Reality of Gospel Ministry on a Northern Estate in a ‘Cost of Living Crisis’
“It is a privilege to share life with and minister amongst those in need…Food banks, debt centres, and other forms of practical help are all good; but the church’s distinctive is Jesus.”
By Andrew and Fiona Silley, for Anglican Mainstream:
One morning last week I was in prison visiting a lad who has come to faith. He had started coming to church but ended up back in trouble and back in prison. In the afternoon I was in hospital visiting a severely ill child and his family – who have just been evicted from their home. Afterwards, I was walking around the estate when I bumped into a group of guys discussing the recent murder and subsequent arrest of two men from the estate. In each of these crisis situations it is fair to say that the ‘cost of living crisis’ wasn’t at the forefront of people’s minds.
While the above examples are extreme (and thankfully not daily experiences in ministry!), it is the case for many people that the cost of living crisis isn’t a new phenomenon: many people are well acquainted with hard times, and scraping by is a normal part of life. However, recent conversations with people have highlighted that the current economic climate is placing extra burdens on people’s lives. An elderly lady popped into our food bank this week, and shared with me that after her bills are paid, she has £20 left to spend each week.
Writing, then, from the context of a Northern council estate, here are some reflections on gospel ministry during the cost of living crisis.
Andrew Silley is a Church of England vicar. He and his wife Fiona live and minister in a city in the north of England.
Release from debt
One issue is that the start-point for many during this cost of living crisis is not of a clean sheet, but of existing debt. On our estate, a couple was recently given a council flat; but though this felt like a new start, they have never quite been able to move forward because they are paying off historic debt. It is unlikely they will have covers on their battered sofas, or carpets on their bare floors anytime soon. For them and others, there can be a sense of ongoing despair or denial. With other difficulties crowding in, or a lack of skills to be able to keep on top of finances, we hear from people that it is easier to bury their heads in the sand.
God’s Jubilee system in the Bible was there to offer hope for those stuck in a cycle of debt; and the local church can do the same. We know of people in church who have helped write off others’ debts; those who help read and work through the daunting pile of unopened letters. We plan to run a session on money for all in our church, which will share wisdom from the Bible, together with practical help. We are also about to launch a hardship fund, creating a pathway for money to be given to those in need within the church (after Acts 4:34-35).
Biblical wisdom
The causes and consequences of poverty are complex. However, sometimes situations can be made worse by poor decision making. One family who started coming to church are being impacted by a serious and long-term health crisis. Last week they contacted me to say they had run out of food and money again – despite another church recently gifting them a large sum of money. We know that a good portion of this has been spent on gambling and cigarettes but habits/ addictions are not easy to break especially in the midst of stress and troubles. However, in this and other instances, the wisdom of the bible can be transformative. Moreover, new desire and power to make changes is required and it is what the good news of Jesus brings. So we need to teach the word of God and pastor people to help them to make godly decisions. But we also need grace and patience when they don’t; just as God has with us.
Generosity and stewardship
One thing we notice is the generosity of people who have comparatively little. One guy I met at food bank started coming to church (he’s not been for a few weeks now). He won £100 on a scratch card but instead of using it for food for the next few weeks he arranged a surprise delivery of Dominoes pizza to our Thursday evening church gathering! Do we praise God for his generosity or point out his lack of stewardship?
Occasionally I have moments of worry around asking new believers who don’t have much money to participate in giving. But, mindful of the Macedonian churches giving out of their poverty and sharing in the privilege of giving (2 Corinthians 8-9), I am reminded that to not ask them is to have them miss out on the fruits of the gospel. We have indeed been moved when we’ve seen this in action. One lady sold a chair to help buy a bed (she’d been sleeping on the floor) and gave a tenth of the proceeds to church – not out of compulsion, but out of a deep love for Jesus. Another new believer when she heard of an appeal for donations for helping children of mission partners in Burundi get to school brought in her tin of coins she had been saving throughout the year for Christmas.
So, while it seems foolish in the world’s eyes, in light of the gospel we will encourage people to take part in the privilege of giving. And as a church we are going to pray for God’s grace to excel in giving?
Privilege and partnership
Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us. That’s an uncomfortable truth for many; and one response is to run away from poverty and all its challenges. But to run away is to miss out. It is a privilege to share life with and minister amongst those in need. Some of the recent highlights of ministry have been with people who have next to nothing – praying with them in their homes and sharing the gospel (and often taking along a bag of food). And being there to listen as people turn up to our house and within minutes share stories of trauma from their lives (and sometimes leave with food, clothes, or a fishing bed to sleep on…!). And hearing of how God is setting people free from years of ‘living as a bad person’ (as one man put it), or years of understandable anger and resentment after an abusive marriage. Faith – and the gospel – really are worth more than gold.
I’m always struck by a story I heard of a man who escaped the conflict in Congo arrived at a Refugee camp having lost his family and belongings, yet possessing a joy. When asked the reason for his joy he replied, ‘It wasn’t until Jesus was all I had that I realised Jesus was all I needed’.
Our experience of estate ministry is that while at times there are hardships, actually it is a joy to minister in this context; and we would be missing out if we didn’t.
Physical and spiritual
While in our ministry we often tend to meet those experiencing the greatest levels of hardship, this obviously isn’t the case for all 20,000 living on our estate! Many people are working jobs at the bookies or food factories, in shops or schools, as bouncers or carers. The cost of living crisis for them will probably mean working extra shifts, or juggling two jobs around kids, etc. In a way it will be harder to meet these people as they have much less availability. However, while their need for physical food might be less, their need for the bread of life is the same.
Give me Jesus
Food banks, debt centres, and other forms of practical help are all good; but the church’s distinctive is Jesus. Oftentimes there is realistically little we can do to sort out people’s – often complex – problems. But we can be there as a consistent and reliable loving presence, listening to people, praying for people, and sharing God’s word. From my experience of living and ministering in estates, that is often what people remember and value most. Once we gave a woman a Christmas card with some money in, and wrote a message sharing something of God’s heart for her. She told us she had been moved to tears: not because of the money, but because of the message (unbeknown to us, having recently lost her Mum).
Ultimately, the biggest need and God’s best plan for places where life is tough is the Church. A church wherein some people focus on the word and prayer, others distribute food to those in need, others give and share what they have; a church that in all these ways excels in the gift of giving – in hopes that there may be no needy person among them. And a church that reaches out into the community and shares the good news of the gospel – because knowing Jesus changes everything whether you are rich are poor – and has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
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