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to people with life-disrupting problems |
Vision
Introduction
Our vision has grown and developed over the years. While remaining faithful to our origins, the way the vision is expressed has varied from time to time.
- What We are Here For
- In the Beginning
- Community Impact
- An Army of Ordinary People
- Pulling Together
- Church on the Street
What We are Here For
Vision
Our vision is "transformed lives" - bringing God's grace and healing love to people with life-disrupting problems.
What Do We Do?
We support people, and provide them with opportunities for development, with the aim of seeing their lives transformed.
We provide non-threatening contact on street level.
We hold together evangelism and practical care, helping people on the physical, spiritual and emotional levels.
We work to develop partnerships with other local churches, other Christian groups, other community groups and agencies.
We seek to do this as an expression of radical discipleship, constantly exploring new ways to become more effective, while remaining on the cutting edge of service to our local community.
Ethos
We aim to work with people who have life-disrupting problems to take them step by step along the 'ladder of progress'. These people can also be described as 'disenfranchised', 'marginalized', or (in Biblical terms) simply as 'the poor'.
We aim to share our vision and experience with other Christians in the local churches, and to do our work in a way that blesses the staff and volunteers, building the Body of Christ in Bristol.
We aim to be a clear Christian voice, in St. Pauls and beyond.
We aim to be 'church on the street', understanding 'church' to be the whole Body of Christ in a network of relationships, and not as an hierarchical organisation. We aim both to be church and to share leaders and members with other local churches.
We aim to be an open door for people in our client group, available when people choose to walk through and make use of the services we offer.
In the Beginning
This is what the Memorandum of Association says.
The objects for which the Association is established are: the advancement of the Christian religion and the relief of poverty and sickness particularly by
- the relief of the mental and physical distress of all persons who are in any manner affected by drink, drugs and similar narcotic substances and emotional or psychological stress;
- the provision of a drop-in centre for the provision of a counselling service;
- the provision of a temporary basis of accommodation for people in need.
Community Impact
This Mission Statement dates from 1993.
Our aim is to impact the community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to bring people to wholeness and help them rebuild their lives and, at the same time, offer training for churches, individuals and other organisations in Avon and elsewhere. In particular, through our Drop-In Centre, Training for Work Course, Bus Stop Project, Overcoming Addictions group and Community Development Work, we offer friendly, practical support and counsel to people 17 years and above, whose lives have been severely disrupted by their problems.
An Army of Ordinary People
By 1995, the need for a more disciplined approach had become clear in this statement of CCM's aims.
Crisis Centre Ministries (CCM) is an army which has clear, defined aims, as follows:
- To proclaim the Gospel message of the risen Christ.
- To speak the name of Jesus into people's lives, so that they may be set free from their life-controlling problems, healed, restored, forgiven.
- To build bridges of communication into the inner city areas of Bristol.
- To build trusting relationships with people so that they may learn how to apply God's word in their lives.
- To teach them so that they, too, can go out in the name of Jesus, making disciples of all nations.
- To help people in the name of Jesus live a complete and fulfilled life to the glory of God.
- To be a faithful witness of the word of God, open and unashamed but sensitive in relation to this word and people's lives.
Pulling Together
In 2000, we looked at pulling together the various strands of 'vision' over the years.
The aims of Crisis Centre Ministries are -
- by proclaiming the Gospel message of the risen Christ, to impact our community.
- to speak the name of Jesus into people's lives and build trusting relationships with them so that they may learn how to apply God's word in their lives.
- to help people rebuild their lives so that they can live a complete and fulfilled life to the glory of God and themselves 'go out in the name of Jesus', impacting their community and making disciples.
- to offer training for churches, individuals and other organisations in Bristol and elsewhere.
Church on the Street
When the web site was first updated in 2001, we used the following.
Crisis Centre Ministries came into being in September 1984. We aim to be an expression of 'church on the street', with a three-fold vision:-
- to have a non-threatening point of contact at street level for people with 'life-controlling problems';
- to provide life skill initial training for long term unemployed which prepares them for further training or employment; and
- to provide supportive accommodation with a training programme.
Over the years we have developed a skilled and professional approach in all aspects of our work. It has been said 'The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken'. We are in the business of breaking chains of habit.