Daring Greatly through mission... with the courage to step outside the box

 

This piece was first published on the Baptists Together "Daring Greatly" blog series and is republished with permission of the author

Sandra Crawford writes:

Daring to walk alongside…

I have heard too many stories recently of Christian teenagers who have taken their lives (or attempted to) because they are struggling with their sexuality and think the church, their family and God will reject them.  Whatever our theological position on sexuality, if we are leading young people to kill themselves then we are wrong.  I make no apologies to those who have heard me say this before, and I will keep on saying it.

20 years ago I stepped into my first full time role as church youth worker in Manchester.  I duly fulfilled my own expectations and those of the church and began to head up an all-singing-all-dancing youth and children's programme with the aid of many superb volunteers.  However, I became unhappy that our primary aim of youthwork was to deliver cup-a-soup versions of the Gospel (pre-packaged, only takes a few minutes, easy to swallow, and soon forgotten) which ultimately tried to rescue young people from their world into the church.  Although hundreds of children and young people came through our doors regularly, there were also many who didn't fit in and left, or were banned due to their behaviour.  Those who didn't fit were often those who struggled to find their place in the rest of society too.  It struck me that this didn't seem to be the way Jesus did things; he seemed to go out of his way to spend time with those that society rejected.  Many of the young people who didn't fit our big youthwork were from broken families, failing in the education system and living with a depth of suffering that many church volunteers were not trained for.  They did not need to hear a message which highlighted their brokenness, they were already well aware of that, and a conversion to a middle class gospel and church was irrelevant to them.   
 
Stepping outside the box for me has been stepping out of the big numbers game and deliberately and intentionally working with a few.  I'm part of a small church, to enable me to be here and serve as youth specialist minister I have a second ministry role as a regional minister, but my primary calling in both roles is to work with small groups of young people surrounding them with a community of adults.  I see my calling as one of walking alongside young people, and encouraging others to do the same, to nurture something that is already placed there by God from the beginning of creation.  If we believe we are made in the image of God then each of us is significant, and are signs and symbols of God himself.  I'm trying to encourage small groups of trusted adults to gather around young people, to provide community, security, and a secure base, all of which provide significance.  The intention is not to spoon-feed a cup-a-soup gospel or pour in religious knowledge seeking to address the dodgy moral wellbeing of a young person, but rather to spend time exploring, understanding their perspective, their world and demonstrating the gospel within it.

Walking alongside a young person as they struggle with significance, as they consider their sexuality, as they navigate our ridiculous 'one size fits all' education system, is a huge challenge and is often heart-breaking and emotionally draining. To do this well, you can only walk alongside a few. 
 
My heart is to encourage a community of faith; a group of people of all ages and abilities, on a journey of searching, learning, discovering, and owning faith.  I have been amazed as I've watched the most unusual relationships strike up between young and old.  Bill is in his 70's, an ex-Navy guy who is covered in tattoos from all over the world who has struck up a friendship with a 15 year old lad.  The conversations began as they discussed his cool tattoos, and Bill has nurtured that relationship, a grandfather in the faith.  Bill would not see himself as a youth leader, but he is standing alongside, listening and encouraging a young person as they work out together what it means to be children of God.
 
I realise encouraging community in this way presents a whole heap of safeguarding issues, we have had to think on our feet and outside the box, whilst ensuring the safety of young people.  This is another continual journey.
 
However, I am convinced we need to encourage people to leave the safety and security of running a youth programme, step out from behind the games, and the pre-packaged versions of the Gospel and travel alongside a young person or two as they journey, often to dark places, showing them that they are made in the image of God, exploring with them what Gospel means whilst standing in the crap and darkness with them.  O wait a minute, isn't that incarnation?  Someone else spent a few years doing that.
 

 
Sandra Crawford is Baptist Youth Specialist Minister living in Leyland (near Preston) with her husband Tony, also a Baptist Minister, and two teenage children.  She is co-pastor at Leyland Baptist Church which is a small church with a big heart, running alongside the church are two charities: 'SLEAP' a homeless charity for young people and 'The Leyland Project' - 3 community centres serving two social housing estates.

Sandra is also one of the Regional Ministers for North Western Baptist Association, currently working alongside an awesome team of 15 young leaders from churches across the northwest.

She is currently highly frustrated having broken her leg and damaged her knee playing Bubble Football at a youth weekend in July, and is still hobbling around on crutches.  The picture is of Sandra, moments before; it was all going so well!

 

Intimacy and Action : Things I have learnt. Lessons for those serving the poor.

 

Jill Jackson .. reflects on the spiritual resources on which she draws in her work as a CAP centre manager, linked with Calvary Christian Centre in Lostock Hall near Preston.

 

I clearly felt God's call to serve within CAP (Christians Against Poverty). God placed such concerns on my heart when I was a teenager and then I had some words spoken over me about seeing people released with joy not material joy, but joy at what God had done for them.

The words of Jesus which mean the most to me are these from Matthew 11:28-30 and this is from the Message

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burn out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

I love Jesus invitation to us to come to him, to watch him and to learn from him. I find this so encouraging that from Jesus we can learn a way of life which is not burdensome. There is a way of freedom and life if we follow Jesus example.

In these words I find encouragement and challenge. There is the call to come to and be with Jesus for my own sake. But there is also the call to walk and work with him for the sake of others. Both of these give meaning and purpose and significance to both who I am and what I do. This is really important for us as we are involved in serving, to be validated by God himself. It is his call that we follow.

The call of Jesus in these words are split into three areas which I find helpful in looking at how I live and whether I am following Jesus' model for living. They are "Come to me" "Walk with me" and "Work with me". This can relate to the Up, In and Out relationships we can talk about Up relationship with God, In walking with God with others and Out the reaching out and working with God for the sake of others.

