'I feel like I’m living again’ - stories from The Link Visiting Scheme

 Thanks to Jeremy Sharpe for sending this inspiring article about churches and other agencies working together to bring something into life that's so badly needed...

The Link Visiting Scheme is a befriending service based in Wokingham Borough which aims to combat social isolation among older people.

The scheme - initiated in 1998 by Woodley Baptist Church in Berkshire – arranges for a volunteer to visit an older person once a week for between one and two hours. This contact often provides a lifeline to older people who may not otherwise have any contact with the outside world. After operating in the town of Woodley for 9 years, the church recognised the need for such a scheme across a wider area, and in 2007 church leaders from across Wokingham Borough explored ways in which they could work together to address issues of isolation. This resulted in 19 churches of various denominations creating a network for this purpose. The Local Authority then agreed to provide funding to enable staff to be employed to run the project.

The primary focus of the original scheme remains on home visiting but other projects have since been started according to the needs and interests of older people. These include weekly ‘Understanding Computers’ courses which enable older people to learn how to use email and the internet. (This leads to their being able to communicate regularly with relatives, or investigate other local activities available to them); Regular ‘Pie and Pint Clubs’ aimed particularly at older men who may have been bereaved or are isolated for other reasons; other projects such as Singing Groups, Bowls Clubs and various outings and special events. In all, over 230 older people are now regularly reached of which 150 receive visits and a further 80 engage in other projects and activities. A team of over 130 volunteers enable this to operate.

What are the benefits?

There is growing evidence of the detrimental effect that isolation and loneliness can have on the health, well-being and life expectancy of people of all ages. The model of The Link Visiting Scheme provides a crucial social point of contact which, in itself, helps to build self-confidence and self-esteem and often leads to improved mental health and independence. Consequently, older people can gain improvements in their mobility and explore options to visit local clubs, church activities and events leading to the establishment of a wider circle of friends. The ‘Understanding Computers’ and ‘Pie and Pint Clubs’ provide opportunities for Link friends to engage in innovative and beneficial activities enabling the development of new skills.

Volunteer visitors also gain from the experience of sharing in the life of an older person from a different generation leading to a greater understanding of life in earlier times. Volunteers often report a sense of achievement and mutual benefit by having contact with a member of the community who appreciates them.

Setting up new projects

Since 2012, the charity has been responding to a sense that the model could be used in partnership with churches in other areas across the country. This vision is now becoming a reality with the support of The Cinnamon Network which has been providing guidance and funding towards enabling the model to be replicated. The advantage of the model is that it works well in both rural and urban settings and can be set up with minimal resources. The primary need is for a team of Christians with a heart for older people and an enthusiasm to work with various churches and other agencies. A period of around 6 months is required to plan and prepare for the launch of a local project. This process is supported and guided by those with experience within The Link Visiting Scheme who make available all of the operational documents, policies, training materials and other guidance.

Stories

Carol - When we first met Carol she was quiet and withdrawn. She felt nervous at the thought of being with people she didn’t know and didn’t have the confidence to go outside on her own. She had a few health worries and her son lived a distance away. She was spending many days alone and speaking to no one. Like many of the older people we meet she was in desperate need of seeing a friendly face - someone willing to spend some quality time with her and show a real interest.

After meeting her we introduced her to a volunteer who shared her love of gardening and wildlife. Some weeks they would take a trip to a local garden centre and pot plants together. The simple act of visiting began to transform her life and it didn’t take long to see the results. Her volunteer encouraged her to join a local club doing gentle exercise. We arranged for the library to visit regularly and deliver books for her to read. We enrolled her in a club that took her out once a month on an outing and she came to our monthly pub lunch. Her mobility improved too and she began to take short walks in her neighbourhood and joined her local church!

Harry - ‘The first twenty years of my marriage were wonderful but then my wife became very depressed’. This was the story we heard when we first met Harry. Supporting his wife for many years had left Harry feeling down too. Cut off from friends and neighbours, he lacked motivation to do simple jobs around the house. When we met him he felt overwhelmed with feelings of isolation and was tired and anxious. He had regular visits from his local psychiatric nurse and was on medication for his mood. His wife was living in a nursing home and he felt exhausted with visiting her every night.  He was nervous about meeting a volunteer. Now, three years on, he no longer sees his nurse and is no longer prescribed his medication.  He really looks forward to Saturday mornings when he goes out for coffee with his volunteer. We enrolled him in a local transport scheme and lifts were arranged for him to visit his wife. Having someone to listen to him was the turning point for Harry. He knew that each week he would have that quality time with someone who seemed to genuinely care and who chose to be there rather than being paid to be there. Small worries and concerns were easily dealt with and no longer built up to overwhelming issues. His motivation returned and so did his spark.

