A proposal for partnership: raising the poor from the dust… to seat them with princes

On Wednesday 9 March we held a special local meeting of all the pastorates in Everyday Kingston, to share plans in the pipeline of a potential partnership with Green Pastures, a national social enterprise that purchases houses so that partner churches and charities can house homeless people in their local area. 

God showed His timing in more ways than one. On the same day, the Guardian published an article and editorial about the rise of homelessness in England (over the past 5 years the number has doubled, and the latest government statistics show an increase of about 30% between 2014 and 2015). Two days prior, John and Tosin found themselves welcoming in a homeless stranger for the night; as Tosin shared on Wednesday, this was a new revelation to them of God’s heart for each one of us, and that the homeless are not different, no less special or loved in His eyes. Look out for this story here soon!

We prayed for the ongoing work in Kingston by Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, the Joel Trust, and other churches, and the guests who were with us in February in the winter night shelter.

Derek shared the vision for partnering with Green Pastures for homes for the homeless in Kingston, and that we are putting a proposal together for the elders and trustees. A small venue-wide team that prays regularly for Everyday Difference had been reminded that ‘unless the Lord builds the house, [we] labour in vain‘, and Beth was stirred by the story Jesus told of the wise man who built his house on the rock, so we did a little symbolic building of our own!

We prayed for God’s clarity, wisdom, timing, and favour as we work on the proposal, for the first house  and its occupants (in faith that this will go ahead!), for befriending and inclusion, and that we, as a church, would share God’s heart and compassion, that His name alone would be made more known and glorified, and most of all, that those who are homeless will be restored to themselves, their families, the community, and ultimately to faith in Jesus.

We prayed for volunteers, as a team will be needed to do admin, provide pastoral support and also help with maintenance (not to mention donations of household items etc!). We asked God in faith that our response would be like that of the people of Israel when they were asked to give to the building of the sanctuary in Exodus 35 and 36. The Bible speaks of their willingness to bring freewill offerings, and that so much was brought that the workers stopped building, went to Moses, and asked him to tell them to stop as there was more than enough! 

We ended by singing again, as we had earlier in worship, the Lord’s prayer (incidentally the same song which focused our prayers for Everyday Difference two weeks previously!); Kirsty had been led to pray prophetically during worship that His kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven, and His will be done. This is His heart for those in need:   


Who is like the Lord our God, 
The One who sits enthroned on high,
Who stoops down to look 
on the heavens and the earth? 
He raises the poor from the dust 
and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 
He seats them with princes, 
with the princes of his people. 
Psalm 113:5-8

Stay tuned for more on this potential exciting partnership! Please pray for this initial stage of the process and, if you’d like to find out more or express your interest to give/volunteer in any capacity and pray, please email us! Please also pray for the amazing work of Green Pastures, which along with its partners is doing so much to help homeless and vulnerable people nationwide!