"Come to me"

In becoming a CAP centre manage nearly 7 years ago I was involved in a lot of action on God's behalf representing the church and CAP. With my increased social action I needed a greater intimacy with God. After a couple of years what I discovered was that I needed a deeper, richer relationship and walk with God. I found some of my evangelical tradition did not provide the depth and breadth of relating to God. I suppose I was on a search to find God again and figure out what church was all about. If this thing called Christianity was true it must work.

Instead of just reading my Bible to meet with God I found and discovered the benefit of silence and solitude. Encountering God through just being and being quiet. I did discover God again in the Bible but through the use of lectio divina-divine readings. I used a book called Solo which uses Bible passages and causes us to engage with the scripture in a more reflective way. I found this life giving, real and healthy. The use of journaling and reflecting on my week has become an important part of my routine for discovering those areas of life which do energise me and those which drain me. Hopefully I can gain wisdom from this regarding how I spend my time. Also Journaling and discovering prayers/poems others have written which bring me closer to God as others are able to express what is on my heart.

Find your ways of connecting with God completely.

 

"Walk with me"

Jesus calls us to walk with him, but as we observe his life in the gospels he walks with his disciples in groups. If "come to me" is about developing intimacy with God one on one as Jesus did with time alone with his father early in the morning or late at night, then the "walk with me" is about walking with Jesus, with him but also with others.

Serving God as a CAP centre manager can be a lonely role. This is the case in much leadership and charity work. There is the need to take to heart the calling God has given us, but also to inspire others to take this on as their vision as well. When God impacts our hearts we are in risky territory as with this comes disappointments, discouragements and failures. We need to be able to continue with the calling God has given us through these times. Others who have some understanding of what we go through are crucial, so meeting with other CAP centre managers is crucial, sometimes just to be with other who "get it", sometimes for them to prayer for you on the journey. This being alongside others in the journey with Jesus and others is crucial. We aren't meant to do this work on our own and that doesn't mean just relying on God, but also depending on others.

 Find people to walk the journey with you.

 

"Work with me"

Jesus calls us "come to me" and then he sends and commissions us to "Go therefore and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and baptising them in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. And surely I will be with you even to the end of the age."

Those words of Jesus again "With you". Jesus wants to be with us as we work not for him or the church, but with him as we partner in doing what we see the father doing. We join in with what God is already doing. In this we need the help of the Holy Spirit to discern, to see and hear what God is doing. This is following Jesus' command "Seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to you."

Keep seeking and you will find the kingdom of God. Keep pursuing the kingdom.

Right to Light

 

As he prepares to leave Preston after many years at the Foxton Centre Tim Keightley reflects on what he has learned, and is learning still.

Apparently everyone has a Right to Light. There is a set of regulations and guidelines that governs how this Right to Light has to be protected. Buildings have to be constructed in such a way that minimises any impact they might have on inhabitants of neighbouring buildings who must have access to an acceptable degree of natural light. This is one of the many nuggets of learning I have picked up from my first contacts with people working on the Project Lighthouse for Holy Trinity Church, Swiss Cottage, as I prepare to leave The Foxton Centre. www.thefoxtoncentre.co.uk/

The phrase strikes me as an apt title for this blog as I reflect on my time as Chief Executive Officer of The Foxton Centre since 1998. Everyone has a Right to Light.

Now I am not one to over spiritualise things. So, here I use the concept of Light in a very broad sense. Light understood as being to do with what makes for health and well-being, belonging, right relationship, inclusion and purpose; that is, all that leads to human flourishing.

I understand these interpretations to be somewhere along the same spectrum that includes encounter with 'The Light of the World.' Personally, I think all such Light has the same source.

I start from a basis of believing that this Light shines on, in and through all people. In my experience, this is true of many people; those of a faith different to my own and those who profess no faith.

The Christian's task is to be among those who ensure everyone has access to that Light.

In founding the Centre in 1969, Bryan Foxton was inspired by stories of Jesus Christ drawn from the Christian Gospels. These show Jesus spending time with and offering hope and inclusion to those deemed by the society of the time to be outcast.

The Foxton Centre of the 21st Century is a kind of dynamic equivalent of that approach. The word 'outcast' is rarely heard in modern parlance. But similar sentiments seem to underlie much rhetoric and practice associated with "poverty," "benefits scroungers," "welfare reform" and even "youth." The Centre contradicts this Zeitgeist. In even the most entrenched adult or disaffected young person, we see beauty and the potential for human flourishing. In other words, we see Light. My personal experience confirms this position.

In my time at The Foxton Centre, I have seen inspiring examples of loving care, of 'going the extra mile' of putting the other first and of sacrificial service, from professionals, volunteers, homeless people, those who misuse substances and young people from deprived backgrounds. Sadly, I have also encountered, from the same sources, prejudice, manipulation, aggression and deceitfulness, but, I am glad to say, not in anything like equal measure.

Every person I have met has contributed to my learning, growth and development. Some people have been kind enough to say that I have 'done a good job' at The Foxton Centre. If I have, it is because of the help I have received and the learning I have taken from that along the way. Help has come from countless professionals willing to share their expertise. Help has also come from the countless marginalised individuals or community members willing to pass the time of day or share their stories of survival in the face of adversity.

I have learned that Pastoral Care is an action, not merely an attitude. Jesus encourages the paralysed man to get up and walk. Feeding homeless people is only part of the job. Enabling them to develop the skills and emotional intelligence to live successfully is another part. Challenging and changing systems that create inequality and social injustice is the rest.