Sheila (Volunteer) – Sheila started visiting in 2009 and immediately realised that this was what she wanted to do. She had always cared about older people and was concerned about their need to get out more. She quickly realised that the regular visits made a significant impact in the life of her ‘Link friend’ and this in turn enabled her to gain a sense of satisfaction. Sheila explains ‘my role as a volunteer visitor has taught me a lot about what older people have to offer. Once we get through the ‘small talk’ it is wonderful to be able to hear all about the wide experiences of my Link friend. I do not find the visits at all boring – it is a blessing to spend time with her.’ Sheila was moved to have been told by one of the friends she visits ‘you have become the daughter that I never had’.

Quotes

‘Even when I first met my volunteer I felt so much better. I felt someone cares for me for a change!’

‘Everybody says how much better I am, I’m enjoying myself’

‘I no longer feel trapped inside my house. I feel like I’m living again’

‘When my wife died after 63 years of marriage I felt completely lost. Meeting Sue helped me find my feet again. It gave me something to look forward to each week and she taught me how to cook a few simple meals too!’

‘She says she doesn’t mind talking about the old days or looking at my photos. I didn’t think younger people would be interested and it’s wonderful to make a new friend even at my age!’

‘It’s a life-line. Thank you’

For further details about how to set up a befriending scheme in your area, please go to www.linkvisiting.org

A prayer request from Bourton Baptist Church

This note is a prayer request, asking all those with a heart for proclaiming the Good News of the gospel to the children and families in Bourton on the Water and surrounding villages. Please can you pray for this event – using this note as a guide – either for your own quiet times of prayer, or as part of a housegroup, or in church services.

Bourton Baptist Church are organising a Christian Children’s event on Sunday 14th July at 4pm, aimed at children and families – but enjoyable for all who are young at heart and want to come along.

Jim Bailey is an ordained minister who works full time in Childrens ministry – he has confirmed he will provide his ‘Jim Bailey Family Show’ for us. It is 1.5 hours long, great fun, using song, comedy, and puppets. (www.jimbailey.org)

This event is to create the opportunity for our God to speak to the children and families in this area. With prayer, the event will be transformed – with prayer we can bring God and his Holy Spirit into every aspect of this event. Your prayers are so important: with prayer, God will move in power: with prayer, the Holy Spirit will encourage and bring people to this event, and they will hear the Good News. This was Jesus’ commission to us.. please pray!

Please pray for –

• Jim Bailey and his family as they prepare for and then run the show (both for us, and anywhere else), that the Holy Spirit will move in power through the show and Jim’s ministry
• People who hear or see information about the event on July 14th will be encouraged to come
• All the different practical aspects for organising – the venue facilities are all working, the posters and information gets to the right place, the tickets for the event are available for those who want them
• Pray for those who are speaking to others (people or organisations) inviting them to come
• To cover costs, we are asking for churches/Christians to purchase tickets – pray that the church families will respond by purchasing family tickets at £10 (or make a donation)
• Pray that the families (or any Christians) in our churches will come as witnesses to non-Christians at the event - and show that being a Christian is not boring and we can have fun!
• Pray for the children and families at the schools and organisations who receive info and an invitation to receive tickets (at no cost) for the event – that they and their families will respond and come 
• Local primary schools in Bourton, Great Rissington, Cold Aston, Stow, Northleach, Sherbourne, Swell, Bledington, Longborough, Moreton
  Pre-school clubs – Bourton nursery/OSC, Noahs Arc, Bumblebeez, others..
  J-Team (Bourton Baptist Church primary school age club on Fridays)
  Junior Sports clubs for children – cricket club, tennis, riding, football
  Beavers, cubs and scouts, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides groups
  Pray for all those who come to the event will be aware of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit. As part of the show, there will be a children friendly low key gospel appeal. Pray that people will hear and respond.
  There will be people ready to talk and pray with children (or anyone) who responds to the Gospel at the end of the show – pray they will be filled with Gods Spirit in those discussions and prayers.
  Pray for the local Christian events in the immediate week(s) after the show, that people who come on 14th July will be brought into Christian fellowship and a deeper faith in God
  Curve Active Café and Messy Church on 21st July 4pm at Upper Rissington
  Sunday morning services at the local churches – pray for the leaders of the childrens work, and the church congregations, that any new families are welcomed into the church family and encouraged in their faith
  

