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
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.
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
Darkness cannot drive out darkness
Ever since I was at University, I have witnessed the anger and hatred that surrounds and underpins the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Nowhere in the world is there a deeper well of polarised bitterness and recriminatory violence.From Jewish friends I have learnt more about the reality of Anti-Semitism, its very recent impact on their… Continue reading Darkness cannot drive out darkness
The rough sleeper: an icon of contemporary poverty
In 2016, five-year Brooke Blair became an internet sensation after a video of her berating Prime Minister Theresa May went viral. As she put it, she was ‘very angry’: “Yesterday night, I was out on the streets, and saw a hundred and a million of homeless people. I saw one with floppy ears, I saw loads. You… Continue reading The rough sleeper: an icon of contemporary poverty
Full Fat Faith
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In The Church Times this week, Angela Tilby wrote a refreshingly honest article titled Emptied-out belief leads to empty pews: “At my end of the C of E, everyone remains very polite, tolerant, and a bit disconnected. It is just slightly embarrassing to speak directly about God.” And she pin-points… Continue reading Full Fat Faith
The key to preventing leadership scandals
There is no shortage of articles, blogs and podcasts to dissect, analyse and rake over the entrails of Christian leadership scandals. The podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill was a compelling account of Mark Driscoll's rise to fame and influence, and how his narcissism and arrogance led to a dramatic fall. It challenged… Continue reading The key to preventing leadership scandals
‘Do not impose today’s worry upon tomorrow’
Odette Prévost was a French nun who had joined the Little Sisters of the Sacred Heart at age 21, in 1953. She spent her lifetime working in Morocco and Algeria, living and serving among acutely poor communities. She studied Arabic and helped educate women and provided free tutoring for children to help them with their school work.… Continue reading ‘Do not impose today’s worry upon tomorrow’
The best hour of my summer
I have been richly blessed through holidays this summer. Visiting Malta was a beautiful experience. And going as a family for our 13th year to the Lee Abbey Youth Camp was as rewarding and spiritually refreshing as ever. One significant event was my parents celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. 60 years ago, on 31st August… Continue reading The best hour of my summer
Grace + Truth 