What seems to be true is that Governments, systems, ideologies, and even frightened, prejudiced and damaged people (that's you and me) can conspire, knowingly and unknowingly, to deny people access to that light, or even to make it that 'people walk in darkness', as the Bible puts it.

The Christian's task is to be among those who ensure everyone has access to that Light.

I came to Preston with very little experience of working in and with deprived communities. I was, however, willing to step outside my sense of what I knew and therefore, what was safe. I was driven (called) by the conviction that an authentic expression of Christianity is to be in the middle of the mess. And Avenham, at the time, was a mess; people inhabited boarded up houses with mould growing on walls and sewage seeping through floors after heavy rain.

I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that there was also a sense of constant underlying danger and an air of hostility when walking the streets. The rebuild of much of the 'Avenham Estate' and the refurbishment of the high rise flats has combined with concerted efforts at community development from many agencies and authorities and has, in my opinion, contributed to Avenham being a success story. Let there be Light.

My first year at The Foxton was marked by a sense of having to swim very hard to avoid sinking as I felt I was very much out of my depth. Or to use another picture, at times I just hung on in there. I would like to be able to say that I prayed and received words of assurance. Actually, I hung on, believing that this was the right place for me. My faith, such as it was, was that I had to do what it took to develop the Centre's presence, potential and practice.

What I have learned is that true growth comes from true risk taking, from what is called stepping outside one's 'comfort zone.' There has to be training, preparation, support and risk assessment! But this is what it takes.

There are remarkable examples of Christians and churches doing this – but not nearly enough. When I read the Gospels, I read of world changing sayings, events and values. When I read about the acts of Jesus' followers post resurrection I see risk takers, with a radical, dynamic faith, out to challenge oppressive systems and ideologies.

Despite the increasing efforts of churches to be at the forefront of the response to austerity and welfare reform, I am still disappointed, frustrated and dissatisfied by the apparent failure of too many Christians to take risks for the sake of the Gospel.

I am aware that it is easy to appear to be preaching from the safety of having 'been there, done that.' It is easy to advocate Christians going beyond their comfort zone from the position of having done so in such a way that I am now within my comfort zone. If you get what I mean?

This brings me to my next step; which is to become the Executive Director of the Lighthouse Project at Holy Trinity, Swiss Cottage. (If you are interested, see relevant pages on www.htsc.org.)

This will involve me in working very closely with, and within, an open Charismatic church planted in 2006 from the church at Holy Trinity, Brompton.

Those readers who know me, know I am not a Charismatic!

I have truly enjoyed the freedom of developing The Foxton Centre beyond what I see as the confines of being a minister of a church. For seventeen years I have happily held a supporting world view in which I have interpreted the activity of The Spirit as being to do with prophetic action and kingdom building. In that world view my spirituality has been shaped and fed by reflective music (Choral, Taize) and by liberal/radical Christian values. My God has been very passive, non-invasive, in the sense that God is the one who equips us to get on with it. This God uses us as hands and feet. This is how God intervenes.

Now I am going to be with and within a Christian community that puts huge store in a regular, personal encounter with a life-changing, immanent Spirit; a supernatural, intervening God. This Spirit is out of human control (and therefore out of my comfort zone). As one colleague has remarked "God has a sense of humour."

I am also apparently going to work with very talented and possibly very rich people. It is they who (we hope) will provide much of the funding needed to develop the proposed six storeys high Lighthouse church and community facility as a beacon of hope for Camden. They too, so the theory goes, have the Right to Light.

The Church in Society - some thoughts following the general election.

 

by Ken Wales … Chair of Together Lancashire and Methodist Action North West

 

My birthday is May 8 but this year the country seemed more taken aback by the outcome of the general election than the fact I had survived for another twelve months. And perhaps with some justification, for in spite of all the predictions the people had decisively shown their hand. How long their commitment will last will need to be seen, but there is no denying that the government is moving swiftly to implement the mandate it has been given.

 

This article tries to avoid commenting upon the outcome, either in pleasure or with concern, but rather reflects upon two events I have recently attended where the general election provided the context. Both were ecumenical events with an emphasis on social justice. The first was led by Professor Chris Baker (The University of Chester and The William Temple Foundation), and the second by Lord Maurice Glasman (a Labour peer with a strong interest and background in social cohesion and justice) and Rev. Paul Hackwood (Church Urban Fund). The changing nature of the Welfare State, growing inequality in western countries, and especially our own, and what options might arise following the election for the Church in general and Christians in particular were the focus of these discussions.

 

In these individuals, and others, at the present time we have some outstanding people helping Church leaders to understand what is happening in our society. There is a growing appreciation of the importance of what social scientists can tell us about our communities and our economy amongst the leaders of the churches. That is not to say that the Church knows little – indeed, in practical terms both now and in the past the churches have been at the forefront of social justice thinking, advocacy and action. Arguably, and to a greater and lesser extent, much of our education, health and social care services have their roots in Christian service. But sometimes it needs people outside the box or outside the moment to help us to understand what is happening. When we allow them to share their thoughts with us then progress might be made.

 

Of course, education, health, social care, community involvement and politics are all ways in which Christians show their love for God and their neighbour. But many of us now are less sure of how we should respond in an effective way in the places in which we find ourselves. For example, we see increasing need as the policies of austerity bite. We have fears for the well-being of our families and indeed ourselves. We discern ever increasing complexity and an inter-relationship of the needs we encounter in individuals and communities. We hear strident voices telling us that austerity is the road to prosperity and that we need to distinguish between the deserving poor and the rest. Yet we see and read about ever-increasing inequality and little or no evidence that prosperity for some leads to wider wellbeing. We are drawn between serving our neighbours, here and in other countries, or raising the drawbridges to protect our country, our towns and neighbourhoods, our homes and even our churches. Yes, we are confused.

