The Christian Funders Forum (CFF) held its first ever Christian social action Awards Ceremony on 12 November at Lambeth Palace, residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Awards celebrated the transforming projects that churches and Christian organisations have implemented to serve their communities around the UK and abroad.
The Christian Funders Forum is a group of executives and trustees of grant-making foundations who meet regularly to assess examples of best practice which they have discovered. They include the Andrews Charitable Trust, Christian Initiative Trust, the Cinnamon Network, The Jerusalem Trust, The Joseph Rank Trust, and the Laing Family Trusts.
The Joseph Rank Trust nominated three projects from a list of ninety for the category of best adaptation across the UK of a church building to meet the needs of church and community. St James Church, Milton Abbas, Dorset, was nominated and (together with Freshwater Methodist Church, Isle of Wight,) became runner-up to Sharpe Memorial, Parkhead, Glasgow – an exciting new building project which facilitates the feeding, clothing and education of those in need in the east end of Glasgow.
Colin Rank, chairman of The Joseph Rank Trust, announced that the Trust's decision to nominate St James Church had been made because it was a role model on how to cope with the complexity of providing new community facilities within an important historic church. The Trust had supported the project and wished to encourage others to go and see what had been done.
Matt Bird, founder of the Cinnamon Network, opened the ceremony in the Guard Room of the Palace, welcoming over 100 guests at the inauguration of this new way of working together to support excellence in Christian mission. His prayer set the scene for some really exciting projects – half-a- dozen of which received an impressive engraved glass Award plaque. Apart from Sharpe (passionate about God, passionate about people); there was Make Lunch (providing meals and more during the holidays for those who depend of free school meals); Willowfield Parish Church Belfast (meeting community needs); Longdon Community Church Preston (Inside Out - meeting the needs of the world); Youthscape Luton (work with self harming youngsters); and Way Forward, a Mustard Seed project spearheaded by Steve Rawlings (prison mission).
It was brought to our attention that only 50% of churches have a toilet. Churches lacking basic facilities are likely to be used for no more than an hour at a time (short services and short meetings). There are Christian funding organisations keen to help encourage new initiatives. We spread the gospel by the way we care for those around us. We need to seize the opportunities!
For further information please contact Tom Roberts on 01258 880313 / mail@tra.uk.com
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