Newsletter
July 2001
Bringing God's grace and healing love
to people with life-disrupting problems
One of the things that surprised me when I started to read the Bible (as opposed to
reading carefully chosen passages from the Bible!) was to see the constant interest
that God takes in the poor, the weak and the vulnerable. Such people are clearly
very close to God's heart. But what does it mean to say that God has a 'bias to the
poor'?
It is easier to say what it doesn't mean. The poor don't automatically qualify for
special blessings. There is no fast-track to Heaven for them, no blind eye turned to
their sins and failings. But what it must mean, somehow, is that this bias is
reflected in our own lives.
If we, His children, are to reflect our Father's character, then we cannot help but
open our hearts to those who are suffering. The nature of this response will be
different for each individual. Some will concentrate on international issues such as
the arms trade and third world debt. Others will concentrate mainly on politics or
ecology. But, as God's people, we cannot campaign for good causes across the
world and ignore the people who are dying on our doorsteps.
The question is not whether, but how to help. Praying about the needs is always a
good start - as long as the prayer leads to action. Wisdom is also needed - what
help is really required? Does our contribution help people to stay on the streets, or
help them to move on from the streets? Does it reinforce a lifestyle of addiction and
deceit, or open the door to another possibility?
We have been wrestling with these issues for a long time: talking, praying,
studying: seeking to make a difference. We don't have all the answers - yet! - but
we are sure that the remaining answers will be found as we continue to pray and
study and work to live out the answers we do have. On our own, we can do very
little. Together, anything is possible. If you would like to explore these issues, as an
individual or as a church group, please get in touch with us, and we will see what
we can do together.
Paul Hazelden,
General Manager
[Back...]
At a recent volunteers meeting, we mentioned just a few of the things which
have been happening in the ministry over the last month. Unfortunately, for
reasons of confidentiality, we cannot identify people by name in this
Newsletter, but we will try to give you an idea of the contacts we have been
making:
- A man in his 30s has been drinking for many years and has been in
contact with mental health services as well as other voluntary
organisations.
Two of our staff have provided tremendous support, helping him to arrange
furniture for the council flat he has recently been granted, being available to
talk to him and support him generally. He says he really wants to stop
drinking and he recently came to a Christian meeting with us and asked for
prayer for God to help him.
- We've been praying for a lady her 30s for some time. Together with her
boyfriend, she has been using drugs for many years. Not long ago she had a
spell in hospital - an ulcer on her leg as a result of injecting with a dirty
needle. She was invited by one of our volunteers to a church meeting - and
she came! She said that really enjoyed it. This is a lady who is desperate for
love and looking for the way forward.
- A man in his 30s who is still using drugs told us he went to a local church a
few weeks ago and became a Christian. He wants to stop using drugs, get
himself sorted out and then meet again his 4 children.
- A lady in her 40s who has been drinking heavily since she was 16 made a
commitment to God very recently and is saying that she wants to stop
drinking.
- A man in his 30s has previously made a commitment to God but seems a
bit lost at present. He drops in occasionally, just to let us know he's still
around. He is talking about finding a church which will support him and
describes himself as being vulnerable.
- A man in his 60s has made a commitment to God but is struggling at
present. He recently returned to drink and his life is very complicated.
- A lady in her 30s who has been regularly using our coffee shop for at least six
months, became a Christian three months ago and was baptised on 1 July.
These are just brief descriptions of some of the people who are using our
Centre. If we were to try to accurately explain each situation and the various
issues involved, it is likely that one person's story would more than fill a
Newsletter. There are many others who use the Centre who are open to talk to
us about their lives and the difference God can make - and there are also those
who do not yet know us well enough to trust us with personal information.
It is the potential for change in the lives of these people which is a challenge;
opportunities almost shout at us. The encouragement of this is mixed with a
frustration at present because our staffing situation is incomplete - and this is
mentioned elsewhere in this Newsletter.
Again, we ask you please to pray. If you would like to receive a copy of our
monthly prayer sheet, please contact the office. So often, it is prayer which is
the key to seeing situations change.
[Back...]
The challenge was set: find a way for all those working with Crisis Centre
Ministries, in whatever capacity, to be able to meet together.
After much discussion, deliberation, hot water drinking (we're a healthy lot!),
meetings and prayer (we are Christians, after all!) the creative one on our team
came up with an idea - a picnic!
