Rhondda churches launch new podcast to further digital ministry

Churches in Rhondda have launched a new podcast aimed at providing positive news and events from across the church community. The podcast is called Cross in the Rhondda and airs weekly on Apple podcasts.

Podcast host, Revd Phillip Leyshon, Rhondda Ministry Area says, " We launched our podcast to complement our regular worship services and to further embrace the opportunities digital ministries presented during the pandemic. Our weekly YouTube service is proving popular and knowing how many people listen to podcasts this felt like the right move for us.

"We interview local people across the Rhondda to find out what is happening in their church congregations and we offer Biblical reflection and prayer.

"We call it Cross in the Rhondda because our aim is to bear Christ to the community in which we proclaim his gospel, travelling across it to discover how people are telling out the joyful story of our faith."

The latest episode discusses this year's ordinations in our diocese of Llandaff, interviews Rowena Harding on the work she's been involved in at St. Illtyd's church and explores what St. Paul has to say about the importance of the Body of Christ.

Revd Phillip is keen to connect his local church community with churches across the Diocese of Llandaff and share how they are transitioning into Ministry Areas. "Importantly it combines our local Rhondda life with our wider diocesan family life. We'll be talking about our development into a Ministry Area so that other churches can learn from our experience.

It's a big change for the diocese and it's important for us to share our journey."

Subscribe to the podcast here: ‎Cross in the Rhondda: June 2021 on Apple Podcasts

What are Ministry Areas?

Ministry Areas bring large groups of local churches together to share resources and provide a stronger model for ministry in local communities. Ministry Areas overcome the present difficulties of declining church attendance by bringing churches together to offer a diverse range of worship styles and outreach events.

More and more churches are taking to digital to share their Ministry Area journey. Revd Mark Prevett who launched a new YouTube video introducing the Merthyr Tydfil Ministry Area, says, " The advantages of being a larger unit far outweigh remaining as individual parishes and a passion for all involved in setting up this ministry area is to protect the local church and its community. There is no intention to fix anything that is not broken.

The vast majority of churches will experience ‘business as usual’ and perhaps the encouragement to look at new ways to engage. "

Adding to the mix are Cardiff South Ministry Area who have launched their social media accounts and are on Twitter. Give them a follow and a Like!

Have we missed anyone?

Let us know your communication plans and we'll add them to this page. Email: diocese.llandaff@churchinwales.org.uk