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Resources 12 and
anisation that works to support young refugees living in Sweden, often s or friends from their home countries. It aims to help them develop cationally and existentially. Through mentoring, football activities and life se of hope and belonging, as these young people begin to see themselves ogether and welcoming each other with compassion.
erything behind, what’s the best thing you could hope for? hown you compassion? What impact did this have on you?
LS (JAPAN)
here they can feel at ease and need to know that they are loved,’ says adoi Church. ‘However, I don’t think that’s something you can just teach ey hear it from someone they know.’ Open Crowd Festival is working to host such as Ishinomaki to build joy and connectedness through activities and s extravagant love to others.
language of sport bring people together? d relationship with God allow you to connect with others in your community?
WHAT IS SPORTS MISSION IN A NUTSHELL?
It’s about helping people connect their passion for Jesus with their love of sport, which can provide fresh opportunities for mission, opening doors and building relationships in their communities.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE?
Equipping, empowering and journeying with people, educating them as to the possibilities that sport can have and encouraging them to go and be released to live out this calling on their lives. I want to help the grassroots church to create a life of sustainable, community-centred and community-focused sports mission, as we continue to dig into mental health, wellbeing and sport as an important feature of worship and discipleship, going deeper and further with others through sport in their everyday lives.
WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY?
I’m a runner – I love it and it brings me so much joy each day. I play any sport, though, and love to learn and be active!
WHO IS ATHLOS FOR?
Everyone! Athlos is designed to be flexible and fit into a variety of contexts, whether that’s on your own or in a group.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
How you fit the material around your exercise and sporting activities is up to you – there’s no right or wrong way! There is also no set timeframe to spend on each film. A series of questions are provided for reflection. It might be that you only focus on one question or your group’s conversations lead you on to other topics. The key is to allow these discussions to impact your sport and faith in the everyday – not just within your time together!
HOW WILL YOU BE USING ATHLOS THIS SUMMER?
I will use it at some summer schools and in a variety of other settings. I’m really excited about getting people’s feedback and reactions to it as we journey, move and share together.
SPORTS MISSION SPECIALIST ROB MOYE
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH SPORTS MISSION?
If you have the passion and desire to take this on, email me at robert.moye@salvationarmy.org.uk or speak to your corps officer to find out more.
Tracy Thorn, Karen Lister, Mary Hagon and Peter Dean from Bedford’s debt advice centre
Lyn Woods finds out about the work of the debt advice service in Bedford and beyond
WE have all seen and heard in the news how the cost of living is soaring with energy costs rising, vehicle fuel prices climbing and demand increasing for food banks. Unemployment, the national benefits system, lack of job security, low wages and stagnant salaries with no pay increases are all contributing to the daily struggle for many people.
Now more than ever The Salvation Army’s debt advice service is on the front line helping to meet a growing need. Its 25 centres across the country provide free advice on debt and money management and offer additional means of support and referrals to agencies for people struggling financially and in other ways. Agencies they work with include Citizens Advice, Jobcentre Plus, the Army’s Employment Plus service and other debt advice centres and food banks.
The debt advice centre at Bedford Congress Hall started operating in 2007 and opens its doors for 15 hours a week. It currently has a caseload of about 40 clients.
‘Debt can happen to anyone,’ says Karen Lister, the debt advice coordinator for the past six years, ‘and there are many reasons why people can easily find themselves in debt, often through no fault of their own.’
Issues such as bereavement, caring responsibilities, redundancy or job loss, physical or mental ill-health, crime, relationship breakdowns, managing on benefits or budgeting difficulties, high housing costs, domestic violence,
