How churches can engage with A Rocha
A Rocha’s vision is for every church to understand creation care as part of our biblical calling, and to take action to protect and restore God’s world. Romans 8:19 says ‘the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.’ Who are the children of God? The church! So, creation is waiting for the church. Isn’t that both amazing and challenging? A Rocha encourages churches to get involved in three ways:
- LEARN what scripture says about God’s love and plans for creation, and our calling to serve and preserve the earth. You can find resources to help your church here.
- ENGAGE with A Rocha in practical actions, projects and campaigns that are good for your church and for God’s world. That’s what this article is about!
- SUPPORT A Rocha’s work in prayer and giving, in gratitude to God who gives so generously. You can do that by becoming an A Rocha Church Partner here.
Your church can engage with A Rocha nationally, globally and locally:
- Nationally: If you are in a country where A Rocha already works (see here) check out what’s going on for Churches. For example, in England and Wales, A Rocha UK’s Eco Church award scheme has engaged over 5,500 churches in transforming their worship and teaching, buildings and land, community and global engagement, and even church members’ lifestyles. Elsewhere, A Rocha Canada’s Good Seed Sunday, Eco Church New Zealand, Eglise Verte in France, and A Rocha Ghana’s Eco Church Programme are examples of national initiatives involving or run by A Rocha.
- Globally: A Rocha has 40 years’ experience in creation care, works in over 20 countries, and has Friends groups in many others. Your church can be part of this global story, and get involved in our global work, or by partnering with a particular project or national organization. There are many ways to engage including:
- John Stott Memorial Birding Day: get a team together and spend a day identifying as many local bird species as you can, contributing to citizen science and joining with others across the world. John Stott, the famous theologian and author was a great supporter of A Rocha.
- Plastics Toolbox: from beach clean-ups to bible studies, join our nurdle nerds as you take part in cleaning up waterways and coastlines, learning how God wants a waste-free world.
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- Become an Eco Geek! ‘Wild and Wonderful’ resources for 4-12 year olds based on Petra Crofton’s books on ‘Eco Geek Christy’ (also in French and Dutch).
- Listen to the Fields Notes podcast for profound, moving and hope-filled stores from across and beyond the A Rocha family.
- Browse A Rocha’s website for inspiring stories of practical action to protect and conserve God’s world, and learn about our global partnerships with scientific and Christian networks.
- Campaign to protect the threatened but globally important Atewa Forest in Ghana, where A Rocha is leading local communities and a global coalition in seeking to save this precious site.
- Locally: every church is different, but we encourage you to live out A Rocha’s values where you are. Our five core commitments sum up what we stand for and each can be lived out by local churches:
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- Christian: The A Rocha Commitment to Creation Care is a unique and remarkable statement of biblical principles, shaped and adopted by the A Rocha worldwide family. It would make a great basis for a preaching series or small-group discussion. There are also more sermon and group resources here.
- Conservation: long-term, local practical action to care for God’s world is the heart of our work. St Andrew’s church, Bangalore, India worked with A Rocha India to produce a booklet on the trees and flowers in their churchyard. What could you do locally to improve land for wildlife within your church grounds, or working with a school or local park? Have a look at ’Why every church should plant a garden’.
- Community: creation care is a wonderful way to build relationships, perhaps with those who’ve had no prior church connection. Flagstaff Community Church in Dunedin, New Zealand is working with the local community to restore a creek running alongside the church. St Margaret’s, Hosmorden, UK hosted a Green Christmas Market, one of many Eco Church stories. Are there schools, wildlife groups and neighbourhood organizations in your community you could work with?
- Cultural Diversity: God has made a world of immense diversity including amongst human cultures. Creation care can celebrate differences and enrich friendships. Gracepoint Church near Vancouver sponsored refugee families to receive vegetables from A Rocha Canada. Could you use creation care to build bridges with diverse cultures in your area?
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- Cooperation: as the church we are to be the body of Christ, seeking God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven. What is your church’s vision for God’s kingdom in your local community and landscape? Who can you partner with towards that goal? A Rocha Ghana has pioneered partnerships between churches, businesses, other faiths, community leaders to create a difference from the local to the national level.
We look forward to helping your church in your journey to care for creation. If you’re interested in supporting A Rocha through prayer and financial giving, you can learn more about becoming an A Rocha Church Partner at www.arocha.org/church-partners.
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About Dave Bookless
Dave is Director of Theology for A Rocha International, where he works to embed creation care into international Christian organizations, theological institutions, and mission movements. His past roles with A Rocha include being an International Trustee and the co-founder of A Rocha UK (with his wife Anne). He has a PhD from Cambridge University on biblical theology and biodiversity conservation, and has contributed to many books and articles, including Planetwise, available in six languages. Born and raised in India, Dave has a love for Indian food, Indian culture and Indian Christianity. Dave is also a qualified bird-ringer and loves birding, islands, running and mountains.
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Hello,
I am Abigail from a state name Sikkim from India. I have been reading about your works and I am just in love with it. I myself being a Christian and naturalist by heart, I truly believe that creation care is such a art of spirituality. I would really love to get involved with what you are doing, though A ROCHA works in the southern part of my country. Looking forward to learning more from A ROCHA. GOd bless
IN appreciation
Abigail human