This year we have witnessed the cost of living grow exponentially. While rising bills have impacted most of us in some form, those on the lowest incomes have been hit the hardest. Many are having to make difficult decisions between heating their homes or putting food on the table.
The situation some are faced with is very bleak. But in the midst of the bleakness, there is hope. As John 1:5 says: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.
Christian organisations, churches and individuals across the four nations have been responding creatively and compassionately to meet the needs of people in their local area and display the hope of Jesus.
Hope for the Christian comes not just in meeting physical needs (although Isaiah 58 provides us with a strong biblical mandate to do so), but also in meeting spiritual needs. These spiritual needs are ones that no one is exempt from, no matter their income or status, and they can only be satisfied through a personal relationship with Jesus.
We have put together this Stories of Hope series to show some of the different ways in which the church is bringing the hope of Jesus to communities across the UK. We want to encourage and inspire churches to respond to the crisis, to learn from each other and to build good working relationships with local authorities that will help them have even more of an impact in their community.
May our faith be one that compels us to be people of hope in dark times.
"“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19"
