Our Newfrontiers family
Our church is part of the Newfrontiers family of nearly 600 churches around the world. We are committed to building the church according to New Testament principles, believing that the most effective form of evangelism is worked out from strong local churches: churches where each member participates, the gifts of the Spirit are outworked, where there is joy in caring one for the other, and where there is a desire to make a difference in society and to reach those in need.
This is expressed in our five-fold vision:
- Making disciples
- Restoring the Church
- Training Leaders
- Starting Churches
- Reaching the nations
We believe that a truly New Testament church must acknowledge and receive the Ephesians 4 ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These gifts need to be recognised by those churches receiving them so that they are not imposed on a local church but rather readily embraced as the relationship develops.
Over the years God has raised up people with these gifts to serve the churches in the various nations in which we are working. Teams are developing in different nations and local regions, led overall by Terry Virgo who is based at Church of Christ the King, in Brighton.
In our local region we are working closely with other churches around Lancashire and the North of England who are also in the Newfrontiers family, and in particular supporting a Church Plant into Burnley. The leaders meet regularly for friendship, prayer and training, and there is a regular flow of ministry in and out of our churches as a practical outworking of our apostolic and prophetic foundations.
From time to time we pool our resources to stage bigger events such as the Front Edge evangelistic weekend, or regional Sunday morning Celebrations.
Bolton-wide
We believe that our church is just a part of what God wants to do in Bolton, so we are actively developing friendships with other churches around the town. Sometimes this is meeting informally with other leaders over a coffee or a meal, other times this is speaking at one another’s churches or joining together for prayer meetings or evangelistic initiatives.
Zambia
We have developed a good friendship and strong ministry links with Dayspring Worship Centre in Kitwe, led by Joseph & Lillian Mwila. They lead a church of several hundred in Kitwe and are planting out others around the Copperbelt area of Zambia. Together with apostolic ministry from Newfrontiers South Africa we have helped these churches to become part of the Newfrontiers family.
The church in Kitwe is very active in reaching out to the poor and needy, in particular through the Streetlife Project. As well as a feeding program for 100 or so of the most needy children they have two residential centres: the Grace Centre for 20 boys and the Faith Centre for 20 girls. Here they are not just given food & clothing but are being cared for in a secure & loving family atmosphere, and discipled as part of a faith-filled church. Out of this the children now have growing aspirations to make the most of their lives.
Many people from Bolton Family Church, including some of the Youth, are sponsoring these children to pay for their educational needs such as school fees and uniform. We are also currently developing a larger project that will create employment and help the church in Kitwe to generate its own funds, with the goal of lifting many people out of poverty and into a place of dignity.
The Evangelical Alliance
Bolton Family Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance. This brings together Christians and churches from a wide range of denominations, styles and traditions who all have a desire to see Christian values upheld and strengthened by a united Christian witness. Together we want to see the evangelical viewpoint inform and influence public opinion through media, government and public life.
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