 

And yet we must be confident and even enervated. For if we are not, we who have the gospel to proclaim, who is there to raise the hope of our communities? So what are some of the characteristics of our society that we might discern in the light of the general election result. Well, we might want to consider these:

 

-     We have as a society become less trustful of the state – the state has forgotten how to treat us as human beings. We are involved in transactions, we are consumers of services and no longer people, individuals, with needs of our own which in in many cases are seen merely as an economic burden to the public purse.

-     Partly as a result, a belief in the power of transformative relationships has disappeared. We are at the mercy of forces we cannot understand or even locate

-     We have forgotten the power which resides in people and groups – for example even the Church has forgotten the power it has to confront collectively and individually the power of drugs, alcohol, gambling and other destructive forces

-     As a society, or as individuals within it, we long for attractive places where we can gather and reclaim our identity in ways and at times which are relevant to our current needs and not just to satisfy our traditions

-     We have replaced love, patience and faithfulness with new concepts of welfare, equality, inclusivity and individual rights, entitlements and responsibilities

-     We have created two new idols – the state and capitalism – and allowed both to drift out of our control.

 

I want to suggest four principles which should be amongst those which guide our Christian discipleship in the current age. There may be others, I make no claim to exclusivity.

 

 1.  We should be open to all for business and increasingly so. People (every person) should be welcome, comfortable and encouraged when they visit or meet us

 2.  We should recognise everyone's need for dignity, agency and identity. All we do should be for them and not for us.

 3.  We should be generous. The amazing generosity shown in support for church ministries and projects, for initiatives such as food-banks, community cafes and job clubs  is just the start. We have been richly blessed – let us share those blessings with others.

 4.  We should be confident in action, thought and prayer. The gospel we have been charged to share is the gospel which overrides all political creeds and principalities. We express it in different ways and at different times but there can be no greater prosperity than helping others to live their lives abundantly.

 

The Church is an amazing institution. Arguably it is the one institution in the west which has best resisted globalisation and the power of the state. The challenge is ours – don't let love fail.

 

 

A day of mixed emotions.

Annette Smith of Morecambe Bay food bank writes.

 

I wish to share a day of mixed emotions.

Lancaster had a Royal visit this morning, the atmosphere was exciting, the crowds spirits were high. Lots of people worked hard with all the preparation, setting out all the security, bringing in barriers and the reward was seeing the smiles of all those who came to watch, dispite it being very wet and soggy.

This afternoon at the foodbank, echoed this morning. Cheerful volunteers worked hard preparing food parcels. Shoppers at Asda had donated 300 kg of food today at a store collection ( thank you) to be distributed over the next few weeks. We get to see smiles when people leave, feeling better for having someone to talk to and the ability to put a meal on the table when they get home.

This morning brought tears of joy and pride by onlookers.

This afternoon at the foodbank was full of tears but not for the same reasons as this morning.
We hear so many stories that we cannot repeat and sometimes all you can do is sit down and cry along with those who share them with us.

Today will be a day to remember, not so much for the Royal Visit to Lancaster but for what we heard. Today we cried.

If you want to find out more what we do and how we feel please like our "page" see below and share from that link. You will be able to ind out what we need with regular updates so that you know how You CAN make a difference too.

Https://www.facebook.com/MorecambeFoodbank/posts/819704594786731

 

Also relevant to the work of the Morecambe Bay Food Bank

www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/local/morecambe-mp-says-i-m-not-everybody-s-cup-of-tea-but-i-get-things-done-1-7267799

and Mike Peatman's blog

http://mikepeat.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/an-open-letter-to-david-morris-mp.html

 

The Burnley Pioneer Project

The Burnley Pioneer Project is a Christian charity working in the heart of the community in Burnley. The project began four years ago when the Burnley Methodist Circuit employed a Youth Worker to work alongside a group of committed staff and volunteers to provide relevant activities to provide opportunities for people to explore the Christian faith.

The project is based in two locations – Central Methodist Church and Parkside Methodist Church. One being in the town centre and the other on the Stoops Estate. The work has developed with many exciting projects such as Reach Out kids club, Encounters youth club, cooking skills sessions, bible studies, schools work, family nights, town centre ministry, detached youth work projects, summer activities, job club and much more… Over the four years the team has developed the project with volunteers from across Burnley coming together with the same heart and vision for people to know Jesus Christ and become the best version of themselves through the work of the Holy Spirit.

We have seen people commit their lives to Jesus and be the positive change in their community. The project has invested time to develop and equip young people to serve Jesus in ministry and it is exciting to see them on fire for Jesus and mature in their relationship with Him. In the summer of 2014 two young people were baptised in Burnley town centre and the fire brigade helped by filling the tank with water!!! This was a great witness as people from the local pubs watched the young people take this step of faith.

As the project grew and developed members of the team felt called to move house and live on the Stoops Estate to be part of the community. The reason for this was Jesus ministry was incarnational. Christ become one of us to save us and for the ministry to be truly authentic we felt the way forward was to step out our comfort zone and live amongst the people to serve them, pray for them and show the love of Christ. A verse that I love from the Bible wraps this up perfectly. The word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14 The Message) this has helped build positive relationships with families and we have seen Jesus work in amazing ways.

A story that comes to mind is that we took our young people on a Christian youth weekend and one of the young teens made a commitment to Jesus. Since then she has committed to weekly events and now stands up in front of her peers and reads scripture and encourages them to live for Jesus. It is amazing to see such a young person strive to know Jesus more; through this her Mum has also became a Christian!

The Stoops Estate in Burnley has high unemployment, anti social behavior and many people suffering with addictions to drugs and alcohol. It is a privilege to tell people Jesus has a plan for their lives; He is for them and not against them. We are excited for the future as we work together to reach people with the Gospel.

If you would like to know more about the Burnley Pioneer Project please view our website http://www.burnleypioneerproject.org.uk/

or e-mail jemmburnleycircuit@gmail.com.

A post election reflection; what are we going to do?

This reflection based on experiences in "The Comfort Zone" in Blackpool was first published by Rev. Sally Coleman on her personal blog

 

This is a letter, but I am not sure who I am writing to! I thought about writing to David Cameron, as I have done in the past, but I have decided that I am not sure that will do much good! There are so many well written letters and articles circulating following the election results last week that my meagre offering will simply end up in a sea of many, and I will probably simply repeat what many others are saying!

I have also thought about writing to the church, but again, many many people have written good and thought provoking articles and letters concerning what our response should be, and how God works through our weaknesses to reveal his love, and invite us into another way of living. I agree with these whole heartedly, and have been challenged to think about my own life as a disciple of Jesus Christ as a result, but I want to say something more.

I think I want to speak to anybody who will listen, I want to speak to those who would call themselves spiritual, and to those who would not. Perhaps more than anything I want to write to anyone who voted Conservative, not because I want to bash you, I am sure you had good reasons for voting as you did, but please, please just pause to hear our story.

I want to speak to the rich and the poor alike because we all need the basics of life to survive, food, water, shelter, warmth and most of all friendship/ companionship. We need to know that we are not alone.

We are of course not alone, but sometimes circumstances, and maybe particularly when hope is gone and despair enters into our lives in a big way we feel alone, vulnerable, desparate and afraid. I meet people who feel like this on a regular basis, many come to our drop in "The Comfort Zone" in Blackpool. Some of these folk are homeless, others are simply struggling, really genuinely struggling to make ends meet. Through the winter folk are faced with the choice between heating or eating, we regularly give out candles and tea-lights to people with no money left on their meters.

It is easy to say that the people we see week by week should pull their socks up and get on with it, get out there and find a job, I have heard people say that, and if you reading this happen to be one of those people I would like to ask you, just for a little while to place yourslef into the shoes of someone who is scared and hungry. Imagine you have woken for breakfast, but there is nothing to eat, you do have a tea bag and some sugar, but very little milk, so you make do on that. You need to get to the library to log on to the Job Centres system, and you are going to have to walk the mile and a half because you do not have the bus fare. If you don't get there and log on as required you will be sanctioned AGAIN, for not doing enough to find work. On the way home you call in at a local church who provide you with a bag of food, while you are grateful for this you long for something other than soup, beans and corned beef! Luckily today they had some bread to give out, at least you can have toast tomorrow!

Imagine then that this is your daily routine, imagine the feared Job Centre appointments where everything you have done is scrutinised, and you dread the outcome. Imagine applying for job after job and hearing nothing. You are doing all that you can but it is NEVER enough it seems.

Now imagine that your last pair of shoes has worn out, or that your neighbours bath overflows and floods your flat, or you need to get to the next town for an appointment, or to travel to see a sick relative or go to a funeral. Life suddenly becomes overwhelmingly impossible, and a hard slog along a steep path suddenly becomes an impassable mountain, oh and please don't think I am exaggerating because these are stories, true stories that I have heard over the last few months as many people come to us on the edge of despair, and over the edge.

I have asked you to imagine this because I am fed up of hearing about the undeserving poor, and I want to point out our shared humanity, yet I find that difficult in a country where 16 members of the Governments new Cabinet are millionaires! I wonder if they can even imagine the living conditions of some of the folk we serve here in Blackpool, people who are living in tents, people who sleep in carparks, people who have difficult (rich) landlords who fail to care for their tennants.

I am also fed up with watching our wonderful volunteers struggle, ths week our food stocks hit an all time low, we gave away our last sleeping bag, and while food and more sleeping bags have arrived we operate on the edge. Our wonderful and hardworking Chaplain, Lynn greeted me this week with the words "what on earth are we going to do?" our manager Paul reported 103 people had used our service that morning, with 12 sleeping rough.  We gave out over 70 food bags and provided tea and breakfast for everyone. We are overwhelmed and fear that things are ony going to get worse, especially with the projected benefit cuts, and no sight to the ending of the benefit sanctions system.

What are we going to do?

Well we are going to carry on, but we need help and support, we and so many other groups like us need ordinary people to come along side us, to see the need, the real need, that people in this land are facing on a daily basis, and anyone can do this, no matter what your religious or spiritual belief, no matter what your politics or ideology, you can reach out in some way to help another human being, because at the end of the day that is what this is about, for these folk are our neighbours, and could be our friends, they certainly have the same needs and wants and desires as the rest of us. Grinding poverty and fear are disabling, and even crippling in peoples lives, having damaging results to mental health and self esteem.

So I leave you with a plea, please look beyond the statistics to the person, and just maybe you can join us in saying, there but for the grace of God go I….

… and echo our cry

"What are we going to do?"

…and just maybe we will come up with some real answers together…

 

CEDAR HOUSE COUNSELLING CENTRE; PRESTON

Hazel Sewell, one of the founders and moving spirits of Cedar House, writes about their ministry of binding up the broken hearted and of God's faithfulness in providing the resources they need.

Poverty isn't only about money.  In our demanding, stressful and often disjointed 21st Century society, many suffer emotionally and psychologically as well as physically. Here at Cedar House we work with people who lack peace of mind, self-worth and hope, leading to depression, post traumatic symptoms, isolation, fear, haunting memories, anger, guilt and a whole lot more.

And it's not surprising that many of these also lack the finance or the influence to get the help they need. Getting effective counselling help in situations like these is a bit of a lottery. Private counselling, at perhaps £40 per hour is out of reach of most people, while NHS provision can be of insufficient duration and often means a long wait.

God called Cedar House into being in 1997, when a small group of Christians got together to embark on a journey which led to the opening of a centre in the middle of Preston in 1998. We were guided and sustained by prayer and felt God's leading through some special passages of the Bible. Such as:

' Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' Joshua 1:9

'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted and set the captives free.' Isaiah 61:1

At first we majored on help for women and girls with crisis pregnancy but over the years have developed and grown into a well-respected counselling centre dealing with a full range of issues and at present staffed by 70+ volunteers and staff. Last year we worked with over 300 clients and offered 4,000+ appointments. While we encourage those who can to make a donation towards costs, we will never turn anyone away from our homely if slightly shabby little house on Mount St.

From the start we have been quietly but unashamedly Christian in ethos and practice, which engendered a bit of suspicion in the early days. But we seem to have got over that now as agencies around the city have grown to know us and trust us. Sticking to professional ethics means that we don't speak about faith issues unless invited to by our clients and never use the situation to push our views. But the love of Jesus is on offer at Cedar House and there is no doubt that it is felt and appreciated, if not always understood.

Over the years we have built up plenty of good relationships. A number of local Churches support us and our team is drawn from folk from all denominations or none. We offer placement experience to students from a number of local Universities and Colleges, helping to train the counsellors of the future. And many local GPs, Health Centres and Hospitals refer clients to us. Not that the NHS ever gives us any money for what we do – but that's another story!

We have now come under the umbrella of Methodist Action NW, which has provided us with help in the areas where we were getting out of our depth – finance, employment and the like. Like many really valuable community initiatives, there have been some serious funding challenges and without help from MANW we would probably have gone bust by now!

And the future is by no means secure financially. But we have a God who is faithful and has always provided just what we have needed at the right time and our faith in him has been strengthened as we have seen him at work, helping us to 'bind up the broken hearted and set the captives free.'

For more information on Cedar House see http://www.cedar-house.eu/

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Valuing the Treasure in Urban Communities

 

By Marijke Hoek

 

Text of a talk given at Preston Christian Action Network January 20^th 2015

 

My dad was a GP in the countryside. During his first years, various kids drowned in the water-rich polder where we lived. So, he and the local reverend called the villagers together to fund and build a swimming pool in which all children could learn to swim. He himself spent many an evening and weekend with a trowel to see the project through. It's one of a range of initiatives that characterised the way my father worked in, and cared for, the community. The projects survived long after he'd retired and passed away. It's a holistic understanding of his profession, addressing systemic change and increasing the wellbeing of the community. The talents to network the right people, to spark imagination, and to provide new arenas for people to use their talents.

 

"When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices" (Proverbs 11:10). When we steward our time, gifting and influence for the common good, and employ our talents lovingly and strategically, it does the community good. It is a relational view of prospering.

The theme 'Valuing the treasure in urban communities' obviously resonates Paul's reference to "a treasure in vulnerable vessels': 'For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us' (2 Cor 4:6-7).

Paul's choice of metaphors tends to be in keeping with the emphasis of his message at a particular point. In this respect, the imagery of "clay jars" represents human weakness. It echoes something of the creation story where God uses dust and breathes life (1 Cor. 15:47). Clay vessels were earthenware used in the temple as well as in daily life. 'Clay jars' were a common metaphor for human weakness in the ancient world.

 

The clay jar metaphor serves a few points:

1. The everydayness: God chose the weak things of this world and our every day lives.

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are" (1 Cor.1:26-27)

 

2. Vulnerability: human weakness is the showcase of God's power

'Weakness' can be understood numerical, socio-political, economic; being human.

The first century world dominated by Roman empire, stretched as far as North Africa, Middle East, Europe. Religious, philosophical and political trends were taking its course. Imperial cult in which emperor was Lord who created peace, to his rule would come no end. Rome affected day to day life. First century believers looking for Messiah, who would redeem them from oppression, new throne, new rule, new peace. While people are looking to God, God is looking to Mary. Young, no reputation other than 'servant', yet expectant….Seed. When God does want to do something revolutionary, world changing, he starts with a seed and a teenager. The vulnerability of the exercise.  

 

While we are not the critical mass, we can be the 'critical yeast'. Using our talents diligently, creatively and risky is key to the wellbeing God has in mind. In Matthew's parable of the talents, the trustworthy servants who have been investing their talents and multiplying them receive a commendation and an invitation share their master's happiness. They receive a greater responsibility and are invited into God's shalom economy (Matthew 25:14-30).

 

'Shalom' is used in the scriptures to refer to God's creational intention. It includes peace, soundness, wholeness, security and fullness of life, in which our relationships with God, each other and nonhuman creation are thriving. Faithful stewardship entails love, work, risk, and imagination. Matthew places our vocation in an eternal light, the rays of which already illuminate our lives. In the bible we see God's people being commissioned to build houses and settle down; plant gardens, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.' Jer. 29:1-14.

