Update from Locking Parklands

I've been hearing that many people have enjoyed the WEBA video Weston-super-Mare, a Moving Story as it's done the rounds of the Jesus be the Centre events this autumn. My suspicion is that many of us can relate to this particular story, about two couples who take the step of buying not-yet-built houses on the new development at Locking Parklands so that they can build Christ-centred community there. Perhaps some of us hope God might use us in a similar way one day.

I was recently asked for a short piece to go on a leaflet promoting Home Mission, which all our churches will be receiving soon, and so I got in touch with Liz Cundy, one of the  Locking Parklands four, and asked her for an update. As they've only been there a year, and incarnational mission is a long term business, I didn't expect as much news as I got! I could only write a few words for the leaflet, so here's Liz's full reply for us all to share:

We are still visiting all new people who move in and taking them a welcome bag and card which gives us the opportunity to meet each new family.
Mums and Tots with about 8 families on our books happens at our house weekly on Mondays with both Mums and Dads as does a Community Coffee Morning on Thursdays when we have approximately 6 - 10 people coming along. 

We also head up the Residents Community Group which organises Events  - our BBQ in the summer attracted 200 people!
Other events have included an Easter event ,a  Teddy Bears Picnic, and more recently a Harvest morning using Chris Duffetts ' Fruit of the Spirit'  ideas alongside Tea Coffee and Doughnuts.  As we have no community building we have to do all of these outside but God has been gracious and faithful so that we haven't been rained off yet.  We see our church as being the worshipping part of this same community group and not something separate.

The four of us meet regularly every week over a meal and then spend the evening catching up, praying and listening to God.

Hospitality has been one of the most important ways of meeting with people and we usually spend at least one evening a week just having different folk round for meals and gradually building up relationships with them.  We have discovered there are a lot of 'Prodigals' on our patch so believe that they play quite a big part in what God is doing here.  Please pray that God will inspire us and give us wisdom for the next step forward.

As this is about Home Mission Funding for our training at the Crucible Course we just want to say how valuable the course has been to us, not just in it's teaching but by the encouragement we receive from other like-minded people each time we go.

Please pray for Liz, Malcolm, Debbie, and Andrew as they take all of this forward!
Ruth Whiter

Building Community at Hillfields Park

Last week our new Association Manager Rob English attended a public meeting at Hillfields Park Baptist Church in Bristol. He came back full of excitement about what this small, strategically placed congregation is doing - and hoping to achieve - in this area that has suffered from drastic cuts in council services. So we asked their Development Officer, Sam Carrier, to tell us a little bit more:


Hillfields Park Baptist Church recently hosted a public meeting to talk about its important plans to build a new community centre on its site near Fishponds, Bristol and to consult with local residents.

A number of people spoke - sharing stories about the deprivation of the local community and the great need for a larger facility for all ages in an area where there are no community facilities at all.

 The church is already providing a lot of social services but has run out of space to meet demand. The church is a registered charity, and its patron is Richard Pendlebury, chief executive of the homeless charity Emmaus in Bristol and also a deputy Lord Lieutenant for the City.

Richard Pendlebury with Development Officer Sam Carrier

 He clearly feels very strongly about the poverty, petty crime, poor social cohesion and poor health in the Church's neighbourhood and encouraged the meeting to continue to step out in faith.

Hillfields Park Baptist Church's vision is to have the centre built and operational by 2015 - no mean feat for a small, low income congregation. But it has already raised over £80,000 and is clearly determined to achieve this project. For further information contact sam.carrier@virginmedia.com or 07976 967 290.

Making way for the new at Victoria Park

Rev. Brendan Bassett of Victoria Park Baptist Church in Bristol has sent some photos of the demolition of their church hall, which will be replaced by a new hall plus accommodation developed in partnership with Elim housing. These are the first physical signs of a long term project, Operation Nehemiah, which was under discussion for the whole of Geoff Starling's time working as WEBA's Trust manager. We thank God for the patient endurance of all concerned, and pray that God will bless this work for his mission in this part of South Bristol.

Brendan writes: One of the very interesting aspects of the architecture of the original hall is it reflected the architectural times. It mirrored what was known in the 1950's through to mid 1970's as the 'Brutalist Style' (or Brutalism) of building design which often featured high and sharp angles, which supposedly reflected what going on at the time of post war and cold war anxieties. Critic's of the movement often described brutalism as cold and unappealing.

This picture shows the demolition of the old vestry and hallway. Brendan writes: Although I am now the second longest serving minister I was almost the shortest! In Nov 2001 during my first ' VPBC winter' I put on the gas fire in the vestry and after while felt myself becoming very drowsy and nodding off. By God's grace I turned the fire off. It transpired that whoever had 'repaired the roof' the previous year had covered over the gas exhaust flu, although I laughed it off at the time it should have been reported to the HSE.

