Roger T. Forster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger T. Forster
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Roger Forster at Ichthus Leader's Conference 2009, Croydon: sporting customary knitwear.
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| Born |
Roger Thomas Forster
1 March 1933 Wood Green, London, England
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| Died | 17 January 2024 (aged 90) Forest Hill, London, England
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| Education | MA from the University of Cambridge, Mathematics and Theology |
| Occupation | Church Leader, Author, Charity Worker |
| Spouse(s) |
Faith Forster
(m. 1965) |
Roger Thomas Forster (born March 1, 1933 – died January 17, 2024) was a British Christian leader. He was a theologian, which means he studied and wrote about religious beliefs. Roger Forster started a Christian group called Ichthus Christian Fellowship. This group is part of a larger movement of churches in Britain.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Roger Forster studied math and theology at Cambridge University from 1951 to 1954. He met other important Christian leaders there. Roger grew up in the Methodist church. However, he felt that his early faith was missing something important.
A New Path
While at Cambridge, Roger heard a bishop named Hugh Gough explain the Christian message. This talk made a big impact on him. Roger decided then to "follow Christ." A few years later, he had a special spiritual experience. He described it as "sine curves of love going through the room."
Combining Faith and Action
From this time, Roger began to believe in two important ideas. First, he wanted to combine sharing his faith with helping people in society. Second, he believed in working with all true Christians, no matter what church they belonged to.
Serving in the Royal Air Force
After finishing university, Roger joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF is the United Kingdom's air force. He served as an officer from 1954 to 1956.
New Ways of Meeting
Even in the RAF, Roger started to put his ideas into practice. He believed in "organic church" ideas. This meant that people could meet anywhere, like a pub, a club, or a home. They would sit in a circle and everyone would share their thoughts. This way of meeting was successful. It led to Roger being invited to speak at churches nearby. This is how his work as a traveling speaker and evangelist began.
Traveling Evangelist
From 1956 to 1969, Roger focused on evangelism. This means sharing the Christian message with others. He worked with university groups. He saw that after his talks, small groups would often form. This showed him that new churches could grow from these gatherings.
Urban Missions
Later, Roger became involved in missions in cities. He worked with the Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre. Its leader, Theodore Austin-Sparks, taught about church life and personal faith. These teachings greatly influenced Roger.
Starting Ichthus Christian Fellowship
In September 1974, Roger Forster started Ichthus Christian Fellowship. He began it in his own living room with 14 people.
Ichthus's Goals
Ichthus was founded with several key beliefs. It valued practical service to others. It also focused on training people for ministry. Evangelism and overseas missions were very important. The group aimed to show love for each other. Roger believed this love was the best proof of true Christianity. He stopped being the main leader of Ichthus in October 2021.
March for Jesus
In 1987, Roger's group, Ichthus, joined with other Christian organizations. These included Pioneer (led by Gerald Coates) and Youth with a Mission (led by Lynn Green). They also worked with worship leader Graham Kendrick. Together, they started March for Jesus.
A Worldwide Movement
March for Jesus was a movement where Christians marched in cities. They did this to celebrate their faith. Over the next three years, it spread across the UK, Europe, and North America. Eventually, it became a worldwide event. Hundreds of smaller marches happened because of it. Graham Kendrick, who wrote many popular worship songs like Shine Jesus Shine, was the worship leader at Ichthus during this time.
Roger Forster's Reputation
Roger Forster was highly respected by many people. Andrew Walker, who studies Christian movements in Britain, said Roger had "one of the finest minds" among Christian leaders.
Theologian and author Greg Boyd dedicated his 2007 book The Jesus Legend to Roger. He wrote that Roger had served "with intellectual brilliance and Christ-like sacrifice" for fifty years.
Other Roles
Roger Forster held several important positions.
- He was a Vice-President of Tearfund. This is a charity that helps people in poverty around the world.
- In October 2008, he became the Alliance Council Chair at the Evangelical Alliance. This is a group that brings together many different Christian churches and organizations in the UK.
Personal Life
In 1965, Roger married Faith. They had three children together. Roger Forster passed away at his home in Forest Hill, London on January 17, 2024. He was 90 years old.
