Back in July 1878, the Rev E.T. Prust laid the foundation stone of Abington Square Mission in the centre of Northampton. The 1870s was an era when non-conformist missions made a massive impact in towns and cities in the UK. As well as Sunday services, many of these missions ran 'ragged schools' to educate poorer… Continue reading How churches can avoid becoming strip clubs
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.
Actually reading the Bible
A few years ago my wife bought me a fitbit watch. She’s subtle like that. It has proved to be a great present though. I like having a daily target of steps a day. And when I reach it, I enjoy seeing the little congratulatory fireworks display which goes off on my watch screen. And… Continue reading Actually reading the Bible
The good, the bad & the beautiful: an alternative evaluation of ‘Love Island’
Every summer my family are part of a youth camp where 160 young people (plus a few middle-agers) live in tents by the sea in Devon. We have been involved for 11 years and, though tiring, it is the best week of the year for all of us. It is a Christian camp run by… Continue reading The good, the bad & the beautiful: an alternative evaluation of ‘Love Island’
‘What game even is that?’: Two factors to save cricket’s future
I play cricket each week on a ground where the game has been played since 1743. A couple of weeks ago, a group of local children came past the ground. We are used to hearing comments shouted out, but on this occasion something particularly struck me. One teenage girl turned to her friends and said… Continue reading ‘What game even is that?’: Two factors to save cricket’s future
Homelessness is more than house-lessness: re-thinking kindness #3
Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels.com Last year, I got to know a young man who was begging close to where I worked. He was a real character, never short on stories or quips for passers-by. He told people that he needed money for accommodation. I used to regularly make him cups of tea and… Continue reading Homelessness is more than house-lessness: re-thinking kindness #3
Competition, duplication and saviour myths: re-thinking kindness #2
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I was at a conference this week where the CEO of a homelessness charity said: ‘I was a corporate banker for a couple of years before I started working in homelessness. In my twenty years in this work, I think there is more competitiveness in the charity world than in… Continue reading Competition, duplication and saviour myths: re-thinking kindness #2
‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you’: re-thinking kindness #1
I saw these words on a wall of a centre for homeless people I visited recently. I think they display a realism and wisdom which is helpful for everyone seeking to help people in need. The centre helps people with some of the most complex issues imaginable. But I was struck by the perseverance and… Continue reading ‘If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you’: re-thinking kindness #1
Young people are dying for hope – Easter is more relevant than ever
Unforgiveness, pain, hatred, anxiety, gang violence... These were some of the issues that young people in our youth group wrote down as examples of things which spoil and scar our world. Perhaps most precious were the things written down which were too personal to share publicly. These were folded over. Each one was nailed to… Continue reading Young people are dying for hope – Easter is more relevant than ever
A great gift to the Church: ‘Paradoxology’ by Krish Kandiah [Review]
The Bible is central to the Christian faith. But it’s also long, complex and parts of it are offensive to many people. And that includes a lot of Christians… I have always found much of the Old Testament difficult, especially books like Joshua which contain so much God-instructed genocide. What are we to make of… Continue reading A great gift to the Church: ‘Paradoxology’ by Krish Kandiah [Review]
‘If the grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit’ – Remembering Oscar Romero
Today is the anniversary of the assassination of the Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador. He was murdered by government agents while presiding over mass on the 24th March 1980. He was shot dead at the altar in the chapel of the hospital in which he lived. Romero had used his position to speak up about the… Continue reading ‘If the grain of wheat dies, it bears much fruit’ – Remembering Oscar Romero
Grace + Truth 