When you put what you learn at Engage into action, you’ll begin to see immense differences in your community

This is a real-life story from one church that’s engaging with the surrounding community and the spiritual impact it’s had...

“We’re sowing seeds. We don’t know where the seed will land, or what fruit will grow, but we know we’re bringing good news to people,” says Marion Parker.

After giving up her job to run her church’s Community Action Team (CAT), Marion has spent over a year co-ordinating Honiton Community Church’s efforts to engage with the community.

Life issues

Honiton is a rural market town in Devon within easy commuting distance of Exeter, which is probably why the population of the town has doubled in the past decade. As with nearly all towns across Britain, life issues like debt and drugs impact the community.

Through the CAT, the church offers debt advice, parenting courses (including How to Drug Proof Your Kids®), support for prisoners’ families, a ‘homework club’ on one of the poorer estates, and is launching a ‘tots’ group’ and a marriage course.

Marion believes her work with the CAT would be impossible without the support of her church. “It’s important to do the ‘joined-up thinking’. The church elders are on the CAT committee, and I attend the weekly church admin meetings, so both the church and the CAT know what the other one is doing. The CAT is an important part of our church’s vision.”

Salt and light

“Working in the community is how we can be salt and light. We are giving people Bible-based insights into the real issues of life. Ultimately, we recognise it’s a big thing for some people just to come to something in a ‘church’.

“People are suspicious of a church’s motives. We have worked hard to build up our credibility with other agencies. We get referrals for our parenting courses from health agencies, and even from solicitors.

“The local Community Support Officer is part of our team at the ‘homework club’. One of our church leaders is on the local Safety Partnership Group, looking at issues affecting the community, and that has raised our profile among key community workers too.”

And Marion points out that the church does more recognisable evangelistic work too. “Some people contacted us about family issues, then wanted to know more, and came on an Alpha course. Because we can help in practical ways, people are more receptive to the other stuff we say. And when people seek to find out what motivates us, we can see the fruit of our work.”

Whether you’re able to do what Marion does, or just one small thing - the important point is to try something. The Engage day conference will give you plenty of ways to start.

You can book your places on the conference here.