As with all other responsible organisations, we ran a pilot scheme - on The
Downs on a Sunday afternoon in May. Considerable risk was involved as
rounders balls were strategically thrown to cause least/most damage, and core
values were discovered as teams pit their wits against each other in a game of
Three in a Row
For some strange reason, folk want to repeat the experience and we've arranged
two further picnics (bring your own tea) - 29 July and 2 September. If you'd like
to risk joining with us, ring the office for more details.
[Back...]
Well, it's not really that bad! The problem is in the basement and the coffee
shop. One wall in the basement is suffering the effects of damp, and some
floor joists between the coffee shop and basement need to be repaired fairly
urgently.
We are arranging detailed quotations and have been told that the work is
likely to take a minimum of two weeks and cost in the region of £10,000.
So that the floor can be repairs, we will need to totally clear the kitchen area of
the shop and, once the work is completed, we will then need to refit the
kitchen at a cost of around £5,000.
This is a major expenditure and we do not presently have the necessary
finances. However, repairing the floor joists is essential now for safety
reasons and this in turn provokes the other aspects.
We would be so grateful for your support with this. In particular -
- your prayers for the provision of the necessary finances
- your time, knowledge, contacts to help us to raise finances
- your skills, if you are a builder and/or able to supply and fit a
commercial kitchen.
There is also the issue of the timing of the work in relation particularly to the
operation of the coffee shop. Ideally we would like to be able to arrange to
transfer to another location (preferably very local) temporarily.
If you are able to help in any way, please get in touch with us at the office -
contact details on the back of the Newsletter.
Trudie Lane,
Administrator
[Back...]
Tribute to Derek Groves
Founder and Director of Crisis Centre Ministries
You will have read in a previous Newsletter that Derek Groves has
retired from active involvement with Crisis Centre Ministries, due to ill
health - he continues in the consultancy role of Life President. Derek
is well known as a Christian leader in the city. His vision and ministry
have been the means of bringing hope and love to countless
numbers of people in and around the city, particularly people with life
controlling problems. His work in establishing Crisis Centre Ministries
has been acclaimed and admired far beyond the city boundaries.
Bristol Region Celebration Churches Network wish to honour Derek
and have therefore arranged a public celebration to recognise his
enormous contribution to the witness and work of the Body of Christ
in Bristol, and to honour him and Mary, in various ways. This will
include presenting a cheque to Derek as an expression of the
appreciation and regard for him felt by churches and individuals
across the city and beyond.
If you would like to contribute to the fund for Derek and his wife,
please send payments to the CCM office, made payable to Scriptural
Knowledge Institution (SKI) indicating whether you are able to Gift Aid
your contribution and, if so, staff from the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution will make contact with you. (The contributions will be for
Derek and Mary personally, rather than for the work of Crisis Centre
Ministries.)
The public celebration will take place at Thornbury Baptist Church on
Saturday 13 October from 7 to 9 pm. Light refreshments will be
provided. Please accept this as your invitation.
For catering purposes, it would be helpful if you would kindly contact
the CCM office to let us know you will be coming.
[Back...]
When people ask how things are going at the Crisis Centre, I generally
summarise: it's really difficult, and really, really good! In the middle of some of
the greatest practical difficulties we have faced for years, God is doing some
really amazing things.
The practical difficulties you can read about elsewhere in this newsletter. In
brief, the key aspects are damp in the rear wall, the kitchen floor on the point
of collapse, no money to fix this and replace the kitchen units we will have to
rip out, and not enough money to pay the people we believe God is leading to
work here. But God is faithful and we believe He will provide for each of these
areas in His good time - hopefully before the kitchen floor disappears into the
basement!
And in the middle of all the work and uncertainty caused by these problems,we
have seen God working more powerfully and directly in more peoples' lives
than we have seen for some time.
It is difficult to know what to say in a public newsletter. At the Volunteers'
meeting in June, we prayed for 17 people who God has been touching recently
- people who we have been able to pray with, and who have experienced
God's goodness in answers to prayer and practical help. Of these, 7 are new
Christians, and 5 of them had come to faith in Jesus in the last few days or
weeks.
These people all still have major problems in their lives. The answers and the
help they need will come slowly over weeks, months and years - many
problems simply cannot be fixed overnight. In the meantime, we continue to
work and pray, despite, at times, feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the
need.
For many of these people we need to provide support, follow-up and some
stable relationships. This cannot all be provided by our volunteers, no matter
how willing they are, so we believe the time is right to look for someone who
can take a lead in providing pastoral care for these people who are responding
to God but have not made it back into 'mainstream' society yet. Please pray
with us that the right person (or people?) be quickly identified, and the funds
found to provide a salary. Thank you.
Paul Hazelden,
General Manager
[Back...]
