In July, a jointly organised workshop was held by CTD (Communities Together Durham), CUF (Church Urban Fund) and Durham Diocese to learn more about the Growing Good Toolkit. Based on extensive research conducted by Theos and the GRA:CE Report, the toolkit gives churches, sessions to think about and work through to support them in growing through community engagement and serving ministry.
There were churches represented from across the Diocese, who heard a reflection from Bishop Sarah encouraging us to work with our communities, bringing the love of Jesus to them and enabling them to hear God in their own language or mother-tongue, quoting from Acts 2.
This was followed by some a practical work using one of the toolkit sessions and hearing inspirational stories of churches in our Diocese who have seen signs of growth and discipleship. This included a Places of Welcome in Christ Church, Felling, and a church attached social outreach project in Sunderland, run through Hope4All CIC at St Thomas Pennywell, and a Lunch Club at St Mary’s & St Peter’s, Springwell.
Many people left the session feeling inspired and armed with the initial information for working through the Growing Good sessions. For more support, or further information, links are shown below.
For more information on Growing Good click here: Growing Good | Homepage (growing-good.org.uk)
For more information on Places of Welcome click here: Responding to need – Communities Together Durham
For more information on Growing Churches and Cultivate 100 contact: Ali Bianchi – Ali.Bianchi@durham.anglican.org
