a new

knowledge
centre
for mission
on mainland
Europe
A ‘knowledge centre’ for
mission in Europe..
In an era of massive cultural change
and significant missional challenge,
the church needs two qualities
above all others: confidence in her
ancient calling to be salt and light to
the world, and imagination in her
efforts to do so. Innovation and
effectiveness do not arise by
themselves – they come from a
commitment to explore the
missional challenges of the day and
to find viable, authentic, faith-filled
strategies to meet them. For
denominations old and new the 21st
century offers both challenge and
opportunity. The challenge: to
breathe new life into an ancient
story. The opportunity: to see faith
take root in the new landscapes of
European culture.
Determined both to meet
the challenge and to seize
the opportunity, in 2009 the
Bless Network will take on
the operation of a Christian
Centre in Normandy, France.
Working across the
denominations, the new
centre will be home to a
missional community and
will offer:
- A rhythm of prayer focused
on the missional needs of
Europe.
- A training base for the
activities of Bless.
- A launch-pad for
mission across Europe.
- A ‘knowledge centre’
developing resources
for 21st century
mission
The vision of the Bless Network is: Why a Centre?
To be a centre of excellence for prayer, Why France?
mission, training and research and a We have long
bridge for the global church into believed that
mainland Europe. To date this has been our vision for
expressed trough a virtual network, with innovation in
team members based in the UK, France mission should
and the Netherlands. With the new be housed in
centre Bless will be ‘at home’ in a a physical centre
missional community serving as the hub on mainland Europe.
of the dispersed network. Our mission In 2008 we were asked to
remains unchanged; to transform the consider taking over an existing
lives of people in Europe by empowering Christian Centre near Lisieux in
Christians through prayer, personal Normandy; where we have
creativity and strategic partnerships to already held several Bless
live for the service of others. training events. This centre,
The new centre will consolidate this called ‘Bethanie’:
mission, enabling us to impact more - is an established residential
individuals, more churches and more centre, with 20 beds and
communities. We will create space for potential to grow to 50
prayer, space for learning and space for - is ideally located in
interaction and exchange, fostering France, close to UK ferries
imagination and innovation for mission - is known already as a
across Europe. place of prayer and
learning.
Based on a farm not far from Lisieux –
France’s second most significant place
of pilgrimage after Lourdes - Bethanie
Christian Centre has operated for fifteen
years as a centre of healing and renewal,
serving Protestant and Catholic
believers from France, the UK and
beyond. The centre has a strong
reputation as a place of prayer and
personal growth. There is an ancient
well at the very heart of the farm: and
many visitors would claim that they
have found ancient wisdom here.
The current centre can accommodate 20
people, and planning permission is in
place to extend this to 50. There is a
meeting / training room for 60 people, a
prayer room/ chapel and space for
personal retreat and prayer. Overflow
guest accommodation is available in
other homes nearby.
Bethanie is 20km from Lisieux and just
under 50 from Caen and the cross-
channel ferries. Paris is less than 2
hours away by road or train.
Ideally located for mission in France
and as a gateway to Europe, the new
centre at Bethanie will be a place of
mission, spirituality and learning. We
will establish a missional community at
the centre who through their shared
work, prayer and rule of life will
provide its living heart.
Their work will form the hub of a
dispersed network across
denominational barriers and across
Europe - working to foster and resource
missional imagination. With an
emphasis on a new generation, on
creativity and on work with local
churches, we see the centre as a vital
new resource for European mission.
The community will create and
resource a permanent prayer room,
modeled on the 24/7 movement,
encouraging all who come to see
prayer at the heart of mission and
mission as the heart of prayer. Out
of this will flow training and
mobilisation – participants in the
Bless programme of gap-year and
summer-team missions will be able
to gather and find mutual
inspiration and learning in the task
of re-engineering Christian mission
for a post-Christian Europe.
Beyond this there will be learning
opportunities for a wider network of
partners and participants: all those
sharing our desire to see the
churches of Europe renewed and
the communities they work in
transformed.
A UK Limited Company with charitable
objectives, The Bless Network operates
under the name Bless and uses the strap
line ‘live for others’. Bless is overseen by a
Board of Trustees chaired by Rt Rev Pete
Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden. Founding
Directors Gerard and Chrissie Kelly are also
trustees and give leadership to a volunteer
team in Birmingham (UK), Amsterdam
(NL), Perpignan (FR) and Melbourne (AUS).
All work undertaken for Bless is on a
voluntary basis, and team members are
financed through a combination of ‘tent-
making’ and personal support-raising .
Participants in Bless are drawn from many
different churches and are predominantly
in the 18 to 30 age range. They serve
Placement churches in France, Croatia,
Spain and the Netherlands. Bless is
supported in prayer and finance by
Partners in the UK, on mainland Europe
and in the USA.
Seeking investors. Bethanie has been The Bless Network
offered to us at a reduced purchase Unit 745, The Big Peg
price of just 400,000 Euros. We are 120 Vyse Street
seeking partners to stand with us in
this investment and to contribute Birmingham B18 6NF
towards set-up costs for the centre. United Kingdom
The operation of the centre will be
largely self-funding, but we are
committed its ongoing expansion and Limited Company #5156475
improvement and we will be seeking registered in England,
long-term supporters for this. Please UK Registered Charity
contact gerard@bless.org.uk if you #1105173
want to discuss this further, or visit Member of
www.justgiving.com/blessnetwork
to make a direct donation. Global Connections,
In addition, we will create a prayer the evangelical network
support network for the centre, for world mission.
based on periodic e-mail updates. Trustees:
We would be glad to include you in Rt. Rev. Pete Broadbent,
this support team. Bishop of Willesden;
Please stop even now for just a Gerard Kelly; Chrissie Kelly;
moment to pray for this vision. We Marguerite Eccleshall;
believe it to be in God’s heart and
greatly appreciate your interest and Martin Thomas;
support. Please do get in touch if you Ben Wickham;
want to stand with us in this new Tom Gwilliam
venture.
 ntr e - be t hanie. f r
www.ce

http://ihardlyknowher.com/35758559@N05

www.bless.org.uk

www.blessatbethanie.tumblr.com
“Gerard & Chrissie bring unusual passion,
commitment and imagination to giving birth
to this Missional Centre to share the good
news . I am looking forward to seeing how
they help a new generation unleash their
imagination in creating new ways to make a
difference for God’s kingdom in these
turbulent times. “
Tom Sine,
author, The New Conspirators
“The church needs innovation and
inspiration as never before – I thoroughly
endorse this imaginative vision.”
Al Hirsch
author, The Forgotten Ways
“There is no challenge more pressing for the
churches of Western Europe than the
rediscovery of missional imagination. This
project will make a major contribution.”
Chris Stoddard
Director, RUN Network
“Europe needs strong churches.
Churches need motivated young
leaders. Leaders need quality
resources. Bless is working towards
all three: please join with us.”
Rt Rev Pete Broadsbent,
Bishop of Willesden
“A knowledge centre for the
churches of Europe; a L’Abri for the
21st Century. This is an idea whose
time has come – and Bless are just
the people to do it.”
Jim Saker, Ford Professor
in Retail Management,
Loughborough University
“This is a thrilling new project
from an organisation with a
proven track record. I cannot
recommend it highly enough.”
Ian Coffey,
Director of Leadership Training,
Moorlands College
you