Churches Impacting Communities

“Let no church think it is too small to exert an influence and do service in the great work for this time.”

(Ellen G White – Christian Service)

A powerful statement made by Ellen G White on the mission of the church and its community impact is the following:

“The Saviour has given His precious life in order to establish a church capable of ministering to the suffering, the sorrowful, and the tempted. A company of believers may be poor, uneducated, and unknown; yet in Christ, they may do a work in the home, in the community, and even in the ‘regions beyond’, whose results shall be as far-reaching as eternity” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 106).

Churches ministering in their communities

Travelling across the British Union Conference (BUC) territory has been an absolute joy. I have heard inspiring testimonies and seen evidence of churches positively impacting their communities. Notable establishments and initiatives have emerged, such as the Dublin Cuisle Centre of Influence (Ireland) and the Paisley Church Urban Centre of Influence (Scotland); health expos and wellbeing fairs across the Welsh Mission; and North and South England Conferences, including diverse provisions such as food and clothes hubs and baby banks.

Utilising church space for multiple services is also impactful. Speaking with Sis Marcia Silvera, a member of Chiswick church, who is the coordinator for a drop-in shower service, she reports:

“Chiswick Adventist church has been operating a drop-in shower service for the homeless and marginalised in society. Every Sunday, guests receive a 3-course meal, a shower, clean clothes and a warm, comfortable, relaxing space. The service started in 2019 and is run by local volunteers and members. We truly appreciate the financial support of those who have made this project possible: TED, BUC, SEC, church members and the local community. To God be the glory!”

Centres of Hope, Health and Healing (CHHH)

In 2011, the BUC Health and Adventist Community Services departments launched an initiative to award churches for excelling in the scope and impact of their ministries through in-reach and outreach programmes, meeting the varied needs of both church members and the wider community.

I developed Centres of Hope, Health and Healing (CHHH) to acknowledge three key aspects of health ministries and community outreach that churches have engaged and excelled in. This comprises the following segments:

·      Spiritual health. These are spiritual nurture interventions that are evangelistic, enhancing spiritual wellbeing, building faith, and offering encouragement and support that brings Hope to people’s lives.

·      Physical, emotional, mental, relational, social, and environmental wellbeing activities provide growth in the aforementioned facets of life. These relate to lifestyle interventions that enhance individuals’ holistic Health, focusing on preventing ill-health and maintaining wellbeing.

·      Recovery and restoration. This describes wellness and restorative interventions and programmes that aid in Healing individuals from disease, offer addiction recovery, and restoration from acute and chronic health conditions.

Churches previously awarded as CHHH include the following:

Gloucester, Nottingham Central, Bristol Central Community Seventh-day Adventist church, and Wolverhampton Central.

Croydon and Hanwell Adventist churches were recently nominated to become CHHH and are preparing for their inaugural launch.

Nominating your church for the CHHH award

Here is an outline of the process of becoming a Centre of Hope, Health and Healing:

•       Share the vision with your Health Ministries and Community Services departments and your church board.

•       Include your church membership in the planning to become a CHHH and vote at the Business Meeting.

•       Assess the suitability of your church in the following areas:

¨     Ensure adequate facilitates, e.g. kitchen and toilet are of a good standard

¨     Does your church provide a welcoming environment?

¨     Is there adequate space for exercise?

¨     Create a reading/resource area for visitors to access relevant literature (optional)

¨     Attention to the following:

•       Do you have a dedicated team or individuals to run outreach programmes?

•       Include the CHHH as part of your mission outreach and evangelism cycle

•       Apply for BUC Mission Funds/TED funding to support the launch of the Centre

•       You must prepare a proposal as part of your application for the BUC Evangelism and Mission Funds. The information on this will be sent to you once you apply for funds

•       Put this initiative to prayer for God’s blessing and direction as your church moves forward in this new chapter

Centres of Influence and Global Mission Urban Centres of Influence

“The name Centre of Influence has been quickly adopted in Seventh-day Adventist circles and is used to describe projects or organisations from businesses, to hospitals, to churches, to individuals. And any and every Adventist organisation or person indeed ought to be a centre of influence to those around them. However, a Global Mission Urban Centre of Influence (UCI) is a specific type of project that should not be confused with the variety of entities calling themselves centres of influence.” UCI Operating Guidelines 2022

Churches that significantly impact their local communities, such as the Tottenham Lighthouse and Willesden Adventist church, have been recognised as centres of influence.

Read here about Paisley’s Urban Centre of Influence (UCI) status

Paisley Church Launches Urban Centre of Influence | Scottish Mission of Seventh-day Adventists

Reporting your church’s outreach

The BUC Health Ministries and Adventist Community Services department has commenced a new series in BUC News captioned: ‘Churches Impacting Communities’. If you wish your church and its outreach ministry to feature in the future, please send your submissions to:

(Your local Conference Communication Director)

Sharon Platt-McDonald at: splattmcdonald@adventist.uk

Articles should be no more than 600 words, accompanied by high-resolution photos of your community event or church outreach. Include testimonials from individuals positively impacted by your church’s ministry.

We look forward to your contribution and pray for God’s continued favour on your outreach ministries.