ON Sunday, November 25, 2018 a special evening service at Holy Trinity Church, Whitecross, Hereford was the occasion for Vennture to receive the Queens Award for Voluntary Service from Herefordshire Deputy Lieutenant Lady Darnley, the Queen’s representative. This award was described by Lady Darnley as “the MBE for volunteer groups” and it is rigorously assessed. The history and development of Vennture and its various outreaches was told by numerous volunteers who also gave tribute to the Victorian Christian pioneers, John and Emilia Venn and the enterprising work they founded for the benefit of Hereford’s poor which became Hereford City Mission in 1856. Vennture intentionally imitates the rock-solid Christian values and enterprising spirit of the Venns, providing teams of street pastors and Lean On Me volunteers on weekend nights.
An earlier post, reflecting on these Christian values and how they can connect us in friendships we could not have predicted, with those who are a regular part of the Night Time Economy, continues below.
WE LIVE in a judgmental world – all the more apparent in a season of exam results, Brexit uncertainty, and rising social tensions. We judge – and are judged – on our attainments, the kind of house we own or don’t own, and our occupation e.g. “just a stay-at-home mum”. Of course, we need to make good discernments about character and trust in our dealings, but it is this very human and rather proud attitude of being judgmental that strains relationships.
As Christians, we’re called to be different. That is easy to say, and more difficult to deliver, but Jesus (who said “I am the Way…”) both shows us the way and empowers us for His way of being generous-spirited to others.