 

This small community was to hold out a vision of wellbeing for the wider society and bring shalom in the place of brokenness and hopelessness. Their destiny is woven together with the city's. Every place has treasures, in terms of people and gifting:

-          Trailblazers

-          Connectors

-          Amplifiers

 

 

Trailblazers

Significantly, in a culture of captured imaginations and narrow horizons, we need a Christian imagination in the arts business, environmental protection and politics etc

In that we look for the mean of peace – shalom – whom we can work with. Together we can drill down in the soul and spirit of what shalom looks like and how that shapes our household, whether that household is personal or organisational.

 

Connectors

People who make connections, help people to think and relate outside of their silos. People who can be involved in strategic thinking in terms systemic change. For example, food banks in a land-rich area like this should be an anomaly. Besides food banks, Christians should be lamenting and looking for systemic change: food growing, employment, living wage, mentoring, giving a hope and a future.

 

Amplifiers

The Christian community is a story-formed community. It is rich in stories, and thus, our cities, towns, hamlets and villages can be filled with the story of Christ as it is lived out faithfully and told creatively. Jesus' challenge to raise our light on a stand so that people may see our good deeds motivates us to tell the tales publicly.

While local media is an excellent platform for the good news message, the Christian community not necessarily makes the most of this opportunity. In several cities local journalists have further developed the church's media coverage. Such a media savvy catalyst person can generate multiple opportunities for the Christian community in the local and regional press.

Jesus' reference to salt challenges us to provide a Christian witness in the public debate. When the local paper features youth crime, we respond with our hope. When they discus asylum, we talk about the need to recover a compassion for the persecuted. Thus, we consistently mix and mingle with the discussion in the market place. By taking part we communicate a Christian worldview, offer an alternative reality embodied in the church and exercise our advocacy, speaking up for those who wouldn't be heard otherwise.

 

Constructive change and effective mission require strategy. Developing a local media hub needs some joint-up creative thinking. It takes a catalyst with an ear to the ground, listening out for good stories. Make the most of every opportunity, always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us of the hope that we have. A wide range of such hope-filled stories can be found on the various citywide Media Hub websites.

 

The gospel is surely good news. The active engagement of the Christian community in the local media can undoubtedly bring change from the bottom up as we seek the wellbeing of society, fill our society with the testimony of Christ and give an ongoing account of the hope we have.

 

While we are aware of our vulnerability and weakness, God's promises divine power in human weakness in view of His redemptive purposes (Romans 8:19-29).

 

May you prosper-

 

Marijke Hoek  m.hoek@btinternet.com

 

Response from UPA Parishes to Bishop of Blackburn's paper 'Healthy Churches: Transforming Communities'.

 

Posted by Rev Anne Morris … Vicar St Oswald, Knuzden

 

2015 will mark the 30^th Anniversary of the Faith in the City report which led to the foundation of the Church Urban Fund. I have clear memories of the astonishing vision behind the report which saw all C of E churches raising money for work in deprived urban areas. The Diocese of Blackburn had its own working group, chaired by Canon Eddie Burns, which drew attention to the many deprived areas in the Diocese. The Church of England seemed to have taken poverty to heart.

 

Thirty years on it seems as if much of this vision has disappeared and that ministry in poor urban areas is a lonely and uphill struggle. Raising funds to pay the parish share and for the maintenance of buildings is very difficult in parishes where money is in short supply. Church members can and do give generously week by week, and committees work hard to run fundraising events, but if the people have little money then the sum total will also be a small amount.

 

Churches in economically deprived areas also face extra challenges in ministering to their locality. These churches can be short of skilled helpers and pastoral events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals can present all sorts of difficulties and challenges not faced elsewhere. Across the diocese UPA parishes are running groups and managing projects which are, literally, a life line to people in their communities. These are often run on a shoestring with a handful of skilled volunteers who are leaned upon heavily and who can become exhausted. In a situation such as this it is disheartening to look at 'flourishing' churches in wealthier areas who seem to have more resources to draw on in terms of both money and people. It is easy for wealthier parishes to become 'consumers' of net resources, leaving poorer parishes struggling with less.

 

If we pause to look at the life of Jesus Christ, his teaching and example, it is quite clear where energy and resources should be directed. To be true to the Gospel we, in Blackburn Diocese, must do the same: resources must be directed at places of poverty. For places of deprivation, therefore, the life and example of Jesus Christ are as important as his death and ressurection; indeed, in the service of the poor and marginalised, Christ's death and resurrection serve as a template for mission and ministry, allowing new life to emerge in, often desperate circumstances. This is a gospel for the world which is outward looking, seeking people on the fringes of society who may never become churchgoers but who may, non the less, be touched by the love of Christ.

 

My feeling, serving in Shadsworth, is that, in the poorest places, poverty is worse than I've ever seen it . Our society in general may be emerging from the recession, but the very poorest are living on less money and less social support. The 'cuts' mean that the 'safety net' has gone. Churches have stepped in with food-banks, but there is much more to be done to allow the poorest on our society to regain dignity and independence. Theologian Canon John Atherton developed the idea of the 'central determining reality' of local economies. This could refer to a dominating employer or industry (such as Mullards was in Blackburn 30 years ago), or to the hidden workforce of outworkers creating budget goods and paid as pieceworkers.

 

Today's central determining reality, for many parishes in the Blackburn Diocese is poverty. There are parishes where 49% of children, 50% of pensioners and 44% of working age people live in poverty. At the same time the Diocese also has parishes where only 2-3% of these groups live in poverty. Inequality, therefore, is a very striking feature of the Diocese – a second central determining reality. However the will to support ministry in the most deprived parishes appears to be fading, or to have disappeared completely. With vision and commitment the Diocese could, at least with its own finances and resources, address the inequality in parish support. This would begin to make a difference to places of poverty and enable a much more dynamic and effective ministry there. This would be a prophetic act, centred on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, and living out the Resurrection in the world.

