One of the most depressing sights in many communities is the huge number of betting shops that seem to spring up everywhere. In the poorest communities, shops are closing, businesses are struggling...but the numbers of bookies is ever on the rise. A key factor in this development is that planning law means that local councils don't… Continue reading Three days to stop the bookies’ take-over of our high streets
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.
Are Christian festivals the new denominations?
I got an email the other day from a good friend who I have not seen for a while asking me about my summer. He is not a Christian but he knows a lot of people who are, and he asked me a question that got me thinking: "So what's your poison: new wine, greenbelt, spring harvest?… Continue reading Are Christian festivals the new denominations?
The joys of a dirty weekend away: Greenbelt 2012
If you were in the Cheltenham area on Saturday then you would have witnessed a downpour of rain which was almost Old Testament in its proportions. The racecourse with its 20,000 campers was almost submerged; Greenbelt became Mud-belt and the stewards and organisers did an amazing job to keep the whole thing going. The rain… Continue reading The joys of a dirty weekend away: Greenbelt 2012
Why churches manage their staff badly
The other day I was talking with four friends, all of whom are committed to their local churches and also work for Christian organisations. As we chatted, someone shared a situation in their work where a blatantly unjust situation was not being tackled. She outlined the grief it was causing and her frustration about how… Continue reading Why churches manage their staff badly
‘There is nothing we can do to make God love us more & nothing we can do to make God love us less’
At the Spirituality discussion group at the centre for homeless people that the West London Mission runs in Marylebone, I led a reflection on Jesus' Parable of the Lost Son from Luke 15. To help us we used Rembrandt's famous painting The Return of the Prodigal Son which I took off my office wall and leaned… Continue reading ‘There is nothing we can do to make God love us more & nothing we can do to make God love us less’
New job at WLM: Homelessness, Addictions, Offending – what’s faith got to do with it?
Lots of things about my work at the West London Mission excite me but I am particularly excited about this new post of Chaplain that we are currently advertising. We are looking for someone who can offer prayer and spiritual support to users and residents of our services. Although we are a fairly small organisation, we operate… Continue reading New job at WLM: Homelessness, Addictions, Offending – what’s faith got to do with it?
Neither sycophancy nor cynicism: Danny Boyle & the right kind of patriotism
Photo by James Frid on Pexels.com I love sport and have always enjoyed the Olympics but I have never watched an Opening Ceremony until last night. I guess I have never understood what the point of it all is. But last night, I was blown away by the power and pride generated by Danny Boyle's… Continue reading Neither sycophancy nor cynicism: Danny Boyle & the right kind of patriotism
Learning from those who never got there: what Bonhoeffer and King teach me about reaching 40
Last month, I was 40. It's a time to stand back, to reflect and take stock...and invest in moisturiser. Especially when one of my son's friends thought I was 60! In recent years, two of the biggest influences on me have been the writings and example of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King. In some ways,… Continue reading Learning from those who never got there: what Bonhoeffer and King teach me about reaching 40
‘Everyone can be great, because anyone can serve’
Photo by Hugo Magalhaes on Pexels.com ‘Long before and after Jesus, prophets and philosophers have been trying to reconcile the fullest individuality with the most just community. Greatness of servanthood may have been as good an answer as any ever found. The best woman or man was the one who did the most for the… Continue reading ‘Everyone can be great, because anyone can serve’
Which is more important: what is done on the pavement or what is said on the platform?
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com When I worked for Shaftesbury - now Livability - helping churches engage in social action, I had a boss who would often challenge our team with this question: was our work making a difference on the pavement or was it more about the platforms of church meetings and conferences? In other words,… Continue reading Which is more important: what is done on the pavement or what is said on the platform?
Grace + Truth 