Pioneer Ministry in Bidwell West

 

• "People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care"

 
As I complete my first year as pioneer community worker on Bidwell West, a new housing development near Houghton Regis, I find myself reflecting on the saying, “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care”. There are many stories that we could share of God’s mission being worked out in this place, successful events and projects launched, surprised by the generosity of God. But if you were to ask me what I consider the most important achievement of this project within this first year, it is that our community know that we care.

Our community know that we care about people and place. Caring looks like having ANOTHER meeting with the council about FINALLY installing dog bins. Caring looks like organising Christmas socials with mulled wine and mince pies under a gazebo so no one is alone. Caring looks like being welcomed in to a neighbours home, to sit, to listen, to pray, as they come to terms with unexpected news.

But sometimes I have that irritating question, “Is caring enough?” As I write an article, and celebrate the generosity of churches locally to home mission; is it really enough to say, ‘What we do here, is care for our community’? I think so. I hope so. After all, Jesus’ command to his disciples was to love another so that everyone would know that they were his disciples.

Tim Haines
Minister and Pioneer Community Worker
January 2022

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