Christchurch Baptist Church is actively involved with numerous projects in the community.
Our own weekly activities of ‘Barnabas Fellowship’ for more mature people, ‘Open
Doors’ drop-in coffee morning and ‘Stepping Stones’ parents and toddler group are
all open to those from outside the church.
We are also involved with Impact and the Christchurch Community Partnership. By working
with the Partnership we have also been a key part of organising the regular ‘Bubbles
and Balloons Bonanza’ local street festivals in Bargates.
Also, the church buildings are constantly used by community groups as a place to
meet. We are a local contact point for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous
for recovering drug users.
Mike Yates (far right) with other members of the Impact Team launch The Steam
Impact
Impact is a key part of the Christchurch Multi-Agency Youth Outreach, and is a church based organisation run by Mike Yates and Ruth Windo. The scheme aims to help stop and prevent young people in Christchurch falling into crime and other more dangerous situations through drink and drugs.
Impact is a registered charity with a board of trustees to monitor all their actions. They have a van, sponsored by the Christchurch Community Partnership for 2009. This money will cover all the overheads so the vehicle can be kept on the road. The van of course is the main vehicle for making sure Mike and the team can get around the borough.
FULL STEAM AHEAD!
A brand new Youth Cafe has been opened in the town centre, as a co-operation between Christchurch Baptist Church and Impact/MAYO. The licence will be in the church’s name, however it is Impact that will use the building most evenings and especially at weekends, for a drop-in café. Why not drop in any Friday or Saturday evening for a coffee?
Mike says, “Since Impact’s start two years ago we have made some good relationships with the young people so the café project is the next step in cementing those relationships. It will be aimed at young people between the ages of 13 to 19 years old, however anyone can pop in and have a coffee if they wish. The idea is to give some sort of provision to the young people on a Friday and Saturday evening where they can receive help, advice and information if they need it.”
Christchurch Community Partnership
The Christchurch Community Partnership is a network of local individuals and organisations keen to improve the well-being of the whole town.
Sandra Prudom, our Minister for Community, Mission and Discipleship, is acting chair of the overall Partnership, plus the chair of the steering group for the new Druitt Community Centre and also the Generations Action Group, which looks at ways of integrating younger and older people.
Mike Yates is a member of the Generations Action Group. The action group instigated the Old Lighthouse building project and also the facilitation, at a future date, an Entry 2 Employment facility to provide vocational training to young people.
