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The Care Centre is predictable and yet completely unpredictable. This sounds like nonsense, but humour me...

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Some things at the Care Centre are rigid and always the same. We, the Care Centre team - staff and volunteers - arrive and carry out certain must-do tasks. Alan and Jane, helped by Alex or Phil when needed, do the cooking. I'm amazed at their creativity, and at the generosity of the food donations. The chairs and tables are prepared, the tea and coffee flasks made up. Large jugs of squash are ready for the clients who come through the door any time after 10.30am. YouTube gently serenades us with classic Christian songs. Time is always laid aside for prayer because we desperately need God if we're to share the gospel. Givng the gospel talk after lunch is one of the meatiest aspects of the day.

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The unpredictable are the clients. Who will come and in what mood? Who will visit for the first time? What problems will they be facing in their lives? How will God work this time? When they arrive, some are in a real state because of drug or drink sessions. Some are desperate, living on the streets. Some come regularly and are not homeless but looking for certainties and regularity. They come because the Care Centre is a place they can socialise and talk if they want to. Perhaps they want to play Uno or Scrabble or complete a jigsaw. Others come for food and drink.

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One day a man arrived who we had never seen before at the Care Centre. He was mild-mannered, small and extremely humble. He kept apologising and seemed to think he was causing an inconvenience. He had heard about the Care Centre, that we might be able to help him with accommodation. He arrived soaking wet, having walked through the rain to get to us. First we gave him a new set of clothes, because those on his back were all he had. It was a challenge find clothes that fitted, him being such a small man. We convinced him to stay to eat and he heard the gospel message. He said it was challenging, and that he had always believed in Jesus.

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He told us his story, how he was a victim of identity theft. It was clear he was in genuine need. He had originally arrived in the UK from Namibia and worked for Facebook before his sponsorship ended. He lost his job, then his home and found himself on the streets where his belongings and ID were stolen.

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That same day a lady had visited to let us know she had Houses in Multiple Occupation, or HODs, available for anyone who was homeless. Our client viewed one, liked it and arranged to move in.  I was so pleased we were able to help bring about real, practical change in his life.

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Mark 13:10 says, 'And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.' So at the Care Centre that is what we seek to do, by preaching the gospel in word, and by serving the clients who come. The Care Centre provides a kaleidoscopic view of life as it intersects with the gospel. God gives grace, we see it being played out and, even more, we get to participate in what God is doing. Thank you, Jesus.

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Kevin Williams, City Missionary (pictured in the striped apron)

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It is a real privilege to work at the Care Centre. Being an ex-addict myself I have known the power of healing in my life, and what the Lord can do is mind-blowing.

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This year it has been exciting to set up a carpentry workshop. We are now up and running and fulfilling orders for bird boxes. One client in particular, Andrew (pictured at the top of the page, on the left with Matt), has a real love for the work - I don't know how we would have finished all the boxes without him. His enthusiasm is a joy. It is an honour to share Jesus' love with the lads and ladies while working together and burning Bible verses on the boxes. Questions are raised, ice is broken and bridges are built.  

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Sometimes I do a quick introduction with new clients and share what God has done in my life. I talk about Psalm 40, one of the main scriptures we burn on the boxes. It sums up my life, the power and guidance of God in it. We can lose focus in our hectic lives but when I stand back and see God's hand at work I know he is in control. One of my main prayers is that the clients, some with massive baggage and seemingly not much hope, would be giving their own testimony of how Jesus has changed their life, and helping others to do the same.

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With some money given to us for the workshop, we have recently bought a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine.  With it we can venture into more woodworking projects and I am sure it will give a lot of fun. Please pray for this work, that the  clients would enjoy their time but most of all receive the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Matt Buttery, Care Centre Support Worker

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