 

The occurrence of poverty in the Blackburn Diocese is so significant that it should be the basis, the starting point, of any vision statement, on which all other matters are judged. If this doesn't happen then the ideas laid out on the 'Healthy Churches Vision Document' will simply not be possible in the most deprived parishes because of lack of financial and people resources. The gap between rich and poor parishes will widen and, eventually, there will be no effective ministry or mission in the places which need it most.

 

It must also be said that ministry and mission in the deprived parishes has to be 'slow ministry'. Very often 'the poor' are 'done to' rather than 'done with'. For change to be effective and lasting, ministry needs to be 'done with' those affected by poverty, not 'to'them.– it has to be there for the long haul, because it takes time to listen and understand, it takes time for trust to be earned, it takes time for cultural barriers to be understood and overcome,  to begin to change local economies and to allow hope to grow.  This needs time, patience, resources and a love whose source and inspiration is Jesus Christ. There is no 'quick fix.'

 

Anne Morris   4/12/14

Response to the Bishop of Blackburn's vision statement

The Bishop of Blackburn is asking for comments and responses to his vision statement for the future of the church in Lancashire.

This is a personal response by GREG SMITH  to the vision statement which comes out of my experience as

1. an active member of the congregation of St Mathews Preston (Parish of the Risen Lord)

2. forty years of experience in urban mission and community development in London and Lancashire (including a current role as a staff member of Together Lancashire)

3. extensive research and writing in the sociology of religion, specialising in the role of faith in urban communities (see website for links to publications etc.. http://gregsmith.synthasite.com/

There is much to be commended in the vision.. It is clear that as society changes rapidly the church needs to change too. Click on this link for my extended thoughts on reassembling the church in the contemporary context . 

It is clear to me that for the Church of England in Lancashire survival is at stake. Congregations are ageing fast and not being replaced and renewed, buildings, clergy salaries  and the traditional pattern of parish worship and ministry will not be sustainable for another two decades. Signs of life and hope in the wider church in Lancashire are found mostly in the newer independent churches which have learned to travel light without to many encumbrances by way of sacred buildings and institutional deadweight, where a basically evangelical gospel demanding personal commitment to Christ in the context of supportive community is central. Members of such groups are seen not as mere "churchgoers" but disciples of Christ being shaped to share in God's mission in the world.   The church of England in Lancashire only approaches this model in a small number of parishes and needs to move in this direction.

Within the vision document I note three areas of concern where in my view the statements need to be strengthened and developed.

 meeting the needs of the community and tackling poverty

Lancashire as a whole, and particular communities on the coast, and in the major towns faces multiple deprivation, growing poverty and increasing inequality. The welfare state is being dismantled as part of the global neo liberal project, and in the present programme of austerity which is being targetted unjustly at the poorest people in society, and with cuts in local authority funding being directed unfairly towards councils in the north of England.  As poverty grows many churches and Christian projects are raising their game and working hard through food banks, work clubs, homeless projects, youth and family work to provide help for those who are most vulnerable. As society changes every church will need to build a practical commitment to tackling local poverty into its DNA. But we will need everyone to think biblically, theologically and politically about the limits of charity and of ways to mobilise goodwill into a new politics based on commitment to the common good, and speak truth to power about what is happening in our society.

supporting mission and ministry in the tougher places, (UPA parishes and social housing estates)

The vision speaks of the need to

Plan to grow new congregations and unashamedly seek to bring others to faith in Christ

Historically it has been much easier to achieve this in comfortable areas and parishes than in UPA parishes and social housing estates, with the result that where the practical and social needs are greatest the church is often at its weakest. The Church of England has a unique role in many of these places as the commitment to parish ministry throughout the land mean that Anglicans "hang in there" long after all the other churches have given up. This commitment to the most deprived communities needs to be sustained and prioritised, with new forms of redistributing resources of finance and mission and ministry resources from wealthy Christians and parishes towards the most needy. (As an aside it is refreshing to see how Pope Francis understands and articulates these principles).  Christians from such communities, and indeed ordinary residents in these places, need to be empowered and given a voice so that their experiences, assets and concerns are better recognized within the diocese and across the county.   

working collaboratively with neighbouring churches across the denominations

For the church to be renewed we need to move away from tribal religion and silo thinking to a a wider and more open ecumenism, building friendships and alliances with the widest range of Christians, and those of other faiths and none. "working collaboratively with neighbouring churches" cannot be defined merely as sharing resources more efficiently across parishes within the deaneries of the diocese, or relying on formal ecumenical institutions such as Churches Together in Lancashire or its local groups, many or which are struggling and sometimes just boring committees that have little impact on local church life. Rather what is called for are emerging informal networks of active, mission focused, cross church partnerships that can move rapidly to meet need, take opportunities and share information and resources. In Lancashire we have at least two exciting local groupings from which we can learn, Preston Christian Action Network and its overlapping networks, and the Morecambe Churches Forum . One feature of both of these is their use of electronic communication and strong online social media presence and activity. They bring together for mission local Christian activists, share information and resources quite rapidly and sometimes bypass institutional church leaders, who can sometimes be the blockages that prevent effective action.

Working together in this way also opens up pathways to collaboration and partnership with local authorities and secular voluntary organizations, as well as with people and groups within other faith communities concerned for the welfare and shalom of the wider community. Indeed I would argue that the most appropriate models of interfaith work are based around community action rather than the tired out and naïve models which were based on tea and samosas with a period of silent reflection to remember our God(s).

If these three priorities can be incorporated as central to the vision of the church in Lancashire, and embodied as central to the corporate life of the people of God then there is a hope and a future for us all.