This year marks 130 years since the founding of the West London Mission. It was in October 1887 that WLM began its work to bring spiritual and practical hope to people affected by poverty. Back then in Victorian London we ran food depots, clothing stores, soup kitchens and even a job service for unemployed servants.… Continue reading Doing To or Being With? Re-thinking Christian social engagement
Category: Social action
Losing their religion: why Christian charities lose their ethos
It cannot be disputed that Churches are very good at establishing social action projects. In recent years this is illustrated by the high-profile rise of church-based Food Banks, Night Shelters, debt services and a whole range of street outreach. Organisations like The Trussell Trust, Street Pastors and Christians Against Poverty have seen their work grow at an incredible… Continue reading Losing their religion: why Christian charities lose their ethos
Love without structures: learning from the collapse of Kid’s Company
Photo by Afta Putta Gunawan on Pexels.com This week the BBC screened a fascinating documentary, Camila’s Kid’s Company: the Inside Story, on the demise of the famous children’s charity. What made the programme so compelling was its intimate portrayal of the Chief Executive, Camila Batmanghelidjh. We see her close-up, as she lived through the collapse of the… Continue reading Love without structures: learning from the collapse of Kid’s Company
Honour where it’s due: Neil Jameson & the difference between profile & real influence
I am not a big fan of the Honours system which awards Knighthoods, CBEs, OBEs and MBEs every year. Again this year there has been controversy over political bias in the awards as the director of the Conservative election campaign, Lynton Crosby, was given a knighthood. And as The Times reports, despite only 7% of the… Continue reading Honour where it’s due: Neil Jameson & the difference between profile & real influence
R&R’s Christmas Quiz: Activists who have changed the world
Time for an R&R Christmas quiz! Can you name these 12 activists who have put their Christian faith into action and helped to change the world: How many do you reckon you have got? For the answers and a little bit more about each of them see here. Many of these people are now relatively famous for their achievements.… Continue reading R&R’s Christmas Quiz: Activists who have changed the world
Faith without deeds: the dis-integration of student Christianity
When I started at Hull University in 1991, I joined three societies at the 'freshers fair'. Firstly, the Cricket Club, secondly, the Christian Union and thirdly, the Student Community Action organisation, which was called HUSSO. Community action HUSSO (Hull University Social Services Organisation) was, and remains, an incredible organisation. Back in those days, it organised over… Continue reading Faith without deeds: the dis-integration of student Christianity
Faith Full Service? Integrating Christian faith alongside high quality social care, 4th November, central London
Date: Wednesday 4th November 2015, 9.30am – 4.00pm Venue: Hinde Street Methodist Church, London, W1U 2QJ Cost: £15.00, including lunch For more details and to book a place please go to Eventbrite In an increasingly secular environment, tensions frequently emerge between a Christian ethos and the delivery of professional social care. This has… Continue reading Faith Full Service? Integrating Christian faith alongside high quality social care, 4th November, central London
Social action, or gospel-centred mission? A story of GrowTH – by Tony Uddin
Photo by Ricky Esquivel on Pexels.com Yesterday in a church in East London, a cross section of the community gathered to celebrate the 5th anniversary of GrowTH, the Tower Hamlets Churches night shelter for homeless people. The place was packed, literally standing room only. The crowd diverse. Christians, Muslims, those of other faiths and those… Continue reading Social action, or gospel-centred mission? A story of GrowTH – by Tony Uddin
For God’s Sake Make a Difference
It cannot be disputed that Churches are very good at establishing social action projects. Recent years have seen a huge growth in projects such as Foodbanks, Night Shelters and a wide range of other initiatives. The big challenge is how these projects maintain their Christian ethos and integrate this alongside their high quality practical service. I know… Continue reading For God’s Sake Make a Difference
Isolation and loneliness destroys lives…but we can do something about it – by Jeremy Sharpe
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com The film Castaway focuses on one man, Chuck Noland (played by Tom Hanks) who has been marooned alone on an uninhabited island. As well as his frantic efforts to find enough food, warmth and shelter to survive, the film also depicts his mental struggle with extreme isolation and loneliness. One of the… Continue reading Isolation and loneliness destroys lives…but we can do something about it – by Jeremy Sharpe
Grace + Truth 