Open to the Community

I'm sitting in the spacious (and today, at least, sun-drenched!) atrium of Stopsley Baptist Church in Luton, north of London. It's set up with plenty of room for gathering and welcoming. There's the Lounge Cafe where you can buy snacks, drinks and light lunches. To my right is a large children's centre where parents and tots gather on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for "Hullabaloo" -- a play group staffed by volunteers. Today there is also a well baby clinic being held in the church.

What's striking me is just the level of activity and energy on a Tuesday morning. Toddlers and babies are laughing and crying, parents are coming and going, people are sitting on the comfortable couches and around tables in the cafe area, sharing conversation and cup of tea.

We spent some time this morning with Dave Shaw who is the pastoral care pastor at Stopsley. A social worker by training, Dave is responsible for nurturing and encouraging people from cradle to grave. He coordinates parenting courses, pre-marriage and marriage enrichment, as well as care for the elderly and dying. "I have the best job in the world," he told us.

Stopsley has built a reputation in Luton as a community that can be trusted to do high quality work with people of all ages. But that's clearly no accident. I'm getting a sense of a congregation that has very intentionally turned itself out towards towards the community, with a genuine care for people regardless of whether they ever show up at church.