I sat in a church listening to a woman tell me about the horrific domestic violence that she had experienced from her former partner. It had left her so scared that even when she had moved out she slept in the wardrobe of her new room to try to feel safe. But she then told… Continue reading Empowering change: carrying the burdens of others so each can carry their own load
Author: Jon Kuhrt
Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness and poverty for 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.
‘Guard your heart: the wellspring of life’
“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 Our physical hearts are… Continue reading ‘Guard your heart: the wellspring of life’
Lineker & refugees: politics, punditry & polarisation
Popular communication today thrives on polarisation. Social media channels are not neutral carriers of unbiased opinion, they are shaped to stoke strong opinions which fuel the shallow politics of our age. The current controversy surrounding Gary Lineker, the BBC and his social media comments on the government’s refugee policies is a perfect example. The government… Continue reading Lineker & refugees: politics, punditry & polarisation
What can students actually do about homelessness?
Adapted from a talk given to Just Love at Oxford University, 20/2/23 When I was a student in Hull in the early 1990s, I volunteered every week at a drop in centre for ‘homeless and rootless’ people called Dock House. It was organised through the student-run community action group, HUSSO, based in the Student Union… Continue reading What can students actually do about homelessness?
Lent: giving up ‘malicious talk and the pointing finger’
I see Lent as an opportunity to realign ourselves. A time to re-commit to an integrity between who we are on the outside and who we are on the inside. To seek a wholeness between the person that we present for the world to see, and the person we are when no one sees. Whilst booze… Continue reading Lent: giving up ‘malicious talk and the pointing finger’
A spirituality for reality: saying what we mean and meaning what we say
Adapted from a talk at ‘Beer and Theology’ at the Angel Pub, Rotherhithe on 17/2/23 I like both beer and theology. Whilst I have seen plenty of problems associated with alcohol addiction, I have always appreciated the good things that beer can bring. A few drinks can give us ‘Dutch courage’ to be more real… Continue reading A spirituality for reality: saying what we mean and meaning what we say
Kindness, compassion & forgiveness
In my church, we are in the middle of a 40 Days of Prayer which has involved daily 3 minute videos done by different members of the church and posted on YouTube every morning. Its the kind of project that would have been really complicated a few years back but now is made relatively straightforward… Continue reading Kindness, compassion & forgiveness
Hope doesn’t house people. Action does.
The New Testament book of James challenges the idea that Christianity is chiefly about what is going on inside of our heads: our thoughts, beliefs and feelings. Faith is easily turned into an intellectual exercise, a doctrinal debate or an emotional experience. But abstract thoughts, beliefs and feelings cost us little and don't change… Continue reading Hope doesn’t house people. Action does.
Reflecting God’s generous justice
I want to tell you about two inspiring people I have got to know over the last few years through my work. Pastor Alex in Tottenham The first is Alex Gyesi (pictured left), Pastor of Highway to Holiness, a Pentecostal church in Tottenham, North London. Back in 2009 the church was growing but Pastor Alex,… Continue reading Reflecting God’s generous justice
‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story’ by Bono [review]
I remember walking back from the shops after buying U2’s The Joshua Tree as a 14 year old and bumping into someone from my church who was about 10 years older than me. He said "Umm, I’m not really sure about U2" and started reading the album’s lyrics sheet. He read out these words from… Continue reading ‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story’ by Bono [review]
Grace + Truth 