A simple concept that has reshaped how we do evangelism

photo courtesy of www.freefoto.com

WEBA is launching Table Talk: An Evangelistic Experiment in June 2013. Every church is being encouraged to try 'Table Talk' (which you could describe as a pre-Alpha course, but actually works more like a game) somewhere in their community - perhaps a cafe or pub - with friends and neighbours. Each church taking part will receive a free boxed set of Table Talk, normally worth £25. I wanted to hear from someone who'd used the game successfully - and got this story from Ruth Rice, a Baptist Minister on the Fresh Streams Steering Group:

We began running a Table Talk group at a local cafe in the suburb of Nottingham where our church meets. The area is fairly affluent and there is a strong cafe culture. We began as a response to people wanting to ask different questions in a different time scale to the ones offered in other, more structured courses.

We invited a few friends who were interested in discussing big issues of life or who just wanted a drink with friends and to get to know some new people. 

"Our regular atheist would now call himself an agnostic"

Although we advertised with handouts, posters and invites all the folk who came were in relationship with someone who brought them. Marketing is largely, in our experience, unnecessary, relationships are essential.

We book the same table each week and everyone arrives from about 7.30 onwards...... grabbing a drink from the bar and joining in the discussion which anyone can start by picking up a card from the attractively presented Table Talk selection, which we vary each week. It's great and really natural, so unlike other courses that have felt forced and a bit preachy at times. 

With table talk if you don't like a question you move on and if the discussion is going well you stick with one card sometimes.

We have a regular table talk group now on Tuesday nights of between 6 and 12 people , many in the 20s and 30s ...a mixture of atheists, agnostics, Christians, and others on a journey from belonging to believing.

Our regular atheist would now call himself an agnostic, has begun reading his Bible from cover to cover and is writing his own questions. Three people have realised they have changed sides somewhere in the process of discussions, like crossing a mountain border on a long hike yet not being quite sure where the border was. 

For those of us who are christians the questions, some basic like, “what makes an attractive life”, some much more searching like “how do you experience God” are helping us to think and search more deeply for truth and be able to listen as well as talk about what we believe. 

"the cards seem more like a game than a religious activity"

We love table talk as a simple concept...and can see many possibilities for the easy to use, well produced little cards in homes, pubs and youth venues.

We have recently used them as a warm up in our pub church Sundays ..as folk arrive they are on the tables and keep the discussion focussed on the big story. Small groups have used them at meals when they have invited friends and there has been great feedback as the cards seem more like a game than a religious activity and yet they generate better honesty and searching than many a BIble study or evangelistic programme.

Table Talk has reshaped how we do evangelism as a church.

Ruth Rice

Rise and Shine

This article comes from the newsletter of One Hope Ministries. Var and Emma Smallwood are receiving support from Home Mission as they pioneer a deliberately 'multi-cultural' church in East Bristol, in partnership with the Church of God of Prophecy.

Var and Emma with Pastor Ray Viera of GOCOP at the WEBA Ministers' Conference

Our new church is now called ‘Rise and Shine’, inspired by Isaiah 60:1.

We meet to pray and study John’s Gospel most weeks and on 7th September 2013 there will be a
launch event when we will begin formally worshiping together as a community.
Building a church that seeks to be ‘multi-cultural’ is... complicated. The difficulty is that white privilege - the core issue at play - is rarely, if ever,
addressed. How do you react when you hear us say that? White privilege? What? In the UK, in the
21st century?

Er... well, yes. If you are white, you probably want us to soften the term, or point the finger at individuals who would be classed as overtly ‘racist’, or you probably feel less inclined to read this newsletter because the authors are on a ‘soapbox’.

