Just People? Stories
A range of churches have run the Just People? course and we have had some really positive feedback and stories, some of which can be read here.
If you have recently run the course, or are planning to run it in the future, please share your experiences and tips for others by completing the Just People story form.
Read some Just People? stories below...
Other comments and feedback from those who've run the course
'The Just People course blew a wind of change through our church moving social justice from the sidelines right into the centre of our theology and practice of mission. Several initiatives have resulted and we are increasingly determined to live as God’s community, in the community, for the community.'
Vicar, Christ Church, New Malden (suburban greater London)
'Just People was great. It helped me and a small group of people look at our local community and ask the question "does God care?" The answer to this question provoked us to get involved and see the relevance of Jesus and His perspective in our local community.’
Church leader, Sunbridge Road Mission, Bradford (inner-city)
Just People was significant for us, not just because it stretched our theological perspective on issues of social justice, but also because it provided us with an opportunity to practically engage, along with our partner churches, in practical community service. I cannot recommend the course more highly than to say it will regularly feature in our own programme of discipleship training at St. James.'
Vicar, St James Church, Streatham (urban SW London)
'The course was a real watershed for us in our own church and in our work with other local churches. It took us up to a different level, although we’ve still got miles to go to implement it. It’s a sort of 're-wiring' church (from being inwardly-focused to outwardly-focused) and this means amidst everything else it can be difficult to keep it on the agenda.'
Minister, Mitcham Lane Baptist Church, Tooting (urban SW London)
'As a church leader it changed my perspective on the Bible, I often refer back to it and try to reinforce the teaching and attitude. I also recommend that leaders be pleased about a fresh understanding of your existing community activities as well as any new ground you break as a result of the course.'
Vicar, St Gregory, Tredington (rural Warwickshire)
- 'As a church we are beginning to recognise why we are here in town – the needs are not about starvation and cholera, but there is relative poverty and living out being the kingdom of God means making a difference locally. We are now looking at what impact church should be having on the community and realise it’s all about being the kingdom of God. It may be that we don’t set up something new, but get involved with what another church is doing locally. '
- 'We intend to continue to develop this as a long term thing. In the meantime, we have taken some small steps such as gifts to people attending Christmas lunches held by other churches, and to council-run homeless hostels for their Christmas party and registering as a Fairtrade Church. We hope that, under the label “Small Steps”, we will be able to build a group of people who want to continue to keep social action to the forefront of our church life. '
- 'What came out of the course was a lunch club at the church which now feeds 50 people. It was initially started with the homeless in mind, but has become popular with those who are lonely, suffering from depression, or have learning difficulties. Out of this ministry (they call it their church) we have made contact and be able to build relationships and help people we would otherwise not have made contact with – we have gone to court with people, done a house clearance for someone who was about to be evicted and tried to be there for them.
- 'An 80-year-old lady on the course was inspired and keen to take action, and now co-ordinates a service whereby people contact her with the names of people who need visiting and she arranges for someone to go and do it. '
- 'The outcomes for us were to pray more. We also created a noticeboard and put all the social and community initiatives on it to demonstrate the integration and the connection with church and we pray round them regularly. A year on from the course a club for pre-school children is still running and we have definitely broken new ground with people who previously had no contact with the church at all.
What were the other benefits? - feedback from a range of church leaders and facilitators.
- 'For me, one of the main results was a new understanding of community service as part of our worship - of seeing it as part of our liturgy, which was really transforming for a number of us.'
- 'We found that most were already involved in some kind of social and community activity and that 90% of the such activity in the village was being done by church people. This meant that for us as a church there may not have been many new initiatives started, but it has helped people to connect what they do with their faith so many have seen what they do in a new light. In theological terms it feels like we have baptised the initiatives to make them more evidently gospel-focused.
- 'People are looking for something to belong to and a way to make a difference. I have found that doing the course has really helped us evangelistically and having built some of the teaching and my commitment to the issues into the way we do Alpha, by calling people to join a community that is part of making a difference in the world. I do believe that for some people it has made Christianity more credible and more attractive to people and that some people have become Christians who may not otherwise have done.'