Building whole communities
I've felt challenged recently to engage in new ways with my community. I was watching a report on the news this week about isolated elderly people who, in the absence of family rarely have contact with the outside world and all too frequently live in relative poverty. As I watched it I wanted to do something to change the situation, to bring hope and restore an experience of community to those who are isolated.
The reality is that as individuals we cannot change the pandemic of loneliness on our own but if we work together in a joined up holistic way with a common commitment to build whole communities our efforts really can count and achieve change.
This is why Faithworks are holding their national conference in February on 360° Building Whole Communities. And in the busyness of confirming with speakers, selling tickets (www.faithworks.info/conference) coordinating the venue and worrying about the budget this is my prayer, that each person who comes along will leave inspired, equipped, motivated and enabled to work in their own locality to build whole communities and turn the tide of isolation and under provision.
The belief that Christians up and down the country can bring hope and inclusion, and work for positive change in their local community, unseen perhaps but making a real difference energises me and means that I can't but be excited about the conference. Come along, bring your friends, your colleagues, your church and let's work together to build whole communities.
Nancy Doyle, Faithworks Team Leader