Sabbath 10 May saw the installation of Hanwell Adventist church as a Centre of Hope, Health and Healing (CHHH), which one member referred to as “the highlight of the year so far.” The inauguration service was hosted by church pastor Dr Michael Mbui and attended by South England Conference (SEC) President Dr Kirk Thomas, who delivered an inspirational sermon; SEC Community Services Director Pastor Nerine Barrett, acknowledging dignitaries and participants; and British Union Conference (BUC) Director Sharon Platt-McDonald, who gave a commendation and presented the CHHH award. Community and church members and council officials celebrated this new status, filling the church to capacity. Hanwell was awarded for its exceptional ministry in over 30 community interventions. A full report will be featured in a subsequent BUC News article.
We welcome Hanwell as the newest CHHH in the British Union Conference and pray for their ongoing positive impact in their community.
Bristol Central Seventh-day Adventist church’s impact
We spotlight Bristol Central church in this issue, featuring their outreach ministries over the years.
Bristol Central church was inaugurated as a Centre of Hope, Health and Healing (CHHH) on Sabbath 31 August 2019. Since then, the church has expanded its outreach with an array of programmes, projects, health interventions and initiatives for holistic wellbeing in the following categories:
Offering Hope
· Participants of Bristol Diverse Open Doors (Multi-Faith Forum) since 2018
· Witnessing at International Women’s Day at M Shed Museum
· Early morning gospel singing at the Bristol Fruit Market
· Singing at East Trees Surgery during an Open Day
· Youth Instagram witnessing
Maintaining Health
· Walking for Wellbeing project
· Diabetes Awareness presentation for foreign language-speaking women
· Healthy Eating demonstration – East Trees Surgery
· Cooking and feeding staff at East Trees Surgery
· Health Hub at St Paul’s Carnival – church used as a hub for the police
· Delivering Health Checks at the Supported Living Centre adjacent to Bristol Central church
· St Paul’s Community Outreach with Elsie Staple
· Health Expo with inner city health improvement team
Promoting Healing
· ‘Life Colours’ health and lifestyle presentations with Dr Chidi Ngwaba
· Participated in annual Race For Life (Cancer Research promotion) last Sunday in June at Bristol Downs, Clifton, since 2014
· Community Health MOT sponsored twice a year by DET Community
Social Care
· Soup Kitchen run every Wednesday at Bristol Central church
· ADRA-UK Shoe Box Appeal – Glenfrome Primary School
· ADRA-UK Shoe Box Appeal – Southmead Hospital (Rosa Burden Centre)
· Community Breakfasts
· Feeding people experiencing homelessness – Southmead Hospital (Rosa Burden Centre)
Social Empowerment
· The Gambia School Project has been ongoing yearly since 2019
· Adopt A Student initiative launch with the University of the West of England and Bristol University
· Back To School Project – Veggie Lunch Box Appeal (Glenfrome Primary School) 2016
· Volunteering at reading sessions for students, tuck shop support, cooking and exercise classes – Glenfrome Primary School
· Participated at Jamaica 60th Independence – supported a community event at Bristol Cricket Ground
· Community event at Locklease Community Hub
The church collaborates strongly and ongoingly with several organisations and individuals, such as Trinity Police, the Lord Mayor, Montpelier Health Centre, and East Trees Surgery.
Key to Bristol Central church’s CHHH’s success is its Total Membership Involvement and multi-departmental approach to outreach. For example, the Health Ministries department spearheads most of the health-related initiatives; Community Services runs the Soup Kitchen; the Sabbath School department facilitates the Community Breakfast, and the Youth Department will commence a House Cleaning initiative.
When all the church departments contribute to community outreach, the church’s mission is ignited, and its interventions thrive.
We praise God for Bristol Central church’s scope, impact, and positive witness in their community. May God continue to bless their ministry abundantly.