I like working in the coffee shop. I have been praying
for a long time to be able to work in the coffee shop as a paid
staff member and God has answered that prayer. I
officially start as Catering Coordinator on 1 July and I love
doing this job.
When things happen: like when people need help to find accommodation, get
furniture for their new flat, or go to a rehab and we can ring somewhere and arrange
that for them, it's really good - especially when you hear later that the person is
doing well.
There have been a couple of people recently who wanted to stop drinking and we
have been able to give them something to do during the day to help keep their mind
occupied, like helping with the cleaning or washing up. We're careful about this, and
make sure we know the person quite well and that it will be OK to let them help like
this.
I know lots of the people who come into the shop. I know what it's like for them,
because I've been there, and I can tell them that God is answering prayers for me
and helping me so he can do the same for them.
The coffee shop is doing quite well, and we would like some more volunteers,
particularly for the school holidays because a lot of our volunteers are
parents.
Also, we are planning to open on a Friday, from mid-afternoon through to the
evening. I've been talking with people about volunteering on this day and quite a few
would like to do this, but we need to be sure we can cover every Friday before we
start.
We are also talking to some volunteers about being team leaders so that they can
take responsibility for some sessions.
Some people bring in ready-made meals, things like spaghetti bolognaise, chicken
curry, lasagne etc and also cakes and crumbles. This is very helpful in the coffee
shop. Would you like to do it as well?
Jayne Griffiths,
Catering Coordinator
[Back...]
This is a challenge to many charities working to serve a particular group of
people or situation. To be able to offer a realistic service, structures need to
be in place and sometimes research undertaken: these aspects are a step
away from the actual situation of need but nonetheless essential.
For Crisis Centre Ministries, the balance we need to find is between
administration and staff support, and direct contact with clients. Most of our
funding is from donations and we want to be accountable to our supporters for
the way we use our finances: understandably those making donations to us
want to know that their money is being well used and genuinely helping our
clients. At our AGM on 22 October, 7.30 pm at City Rd Baptist Church there
will be opportunity to see our Accounts and be brought up to date with
developments in the ministry.
To respond to the very complicated needs of our clients we need to be
appropriately staffed and resourced. Keeping an up-to-date database is one
essential part of this, another is supporting and encouraging our
volunteers.
And yet another dimension is the maintenance of the building we use - the
coffee shop, training area and administration offices.
Volunteers are a very valuable part of our staffing strategy and we plan to
increase their involvement into all aspects of the ministry. To describe to you
the present situation, this is how we see our staffing needs:
Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for the coffee shop : someone to take on
responsibility for the Christian aspect of that work, support volunteers and
develop the work of the shop. This would need to be a paid
position.
Maintenance Person: we have a number of important maintenance issues
which take up a considerable amount of staff time, and we would value the
involvement of someone who would be able to oversee this aspect.
Fund raiser: the increase in paid staff is a challenge to our finances and we
see the need to become more proactive with our finances. We need someone
to co-ordinate and develop our fund raising activities.
Volunteer(s): for the coffee shop and for administration.
Please pray for us: for wisdom in the decisions we need to make, for the right
people to fill the vacancies we have, the necessary funding for salaries as well
as repairs - so that we are appropriately resourced to, in turn, resource our
clients and offer to them a service which is increasingly strategic, proficient
and creative.
If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact the office.
[Back...]
Dealing with the different aspects of the work of the coffee shop can seem like
juggling.
Providing a good service is something we want to do, so that our clients know
that we care about them and that we are here to help them. This involves many
different aspects - serving nourishing, healthy food which is appropriately
prepared and heated; responding to the demands of the clients which can
include requests to help find accommodation, help to come off drugs and also
dealing with wounds inflicted for whatever reason; having available information
which will relate to their situations; maintaining and developing contact with
resources across the city which provide services which may be relevant to our
clients etc.
It seems impossible for one person to take on responsibility for all these issues
as well as supporting and co-ordinating volunteers and developing the work of
the coffee shop. So, the idea is for there to be two posts: a Catering Coordinator
and also a Pastoral Care Co-ordinator.
We are pleased to announce that Jayne Griffiths has joined the staff team and
taken up the post of Catering Coordinator as from 1 July. This means that she
has responsibility for all aspects related to the provision of food to our clients.
Jayne has been working in our coffee shop as a volunteer for many years; her
knowledge and experience of our clients and their lifestyles is a considerable
asset to us. You will see an article from her in this Newsletter.
