Interesting Conversations

Tony and Carol arranged for some friends to come and enjoy their hospitality during our visit. And we were given the gift of hearing about some very interesting local ministry initiatives. Graham and Jill run a week long program called Holiday at Home for the 55+ crowd. Research indicates that by next year, half of the population of the UK will fall into this demographic. This outreach offers a week long vacation with the added benefit of your own bed at night. Morning worship, activities, catered meals and day trips provide opportunities for socializing, learning and growing in faith. It also eliminates the need to find a travel companion which often keeps people from going on trips.
Carol and Alastair attend Purley Baptist Church which has forged lots of community links and are now seeing those come to fruit as the church receives the critical planning permission for a building expansion. They have been gradually buying up all the commercial space in the triangle of land on which their current building sits. One storefront centre is running as a community youth centre with computers, pool table etc. The new purpose built church will be flanked by shops, affordable housing and various ministry outreaches. The congregation incorporates newcomers very quickly and places great trust in and high expectations on people, virtually from the start. And the results: huge missional energy, 90%of membership at worship, 70% in a small group.
John, a retired high ranking police officer heads up the local chapter of Street Pastors. This national organization with 120 chapters in action and 80 coming addresses the night time economy. These are Christians reccomended by their pastors, active in a local church who go out, in Street Pastor jackets, 10 pm to 4 am. in city and town centres to hand out water, arrange cabs, give flip flops to girls who have lost their shoes, pour oil on troubled waters. The pastors receive heavy prayer back up. Local councils provide funding for consumables and violent crime drops, substantially and reliably.