"Your Church in Your Community"

Good Afternoon, hope you've had a good week this week and that you're ready for another one. Bonfire night has come and gone so that basically means Christmas is around the corner... scary stuff.

I've called this blog 'Your Church in Your Community'. It is one of Eston Corp's slogans so to speak and now I've been here for coming close to two months, I can really see why. It was so apparent to me last monday when we went to a school to pick up some food donated by the children, there was tonnes of it. So much food it was an incredible sight! But this was the community, giving food to the Salvation Army who then in turn gives that food back to the community through food parcels, although it maybe unseen, which helps build the community up and bring those struggling people a little bit of comfort and support. We are a vital role in that cycle of serving the community. People around this area know who the Salvation Army are, I had a conversation with a woman at the local shop, she knew exactly what the Salvation Army is and where it is located. Eston Corps is in the community of Eston and surrounding areas, serving the community of Eston and surrounding areas. The pub ministry we have hits right at the centre of the community. I am learning that the North-East has a strong Working Men's club and pub culture and that it has been a tradition of these people to gather and have a good time in these buildings. Eston Salvation Army is a known presence in these pubs and clubs, the men and women know who we are. We bring Jesus right into the very hub of this community on a friday night, even if it is only through a listening ear and the offer of a War Cry.

 

 The Territorial Commander, Commissioner Clive Adams, preached on Transformational mission at the territorial congress a couple of weeks ago and he said "Transformation happens out there...", The TC then went onto say that Jesus transformed lives because he was out there, "Jesus, the very embodiment of Grace and Truth was made available to a desperate world because He was there with them." If the Salvation Army is going to make a difference in this community we need to be in it. I see this in Eston Corps, it has a real presence in this community. The schools know who we are, the pubs know who we are, the council knows who we are, the local shop knows who we are and people know who we are. There is a real need in Eston, just like there would be a real need wherever you are reading this and so if we are going to make a difference then we need to be in the community. The past few weeks have made this fact so apparent to me.

I hope you are still enjoying reading my blog. The tenth one! How time flies. If you have any questions or comments to make please get in touch.

God Bless

@peggo36

pegg.j@hotmail.co.uk