IMPACT REPORT 2025
“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
There has been much to encourage us in Counties, and in news that God is at work across the UK. The data shared from ‘The Quiet Revival’ research from the Bible Society, as well as evidence of an upturn in Bible sales in recent years (shared by SPCK) suggests that people are seeking hope, truth, meaning and purpose.
Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 4 remind us that there is an urgency to the Gospel. It is good to plan for tomorrow, but the need and the opportunity is today. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:2b “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
Your support of Counties helps us to support those across the United Kingdom who are making Jesus known.
Every year we produce an Impact Report. This details our activities, our impact and focus during the last year, highlighting the breadth and depth of the work of Counties.
“There is great joy in witnessing a single transformed life. Across the Counties network, we’ve seen many. These stories reflect a growing spiritual hunger. And a surprising rise in church attendance. Counties partners with churches committed to sharing the life-changing message of Jesus. I look forward to hearing even more testimonies that unite and inspire us.”
Can you help us to raise Connect Evangelists in the UK?
Our particular focus has been to “help local churches recognise and raise their own evangelists”.
We recognise that keeping the main thing the main thing – making Jesus known and making disciples - can be challenging. With this in mind, we launched the Connect Evangelist Training Programme (CETP) in the Spring of 2025. With the goal of offering Counties training in evangelism more widely, over 51 people have already begun the programme, and this number is rising steadily.
However, our vision is not simply to train people in evangelism, but to help local churches raise and recognise evangelists. So, we are launching an initiative called ‘Project 125’ – to raise an army of local church evangelists.
“Why are there so few evangelists in churches? We can see job ads for all kinds of church roles, but not many for evangelists. Why not? I’ve become more aware just how many people feel they don’t know how to do evangelism in everyday settings. And it really began to get to me. So, when Counties called me, I’m thinking: “Praise the Lord for Counties! It’s fantastic that here’s a group of people who are taking this seriously, training people, not only to do it themselves, but to help others do it too. I was really excited by that.”
Our Project 125 team will work with CETP trainees and mentors to help church leaders to recognise those who may be gifted and called to serve in their local church as a ‘Connect Evangelist.’
Sponsor a Connect Evangelist
“Counties goal is to help raise at least 125 local church Connect Evangelists in the UK
To raise a Connect Evangelist will cost on average £1750
£17,500 will help raise 10 Connect Evangelists
To achieve our UK goal will cost around £220,000”
Counties Connect: a network to Inspire, Equip and Engage the local church
Counties Connect is not a new church stream or denomination but rather a way to support local churches in their mission to make disciples. Counties works with many churches from many streams and backgrounds, and we want to continue to be a resource to you in any way that we can.
Inspired:
Counties shares inspiring stories of what God is doing today through real people
Currently over 1,000 churches are connected with Counties, being inspired and encouraged through Ignite (our quarterly magazine), social media, Enews and attendance at national and regional conferences and events. Inspired churches are simply those who have connected with us to be inspired and encouraged in the Gospel.
It was a thrill to host around 1,000 people over the two days of our Barnfest event in Newent, Gloucestershire. J. John was our speaker, and it was a joy to see 10 people surrender their lives to Christ, with dozens recommitting themselves to God. Over 150 young people were in attendance, and we partnered with Show Jesus, Hope Together and 8 local churches.
Equipped:
Counties provides tools, resources and a pathway to help churches make a greater impact and to sustain it
We remain committed to supporting local churches with innovative and impactful tools and resources that support, equip and enable them to prioritise and reach out to their local community with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We provide a pathway of tools and resources such as the
Life exhibition for primary school children;
GSUS Live for secondary schools;
Neighbourhood Chaplains for social action;
One2Lead for discipling young people
Training for evangelists and planters
Training for church revitalisation programmes
Over 200 churches across the UK have recently been, or are currently being, equipped through Counties. In addition, many hundreds of local churches are encouraged and connected to a Counties Evangelist or Planter.
Engaged:
We provide a network to help local churches to stay accountable to the Great Commission Comittment
Beyond inspiration and equipping, our vision is to help establish and support regional teams and local churches, to remain committed, focussed, and accountable to the Great Commission, by working together to envision, inspire, encourage and support each other.
We are launching a network, but our prayer and desire is to see a movement, a movement of the Spirit of God in our nation, a movement of people equipped and inspired to share the Gospel. If you are a church leader in the UK, and would like to join the Connect Network, please find out about us by clicking the button. We’d love to support you in your mission.
At Counties, we believe that the priority of the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ remains at the core of a healthy church.
We are grateful for your partnership and thank you again for your faithful support of the work.