16/12/2023
On behalf of The Well Church in Rockwell Green, I would like to extend our sincere apologies for any confusion caused by the recent invitations for "Carols at the Well." It was certainly not our intention to cause any upset, and we understand that the invitations may have led to some misunderstanding. We value the community of Rockwell Green, and of Wellington.
Allow me to provide an explanation to address a few points that have been raised:
1. Name Change: About two years ago, we decided to change the name of our church from Rockwell Green Christian Fellowship to The Well Church, Wellington. This decision was prompted by a desire to better convey our inclusive message to the community. We felt that the term "fellowship" had acquired non-Christian connotations over the years, making it seem exclusive rather than inviting. By adopting the name The Well Church, we aim to express our presence in Rockwell Green's community and to extend open arms to everyone with the message of hope found in Christian beliefs. The name "The Well" has a deep spiritual meaning in Christian theology and is inspired by Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well, as described in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. You can watch a video version of this account on YouTube using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ordhsDeAt60.
In this story, Jesus exemplifies acceptance and forgiveness toward a woman who had been rejected by others.
2. Carol Service Contents: The recent Carol Service did include a couple of testimonies from individuals about how their faith in Jesus has positively impacted their lives. Additionally, the carols themselves were contemporary versions of traditional carols. A central theme of every carol service is the story of God's son, Jesus, coming to earth in the form of a child, who would later grow to fulfil God's plan of redemption for all of mankind. His message to humanity is one of love, forgiveness, and hope. The core message of the Christian faith is as follows:
Understanding Sin:
• Christians believe that everyone makes mistakes or does things that go against what is good and right (sin). These mistakes create a separation between people and God.
God's Love and Solution:
• Because God loves us, He provided a way for us to be saved from the bad things sin can cause. That way is through Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is God's Son.
Jesus' Role:
• Christians believe that Jesus came to Earth, lived a perfect life, and then willingly took the punishment for our mistakes by dying on the cross. His death is seen as a way to pay for our sins and bring us back to God.
Faith and Trust:
• To receive this salvation, Christians say that all you need to do is believe in Jesus, trust that His sacrifice on the cross was for you, and ask for forgiveness. This is called having faith in Jesus.
Forgiveness and New Life:
• When someone believes in Jesus, they are forgiven for their mistakes, and they start a new kind of life with God's help. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit, a special helper from God, comes to live inside them and helps them become more like Jesus.
Eternal Life:
• Christians also believe that because of what Jesus did, they can have eternal life with God, meaning they'll be with Him forever even after their time on Earth.
The views expressed in the testimonies given were in relation to the transformative nature that the individuals had found in placing their faith in God through Jesus and are consistent with the message of Christmas.
We genuinely regret any confusion or unintended upset caused by the invitations. Our intention is to foster a sense of community and share the uplifting message of Christmas. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us directly.
Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your continued support.
Warm regards,
Dan Bedford,
Pastor,
The Well Church
