Sowing seeds in Honiton

“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.

“Working in the community is how we can be salt and light. We aren’t directly preaching the gospel, but 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 building.”

Marion gave up her job to run her church’s Community Action Team (CAT). She’s spent over a year co-ordinating Honiton Community Church’s efforts to engage with the community in their rural Devon market town.

Honiton is within easy commuting distance of Exeter, and 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 runs debt advice, parenting courses (including Care for the Family’s How to Drug Proof Your Kids^® course), 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,” she says.

“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.

“People are suspicious of a church’s motives. We’ve 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 ‘church’ work too. “Some people contacted us about family issues, then wanted to know more, and came on an Alpha course. Because we help in practical ways, people are more receptive to the other stuff we say. And when people seek to find out what motivates us, it’s much easier to tell them about the difference Jesus makes.”

Last Updated 21 October 2008