WHAT IS TWINNING?

It is a way of encouraging our churches to build a relationship with a church in another country so that each church fellowship can learn about the other country, the situation relating to the particular church, the pattern of church life and ministry, the aims, joys and problems facing the members of both churches and together finding ways of mutual sharing and encouragement.

The aim is to strengthen the body of Christ through mutual encouragement in faith, fellowship, mission, and practical help when appropriate.


WHY SHOULD OUR CHURCH BE INVOLVED?

This is a question which should be answered within the total mission and outreach programme of the church. 

For those who make the commitment, twinning with a church in Israel brings a unique experience of the Holy Land, a new Middle East perspective, and an enrichment of faith through seeing the strength of faith of those who are living in a tough place. 

On their side, the churches in Israel are immensely encouraged and strengthened by our prayerful interest and involvement.


IF WE DECIDE TO UNDERTAKE SUCH A
PROJECT, WHERE DO WE START?

1. Ask for a Trustee to come to the church for a question-and-answer session.

2. To help get the project off the ground it helps to have a ‘core group’ comprised of members who are really keen to have a twinning arrangement so that they can begin to enthuse others in the church. The pastor’s involvement makes a vital difference.

3. Arrange for 2/3 of the core group to join a Twinning Familiarisation visit to Israel. These usually take place each autumn and the programme includes meeting with churches and visiting historic Biblical sites in the Galilee and Jerusalem.

On such visits, make time to have conversations with the pastor and members of the church. Find out as much as possible about the members and congregation, eg age groups, proportion of men/women, do people come to church as a family, are there young people, how many children? What activities are there for these groups? Is the congregation made up of extended families eg grandparents, mothers, fathers, children, or is it more an individual membership?

What is their approach to worship? Could your church worship with them in their own way? Could they comfortably participate in the worship in your own church? Do they have specific work among women, young people, families etc? Take careful note of the way they plan their worship, their mission, their evangelism at all levels.

Find out about the leadership in the church. Do they have a Pastor and if so, what other work does he have to do? Do not assume that their Pastor is in full-time ministry. 

As you are finding the answers to all these questions, keep asking the question “What can I (or our church) learn from this? How can our two churches work together?” Take a profile of your church with you to give to the church in Israel.

HOW DO WE DEVELOP THE LINK?

1. To help establish a link, begin in a modest way - write letters, send church magazines and reports of special events in the church and nationally which will help build a picture for your twin church. Arrange to send greetings at Christmas, Easter, etc. and exchange requests for prayer.

2. Early in the fellowship link try to find finance so that one or two can visit the church with which you are twinned. It might be possible for business people or holidaymakers to combine a visit with their official or holiday trips. Encourage members to take a holiday in the other country so that visits to the church can take place.

3. If both churches have a number of young people in the congregations, try to find finance so that they can get together either for a camp (does one of the churches need work done which could involve a joint work camp?) or a joint musical event. Young people are particularly good at ‘getting on with each other’ and if friendships are formed among that age group, it will be a big step in helping other members to come together.

4. As finance permits, try to participate in their conferences, events for Pastors, young people’s events, and invite the appropriate person in the twinned church to come here to take part in similar events.

5. Work towards organising JOINT events - planned jointly, with a joint input, joint organisation - if possible, at a residential centre where the participants will live together. Allow some recreational time so that people get to know each other at a different level, always being sensitive to the differences which come from culture and background.

It will not happen instantly. A great deal of patience and perseverance will be needed, but the rewards are great. When you have worked through all these issues with your twin church, after much hard work and a deep commitment to the idea of twinning, you will be able to feel that the arrangement is succeeding and should go on from strength to strength.

The link can bring particular demands in addition to those listed above. These may include: personal support for pastors, help in matters of leadership and evangelism including training for leadership roles, financial help for books, good commentaries and literature, perhaps holidays for pastors. 

Opportunity should be taken in such cases to learn how the church copes during difficult times. Learn from their commitment and sense of dedication. Ask about opportunities for ministry which have opened up through the pressures.