| High Priority Goals. Revised February 2010 | Action | Responsible for Action | Evaluation |
| PRAYER 1. To increase the number of people praying for the conversion of the lost and the advance of Christ’s kingdom | 1. Spend 15 minutes at start of each Session meeting praying in groups for our districts and individual concerns. | Minister and Session Discipleship Prayer Committee | Session. |
| GLOBAL MISSION 2. To encourage the congregation to play it’s part in the fulfilment of the Great Commission, sending and supporting missionaries | 1. Pray specifically in church services for mission/missionaries | Missionary Committee | Session approves and reviews these events |
| 2. Arrange church teams to visit and assist mission activities in a variety of areas | Missionary Committee | Report to session for approval of all planned visits. | |
| EVANGELISM 3. To present the Gospel clearly and appropriately to those who are not yet Christians | 1. Sponsor regular friendship-building events to which non-Christian friends may be invited | Evangelism sub committee Edenderry Ministries Board. Lads, Dads and Grandads | Session approves and reviews these events. |
| 2. Offer Christian teaching on Family Life and Parenting skills for Christians and non-Christians . | Minister along with Youth and Family and Christian Education subcommittees | Session reviews these special courses | |
| DISCIPLESHIP 4. To nurture those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ | 1. Encourage and expand small Discipleship study groups. | The Minister , Dr Gilly Carson, Group leaders and Discipleship subcommittee | Report back to Session |
| 2. Formulate a Leadership development course for potential leaders. | Human Resources Subcommittee Minister | Report back to Session | |
| TRAINING 5. To involve more people in active personal evangelism | 1. Over the next year, encourage elders to familiarise themselves with the ministries of Night Light / Christianity Explored / New Hope and Kids Club. | Evangelism Subcommittee Discipleship committee | Elders report personally to session on their experiences |
| INFLUENCE 6. To seek to influence society. Salt and Light. | 1. Appoint a representative to the Edenderry Residents Association | Session and Minister. | Receive regular reports at Session. |
| 2. Appoint an advisor on local social and political issues | Session and Minister | Session deals with responses to issues and needs. |
These are new proposals for our church. Our existing ministries are not included in these plans but in a general plan of our church life.