Local - Community Development
“Life, deed, word and sign must all find expression for us to encounter and comprehend the whole of the good news of Jesus Christ.
Life alone is too solitary. ... Words alone can be posturing or positioning. Deeds alone do not declare identity or indicate in whom one has placed his or her faith. Signs can be done by demons and spirits or by the Holy Spirit. It is only when life, deed, word and sign are expressed in a consistent and coherent whole that the gospel of the Son of God is clear.” (Myers, Bryant L. 1999 “Walking with the Poor” Orbis Books, New York p213)
As a church we believe it is essential to speak about Jesus alongside demonstrating the gospel through acts of service and kindness. This is why we have invested in our community both by establishing new initiatives with a clear Christian ethos, and by working with existing community groups and organisations.
The Acts of Service group within the church offer to do practical things to bless people within our community. These have ranged from redecoration to helping provide household appliances for those who do not have.
One very practical way the church has committed to keeping this focus is to set aside a monthly amount to be used in our “Loaves and fishes” account which is used discreetly to give food vouchers and power cards where there is a need. (To make a donation to the “Loaves and fishes” account please contact our office info@whiteinchchurch.org)
We believe that the Kingdom of God can be seen wherever Kingdom values are demonstrated - justice, equity, the dignity and worth of each person, and a responsibility to the wider community, and so have invested time and personnel in building up community projects which reflect these Kingdom values. These include:
· the Whiteinch Centre (www.whiteinchcentre.org.uk)
· the Whiteinch Community Association
· LINK magazine, and
· JIGSAW out of school project.
Much of this area of ministry has been developed over the last six years by Diane McWilliam (diane@whiteinchchurch.org) who has been our part-time community development worker. For more information about our work within the community please contact Diane.