If you are Black, you might agree, in part, but would rather it wasn’t mentioned because it make
things awkward and embarrassing especially when you’re trying to get on in a white world. However, the key issues in forming multi-cultural church are not, as often stated, about sharing cultural styles in worship, or having people of colour included on leadership teams (that very word ‘included’, reveals a lot about which group is doing the including i.e. has the power). The issues revolve around questions of ‘who’s in charge?‘ and ‘which culture is dominant?’. So, here we are, two white people commissioned by a Black church to pioneer a multicultural church - and no-one likes
talking about the core issue - like we said....it’s complicated!

Life may be complicated but following Jesus is always a great adventure!
Anyway, our team is made up of ten people (including children) from House of Praise church in Easton, Bristol. 7 of the team have a Caribbean-British heritage and 4 have a White-British heritage. Our strategy is to make friends with people, pray for their needs and invite them to our meetings. Having children on our team really helps us to make our meetings open to everyone. Despite the issues, we have a lot of fun!

If you'd like to keep in touch with how Var and Emma are getting on, contact them to receive the One Hope Ministries' newsletter, which also includes Var's film-making exploits and Emma's reports on the Gospel Generation Community Choir:
Var: var@one-hope.co.uk
Em: emma@one-hope.co.uk

The Alter-Ego of a 17 year old Worship Musician

SPECIAL NOTICE: To find about about supporting MND Global Awareness Day by buying Sam Evan's EP O Zi Placuta click here for all the information on the Welton Baptist Church site


I am Pastor of Welton Baptist Church, Midsomer Norton (www.weltonchurch.org.uk) and want to introduce you to one of our worship musicians, Sam Evans. Sam is a 6th form student who plays keyboard and sings as part of one the worship bands at our fairly large church, based close to Bath.

 Sam plays in an “improvised” style as he has benefited from a number of years informal
tuition from a superb jazz musician. This has developed a “feeling” in the way in which he plays and enables him to understand the sensitivities of the different styles and spiritual content of the worship music we enjoy at our church Sunday by Sunday, and as such has become an important part of our worship team. As well as this Sam also records keyboard worship pieces for our local
community radio station, Somer Valley FM, as part of their weekly religious program output “Faithtime”.

BUT...there is another, some might say darker, side to Sam! Not only does Sam engage in the rather dangerous activity/sport of Parkour (Freerunning) but he is also becoming a critically acclaimed musician and performer in his own right on the small venue circuit having played more than 50 gigs during 2012 in places from St. Austell to Sheffield, Bath to Birmingham as well as playing a
number of times in Romania including premier music venue The Mojo Club in Bucharest. Sam'’s recent gigs have taken him to Mama Stones, Exeter; Nambucca, Islington; The Fleece, Bristol and The Troubadour, Earls Court.

This video  features both Sam's music and some of his Parkour stunts: just don't try these around your church building!

And here's Sam performing on Bristol's Harbourside:

In November 2012 he recorded a single “Tomorrow isn’t Promised” together with his band to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital (see www.vibedeck.com/samevans for the full story behind this).

(As an aside, one of the other lads in the band (Andy Slade - who plays Sax and Cajon) is also involved in the church worship band at the Methodist church in Midsomer Norton!)

I thought your readers might like to hear about an active young person, engaged in church life and worship but who is “doing his thing” as he sets out to try and develop a career as a musician in the commercial sphere. Sam’s story (so far) might be seen as an “antidote” to those who see people involved in church activities as rather 2-dimensional (dare I say “boring”) personalities. Not only that but hopefully it will be an encouragement to your listeners that within the church today there are large numbers of young people who are actively engaged and using their incredible talents both in the church and outside of it!


Pastor Mike Howell, Welton Baptist Church

We're a church now!

 

This article appears in the Spring 2013 edition of WEBA News, which will be sent to WEBA church secretaries during the week beginning Monday 4th March.

Being part of a church is something most of the readers of this newsletter will take for granted.

It’s different for members of ‘The Stowe’ who have recently been constituted as a church and accepted into membership of the Baptist Union and of WEBA.

“It’s great that we’re a church now; not just a club” said one member. Another commented: “It’s amazing that our little dysfunctional group has been recognised as a church”. The group are so excited about this that more than 20 of them, including children, will be travelling to Blackpool for the Baptist Assembly this May, when The Stowe will be formally recognised as a new church.

