Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com These reflections were stirred afresh at the Hope into Action annual conference, Rooted: Homelessness Ends in Community and in particular during the seminar Rethinking Poverty and Our Response facilitated by Jon Kuhrt and Rachel Arnold. There is a kind of Christianity that excels at projects. The foodbank is… Continue reading ‘Counter Christianity’: community or transaction? – by Jon Swales
Category: Social action
Walking the way of love with those on the margins – by Debs Green
Photo by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels.com I've had the privilege of working for Hope into Action for the past seven years. We provide supported housing for people experiencing homelessness, but we are passionate about offering far more than just accommodation. By partnering with local churches, we address not only the poverty of resources, but… Continue reading Walking the way of love with those on the margins – by Debs Green
Resisting the secularising drift of social action
This article was recently published in the magazine Baptists Together. At Streatham Baptist Church, we host a community meal on Wednesday evenings called The Vine. A wide variety of guests come along – some are sleeping rough and struggling with addictions but most are facing the challenges associated with isolation and basic poverty. The purpose of The Vine… Continue reading Resisting the secularising drift of social action
Inclusive fruits. Exclusive roots.
Recently, I re-published an article by Ian Paul titled The problem with the ‘inclusive’ Jesus which had originally appeared on his Psephizo website. I wanted to share it on G+T as I felt it was an article which took the Jesus of the biblical gospels seriously and grappled fairly with the inescapable tension between Jesus’… Continue reading Inclusive fruits. Exclusive roots.
If churches don’t help people with their spiritual needs, then who will?
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com A few years ago, I was on the south bank in London, near Waterloo station, and I got talking with a homeless man called Richard who had approached me asking for money. He was in a bad state. As we spoke, he rolled up his sleeves and trousers to… Continue reading If churches don’t help people with their spiritual needs, then who will?
Homelessness Ends in Community: relationships are vital to recovery
Homelessness and relationships Four years ago, my friend and former colleague Simon Dwight wrote a powerful article for Grace+Truth titled Homelessness Ends in Community. He shared a moving example of helping a man called James move from long-term street homelessness into accommodation. It sounds like a success story but actually it had a tragic outcome.… Continue reading Homelessness Ends in Community: relationships are vital to recovery
Keyboard warriors will not inherit the kingdom of God
This post is taken from the 2025 Hook lecture 'Prophet or Provider?' delivered by Jon Kuhrt on 21st October at Leeds Minster. Read the full text here or watch the video below. When it comes to responding to poverty, should the church play the role of prophet or provider? Well, we should not accept the… Continue reading Keyboard warriors will not inherit the kingdom of God
Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
Forty years ago, the Church of England published the Faith in the City report which focussed on the plight of the inner cities and urban poverty in the UK. The report hit the headlines, generated significant debate and sold 50,000 copies. A key reason was because it angered the conservative government, with one member of the… Continue reading Living off the fumes of Faith (in the City)
The contributory principle: everyone can do something for others
Our church runs a weekly drop-in meal called The Vine where we welcome a whole range of different guests. Some are homeless, many are vulnerable and lonely, and everyone seems to appreciate the fun, food and friendship we share. Last Wednesday was a great evening with the whole church building buzzing with life. The young… Continue reading The contributory principle: everyone can do something for others
Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
On Tuesday 21st October, I am very honoured to be giving the annual Hook Lecture at Leeds Minster on the title: Prophet or Provider? How can we be a prophetic voice for change while meeting the needs of people at the margins. Watch this 90 second video introducing this topic: https://videopress.com/v/2VVdXYfZ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fvideos.files.wordpress.com%2F2VVdXYfZ%2Fdoc-20251010-wa0000-1_mp4_std.original.jpg&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true We are living in… Continue reading Prophet or Provider: what is the church’s role to those on the margins?
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