Jubilee+ Podcast

Many people who struggle with shame, addiction, depression, anxiety, or a chaotic lifestyle don’t see the church as a place for them. In this seminar from the Churches that Change Communities conference 2023, Sam Ward shares how to truly welcome everyone into church family so that each person feels that they belong without compromising on community.

Sam Ward is the CEO of The Message Trust. He has been involved in the Eden Network for 24 years, initially as a volunteer and subsequently leading the team and a local church plant in the deprived neighbourhood of Openshaw where he continues to live with his family. He speaks at many national events about his passion for urban mission and the reality of living it out.

Thanks to Owen O'Brien for permission to use his music: Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

Rachel Wilson and Abi Thomas host another of the keynote talks from the Churches that Change Communities conference 2023, this time from Natalie Williams, the CEO of Jubilee+.

Natalie Williams grew up in relative poverty in the deprived seaside town of Hastings. She has been involved with Jubilee+ since its first year and took over from founder Martin Charlesworth as Jubilee+ Chief Executive in April 2021. Natalie is the co-author of four books, including Invisible Divides.

Natalie Williams and Abi Thomas are here to share the amazing keynote address by Tope and Kemi Koleoso from the Churches That Change Communities Conference 2023.

Tope and Kemi lead Jubilee Church London, which is a multiracial, multicultural church in the heart of London and meets in multiple locations. They have two grown up sons. Tope also serves on the Newfrontiers UK apostolic team and preaches internationally in various circles.

Kemi leads the women’s ministry at Jubilee Church which includes the Courage conference, an annual event in London that gathers over one thousand women of all ages and walks of life and Courage Sisterhood.

We wrap up the day with Natalie Williams, CEO of Jubilee+. What do we do there are giants in the land, what is the role of a Christian in a time of darkness? We don't deny the darkness, but we look to the light.

We also talk about becoming a Jubilee+ partner church and how to stay healthy when working hard against poverty and injustice.

Thanks for being with me for this Jubilee Plus podcast series. If you like what you hear you can find more content like this over at The Hopeful Activists Podcast, which I also host. Our latest episode is called

“Where do worship and justice meet?”

Rosie Hopley talks to Abi about lament and hope, as well as the importance of reconciliation in the church and how to avoid mono-cultural church. And about tiny baby elephants.

Rosie developed the Reconciled Church Course and also founded the charity Beloved and is also co founder of a social business enterprise LoveWellUK. Rosie also works for Jubilee, including on their new project Jubilee+ Voices.

Carl Knightly is Director of Church Networks at London City Mission.

With grateful thanks to Owen O'Brien for his music and the permission to use it:

Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

from Let Him Reign by Owen O'Brien

Simon Elliott from Everyday Church in London gives Abi some great wisdom on leadership, healthy faith and not having a messiah complex.

With grateful thanks to Owen O'Brien for his music and the permission to use it.

Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

from Let Him Reign by Owen O'Brien

Used with permission and with our thanks!

Charlie MacDonald is part of the core team at Jubilee+ - Children & Youth Lead and has lived and served in the East End of London for twenty years and also works for London City Mission.

She shares about the new resource from Jubilee+, Overflow. The link to buy it will appear ASAP.

With grateful thanks to Owen O'Brien for his music and the permission to use it:

Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

from Let Him Reign by Owen O'Brien

Kat Osborne is the CEO of Safe Families and shares her love for and the transforming power of hospitality, and Abi asks,

What's the problem with projects?

With grateful thanks to Owen O'Brien for his music and the permission to use it:

Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

from Let Him Reign by Owen O'Brien

Sam Ward is Director of Ministry for the Message Trust which is a Manchester based charity reaching urban areas, you head up the Eden Network and The Message Missions Teams and has been involved with Eden for 22 years!

I ask him where Jesus is in the permacrisis, hope and garden gnomes.

With grateful thanks to Owen O'Brien for his music and the permission to use it:

Living in the shadow (feat. Samu'el)

from Let Him Reign by Owen O'Brien