The Evangelical Movement of Wales (EMW) is a registered charity that supports churches and Christians in Wales, led by church leaders.

The Movement runs conferences, children's camps and events as well as support churches through a publishing house (Bryntirion Press), pastoral support and theological training.

Priorities

The stated priorities of the organisation are:

  • Supporting, training and developing church leaders
  • Resourcing churches and Christians with resources and publications
  • Organising conferences and events that teach the Bible and promote Christian unity
  • Running camps and other ministries for young people
  • Supporting churches and Christians in mission and evangelism
  • Encouraging prayer for Wales

Beliefs

The stated beliefs of the organisation are came to light as a counter move by reformed Christians to the liberal theology which was gaining influence into the Protestant denominations of Wales during the 20th century. The Movement is a fellowship of churches and individuals who accept and recognise the Holy Scriptures, as originally given, as the infallible Word of God and of divine inspiration, and their sole authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Movement serves both English and Welsh speakers. Given this bilingual focus, where appropriate, parallel and corresponding status is given to both languages in their work.

The Movement's first initiative was to publish Y Cylchgrawn Efengylaidd (The Evangelical Magazine), of which the first edition was November / December 1948. The magazine was originally published in Welsh and soon after a sister magazine was published in English. Editions of the magazine continues to be published every two months in English, and every three months in Welsh. As well as the flagship magazine, a Welsh language youth magazine (Llwybrau) and a bilingual evangelistic magazine (Ask) are also published.[https://www.emw.org.uk/what-we-do/resourcing-publications/emw-magazines/]

The General Secretary of the Movement for 45 years and one of its founders was Rev J. Elwyn Davies, who stated "The Movement became a focus for fellowship, nurture and service for Christians who found themselves placed at a considerable disadvantage in churches and denominations which, to a very considerable extent, had departed from the main tenets of the Christian faith."

The Movement and Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (one of its influential supporters), have been influential among Evangelical Christians in Wales and beyond. Experiencing increased hostility in the 1960s and 1970s within their churches, a number of pastors and congregations sympathetic to the Movement left their denominations and set up independent evangelical churches in many parts of Wales.

See also

  • Christian Hymns (hymnbook)

Sources

  • Davies, Gwyn : 'A Light in the Land - Christianity in Wales 200–2000' : 2002 :
  • Gibbard, Noel : 'The history of the Evangelical Movement of Wales 1948–98' : 2002 :

References

  • Welsh homepage
  • English homepage