 This photo shows the now uncovered underground boiler room (still flooded!)
 Anyone whose has been at VPBC for a few years probably has their own stories about feeling cold or the heating breaking down. My worst memory was Christmas Day in 2011, it was a brutal winter and the outside temperature at 10am was -6C. When I got to church to open up for worship the heating had failed. I descended into the basement to discover the entire system was covered in ice, like scene from the North Pole. The temperature inside the church was -2C. I remember we had to wrap up a few elderly people with blankets and I cut things down to about 20mins!
I’m told that the basement has always flooded ever since it was built and a pump had to be permanently left on. I suppose if we were keeping the basement and as it loves water it could have become a congregational Jacuzzi (good for home groups and meetings), or perhaps a ministers private hot tub…

This picture shows the St Johns Lane trees now down. They were not very old but totally inappropriate to the proximity of the building. We will have some garden in the new development and we can perhaps plant some things that will be more appropriate, maybe some shrubs or box hedges.

Funtastic

Revd. Dai Davies at Westbury Leigh & Stormore Baptist Church sent us these lovely photos of the fun day the church provided for its community earlier this month:

We could not have asked for more. The weather was fine, the activities fun, refreshments thirst quenching, nourishing, and free, as were both events. What am I talking about  the two Community Fun Days arranged by the White Horse Team Ministry and Westbury Leigh & Stormore Baptist Church, held on Oldfield Park and at the Dilton Marsh Recreational Ground in August.

Well in excess of 100 people turned out at each event which was part sponsored by Selwood Housing, who along with the White Horse Children’s Centre were also in attendance.

So why a Fun Day? Rev Dai Davies said there were two main reasons: Firstly to give folk in these communities a free Fun Day in these hard economic times, and secondly by taking aspects of church life to where the community is, to demonstrate that although we may as Christian people we may have an additional dimension  to life, we are still normal – whatever that means – and like to have fun.

Crossing the Threshold

A visitor to a Baptism at Rodbourne Cheney Baptist Church asked if she could come to the church again.  During the conversation that followed, she pointed out that it wasn't at all obvious that there was an open invitation to come in. Helpfully, she then compiled the following list of suggestions that might help a church send a message of welcome to its community.

Some of them are obvious, but are they so obvious that they can get overlooked? Thanks to Paul Rhodes for sending this in.

Crossing the threshold of the building takes courage so we need to remove the ‘fear element’ and ensure that people know that they would be very welcome.

 NOTICEBOARD

It would be helpful to have a noticeboard outside the building which allows fresh notices to be placed on it. There needs to be a very clear statement that: ‘NO INVITATION NEEDED - COME IN’ and the church is the people not the building.

     -    ‘Who’s who’ on a board outside or in the doorway;

     -    Photos on the board of people having fun, including light-hearted ones (e.g. Pastor in ‘David’  costume – ‘David’ is a character who tells the narrative at the midweek Kids Club);

     -    List of activities and who they are for.

  OPEN DAY

The church could hold an open day when we have:

     -    Music                         -    Crafts                              -    Stalls

     -    Face painting               -    Bring-and-Buy                  -    Meet and Greet

     -    T-Shirts for kids with balloons being given out to passing children and their parents.

 MARKETING CAMPAIGN - SPREAD THE WORD

     -    Ensure Facebook page and Website are completely up-to date with a contemporary blog;

     -    Youtube videos;

     -    Leaflet drop to the local area making it clear that they are welcome to join us (possibly including ‘What is a Baptist Church’ from the talk on 18/8);

     -    Door-to-door survey asking people how they would feel about crossing the threshold.

 WELCOMING TEAM

They would ensure that everyone had a good first welcome and would hopefully introduce them to someone friendly and appropriate.

All of the above is about helping people to cross our threshold but ultimately we need to cross it and mix with the community.

Showing it with flowers since 1946

Andrew Stammers sent us this lovely photo of Les and Stella Yarde, and their story, which he's also sending to The Baptist Times:

'Humble service, commitment and dedication' are all characteristics that as pastors we try to personally strive for and lead our congregations to be inspired to emulate.

Pastoral care is a critical part of any fellowship and as such I was delighted to discover, when I took up pastorship at Radstock Baptist Church in 2009, that each week the church flowers were taken to a missing congregation member or member of the community to show Gods love. More remarkable I discovered that the weekly arranging of the flowers and the subsequent pastoral delivery had been undertaken by the same  faith couple (Les and Stella Yarde) since 1946!

In these days of dwindling levels commitment such an act of service is of great encouragement and inspiration to us all.  

Sadly now due to health reasons Les and Stella Yarde have had to pass on this duty. As a church we want to recognise their past service and on going love for the fellowship.

Rev. Andrew Stammers

For and on behalf of
Radstock Baptist Church

'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