‘ Jesus said: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”’ John 13 v 34-35

‘ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ 1 Cor. 13 v 13

Helping the Church become relevant in our communities again

We all have a rôle to play in helping the church become more relevant in our communities. It is so sad that so many people today reject God because they cannot relate to His people. They believe that the church, rather than Jesus is the way to God. In this postmodern age, with so many other attractions on offer the church is in crisis. The church is considered part of the modern and outdated age and as a result is no longer trusted by many. The church must be a community which loves and accepts, which offers stability and hope. The Gospel. Many people have so many conflicting views about church. Whilst listening to a well known TV personality being interviewed the other day. She was asked about her views on Christianity. Initially she was very negative. Talking about the religious side, the pharisaic. Then she said she felt the relational or community aspect was something special. This is the side we should be seeking to concentrate on and is I believe closest to God’s heart. It would seem that Jesus had a dim view of church during His time on earth as was portrayed in the story of the Good Samaritan. The guy everyone hated was the one who took care of the victim, while the two established church men crossed over the road. It would seem we have not changed that much in two thousand years! Think of Jesus as a role model, and the many relationships He built up without judging or condemning anyone. Simply by loving them. Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, Peter, the list goes on. Surely our approach should be the same as Jesus - not the Pharisees! They got so hooked up on the legal side. This is wrong, that is wrong and so on. Surely we need to be humble like Jesus as we seek to build relationships, reflecting His image to those around us (Philippians 2). And the key to all this of course is – relationships. Our relationship with each other in the church (see above), and our relationship with those outside the church. Most important of course is our relationship with God.

I have just returned form a week long course, talking about rebuilding communities, putting something that people really need and want into our communities - the love of Jesus. Please do let me know if the above really is a desire of yours and I can put you in touch with them.

Once again we are talking about a massive achievement and a story of good news inside. Maybe not as the world might see it. We have a story of a family we have supported for sometime. Walking with them through drug use, financial difficulties, getting evicted from their home, loosing their children, homelessness and now into a new life both in separate rehabilitation centres and now wanting to give something back – please pray for them after you have read their stories.

It is with some regret that we must announce the resignation of one of our trustees and indeed our founders: Wendy McConnell. Wendy has faithfully served God through this ministry for many years, latterly as one of the trustees. Her departure leaves a big hole and brings an era to an end. Please do pray and give thanks for all the family and their dedication to this work and also for the remaining trustees as they look to the future of our ministry. A note from our Chairman, Steve and from Wendy herself is inside.

The format of the newsletter is changing slightly and we will now produce this format twice/year in the spring and the autumn with other different editions replacing it. Watch this space for further news! We are also in the process of updating our mailing list and if you know of anyone else who would like to receive a copy of the newsletter, or if you would prefer to be removed from the mailing list, then please contact the office. Please remember that we also produce an email version of the newsletter if you would prefer to receive it in that format. Chris

‘ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!’ Philippians 2 v 5 - 8

On a general note

All the team has now well and truly recovered from Christmas! We are now enhancing our database and using it to bring the churches and the families into ever closer contact.

It is so exciting to note the continuing developing relationships with the churches in Reading. The plan to meet with all the pastors is bearing fruit as we are seeing the relationships strengthened. We now are in partnership with around 20 churches in the town. In addition some churches, through their house groups have adopted specific families, keeping in regular contact with them and inviting along to various events. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect Jesus to these families. In the run up to Easter, we approached the churches to ask if they would like to distribute eggs to the families in their localities. As a result over 300 eggs were delivered and most of these were actually purchased by the churches themselves. Please do pray for each one of these contacts made by the churches. We are always open to helping the churches develop further links with the communities and one such way could be with support from a group now working in the UK called Fusion (www.fusion.org.au) who could help develop a fun day in your community. In addition we are arranging trips out in the summer and would like to invite a number of people from each church in order to further build the relationships away from Reading. If you are particularly inspired by this then please do contact us in the office in this regard.

Our regular outreaches continue as normal. Inspite of the council/police crackdown on begging in the town it would seem that there is still as great need as ever for our soup-runs. We do participate with the council in this regard however and have been given guidance on the begging issue, though have been asked to continue our soup-runs as normal. On Sunday afternoons on the teabar we now have just fewer than 10 churches working in partnership with us. Though as ever we are always looking for more volunteers/churches to join up.

