Local stories of transformation

Stories from a variety of individuals, churches and church projects around the country, all passionate about engaging effectively in their local communities.

You will also be inspired by reading the stories of churches who've run the Just People? course

• Who is my Neighbour? - personal urban experiences

• Community-focused Churches

• Addiction Ministries
  

• Advice/Drop-in & Language Projects

• Asylum Seeker/Refugee projects

• Children/Youth Projects

• Homelessness/Housing

• Mental Health Projects

• Shared Wisdom -  read all the 'top tips' from these stories, representing years of experience and wisdom

• On the frontline - an East End blog - follow the stories and reflections of Tony Uddin, Pastor of Tower Hamlets Community Church. 
  

Please note: The views expressed in these articles are those of the individual author, and are not necessarily those held by Livability and Tearfund.

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WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? - some personal urban experiences

• Learning about reality through immersion - one family's encounter with radical community living in Australia.
  Pete Hawkins and his family spent two weeks with the Waiters Union in Brisbane (so named because they want to be available to serve their neighbours) and discover the difference between knowing and experiencing.

• One Friday, five stories - another night as a street pastor 'We find some people want to argue with us.  I reminded the team to keep it simple: above all Jesus calls us to love others.'
  Hayley Teague shares some sobering encounters on the streets of Mitcham and reminds us that sharing Jesus' love is costly.

• When should we get involved? 'For me the answer is: when my heart pounds.  This is my sign that I need to do something'
  Jill Clark shares the dilemma of whether to stay silent or to make a stand.

• Good neighbours mean good communities 'As I shared with them something of my struggles, they shared with me something of theirs'
  Ruth Smith describes how a growing friendship on her estate shows that we all can help to reverse the decline in community interaction by consciously being good neighbours.

COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CHURCHES

• Buttershaw Baptist Church, Bradford - committed to the four Bs of blessing, belonging, believing and becoming
  The vast majority of the congregation live on the Buttershaw estate and the church is now seen as a source of help and support to many - in a range of holistic ways.

• Destiny Angels, Glasgow - showing God's love one person at a time
  Destiny Church run a helpline and offer food hampers, furniture and friendship - all clearly attached to the church

• Dungannon Vineyard, Northern Ireland - determined to leave a local legacy
  Convinced that of the need for churches to be permanently outward-focused, Dungannon aims to address the root causes of poverty and isolation through work with children and families, debt and youth work.

• Hope Community Church, Stoke-on-Trent - a small church running a large centre
  90 church volunteers help run a centre with a range of partnerships and services and have seen the church grow and lives transformed.

• Ilford Road Baptist Church - putting their faith into action as part and parcel of church life
  The church runs a huge variety of projects and is working hard to maintain the Christian ethos and keeping the congregation informed and involved.

• Newcraigs Evangelical Church, Kirkcaldy - how using a Tearfund process helped the whole church face outwards

• West Streatham churches, London - running a regular interdenominational 'Action Sunday'
  A team of 35 are commissioned in the morning service and then do two hours of community activity every two months, as well as a range of other community-related engagement

• Ruach Ministries, Brixton, London - working together for the Kingdom
  Ruach is a large church which believes in 'Kingdom working' with other churches rather than doing their own thing believing that this presents a more cohesive local witness and has helped strengthen relationships between churches.
  

• New Life Church, Wembley, London - aiming to be first for those in need
  The story of the church moving from a point of very little contact with the local community, to being fully involved.

• Brockley Community Church, Brockley - aiming for a healthy & happy Brockley
  The church believes there are two effective ways to connect with their local community. First, be community themselves, by strengthening their lives together. Secondly, to actively promote a ‘wholistic’ approach to healthy living, which is more than the daily round of home, work and leisure.

• Holme Christian Community - serving the community in a range of innovative practical and pastoral ways
  As well as a number of outreach projects shared with other churches, HCC runs a care centre which employs 40 people and draws on 70 volunteers.

• Latymer Christian Centre -  looking for signs of the Kingdom
  Building church in the community can be hard, slow work according to some measures of success, but maybe a more helpful focus is on looking for, and nurturing, signs of the Kingdom.
  

ADDICTION MINISTRIES

• New Hope, Leeds - helping people find the missing jigsaw piece in their lives
  Started with a meal and a testimony to the saving Grace of God and is now helping many people work through a range of addictions.
  

