Our episode today comes with a health warning, it may change your life! Matt Parfitt and Ben Topliss share with us God’s vision for people in poverty; not just relief but release. How can we provide pathways for people to come out of poverty, and stay out?

Matt Parfitt gave up his career as a teacher to set up Grace Enterprises, while Ben is the leader of Grace Church Nottingham. We hear how the businesses they have set up have brought more than just jobs to the people in their community.

This is a talk from the Churches that Change Communities Conference, held in Liverpool in November.

In today's seminar Rachel Wilson from Jubilee+ explores the relationship between poverty and learning disabilities, and draws on great work being done by churches around the country to help change the odds for individuals and families. Finishing with an interview with Dr Naomi Fox, the pioneer and CEO behind UK charity, Growing Hope.

Rachel lives in Eastbourne with her husband Andrew and three children. The couple drew on their personal experience of raising children with autism in a book titled ‘The Life You Never Expected: Learning to Thrive while Parenting Children with Special Needs’. Rachel has a heart for the vulnerable and marginalised, and for serving churches which reach and welcome those most in need.

Today’s seminar, recorded at the Churches that Change Communities in Liverpool, is from Dr. Andy Knox. Drawing on over 20 years of experience as a GP and healthcare leader, Andy delves into how inequality and injustice are fuelling a healthcare crisis and how we can invest in hospitality, and being hosted and be part of God’s plan for the restoration of all things.

But it’s not all bad news. Andy brings a hopeful message, offering insights into the antidote that can help us build a kinder, fairer society where everyone can thrive.

Andy shares from his vast experience, including his work as Associate Medical Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, his teaching role at Lancaster University, and his thought leadership at the King’s Fund and NHS Assembly. 

Buy Andy’s important book Sick Society here.

We are joined by Charlie MacDonald and Dan Glover to talk about Gen Z, or Generation Z, who are typically defined as people born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s. How can Generation Z’s passion for justice inspire the rest of the church, and how can we connect with them, and help them to connect that to the God of justice who we serve?

Charlie MacDonald oversees schools work for London City Mission as well as being part of the Jubilee+ core team. Dan grew up in Brighton and has lived in Hastings for the past eight years and is the Youth Pastor at the brilliantly named King’s Church 1066! 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A1-10&version=NIV

As part of our special series featuring seminars from the Churches that Change Communities Conference we will hear from Tom Grant, a great communicator with a passion for urban church ministry and community transformation.

Tom is the Head of Proximity, a new resource hub designed to empower the urban church. He’s also the minister of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Netherton in North Liverpool.

In this episode, Tom introduces us to Mission Mapping, a practical tool to help you and your church better understand and serve your neighbourhood. Whether you’re new to your area or have lived there your whole life, mission mapping can help uncover what’s special about our communities and highlight opportunities for bringing hope and transformation.

You can download the Mission Mapping tool at proximityhub.org where you can also sign up to get more support and resources.

We’re joined by Alasdaire Duerden today, for his seminar at the Churches that Change Communities Conference.

As our nation faces an array of challenges—from housing and education to mental health and local council funding—Alasdaire helps us to consider how the Church can respond with hope and light.

Alasdaire is a civil servant with over 30 years of experience working to improve outcomes for disadvantaged families, children, and young people. He is currently leading the delivery of a £70m programme designed to improve systems for those with special educational needs. Alasdaire is part of City Church Sheffield.

We're really pleased to bring you another seminar from the Churches That Change Communities Conference. Today we’ll be hearing form the brilliant Steve Rouse, who works for the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, he is also a teaching pastor at Balham Baptist Church in South London, with a career as a bricklayer before that. Steve is speaking to us about creating a church for all.

If you’re enjoying the content from this conference do visit the Jubilee Plus website and find lots more resources and more information about how to partner with us!

In today's seminar from the Churches That Change Communities conference in Liverpool, Lauren Windle explores the challenges faced by those living in poverty and asks: how can the Church respond? From health disparities to education gaps, from postcode lotteries to the poverty premium, the odds are stacked against those who have the least. But there’s hope. Lauren challenges unto consider how churches can not only support and welcome individuals facing these issues but also work to push back against the systems that perpetuate inequality.

Lauren Windle is a journalist, public speaker, and author of two brilliant books:

• Notes on Feminism: Being a Woman in a Church Led by Men
• Notes on Love: Being Single and Dating in a Marriage-Obsessed Church

Lauren is also celebrating a decade of sobriety from alcohol and drugs.

Lauren also mentions Natalie William and Paul Brown's excellent book Invisible Divides.

Join Abi Thomas and Rachel Wilson as they bring us the keynote talk from Natalie Williams at the Churches That Change Communities Conference from the wonderful city of Liverpool this year!

Be encouraged as Natalie unpacks profound truths about Jesus from Isaiah 9:

• Wonderful Counsellor – Jesus is personal.
• Mighty God – Jesus is powerful.
• Everlasting Father – Jesus is permanent.
• Prince of Peace – Jesus is present.

We'll be bringing you lots more content from the Jubilee+ conference over the coming weeks, so be sure to subscribe on your favourite podcast service!

Our merciful acts find their origin in knowing the mercy we first received. Rachel Wilson asks: Who could we now invite to the table?