The great 'Love Cornwall 2006' event began back in 2005 with a visit to Cornwall of a team from the Centre for Contemporary Ministry (CCM) based at Moggerhanger Park, Bedford, as part of their nationwide 'State of the Nation' tour. A number of churches in Cornwall hosted meetings that were well attended and backed by more than a hundred prayer groups from across the county. It was this coordinated prayer that impressed the team leaders, Dr Clifford Hill and Monica Hill. They felt there was something special happening in Cornwall in the spiritual realm.
They remembered this in May this year when CCM were responsi
ble for organising a national exhibition of new outreaches in mission staged at the Christian Resources Exhibition in Sandown Park, Esher. Evangelists from many different ministries came together for the exhibition, among them were the dynamic evangelists, Syd and Liz Doyle, fresh from a tour of India and Pakistan where they had preached the gospel to very large meetings seeing many miraculous healings and thousands accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Also at Sandown Park were evangelists using many different media such as drama and music for communicating the gospel. They were keen to use their gifts in a united outreach somewhere in the country.
The first offer was given to CCM's contacts in Cornwall, through David Hull from St Austell who had come to the Sandown Park exhibition and met some of the evangelists. The response seemed encouraging so a meeting was called at Tremore Manor near Bodmin with only five days notice. 33 leaders representing churches and fellowships from all parts of the County came to the meeting which was attended by seven ministry leaders who had been at Sandown Park including four of the leaders from 'On The Move' - a ministry that organises barbecue evangelism. The Cornish leaders collectively agreed that the time was right for a united outreach in the County.
Despite the short time for preparation it was felt right to go ahead for September this year. The result is that many Christians in different kinds of churches and fellowships are prepared to pool their resources for this special event. They are organising special activities and meetings to incorporate the resources on offer from outside the county as well as using the variety of evangelistic gifts and organisations based in Cornwall. Other activities that the churches were already planning for September are to be included in the joint publicity and thus give added value and encouragement to the work of local churches in the County.
David Hull, Wendy Cashmore, and Doreen Sparey-Delacassa agreed to be the catalysts bringing together a dynamic group of leaders from across the County as the organising group. A number of meetings were planned throughout August with an open vision-giving meeting in Lanivet Methodist Church near Bodmin on 3 August.
The vision for a month's united activities under the title of 'Love Cornwall' with
coordinated publicity was embraced by key leaders and members of their fellowships. Prayer groups across the County linked in seeking the Lord's direction and blessing upon the plans for September 2006. The aim of the organising committee was that this may be the time when many people would come to know God's love for them both through the practical activities that took place and the many opportunities for people to hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus bringing the good news of God's love through 'Love Cornwall'.
