New Initiative Bridges Gap Between Charity and Faith
In an effort to harmonize the missions of aiding those in need and spreading Christian teachings, Jubilee+ has introduced an innovative resource. This latest endeavor, a 44-page magazine titled Speak Jesus, aims to provide individuals and church leaders with practical strategies for integrating gospel sharing into their charitable efforts.
The magazine, crafted with insights from numerous organizations such as The Message Trust, Christians Against Poverty, TLG, Hope into Action, and London City Mission, is supported by the Evangelical Alliance. Natalie Williams, CEO of Jubilee+, highlighted a growing separation between acts of mercy and evangelism as a key reason for developing this resource.
Williams remarked, “We’ve written and developed this resource because there seems to be a growing disconnect between mercy ministries and evangelism.” She emphasized the dual mission of offering immediate and eternal hope, stating, “Christians and local churches are called to offer people hope for their immediate needs and hope for their eternal needs, hope for today and hope for eternity.”
Jubilee+ actively supports UK churches in their efforts to assist communities in poverty. The organization noted that most churches engage more non-Christians through their mercy projects than through other activities. This aligns with findings from Evangelical Alliance research, which revealed that only 25% of churches have a “clear, cohesive strategy” for merging compassion with faith-sharing. Many churches believe there is room for improvement, while some see a notable disconnect.
When asked about the declining confidence in linking support services with faith outreach, Williams cited various reasons. Concerns range from exploiting vulnerable individuals, funding restrictions, to worries about the church environment not being welcoming for new believers. Additionally, some have lost faith in the gospel due to past disappointments.
Williams firmly stated that practical help should be unconditional, allowing recipients to decline religious engagement. “It’s never ok to impose conditions on the practical help we offer people, and we need to be clear that anyone we support is free to turn down prayer and will not be forced to listen or engage with any gospel presentation,” she said.
She proposed that churches might hold optional gospel discussions or testimonies following community meals, highlighting that many are open to prayer and exploring life’s profound questions. “If we listen attentively and speak sensitively, it’s just as much an act of compassion to offer help for someone’s eternal need as it is to offer help for their immediate need,” she stated.
Williams concluded with the example of Jesus, encouraging churches to seize opportunities to help both immediate and eternal needs “with gentleness and respect.” The launch of Speak Jesus is set to take place at the Good News People Conference, featuring speakers like Williams and Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance. Jubilee+ will also make the resource accessible online.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
