Christian charities, community groups and churches changing lives in the UK and overseas have been recognised at an awards evening hosted at Lambeth Palace.
The Christian Funders Forum, which provides more than £93 million in grants annually from 45 benefactors, celebrated projects rooted in faith, compassion and a desire to help people thrive.
Helen Gray, forum chair, told Premier Christian News that the work of Christian groups is often “enormously hidden” despite “providing a lifeline to many people”.
“It’s our chance to really celebrate the incredible work and the impact of Christian charities, Christian places of worship, and just to put people in the spotlight who really deserve recognition for their contribution to society. If you can think of a social issue, there are Christian charities and churches actively supporting people in every community across the country.”
At the event, hosted by BBC presenter Swarzy, attendees heard about how lives had been changed through the Christian hope shared in local communities. Awards recognised four areas of Christian mission: strengthening local relationships; caring for the world; work with children, young people and families; and spiritual growth and discipleship.
Award winners were:
- Thriving Communities: Orchards and The Boaz Trust
- Global Stewardship, Caring for Our World: Closer to the Land and Gogo Olive
- Hope Filled Futures: 100 Homes and BeSpace
- Growing Faith: Church on the Street Ministries and North Valley Community Church
After the ceremony, Premier spoke with some of the award winners about the impact of their projects.
North Valley Community Church is a recent church plant in Colne, Lancashire, in an estate which previously had a minimal Christian presence. Community Pastor Sharon told Premier she was inspired to start a place of community during a prayer walk on the estate.That group has led to starting a church, creating a space for residents to explore faith and grow in fellowship. Three people have recently been baptised, with another having been confirmed.
Asked about how people could pray for the church, she said: “For growth, not only in numbers but depth of discipleship. There are plenty of people who are still considering God, so pray that they come to faith. For those who do know God, that their faith is deepened.”
Orchards partners with local churches to see women freed from sexual exploitation and live independent lives. Co-founder Emma Goulds shared with Premier the experience of ‘Andrea’ (not her real name):
“She was trafficked to the UK for sexual purposes following a family bereavement and the resulting poverty. She had hoped for a better life here to help her mum. What she experienced was years of abuse, violence, trauma and homelessness. She was able to access Orchards’ safe accommodation, a place she could call hers, for a minimum of a year, counseling where she could begin to process some of the trauma she’d experienced, support work where she could start to work towards her own goals at her pace.
“She connected with a volunteer from a local church where she could begin to explore faith for herself. We had the joy of seeing her move into her own flat over the summer, and she now wants other women who’ve gone through the same thing to believe in God and not give up, as she’s not giving up.”