I have been very encouraged by the response to my longer article Justice, Empowerment & Faith: the Future Direction of Christian Social Action. It has been read by over 4000 people so far and I have had a pile of emails and messages with lots of support and agreement as well as plenty of thoughtful critique… Continue reading Empowered: faith that makes a lasting difference, Conference 7th March 2024
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.
Why ‘New Atheism’ grew old
Ten years ago, when I worked at the West London Mission, I invited an atheist sociologist to speak at our Annual Conference. His name was Carwyn Gravell and in a beautifully lyrical Welsh accent, he introduced himself: "I am an atheist, but I am not of the Richard Dawkins kind. I am not at the… Continue reading Why ‘New Atheism’ grew old
Finding our ‘Why?’ and helping young people do the same…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyzWPiRbnl0&t=3 I first met Mike Palin thirty years ago when we were both leaders on a youth camp in Devon. Its no exaggeration to say that this youth camp changed our lives. It formed us as people by solidifying faith and helping us find purpose, meaning and a host of brilliant friendships. In the years since… Continue reading Finding our ‘Why?’ and helping young people do the same…
Justice, Empowerment & Faith: the future direction for Christian social action
This is a longer article written to provoke discussion about the key challenges and future direction for Christian social action in the UK. A PDF version can be downloaded at the bottom of the article. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for ancient paths, ask where the good way… Continue reading Justice, Empowerment & Faith: the future direction for Christian social action
‘I didn’t see how I could be loved by God’: a journey from homelessness to hope
Antonio's life had been the grip of an addiction which had taken his resources, destroyed his relationships and left him cold and alone on the streets. His identity lacked dignity and any positive self-worth. As he says: 'It turned me into a person I was never meant to me' Recovery But from this rock bottom,… Continue reading ‘I didn’t see how I could be loved by God’: a journey from homelessness to hope
Structural justice: we need to nationalise house building
Photo by SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS on Pexels.com In 1998 I bought a one-bed flat in Kings Cross. It cost me £62,000. The similar flat next door had been sold for £38,000 a few months before and I remember my new neighbour telling me I had been ‘diddled’. I only bought the flat because the estate where… Continue reading Structural justice: we need to nationalise house building
How grace & truth changed my life
Photo by David Alberto Carmona Coto on Pexels.com This post consists solely of an emailed letter I received yesterday. As ever, personal stories speak more authentically than any theory and I think its one of the clearest articulations of the core thinking behind this blog. I am deeply encouraged to receive letters like this. Hi… Continue reading How grace & truth changed my life
A tents dispute with the Home Secretary
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com In 2011, Westminster City Council proposed byelaws to ban rough sleeping and to prevent groups distributing food to people in need, known as ‘soup runs’, in the Victoria area. The proposals caused an almighty uproar from charities and community groups and provoked demonstrations outside the council offices. In addition,… Continue reading A tents dispute with the Home Secretary
Keeping social action salty
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13 Photo by Castorly Stock on Pexels.com At Streatham Baptist Church, we run a meal on Wednesday evenings… Continue reading Keeping social action salty
No free lunch: the parable of the banker and the extra sandwich
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com A banker was recently sacked by his employers CitiBank for an expenses claim he submitted for two sandwiches whilst on a work trip. Szabolcs Fekete, who had worked for Citibank for 7 years as an analyst specialising in financial crime, had claimed that he had eaten both sandwiches. But actually,… Continue reading No free lunch: the parable of the banker and the extra sandwich
Grace + Truth 