After much thought and prayer we have decided to stop the lunch-time drop-in at South Reading at St Agnes Church. We are trying to ensure that the people concerned do have alternative sources of fellowship in the area and will now be concentrating on the flourishing afternoon group: The Answer, the Bible Study group which meets in the town centre. Please pray for those that attend this. In addition we will continue to research needs for further groups to be established. Sadly the long established soup kitchen at the Quakers meeting house, which we have been loosely involved in, has had to be stopped. Hopefully this will be restarted soon but at a different location

The vision of our founder Jim McConnell may at last become a reality as we look to working more with the churches and groups in other areas outside of Reading, helping them to impact their own local communities and building new relationships. Please do pray about this that doors will be opened and communities touched.

Befrienders! We are putting on some training with Christian Community Action. If you are interested in attending please contact the office ASAP.

Trustee news

Wendy McConnell, after serving FAITH Christian Group for 10 years has recently stepped down from the board of trustees and we wanted to publicly express our thanks to Wendy for the hard work she has put in over the years and for the commitment to the organisation she has demonstrated. Well done and thank you. See her article below for her own thoughts of her time with FAITH.

Most of our work as trustees is behind the scenes and therefore you may not know much about us. So as well as saying goodbye to Wendy I thought I would introduce the rest of us. Currently there are six trustees and we are: Malcolm Peirce, Ian and Lillie Anne Nicol, myself as chairman and the two relative newcomers Pete Horne and Nick Beard. Please do pray for us as we try to take care of the legal requirements of running a charity and hopefully keeping the organisation pointed in the right direction. We would also like to express our appreciation to the many volunteers and supporters of FAITH who make what we do possible. You know who you are and so does God. Every blessing,

Steve Heatherington

Farewell from Wendy McConnell…

After 10 years of working with FAITH and then becoming a trustee, it is now time to move on. Since having the youngest of my three children almost 18 months ago, it has been a struggle to find the time to fully commit myself to being a trustee. The last 10 years have brought many changes and challenges.

The early years were very much run by ‘faith’, never knowing where or when the next penny was coming from to enable us to feed and care for the 60+ people that came through the drop-in centre. But what joy and excitement when God so faithfully provided.

As I look back over the years I can honestly say there have been times of frustration, heartache, challenge, joy and always an overwhelming sense that God has a heart of compassion for the lost, lonely and homeless of Reading.

Wendy

‘ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another... distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.’ Romans 12:10,13

Father, the day ahead is filled with details that can easily confuse and misdirect us. Reveal Your will for what is best for us to do today. We yield our minds to think, and then communicate Your thoughts. Invade our attitudes with Your patience so that we will be able to work effectively with others-especially those who differ with us. Help us to listen to others as attentively as we want them to listen to us.

You have revealed in Scripture, through the generations, and in our own experiences, that You pour out Your power when there is unity, mutual esteem, and oneness.

Bless us with Your spirit so that We may disagree without being disagreeable, share our convictions without being contentious, and lift up truth without putting others down. Help us to seek to convince without coercion, persuade without power moves, motivate without manipulation. May we trust You unreservedly and encourage others unselfishly.

Adapted extract from Quiet Moments with God by Lloyd John Ogilvie

Moving Forward

We have been involved with a local family Jim, Donette and their two children, for some time. After many years, Jim and Donette have decided to confront their drug misuse and are now both nearing completion of drug rehabilitation treatment, after which they hope to become a family once again. Here are their personal stories…

Jim’s Story

Where do I start!? I’ve been in active addiction for many, many years. I never really sought any help because I thought, I could sort things out. A few years ago while I was working in Swindon and staying away from home a few days and nights a week my partner started to get some help from FAITH. Chris was our first contact and over the years he and other members helped us with food, furniture even diesel for my car. I must admit that getting this help made me feel bad as I should have been providing these things for my family. In 2003 we were evicted from a house in Whitley after a court case that Chris had helped us with a lot. At the beginning of 2004 we had our children taken away from us because we were putting them at too much risk and not looking after them properly. We still kept in touch with FAITH and finally in November 2004 Chris brought me to a rehab in Plymouth where I am now. I am now doing really well and am clean & sober for the first time in 20 odd years. Me and my partner are being given a second chance to bring up our kids and will hopefully be back together later this year. I don’t think I would be here and in this fantastic position if it wasn’t for the selfless, caring support we have got from FAITH and others. I think all the prayers said for me and my family have been listened to. Thanks. Jim