It’s four years since Rev. Alison Boulton was first interviewed for WEBA news about her plans to move into the Wichelstowe development in Swindon. A year before that, someone at a prayer meeting had suggested that they pray for the planned housing development, and Alison had “one of those moments…I felt God was saying that we should be involved.”
 

Alison’s plan was to let mission develop organically through various activities. The group which began to meet at her house soon decided they wanted a Sunday morning gathering. By 2012 Alison’s living room was too small and the group, now called ‘The Stowe’ began to meet in a local primary school.

From the beginning, The Stowe’s emphasis has been to unconditionally bless the community. “The line between church and community remains rather blurred” says Suzanna Miles, Church Secretary. “A number of the congregation serve as trustees of the East Wichel Community Association or serve on the governing body of the Primary School; others are involved in coffee morning, art groups, Brownies, Wichelstowe Youth Theatre, baby & toddler groups, regular litter picks, and the community garden.”

She also lists special events that have been designed to bless the community: “a Pancake Party, a Jubilee Party, the Wichelstowe Olympics and Christmas celebrations to which everyone in East Wichel was invited.  An especially exciting trip took place on an extremely hot day in July; over 120 people in two coaches headed to Crealy, Devon for the day.  All of these activities and events are undertaken as a way of expressing God’s love for the community and serving those who live here.”

Becoming a church is, of course, only the beginning of a journey. “We are prayerfully considering what options are available to us in terms of opening the Bible and deepening people’s experience and knowledge of it” Suzanna explains, “as well as meeting the needs of those still on the edge of engaging with faith.  We also want to find ways of connecting spiritually with the growing number of children in a meaningful way.” 

These are challenges faced by every one of our churches, whether one year old or four hundred.

Why don't White people go to Black-led churches?

Rev. Var Smallwood explains some of the story behind a conference he is organising in partnership with WEBA, Bristol Baptist College, and the Church of God of Prophecy.

Var and his wife Emma with Pastor Raymond Viera of the Church of God of Prophecy

Until last year, I was the pastor of a multi-cultural church in Bristol. We were proud of being mixed because we felt that being ‘Beautifully Different’ is a powerful witness to the gospel. Every photo I took to publicise the church was carefully managed to have both Black and White people and our diaconate was studiously mixed. And yet, and yet... something was not quite working.

Then I went on a Sabbatical. With my family, I toured community churches in the States. As we travelled, the issue of ‘race’ came to the fore again and again. Everything went smoothly until we spent an afternoon with an African-American lady called Anne Stewart. She belonged to a very progressive church in Chicago who shared all their income (Acts 4:32) and were thoroughly committed to being multi-cultural. But in passing she said, ‘You’ve no idea how White you’ve got to be to belong here’.

CRASH. BANG. WALLOP.

Suddenly, that one throw-away line opened our eyes to the hidden issues lurking beneath the surface of ‘multi-cultural’ church. Who’s in charge? Which culture dominates? These are the real questions that need to be faced. It has led us to more questions. For example:

Why don't White people go to Black-led churches?

Why do some Black people go to White-led churches?

What is Black theology?

Is there such a thing as White theology?

How is our common mission affected by these questions?

It has now led us to be working for a Black-led church and to be planting a new multi-cultural church in partnership with WEBA.

It has led us to hosting a conference called ‘Re-Visiting Mission’ on Saturday 9th March (2 Tudor Road, Bristol, BS5 6BW). This event is in partnership with WEBA, BUGB, Bristol Baptist College and the Church of God of Prophecy and it will be seeking to address some of these important and current questions. The speakers are of the highest quality and there will also be optional drama and music workshops to help us reflect on the theme. Please come and help build lasting partnerships across social and ethnic boundaries.

Speakers at the conference will include Dr. Anthony Reddie, Rev Dr. Rosalyn Murphy, and Rev. Israel Olofinjana, and the conference moderators will be Rev. Dr. Stephen Finamore (Principal of Bristol Baptist College) and Pastor Raymond Viera (Regional Overseer, COGOP South West England).

The day costs £15 including lunch and refreshments. To book your place please email thebookingplace@gmail.com or call 0117 939 1866. 

Download a flyer with more information on the WEBA website.