Homelessness

Why I am sleeping outdoors to help homeless people – by Tom Kuhrt (aged 8)

I think that homelessness is cruel. Shouldn’t all people have houses and bedrooms? (and of course TVs) When I am in London I see quite a few homeless people.  I even saw some people living on the streets when I went to France. This is why I am doing a sleep-out to raise money for… Continue reading Why I am sleeping outdoors to help homeless people – by Tom Kuhrt (aged 8)

Homelessness

Honest to God – a Psalm written by homeless people

One of the most exciting areas of my work with the West London Mission has been the development of our Chaplaincy over the last year.  Our Chaplain, Ruth, does a great job across our services, offering spiritual support and care to our residents and users whose lives are so affected by homelessness, offending and addictions.… Continue reading Honest to God – a Psalm written by homeless people

Homelessness

Please support me and Tom sleeping out to help homeless people!

I will be sleeping out, along with my son Tom, on Friday 18th October to raise money for the great work of the West London Day Centre (WLDC).  The centre is one of the projects run by the West London Mission where I work. For over 40 years the WLDC has been at the cutting edge… Continue reading Please support me and Tom sleeping out to help homeless people!

Politics

How to get elected and hold onto your soul

Back in May I was elected to the County Council. In amongst all the congratulations from friends, people from church and colleagues I sensed a curious cognitive dissonance that went something like this: “You’re now a politician. All politicians are lying, power-grabbing such and suches in suits, but…well, we know you. You’re Jon with the… Continue reading How to get elected and hold onto your soul

Politics

Liberal Democrats Do God

It is incredibly easy to be cynical about politicians. They’re constantly slated by the press, and often with good reason. But I was struck by the impact this has a few years ago when I found myself at a wedding with a Christian MP and got talking with him and his wife about how the… Continue reading Liberal Democrats Do God

Social commentary

‘Madwomen in the Twittersphere’ A Christian Response to Caroline Criado-Perez? – by Hannah Martin

Caroline Criado-Perez has left twitter. For those who don’t know, Criado-Perez is a campaigner and writer who led the campaign to reinstate a woman on the English bank-note.  Following the success of this campaign she has been subject to hundreds of graphic rape and death threats from ‘trolls,’ mostly online via twitter and other social… Continue reading ‘Madwomen in the Twittersphere’ A Christian Response to Caroline Criado-Perez? – by Hannah Martin

Ethics & Christian living

Devon, Balcombe and Greenbelt: a fracking good summer – by Hannah Martin

I have just had a great summer. From a youth camp in Devon, to the anti-fracking protest camp at Balcombe and then onto the Greenbelt festival I participated in three very different communities.  It wasn’t a relaxing holiday, more the body-aching-wood-smoke-smelling-when-will-I-see-hot-water-again kind. But I think I was hoping to be uncomfortable.  I wanted to be… Continue reading Devon, Balcombe and Greenbelt: a fracking good summer – by Hannah Martin

Politics

Backing off Syria strikes doesn’t mean sitting idly by

Listen to the military hawks this week and you would think that by voting against military intervention the UK was sitting on its hands and doing nothing about an horrific civil war killing thousands and creating millions of refugees. Worse still it’s suggested that our international standing is ruined because we’re ‘doing nothing’ – as… Continue reading Backing off Syria strikes doesn’t mean sitting idly by

Recommended books & reviews

The five best books on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement

I have been taken aback by the response to my last post on the Secularisation of Martin Luther King.  A few people who have got in touch admitted that they did not even know MLK was a Christian, let alone a church minister. Over the years I have gained a lot from reading about the… Continue reading The five best books on Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement

Politics, Theology

The secularisation of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King remains a hero to a wide range of people. But alongside the appreciation of his life and work, there is a consistent tendency of commentators to downplay or eliminate the Christian faith that King's civil right's activism was rooted in. A Baptist Minister Many people don't even know that King was, and always remained, a Baptist… Continue reading The secularisation of Martin Luther King