Donette’s Story

I first came into contact with FAITH when I was living in temporary accommodation in Reading. Previously to that my four children, my partner and I were squatting in a flat in Whitley. We were drug dealers and I had just got out of hospital with my 14 month old son who was very sick. The police came crashing through the door a couple of hours after I’d got back with the baby. We had been in hospital for over a month and this was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I’d had enough of this horrid existence. I wanted to be clean and I wanted my children safe. I didn’t stand a chance living in that place. I called Social Services and begged to be helped out of there. That night we were moved into a hotel, but only the children and myself. During this time we managed to fight against my disease of addiction. I got moved into temporary accommodation in Reading from there. My partner managed to secure a job in Swindon, but unfortunately it was commission paid only. The worse our financial position got, the more the disease started to kick in again. It was the summer holidays and I had my four children, my step daughter and her little sister, all of us and my partner living in a tiny two bedroom mobile home. Food was only lasting for about three days out of seven. This is when I first got the number for Faith. I called and got an answer machine, so I left a message. I was afraid to pray. Two days later two young men turned up at my door. With them were bags and boxes of food. I couldn’t believe it. I thanked them but I don’t know if they had any idea of how much it meant to get that help. Much as we struggled against it, the disease of addiction both my partner and I again. It began with alcohol, anything to block the pain of living on life’s terms. By the time we progressed back to drugs I was too afraid to pray. I cannot count the times Faith has helped us with food and furniture, but most importantly so many of you prayed for us. I don’t know if you prayed for us to get well, but I have since learned the power of prayer for myself, and so has my partner which is a miracle in itself. I don’t know what it was that you saw in us that we couldn’t keep hold of. I was unaware that I even had a disease before I came into rehab, I hadn’t realised how much of my spirituality I had lost. I know I had hit rock bottom spiritually, mentally and physically. I was bankrupt emotionally. Chris took my partner to Plymouth, all the way. When God sends an angel he doesn’t mess about. Now we are both getting well and soon to get back together. I am currently in rehab in Chester. I am so very grateful for all your prayers, the food, the bed clothes, the furniture, the love, but best of all the faith. The faith that has been given back to me is like a candle that’s been lit inside me, warming my soul. The next thing that I’d like to do is make amends where I can. Hopefully I will be able to help, by giving as much of my time as I can to becoming a part of the volunteer team for Faith. Whatever I do, it will be His will not mine. Donette

‘ His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…’ 2 Peter 1 v 3a

Stepping Stone project

Though the building pictured (now demolished and gone) is a distant memory for those of us in Reading, the need for a ‘Stepping Stone’ project to provide emergency access accommodation for homeless people in Reading has not gone away. This is still very much on our hearts but needs the right building, resources and staff to be in place. Please keep praying that the vision will become a reality and that we know God’s timing and guidance.

Are you praying with us?

We continue to meet regularly to pray, during the day in Southcote, Reading. The group is growing and often the staff team attend but there is still room for more! If you are interested in attending please contact Olive on 957 3575.

Give thanks to God for…
• the continuing developing relationships with the churches and…
• over 300 eggs delivered across Reading this Easter by the churches.
• our trustee, Wendy and her family and their faithfulness in serving God.
• the envisioning and uplifting week Chris spent with Fusion Youth and Community.
• St Agnes letting us use their hall for the Tuesday lunch-time drop-in and…
• the relationships developed as a result and that The Answer group is growing.
• for Jim and Donette and their changed lives.
• Jesus!

Please pray for…
• the remaining Trustees and Chris as they look to the future.
• those individuals affected by the closure of the Tuesday lunchtime drop-in that they can find alternative means of weekly fellowship.
• the partnership working and befriending training with CCA.
• those attending the Tuesday Bible Study group.
• the 300 plus people who were visited by the churches recently and for the relationships being built.
• that the church in Reading can become relevant in all our communities.
• the plans for the summer and that all will go well.
• for Jim and Donette as they rebuild their lives and family together.
• the continuing need for a ‘Stepping Stone’ project in the town.