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Bournemouth Church Launches Civic Project
20 August 2013
House of Destiny is a forward-thinking church in Bournemouth, a unique city situated near one of southern England's best beachfronts.
The church, under the leadership of Keith Chapman-Burnett, is partnering with Next Wave International and 2020Plus on the 20.2020Project for Civic and Business leaders in the region.
Mal Fletcher spoke at the church recently and launched the project, with a great response from the people.
The region's first 2020Plus Civic and Business Leaders event will take place on Nov 14 this year. A local Strategy Team for the project has already identified many of the major leaders who will be invited to the event and the process of personally inviting them has begun.
After this most recent visit to the city, Mal said: 'House of Destiny is a group of people who are passionate about serving the needs of all levels of their region, from the poor to those in positions of great influence.'
'Keith and his team are committed to helping to shape a positive future for their city and region, through social enterprise as much as church activities. I'm very much looking forward to our first 2020Plus event in their city. It will look in some detail at the future of the region and provide valuable skills for leaders whose decisions shape culture and impact lives.'
The 20.2020Project is also being run in Manchester (UK), Horsham (UK), Berlin (Germany) and Lisbon (Portugal) and has already seen very strong results in Norwich (UK), Newport (UK) and Stoke-on-Trent (UK). Outside of Europe, similar events have been held in Adelaide and Brisbane (Australia) and Johannesberg (RSA).
'We believe that Jeremiah 29:7 is vital to today's church,' says Mal Fletcher. 'We're told to seek the best interests of the city, for in doing so we will find our best interests. This is part of being the "City on a Hill", which Jesus spoke about.'
'Civic transformation is not about bringing power to churches; it is about defying expectations and providing a unique service to the people at the top of civic life who normally assume people of faith have little to offer them.'
For more on the Bournemouth event, see 2020plus.net/bournemouth.
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