This article was recently published in the magazine Baptists Together. At Streatham Baptist Church, we host a community meal on Wednesday evenings called The Vine. A wide variety of guests come along – some are sleeping rough and struggling with addictions but most are facing the challenges associated with isolation and basic poverty. The purpose of The Vine… Continue reading Resisting the secularising drift of social action
Author: Jon Kuhrt
Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness for over 30 years. He is a former government adviser on how faith groups address rough sleeping and is now CEO of Hope into Action. He lives with his wife in Streatham, south London and they have 3 children. He likes football....but loves cricket.
Inclusive fruits. Exclusive roots.
Recently, I re-published an article by Ian Paul titled The problem with the ‘inclusive’ Jesus which had originally appeared on his Psephizo website. I wanted to share it on G+T as I felt it was an article which took the Jesus of the biblical gospels seriously and grappled fairly with the inescapable tension between Jesus’… Continue reading Inclusive fruits. Exclusive roots.
The cross on the wall
For 8 years, I led a homelessness charity which was based in offices attached to a church. In these offices, there was a room that we frequently used for smaller meetings. On the end wall of this room there was a small cross. During the years I was in the job, many of the most… Continue reading The cross on the wall
The Donald Trump of Narnia: a Shift in The Last Battle?
The Last Battle, the final instalment of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles, is an unusual children’s book. The plot involves all the main characters being killed, some in a train crash and others in battle, and the whole ‘Narnian world’ coming to an end. It is literally apocalyptic. And at the centre of the fall of… Continue reading The Donald Trump of Narnia: a Shift in The Last Battle?
If churches don’t help people with their spiritual needs, then who will?
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com A few years ago, I was on the south bank in London, near Waterloo station, and I got talking with a homeless man called Richard who had approached me asking for money. He was in a bad state. As we spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and trousers to… Continue reading If churches don’t help people with their spiritual needs, then who will?
Personal responsibility, families & nationhood: a Christian response to the Left
The edited text of a talk I gave at Christ Church New Malden on 8th February as part of a series on Christianity & Politics. A video of the talk is below. These bible readings were read by two people, one in a red top and the other in blue. These can be downloaded on… Continue reading Personal responsibility, families & nationhood: a Christian response to the Left
“Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Tough messages are not shared easily. It’s one of the key themes of this blog. If it doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn't change you. But, let’s be honest, we all prefer easy forms of grace than tough messages of truth. And if this is true for individuals, then it’s even more so for organisations.… Continue reading “Compelling, controversial & convincing…my vote for Christian book of the year”
Homelessness Ends in Community: relationships are vital to recovery
Homelessness and relationships Four years ago, my friend and former colleague Simon Dwight wrote a powerful article for Grace+Truth titled Homelessness Ends in Community. He shared a moving example of helping a man called James move from long-term street homelessness into accommodation. It sounds like a success story but actually it had a tragic outcome.… Continue reading Homelessness Ends in Community: relationships are vital to recovery
G+T: the book. How has grace and truth helped you?
Grace+Truth is almost 15 years old and I continue to be encouraged by the response and engagement with the articles I share. In December, the site had its 2 millionth visit. During these years, many different people have urged me to write a book which draws together the key thinking around grace and truth in… Continue reading G+T: the book. How has grace and truth helped you?
Old wisdom for a New Year: “Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow”
Michael Ramsey was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74. He wrote these Five Helps for the New Year for his clergy. I first read them about 10 years ago and was struck by their deep spiritual insight and good sense. I have them pinned above my desk. The line about thankfulness as an antidote to pride… Continue reading Old wisdom for a New Year: “Thankfulness is a soil in which pride does not easily grow”
Grace + Truth 