12Jan 2017 by Nigel Ring

Leading a church to minister with the Poor pt 2. Identifying and supporting a ministry

Equipping, Poor, The church, Together on a Mission
Last time we looked at some adjustments that may be indicated to help a church become more accessible to those who are not familiar with church and who may even be social outcasts. Now we shall consider how a church decides what ministry to carry out to help those who are poor or in need. How should it be identified - by need? In part 2 of these four interviews Andy Cottingham gives some guidance on how to define a ministry, how to base the leadership of that ministry on the passion of individuals and how to mobilise church members to serve. Andy also talks about what the 'good news' is for an individual who faces great deprivation or need, before speaking about how the elders might bring oversight to such ministries, stressing…
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04Jan 2017 by Nigel Ring

Leading a church to minister with the Poor pt 1. Changes in practice for gospel impact

Church culture, Equipping, Newfrontiers, Poor, Simon Pettit
Happy New Year! As we begin a new year I want to share with you over the next few weeks videos I made during a discussion with Andy Cottingham. Andy has been in church leadership both in the UK and South Africa for many years. Churches in which he has been based have always had significant ministries to reach out to those who are poor or in need. In these discussions I asked him to share wisdom from his experience which may help other church leaders, though his responses will be of interest to anyone involved in ministering with the poor since they address underlying values. In this first interview (there will be three more) he addresses some matters to help make the practices of the church more accessible to 'outsiders'. Change If we…
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02Nov 2016 by Nigel Ring

Engaging with local authorities – a practical approach

Good Practice, Poor
Does your church minister in isolation with those who are poor or in need, or does it work/network/partner with local agencies and stakeholders? Healthy changes There was a time in the UK when churches were viewed with suspicion by local authorities. I am sure that is still the case in some areas. But with financial cutbacks, and changes in government policy and practice, faith-based programmes to help poor and needy people are now looked on more favourably. Foodbanks (eg Trussell Trust) abound, as do activities such as Street Pastors, Nightshelters (eg Church and Community Night Shelter Network), soup kitchens to help people who are sleeping rough etc. Also, ‘Not Invented Here’ would formerly have stopped churches carrying out ministries. There was once a desire for recognition of an activity as…
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18Oct 2016 by Nigel Ring

Win win – Businesses to improve health and empower entrepreneurs

Africa, Business, Entrepreneur, Equipping, Jibu, News, Poor, Water
Milk for transformation I get excited when I hear of projects that bring a ‘win’ at every level. I have previously reported on the Milk for Transformation enterprise in Burundi. This business provides rural families with milk-producing cattle which both provides income from the surplus which can be sold and also removes the need for children to miss school to tend the less productive local cows as they wander the hills. It also employs young men to transport the milk to the city, others to pasteurise the milk, and yet others to sell the milk at the lowest possible price. Finally good nutritious milk reaches children in the slums: Win… Win … Win … Win … Jibu Water Project I have another friend, Randy Welsch, who, with his son Galen,…
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03Oct 2016 by Nigel Ring

Container arrives at School in Guinea

Africa, Education, Guinea, News, Poor
Jubilee International School On several occasions I have reported on the church and school in Guinea, West Africa. When I last visited to review the progress with the school it was clear that they significantly lacked resources of curricular, laboratory equipment, furniture etc.  So, in recent months I have, with others, been collecting a container-load of school equipment to send to the school. Many people and schools made generous donations in money and finance which has been such a blessing. Thank you! I am delighted to say the container arrived at the school last week and I thought you would like to see some of the joy it has produced. Nicolas Thebault reports that ‘everybody was dancing Monday night in the street when it was opened for the 1st time…
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22Sep 2016 by Nigel Ring

Pathways from Poverty

Africa, Kenya, News, Poor, Poverty Reduction, Relational Mission
Relational Mission Relational Mission is the sphere of churches within the Newfrontiers family led by Mike Betts. It carries Prayer, Mission and God's heart for the poor in its DNA. In this short interview Julia Miller shares on some of these aspects of Mike's sphere of ministry. Prayer Through an exciting initiative, Enough, churches across this international sphere join together through the worldwide web to pray, thus mobilising thousands of people in effectual prayer. It is a very interesting model that others might wish to copy. Mission Everyone a witness is an attempt to help churches engage evangelistically in their local communities in Word, Works and Wonders. God's heart for the Poor Pathways from Poverty is an expression of God's heart for the poor which seeks to help local churches engage with those…
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