ADVICE/DROP-IN, EMPLOYMENT & LANGUAGE PROJECTS

• Meeting Point, Christ Church, Armley, Leeds befriending, supporting and caring for asylum seekers
  Offers a drop-in centre with food, clothes, football, Bible study and other activities as well as support and care with a Christian ethos.

• PECAN, south London - offering a picture of hope through those whose lives are turned around
  This well-established charity, supported by a number of local churches, runs a range of employment and life skills services as well as working with ex-offenders and their families and operating a local food bank.

• OpenWORD, West Yorkshire - explaining and showing the gospel in action
  English lessons, Bible classes and pastoral support for anyone for whom English is their second or other language.

• Shinewater Christian Centre, Eastbourne -  being there for people
  Offers a client-led listening, specialist advice and advocacy service.

ASYLUM SEEKER & REFUGEE PROJECTS

• OpenWORD, West Yorkshire - explaining and showing the gospel in action
  English lessons, Bible classes and pastoral support for anyone for whom English is their second or other language.

• Boaz Trust, Greater Manchester  - serving destitute asylum seekers
  Receives several referrals each day from asylum seekers who are sleeping on the streets or being evicted from their accommodation and works to find homes and host families for them.
  

• Bridging the Gap, Glasgow - integrating the community and standing shoulder to shoulder
  Operates various services for asylum seekers and refugees whilst also helping the local community and breaking down barriers between groups. Also offers a pupil to pupil mentoring service

• CLEAR, Southampton - offering a one stop shop for asylum seekers and refugees
  Working in partnership, CLEAR has a particular commitment to helping new arrivals find work appropriate to their skills and training

• Meeting Point, Christ Church, Armley, Leeds - befriending, supporting and caring for asylum seekers
  Offers a drop-in centre with food, clothes, football, Bible study and other activities as well as support and care with a Christian ethos.

• St Rollox Asylum Seeker Support Service - supporting, befriending and integrating  
  Offers a shop, language, computer training and other practical services in the church, with a Christian ethos, whilst also hosting other services to benefit clients.

• Music at St Mary Magdalene's - Using music to bring people together, celebrate the mission, and raise the profile of outreach projects in the local community.
  Bringing a new audience into the church to enjoy good music has become a new way to profile and fundraise for the various projects including one supporting asylum seekers and refugees.

CHILDREN/YOUTH PROJECTS

• Bridging the gap between the toddler group and the church - two churches tell their stories
  Kings Church, Arnold and St Mary's East Bedfont, near Heathrow, share their experiences of welcoming and supporting mums and their children into the church. Reproduced from Woman Alive.

• Bridging the Gap, Glasgow - integrating the community and standing shoulder to shoulder
  Operates various services for asylum seekers and refugees whilst also helping the local community and breaking down barriers between groups. Also offers a pupil to pupil mentoring service

• Connect Project & New Hope Community Centre, Runcorn - meeting the needs of excluded and marginalised children and youth
  Operates working partnerships with secular, statutory and church-based organisations and is an approved provider offering specialist provision for young people who are permanently excluded from education. Also offers music training, anger management and drugs awareness training.
  

• Canaan Project, Tower Hamlets - using the the gifts, skills and passions of church members for local young people
  Aiming to create opportunities and facilitate the personal development of young people within the community of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London.

• Fegans ‘160’ Family Resource Centre in Thanet, Kent - aiming to be 100% professional in their social work and 100% Christian
  Working on one of the most deprived wards in the country, this Fegans centre offers parenting support, primary schools work, work with local churches and in the local community.

• The Springfield Project - the vision and how it began - being Jesus' hands and feet in a local multi-faith community
  The principles and some tips from the Head of Care at Springfield.

• The Springfield Project Children's Centre - offering a range of services to a multi-ethnic community which is mainly Muslim, in the name of Jesus
  Firmly rooted in St Christopher's Springfield, and operating with a strong Christian ethos, this is one of the government's flagship new Children's Centres.

HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING

• Boaz Trust, Greater Manchester  - serving destitute asylum seekers
  Receives several referrals each day from asylum seekers who are sleeping on the streets or being evicted from their accommodation and works to find homes and host families for them.

• Green Pastures Housing, Shoreline Church, Southport - housing the homeless one door at a time
  Runs 191 units of accommodation in 95 properties in 12 areas of the UK and currently houses 260 individuals in their own homes.
  

MENTAL HEALTH PROJECTS

• The Geoff Ashcroft Community - providing mental health support and a sense of belonging
  Aims to help people who are feeling isolated and unsupported, as well as those experiencing mental or emotional distress to build relationships and get involved in activities and community life.