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Robert Paterson
UK News

New festival celebrates unpaid church workers

Organised by the Central Readers Council (CRC), Follow2016 at the De Montfort Hall is also highlighting the Biblical commandment to follow Jesus and share the Gospel.

It is trying to encourage believers to reach out to those who would never think to step into a church.

The CRC, which is celebrating it's 150th anniversary, is dedicated to servning the more than 10,000 active Readers in the Church of England.

Readers are unpaid and have been chosen, trained and licensed by a bishop to deliver sermons and lead churches in worship.

Organiser, Bishop of Sodor and Man Robert Paterson said: "[The event] is not an attempt to recruit for ministry. Our hope is that everyone here will leave more encouraged to be a Christian, whoever and wherever they may be."

Theologian and speaker at Follow2016, Paula Gooder told Premier lay people play in a critical role in the Church.

She said: "Evangelism is simply spreading the infectious good news of Jesus and the effect of the kingdom on our world, and it's for all of us to do and therefore lay people make an enormous impact on the ministry of evangelism, it simply can't be done without us."

Fellow-speaker at the event Mark Russell, who is CEO of The Church Army, told Premier the world needs to know about Jesus especially at such a time of instability.

He said: "It is really important, more so than I can remember in a long time, that we have authentic Christians, who are living like Jesus in our world and being agents of reconciliation and being agents of the Gospel."

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