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to people with life-disrupting problems |
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Introduction
Crisis Centre Ministries - often known as 'The Crisis Centre' or 'CCM' - is a local charity based in Bristol, England. Please don't confuse us with Crisis, the national homelessness charity!
We are open throughout the year, providing a Christian response to the needs of people with life-disrupting problems, who are the poorest and most vulnerable adults in our society. Many of them are called 'street people' but whether or not they are or have been homeless, many of their lives are shaped by issues such as poor mental and physical health, addiction, debt, unemployment, crime and violence.
New Staff
After a lengthy (and, at times, exhausting!) process, we have appointed two new members of staff. They will start at the beginning of July 2009, and we are very much looking forward to their arrival.
Please pray for Sian Morgan (our new Office Manager) and Steve Smith (our new Volunteer Support Coordinator) as they prepare to start working for us.
And please pray for all those who applied for a job with us, that they would know God's presence and guidance, and that they would know very soon where they should be and what they should be doing.
Sleep Out, 2010
We are beginning to think about preparations for the next Sleep Out at the end of February 2010. If you have some spare time and would like to help us prepare for this, please get in contact with the CCM office. Many thanks.
Sleep Out, 2009
Thank you to everyone for praying about the Sleep Out on Friday 27 February. All the staff and two trustees took part, plus another ten or so dedicated supporters and family members. It was only a tiny bit damp, and everyone survived - and all the participants were in remarkably good spirits in the morning. Some of us even got a little sleep.
If anyone would like to sponsor us retrospectively, please feel free! Cheques, etc., are always acceptable, but you may find the easiest way is to donate online by following the link from the CCM web site, or by going directly to:
BBC Radio Bristol interviewed Alan Goddard twice. The Bristol Evening Post advertised the event beforehand, and did a follow-up piece the following Monday. Do let us know if you are aware of other mentions in the media. And please pray that this publicity helps people understand more about homelessness and the issues facing homeless people. We are particularly trying to highlight the need for more help - treatment, not just advice - for alcoholics in Bristol.
We counted 72 people sleeping out, from 12 different churches and organisations. So far, people have reported collecting an estimated £10,000 in sponsorship for homelessness charities in Bristol.
Hopes and Dreams
The ministry has been based in our building at 12 City Road since 1986. The premises have served us well, but are now very inadequate for the work we are trying to do in them.
What we really need to do is to move to larger and more suitable premises somewhere near our current building. Failing that, we need a larger space for the Coffee Shop. We would then retain the current building, and cope with the cost and inconvenience of operating on two sites.
Whatever we do, it is likely to cost a great deal of money. We need a great deal of prayer for wisdom to know which way to go, and for the right premises to be made available.
In the long run, it would be good to have at least two sites: one in St Pauls as the main point of contact, and one a bit further away from the drug dealers, to provide a healthier environment for those who are 'clean' and wishing to stay that way.