PITTSBURGH, Pa., May 21, 2004 -- Pittsburgh will host a major national conference in 2005 with the aim of inspiring a fresh evangelical initiative among Christian churches within the U.S. The event, “Grass Roots – Growing Mission Locally”, will take place at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, May 19-21.

Organized by Anglican-based evangelical group, Church Army USA, the conference is expected to attract between 400 and 500 clergy and lay members of the Episcopal and continuing Anglican Church across the U.S.

The event is being held against the background of a steady decline in church attendance in all denominations in the U.S., and in recognition of the need to develop effective and relevant outreach to non-believers.

“Statistically, the USA is now the third largest mission field in the world with 195 million non-church-going Americans,” said Richard Priestley, Church Army USA’s National Training Officer who is leading the conference organizing team. “Surveys also show that many people who do regard themselves as Christian, are confused in their understanding of God and the Bible.”

“Evangelism is perhaps perceived as the role of a few select individuals, but it is the responsibility of all believing Christians to be involved. The need is real, and our objective is to help develop an approach that is modern and meaningful for today’s society.”

Keynote speaker at the conference will be Dr. Robert E. Webber, who will talk on “Ancient Future Evangelism.” Dr. Webber is Professor of Ministry at Northern Seminary at Lombard, Illinois; Professor of Theology at Wheaton College, Illinois; and President of the Institute for Worship Studies.

Another keynote speaker will be leading author on evangelism, Steve Sjogren. Additional speakers at the three-day conference, which will incorporate special break-out sessions, will include: Rev. Steve Hollinghurst, Researcher in Evangelism to Post-Christian Culture at the Church Army Sheffield Centre in the UK; Whis Hays, Director of Rock The World Youth Mission Alliance; Steve Baughan, Director, Church Army USA’s Branson Ministry, Missouri; John Stanley, Director, Church Army USA’s Aliquippa Ministry near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Holly Rankin Zaher, coordinating group member of Emergent.

For media enquiries contact: Richard Priestley
Email: richard.priestley@churcharmy.net

For conference information contact: Kathy Chludzinski
Email: info@grassrootsevangelism.org