The position of Pastoral Care Co-ordinator is vital to the work of the coffee shop
and will concentrate on the needs of the clients, developing outreach, supporting
volunteers and maintaining and developing contact with other organisations.
[Back...]
In a tent (actually a blue and white one) in Eastville Park, this event was
organised by the Elim Church. From the promotion, there was a clear
expectation that God would demonstrate his power to save, heal, set free.
So, we took a group from The Crisis Centre on the Wednesday evening -
and they really enjoyed themselves; so much so that several returned the
following evening. Yes, some wandered out for a 'fag break' from time to
time, but they returned. The speaker gave a very clear Gospel message -
and our folk were listening intently. Quite a number of people responded,
saying they wanted to commit their lives to Jesus and with them was one of
our group! She told us afterwards that, among other things, she had
promised God she would give up drinking alcohol.
At the end of the meeting, there was opportunity to receive prayer for
healing. One or two responded, then a few more until there was quite a
queue and our folk did not want to miss out! Sometimes God does things in
a way which surprises us, and for those with us this was definitely the
case.
They felt God touch them and some found it impossible to stay standing.
God worked a miracle in these people's lives, and they came away wanting
to tell their friends about who God is and what he does. Please pray for
these people - that they will continue to walk with God and have the strength
to make the right decisions which will help them grow in God and break
free from addiction.
[Back...]
Thank you so much for your generosity - your money, prayers and practical
support of the ministry. We are constantly aware of being partnered with you
in this work: alongside your support and together with God, we are touching
the lives of broken people and beginning to see change. Without your
support, this would not be happening.
As our outgoings increase, our income is increasing to match that! One major
increase has been regarding the LITE Course: our previous contract finished
at the end of April and funding therefore also terminated. All expenditure in
connection with the LITE Course is presently being met from our main
account - and, because of your support, our income has increased to make
this possible! (We are presently actively fund-raising and attempting to
negotiate a new contract for LITE.)
You cannot fail to notice from this Newsletter, that there are, and will continue
to be increasing demands on our finances.
We have a strong belief that God will provide for our needs and he has
proved himself time and time again. Please pray with us, thanking God for his
tremendous provision and for the generosity of our supporters as well as
asking him to continue to meet our needs.
You can support the work of Crisis Centre Ministries
in various ways:
- Let us have your used stamps (leave about half an inch of envelope
around them).
- Making financial donations by cheque, Standing Order, Charities Aid
Foundation, UKET
- Gift Aiding your donations
- Using our meal voucher scheme
- Praying for the ministry - let us know if you'd like a copy of our
monthly prayer sheet
- Baking/cooking - cakes, casseroles etc
- Volunteering with us in all the different aspects of the work
For further information on any of these, please contact the office.
[Back...]
- Staff Vacancy
We have a vacancy for a Pastoral Care Coordinator in our coffee shop. This is a
paid position; the hours are negotiable. For further information and application pack,
please contact the office.
- LITE Course
This is in the middle of review and fundraising/negotiating contract. We are
finding that a key issue with many funders is partnership with other organisations
and this is something we are exploring. There are a number of interesting
possibilities. Your prayers would be good - the groups we partner with could
make quite a different to the operation of the course.
Please pray, too, regarding a contract for the course. Negotiations are detailed,
complicated and sometimes political!
- Notice of Annual General Meeting
This is advance notice. Further details in the next
Newsletter.
Crisis Centre Ministries Annual General Meeting
Monday, 22 October 7.30-9.30pm at City Road Baptist Church
Guest Speaker, David Wildes, Chief Executive,
Frontier Youth Trust
Light refreshments will be served
Everyone is welcome. For catering purposes, please contact the office to
let us know if you are coming.
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[Back...]
- CCM Prayer Meetings
Friday 13 July, Monday 15 October, both at 7.30 pm at The Crisis Centre -
please come!
- CCM AGM
Monday 22 October, 7.30-9.30 pm at City Road Baptist Church - contact the
office to let us know if you're coming.
- Derek Groves' Retirement Event
Saturday 13 October, 7 to 9 pm at Thornbury Baptist Church - contact the
office to let us know if you're coming.
[Back...]
Your response to our request for mugs, plates etc. has been so good. We
have been amazed at your generosity and it has helped us so much in the
coffee shop.
We are now well stocked with plates, bowls and cutlery - but we would still
appreciate more mugs.
Other things which would be very helpful in the shop are:
- plastic containers (the sort of thing we can use to store food in the
freezer and also heat food in the microwave)
- any tinned foods (particularly tinned meat)
- tea, coffee, sugar
- pasta and rice
[Back...]
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