What do people most need to live fulfilling lives? I have come to believe that grace and truth are at the core of the answer to this question.
We need acceptance and affirmation of grace and also the honesty and reality of truth. This blend is at the heart of personal transformation, social justice and the Christian faith.
My name is Jon Kuhrt and over the last 30 years my work has been with people affected by homelessness and poverty. I started this blog in 2011 to reflect on my work and experiences through the lens of the Christian faith.
This passage at the start of John’s gospel about Jesus has been particularly central to my thinking in the last 15 years:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
I believe that all theoretical and theological reflection is best done in light of practice and Christian beliefs only become faith when they are put into action.
About my work
In January 2023, I began work as Chief Executive of Hope into Action which has an innovative and relational way of addressing homelessness. This is a talk I gave in July 2025 about Hope into Action’s work:
- 2018-2023, I was a Rough Sleeping Adviser to the government (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government), with a specialist focus on how faith and community groups address homelessness.
- 2010-2018, I was Chief Executive of the West London Mission leading their work with people affected by homelessness, offending and addiction.
- 2002-2010. I was Director of Community Mission for Shaftesbury leading the organisation’s work to support social action in urban communities.
- 1997-2002, I was manager of an emergency hostel for the young homeless people for the charity Centrepoint in Soho, central London.
- 1996-97, I managed a Winter Shelter in Tunbridge Wells
- 1995-1996, I was a Project Worker in a large hostel in Hackney, East London for Bridge Housing Association (now run by St Mungo’s)
I graduated in Social Policy & Social Work from Hull University in 1994 and as a student volunteered at the Hull Homeless and Rootless Project and in my vacations worked for the Shaftesbury Society in a direct-access hostel for young homeless people in Camberwell. After graduating, I worked for a year (1994-95) as a Vice President of the Student Union running the student community action group HUSSO.
And outside of work…
I have lived in Streatham, South London with my wife for over 20 years and we have 3 adult children. We are members of Streatham Baptist Church and my family and I are part of the Lee Abbey Youth Camp every summer.
My favourite writer is George Orwell and Lesslie Newbigin is the theologian who has most influenced me. And I should add, I don’t like cricket. I love it. I play for Addiscombe CC.
Please note that I write in a personal capacity on Grace+Truth and the articles do not represent the views of any of the organisations listed.
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Grace + Truth 
Hi Jon, I’ve been reading around your blog for a while now and share a lot of your sentiments! Perhaps you might like to read this blog post I wrote a while ago – I’m sure you’re up with Tom Wright’s theology on social justice – http://quirkycase.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/the-dangers-of-a-spiritualized-gospel/ I’d be interested to know what you think, especially about how social justice and the ‘spiritual’ gospel cannot be divorced from each other. Thanks!
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Thanks for sending this link to me and I enjoyed reading it.
I was struck by your comment ‘Rather, the two go hand in hand, at best not separated at all, at least in theory. How this works out practically is, of course, another matter.’ I think how we actually do this bringing together is the key task facing the church – how it integrates the explicit message of God’s love – the verbal exchange of the good news – with the more implicit outward working of that love through social action and social justice. We need to do this in practice – I have found that a concern for social justice is the best way to share faith– if you are prepared to be brave and speak up when opportunities present themselves (which I have found they do) and not go all soggy theologically and pretend everyone believes the same thing. So all the best in finding practical ways to hold these things together – it makes reading Tom Wright even more enjoyable and nourishing! Thanks and God bless, Jon
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Hello, Jon! Mike Morrell asked me to contact you because he really appreciates your blog and thinks you’d be an excellent candidate for his Speakeasy Blogger Network. Do you like to review off-the-beaten path faith, spirituality, and culture books? Speakeasy puts interesting books in your hands at no charge to you. You only get books when you request them, and it’s free to join. Sign up here, if you’d like: http://thespeakeasy.info
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Great project!
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Thanks Theo – appreciate the encouragement! Jon
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Hi Jon! Found your blog while assisting my boss with research for her dissertation. She heads a ministry for the poor in the Philippines and one of the target sectors is street dwellers. I write this blog: http://cctkaibigan.blogspot.com/ . Will read your blog often for added inspiration.
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John I came across your blog through reading a blog from a friend of mine, I have now joined your blog. What I want to say is your blog is inspirational, just too say the two people who highlight your blog are two people who influenced my life, namely James Ogers of Besom and Gavin Howard from Besom in Cambridge, these gentlemen as I read through my Bible, are the perfect example of the Good Samaritan today, they reach out to the poor with an unconditional love, with a heart full of love and compassion so your blog does highlight all these things, so go ahead continue the theme WWJD Hope and love thank you Gavin and James for my grounding in humility 🙏🙏
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thanks woodentom! James Ogers inspired me when I was in my 20s and I once wrote to him asking for a job! And Gavin Howard has been a huge encouragement to me over the last 7-8 years and I am very grateful to him and the Hope into Action trustees for giving me my new job! Thanks for the positive comments about the blog and I hope its helpful
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