United
Image: Rineshkumar Ghirao on Unsplash
There are many churches in the town of Basingstoke where I live. Over the years I have had the joy of working across the different denominations on various projects.
In the early 1990s, our church got involved with others in the town in a national event called ‘Christmas Cracker’.
The idea was that young people took over a local venue, prepared and sold ‘third world’ food at ‘first world’ prices. All profits where given to Christian charities working in poor countries.
We had a good number of different church youth groups involved, had a lot of fun, serving up basic food and raising money!
Over the years other townwide projects have started, all which draw on people to serve from across the churches, such as: Street Pastors, Foodbank, Money Lifeline, Community Food Link and the Night Light Winter Shelter.
These are all wonderful, and our local Council have seen the benefit and difference these projects make in our community.
Undergirding that are the positive connections and relationships with church leaders. ‘One Church Basingstoke’ provides this for all church denominations in the area.
I have friends, fellow church leaders who are Baptists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Independents, and Catholics. We regularly meet, share stories and pray for one another.
Recently, a new Church purchased the building next door to us, which had been owned by the Methodist Church. I met with the Pastor and welcomed him to the area.
Only last week we had a joint service for our town where we worshipped and prayed together - there was such a real sense of unity!
It reminded me of this beautiful psalm about how God see’s unity…
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.”
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader