Introduction
This powerpoint is compiled to resource Swindon Agreed Syllabus RE
Units
KS1 How do Christians care for others?
Lower KS2 How do Christians show their commitment to Jesus’ teaching?
Upper KS2 Commitment-How have Christians sought to follow the teaching
of Jesus?
It is to provide materials that are distinctive to Swindon representing two
local projects – The Swindon Foodbank and The Gateway Furniture Project.
Both set up by local Christians to serve those in need in their community.
The powerpoint is extensive and includes photos and interviews with people
of faith motivated to serve God in this way. It can be used in it’s entirety or
appropriate parts can be selected, particularly for younger children.
Photographs can be copied and used separately.
What’s
wrong
here?
How do these people feel?
What can change this
situation?
What do you think this
little girl is thinking?
What would you want to say
to her?
Foodbank gives food boxes to those in need. People are
given vouchers by support groups like the Job Centre,
Social Services, Children’s Centres and Churches. They can
take the voucher to the Foodbank to exchange it for food.
People come because they are in crisis –they might be ill or the
main wage earner has left the family or there has been a delay
in their benefit payments. There can be many ways people can
find themselves in difficulty.
The food is donated to the Foodbank from a
range of places – supermarket collections
encourage people who are shopping there to buy
and give something. Schools Harvest Festivals
in the Autumn time donate their collections.
Local churches, banks and businesses also
collect from people
The food is sorted by type of food and the
‘best before date’. It is checked to ensure
it is still good to eat. Then it is stored in
boxes on shelves in a warehouse.
Think about these words of Jesus………………………
‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose their soul?’
The Bible NT. Mark 8 v 36 NIV version
or
‘Then
he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it”.
The Bible NT. Luke 9 v23-24 NIV version
What job do you do?
Why did you decide to work at the
Foodbank?
I am Andrew. I am the Project Manager at
the Foodbank.
Six years ago I was living a prosperous life and
what would be considered a good standard of
living- I was a business and life coach helping
other people to also be successful. I felt that
there was a force greater than all our human
understanding at work in the world – I felt I
had to search for what it was. My search led
me to become a Christian, I was ‘Born Again’. I
wanted to serve God and asked God to use me.
I felt that Jesus wanted me to ‘Die to self’ and be what
God wanted me to be. I feel fulfilled doing this work as the
Project communicates God’s love to people. My wife is not a
Christian but she supports my decisions.
The warehouse is manned by volunteers. They use a
‘shopping list’ to pick food to make up the boxes depending
on the quantity required for a single person, a couple or a
family with 2 or 4 children.
What else did
Richard say?
I have been working at the Food Bank for 2 years and not
long ago I became Project Manager.
I look after all the volunteers that help at the Foodbank
and make sure that all the food gets collected, sorted,
packed and given to people in need.
Not all the people who volunteer are Christians, they may
be helping because they believe that it is right to help
others who are not so fortunate as themselves.
Sometimes we get students from New College and Swindon
College come and help.
There are different sized food boxes – for a
single person a smaller box of food. A family
with 4 children will get a 30kg box of food
worth about £50.
Most of the food is donated by the
people of Swindon (98%)
June Byrd is a Christian who attends Freshbrook
Evangelical Church in West Swindon. She has been helping
at the Foodbank for two and a half months. She saw the
Foodbank distributing boxes in the town centre and
wondered if something similar could happen in her area of
Freshbrook.
The people in my church at Freshbrook were
praying and we felt we heard God say to us
‘Care for my people’. This made the church get
involved with the Foodbank and our church is a
local distribution point for the Food Bank.
Jesus gives us this teaching…………
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited
me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you
whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and
sisters of mine, you did it for me”
The Bible NT Matthew 25 v 35,36 and 40
Who do they help and how do
they help them?
There was one situation where a grandson was living in the custody of his grandfather and his
grandfather died – he had been the person providing the care and food. Suddenly the young man was
destitute – so the Foodbank was able to help him. We give the food to people who have just got out of
prison or they are escaping domestic abuse or they have lost their job.
Often people need not just food but also a listening ear and information on who else might be able to
help them get out of their crisis.
Sometimes you just need to give some toilet rolls as well- they are so grateful for them.
Food is a thing that gives people dignity and rids them of their anxiety.
People of all faiths and none come to get food and Julie feels she is ‘Showing Jesus’ love for people’.
They pray for each individual who comes (after they leave) and Julie believes God goes with them.
What is this about?
What do you think a
Furniture Project is for?
Gateway Furniture Project is run by Gateway
Church in West Swindon. They receive
donations of good quality furniture, appliances
and household items that are no longer wanted
or needed.
They then re-supply these to local people in
need. This ‘furniture re-distribution’ means
that people who are need are helped in their
darkest times. It is a way to show love in a
practical way to help those who are struggling
in life.
They check all the items and have
to repair some to ensure they are
safe and good enough to be used
again.
For example, this set of bunk beds
is receiving attention in the
workshop area in the warehouse.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
To proclaim freedom to the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners,
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
And the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
And provide for those who grieve in ZionTo bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of joy instead of mourning,
A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
The Bible OT Isaiah 61 and NT Luke 4
This Dawn, the Project Manager of
the Gateway Furniture Project. She
is a member of the Gateway Church
which set up the project. The
Church is nearby on the same site
as the project warehouse.
When people come for help we offer
them a “starter pack” of crockery
and cutlery – in an emergency if they
are suddenly out of their home and in
B+B – it helps restore their dignity
and lift them from the desperate
situation they find themselves in.
Here is one of the volunteers called Jenny.
A year ago I was given a sign
that God wanted me to help
the homeless by offering
them hope and dignity. God
can use me doing this work to
express Jesus’ love for
people. I always pray for
everyone who comes. We all
pray too when we need
something for people in need.
There are further benefits to
Gateway Furniture! Their
work benefits the
environment because things
are recycled and re-used
stopping tonnes of furniture
worth using, from going to the
rubbish tip and being turned
into landfill.
It also helps the people who
volunteer with them to gain
confidence and develop new
skills.
In the last year
they have helped
500 families!
It stopped 50
tonnes going to
landfill!
They have given away
2000 items!