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L1FELINE our weekly bulletin

Our Mission newsletter

MEETING POINT PROGRAMME
2010 - 2011

Please pray for all our mission partners - Be@titude, Kampala Childrens Centre, Happy Child, Sandra Benko, Soteria Trust, IJM and the Salvation Army.

From time to time specific prayer requests will appear on this page.

From the St Mary's/L1FE Mission Support Committee:

For many, the local Guildford Salvation Army connection that has been established between St Mary’s/L1FE will require no introduction as this is an established, thriving project pioneered by congregation members Mercedes and Justin Underwood who have been coordinating the local food giving, collections and deliveries. Half of our Harvest Festival offering went to the Salvation Army and of course individuals and L1FE groups continue to give foodstuffs regularly. This new church mission partner relationship is very much mission in action as the connection is entirely practical and relational. As a church, we are keen to encourage everyone to get involved in mission and outreach in practical ways, and not just think that mission means putting your hand in your pocket, or the church donating money. Donating foodstuffs, or time and skills, can make a huge difference to this local Guildford based outreach programme for the homeless. Below are some questions and answers to give more information.

1.    One thing that various people have asked me over these past few months is whether all who attend the Food Crisis Centre are literally homeless people.  Michael, Commanding Officer at the Salvation Army,  said:

We have a mix of people coming to us.  Some are completely homeless and are sleeping rough: in a tent, car park, in a garage, in the woods, etc.  They do not always tell us where they are as they like to keep this quiet.  Some are "sofa surfing" - sleeping on the sofa at the house of a friend in the short-term.  Some are in the Number 5 night shelter, where they can stay for around 7 weeks.  Others have moved on to hostels where they can get onto programmes for addictions.  Some are living in hostels such as the YMCA or Cyrenians for the longer-term until they can move on to some form of council-provided accommodation.  Some are in council accommodation but they struggle to budget and make ends meet, or they have a difficult domestic situation.  Some are young and have recently been thrown out of home and need some assistance.  In some cases they will have kitchen facilities.  In some cases they receive food in the hostel.  We provide food with ring pulls to those who do not have kitchen facilities and, therefore, no tin opener.  At least that way they can open up a tin of beans and eat it wherever they are.  We have a set list of food that we give to people but we try and exercise discretion and flexibility when helping people.

2.    Is any of the food we provide used only to make up the food parcels or is any of it cooked/served during the Food Crisis Center?  Does the Center remain closed outside of Wednesdays and Fridays, and does the Salvation Army always serve hot food to those who attend?   Michael said: Currently we use the food you provide to make up food parcels.  Food that is served at the drop-in is generally bought out of funds or donated by volunteers.  It is generally in the form of snacks and sandwiches, cakes, soup, teas and coffees, rather than hot meals.  In the winter months we err on the side of hotter food.  We may look at the possibility of serving a meal periodically, once we have managed to appoint a community worker and we have returned to our refurbished building.  It would be a positive step forward.  We are currently open on Wednesdays and Fridays.  I would not necessarily want to open 5 days a week (albeit we might go to 3), but we will look at expanding our offering in other ways - E.G.: discussion groups, Alpha, work with other agencies - as resource and time allow.  When the drop-in is closed, people can still phone up to arrange to collect a food parcel.   With regards to this second answer, the Salvation Army premises will undergo substantial refurbishment which is due to commence probably some time in February, during which time the Salvation Army will partner with the Methodist Church 100m down the road from then and hold the Food Crisis Center at their premises.  They are expecting to have all work finished at Woodbridge Road (SA's premises) by June.  They are also in the process of appointing a new Community Worker who will focus entirely on their community projects.  Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any further queries.  In the meantime, may I ask you to pray for the following points which Michael forwarded to us for the Mission Partners Celebration which took place on 22nd November at the Wheelhouse.   Prayer points are as follows: Pray that our guests will learn to trust us and open up to us, that we will look at them through eyes of compassion, and that in time more of them will come to know Jesus. Pray that the drop-in will be a safe haven - free from drugs, alcohol and aggression - for those whose lives are so often in turmoil. We are likely to be vacating our building in early 2010 for a major refurbishment.  Please pray that the drop-in and food crisis centre will continue in suitable alternative accommodation. Pray that we will have a God-given vision regarding the next steps in our community programme when we return to our building in mid-2010. Pray that God will provide the new volunteers with the right skills and passions, at the right time. Pray that God will help us to bridge the gap between the drop-in and our Sunday congregation so that our guests will feel the warmth of our welcome when they join us for Sunday worship

 

Contact Us via the Church Office: Tel 01483 281898 or email office@l1fe.org

Copyright © 2010, St Marys Horsley. All rights reserved. Updated: 13th July 2010 (N)