The Council Away Day 2025 was held on 17th May at Trinity Church Eindhoven from 12:00 to 17:00, with full attendance, including ministry leaders Pamela (Youth Ministry) and Joan Kaijage (Safeguarding). The central theme was: How can we engage the church community throughout the week in deepening our knowledge of Christ and advancing our mission in Eindhoven and beyond?
We began with a Bible study on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). This led to a reflection on the many strengths of the church. In light of the parable, participants suggested that the church should actively use and nurture the talents within the congregation, explore new preaching styles, and make festival services—such as Christmas—more accessible and appealing to non-Christians.
A ministry review followed, using a color-coded system to evaluate current ministries. The discussion focused on how well these ministries are understood and where gaps or opportunities for growth exist. This assessment led to a brainstorming session on weekly programmes to deepen faith and strengthen community life.
The group then addressed challenges in fulfilling the church’s mission of “Knowing Christ Jesus and making Him known.” Several barriers were identified, such as difficulty in finding effective methods of outreach and uncertainty about how to invite newcomers, particularly to initiatives like the Alpha course.
To address these issues, three working groups were formed to develop outreach and evangelism strategies through both digital and physical platforms. The digital platform group recommended improving the church website, expanding the use of social media (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), creating a video about church life, connecting with non-Christian international communities online, and enhancing the church’s welcoming and follow-up process for newcomers.
The two other groups focused on physical outreach. Their proposals included student integration at TU/e, expanding the Holiday Bible Club, XEE for Kids, youth events, street evangelism through music and drama, visiting retirement homes, church planting, and launching initiatives like “Coffee with Jesus.” They also emphasized the need for training in apologetics and mental health counseling, as well as forming partnerships with organizations such as the Catholic Church and the Salvation Army to support the wider community.
From the many ideas proposed, six key actions were selected for immediate implementation: improving the church website, creating and posting a church video, expanding the Holiday Bible Club, training members in mental health counseling, organizing a gospel concert at TU/e in partnership with other groups, and launching street outreach efforts such as “Coffee with Jesus” or “Can We Pray for You?” events. This Away Day resulted in actionable insights and practical steps toward strengthening community engagement, spiritual growth, and outward mission.