Dr. Ash Barker has spent over 30 years living and serving on the front line of urban poverty and has a passion to release the unique potential of urban people & places through Jesus. Since 2014, the Barkers have been based in Winson Green, inner city Birmingham, UK. They founded Newbigin House which started two new local congregations as well as innovative organisations such as Newbigin Community Trust, Red Letter Christians UK & Urban Shalom Society now led by others. Currently, Ash leads Seedbeds (the new name for Newbigin School for Urban Leadership which merged with the Community for Reconciliation) focusing on growing leaders & communities into fullness of life. This includes 'School for Urban Leadership' accredited programmes (UrbanLeadership.org.uk) and 'Change Makers' emerging leaders programmes (UrbanChangeMakers.org). 

No Wastelands: How to grow seedbeds of shalom in your neighbourhood.

In No Wastelands Ash Barker shares his odyssey of serving on the front line of urban poverty on three continents. Through stories, scriptures, and challenging insights, Ash inspires readers to release the unique potential of their local communities.

“Whoever you are, ‘No Wastelands’ will help you learn what I have been learning from Ash over the years: that making a difference is neither as simple as we think nor as impossible as we think.” Brian McLaren

Launching at Greenbelt - August 2023

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