Pioneering ministry 10 and

A Latin theological term that can be translated as ‘the mission of God’. The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine states: ‘Our mission is God’s mission. God in love reaches out through his people to a suffering and needy world, a world that he loves. In mission we express in word and deed and through the totality of our lives the compassion of God for the lost.’

Castle play area Westfield flats

Easter Messy Church

‘When our playground finally opened, it was a moment of real celebration for the community, and it has been great to see the park being used as a place for kids to play and parents to meet.’

In similar ways, Ryan has become involved with all sorts of programmes in the community, including the Sheffield Futures Youth Club, the South East Sheffield People Keeping Well project, the S20 Food Bank and so much more. In partnership with a nearby Anglican church, the Army also runs a regular Messy Church at a primary school and hosts similar faith-based activities in the community centre.

The beauty of missio Dei is that anyone can get involved and this has inevitably led to Ryan working hand-inhand with organisations and individuals from all walks of life. His wife, Kathryn, has played an important role in forging a link with Shortbrook Primary School, where she works within the business and administration team.

‘Over the years,’ she says, ‘we have had a lot of behaviour issues in the school, which have been really tough on the mental health of children and staff. Throughout this, I was able to ask our church support network to pray for the school, obviously without breaking any confidences with specific details. I have also been journeying with a colleague who is starting on a Christian journey.

‘Where I am is a great resource for God. I am able to sit and talk to parents who are having a hard time and, where necessary, through links that we have in the community, I have been able to refer or signpost them to relevant services for additional support.’

A recent survey in the area highlighted the fact that, through this missio Dei approach, members of the fellowship – as representatives of God and The Salvation Army – have become a valuable part of the community, coming to understand the complex needs of individuals and groups.

One resident said: ‘The Salvation Army knows of the depth of deprivation and need in Westfield. I find it reassuring that a Christian group is addressing the real need.’

‘I believe that we are here to help build the Kingdom of God in Westfield,’ Ryan affirms, ‘to help the community become more like Heaven, to help people fulfil their God-given potential and to point out that God is already in them.

‘There are still many unresolved questions related to what God is doing in Westfield and how we fit into his purpose. But I believe that, if we are faithful and keep listening to what he is saying to us through his people already here, one day we will live our way to the answer.’

Next time

Bethany and Jonathan Munn introduce Faversham Fresh Expression

FIND OUT MORE

Visit pioneerbitesize.com Listen to the podcast at

sapioneering.captivate.fm @SAPioneering

@PioneeringSa

@pioneeringsa

SIMON HOPE

Editorial Assistant Salvationist

Helping tight budgets stretch further

Major Lynne Clifton tells Melita Day-Lewis about a new mobile supermarket on the Isle of Sheppey

HOW many people have had ‘bus’ and ‘bus driver’ on their prayer list? Fresh Expressions Leader Major Lynne Clifton did, and saw both prayers answered!

Sheerness Corps, on the Isle of Sheppey off the coast of Kent, is part of the Sheppey Community Development Forum – a partnership of various organisations working together on the island to make a difference to residents facing food poverty. The island is considered an area of social deprivation, with many low-income earners and few employment opportunities.

During the Covid-19 lockdown in November 2020, at a monthly online meeting, the forum discussed the high demand on food banks and what could be done to help families long-term.

‘We began to talk about setting up a social supermarket, where people pay to become part of a scheme to access more affordable food on a regular basis, and where there is dignity and choice,’ says Lynne.

‘We also talked about wrap-around care to help people with their budgeting, fuel poverty and other challenges they were facing, and about finding ways to help them release more money for their households – not knowing what was around the corner with the current cost of living crisis!’

The east of the island has little access to services for people without transport, so the forum began ‘to dream about a mobile way to take services all around the island’ and went away to look at how much it would cost to buy a bus.

At their next meeting the dream had started to become a reality – the Travelmasters bus company on the island had donated an old red doubledecker to the forum.

They approached East Coast Works, a renovation company in Faversham, about making the bus ‘fit for purpose’. It could easily be done – at a cost.

‘We didn’t really have the money,’ explains Lynne, ‘but we started putting feelers out to various businesses, organisations and charities, and the forum partners, including The Salvation Army, said “What can we give to make this happen?”

‘Our divisional headquarters put a donation into the pot and so did lots of other organisations. I did a sponsored walk and raised several thousand pounds that way. By September 2021 we had our bus – completely kitted out – and hit the road!’

Every bus needs a bus driver and, at a time when there was a national shortage of HGV drivers, a retired bus driver from the community, Mike, volunteered his services.

‘That was a massive answer to prayer,’ laughs Lynne. ‘Mike didn’t want to work full-time anymore but wanted to give something back to the community one day a week. He’s been brilliant! It’s

Charlie Buckingham with Ella Marrett-Gregory, Oasis, Naomi Oulds, Morrisons community champion, and Kerry Sweet, Sheppey Support Bus co-ordinator

remarkable that we found someone we didn’t have to pay in the middle of the HGV driver crisis.

‘In fact, God’s provision has been incredible at every stage of the journey so far. Mike was due to go on holiday and we didn’t have a replacement. He thought of someone who was delighted to have been asked, so now we have a substitute driver as well. What a faithful God we serve!’

A bus isn’t the only vehicle that has been given to the project. A refrigerated van picks up the fresh produce from the Morrisons distribution centre the day before the bus goes out and follows the bus the next day to keep replenishing supplies.

‘Feeding Britain kindly donated the van,’ explains Lynne. ‘I drive it for the pick-ups and another volunteer drives it on the day we go out with the bus.’

The Sheppey Support Bus – with a new white look and the statement ‘Helping tight budgets stretch further’ on

PEOPLE WE HAVE SUPPORTED PEOPLE WE HAVE SUPPORTED

One woman said she was worried about what she thought were ghosts in her house and asked if we could do anything about this. I got hold of the Church of England diocesan deliverance ministry team and they made an appointment, came over and together we went to pray in her house.

Another woman was walking along the road where we had just pulled up the bus. I said, ‘Hello there, have you heard about the Sheppey Support Bus?’ She burst into tears and said she was feeling suicidal and had planned to end her life. We brought her on board the bus, made her a cup of tea, chatted to her and got in touch with the community warden. We set up some support for her to be visited. Although she’s not in need of any food support, she started to come every week for the company and now she comes and makes tea for everybody else. She has also joined the weekly Salvation Army Bible study. She was in a desperate place that day and she will say, ‘I was walking in the right place at the right time. It was meant to be that I was there.’

We also helped a woman who lives in a one-bedroom place, who received a fuel bill for £2,300. She couldn’t get through to Citizens Advice and she tried to contact a moneylender because she didn’t have the money to pay the bill. She was receiving 15 calls a day from these moneylenders, and she was beside herself with worry. I was able to put her in touch with the fuel and water adviser who stopped the demands from the fuel company, had a payment plan put in place and visited her at home to see how she’s using her fuel and what can be done. We also went to read her meter, because she didn’t know how to do the readings, and linked her up with some other support as well.