Bulwell URC in Nottingham serves as one of the East Midlands Synod’s resource churches, seeking to be a source of encouragement and support for other URCs in the area. It does this, not through great wealth or expertise, but through the work of ordinary disciples who seek to live the life of Jesus today.
With a rich history in mining and cotton, the area of Bulwell now sees a diversity of social circumstances. Some face financial depravation in the face of unemployment and some just about manage to get by living in social housing whilst others drive around in expensive company cars, living in expensive family homes.
Fortunately for Bulwell URC, a diverse community means a diverse church, which attracts a congregation from across these social divides, resulting in a church which has much to offer.
Using the experience and knowledge of its members, Bulwell URC is able to look into the needs of the local community, including through links with local business and services, such as the library, which was able to provide information from its community survey, and a gym, which the church has been able to support in offering a reduced membership during the summer months for those who find it difficult to afford.
This has revealed a great need to cater for families in the community, especially during holiday periods, which the church has been able to respond to by hosting drop-in sessions for families, with support from partner organisations, agencies and other churches in the area which it has built good relations with. As a result of this increasing need, the church aims to do something at least every couple of weeks to help families in the community.
The Holy Habits resources from the BRF have been particularly helpful in opening up the concept of whole-of-life discipleship for the congregation. “Evangelism has been turned on its head.” says Colin Bones, minister of Bulwell URC, “It’s no longer about ‘behave, believe, belong’, but simply focussing on being who we are created to be and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through our everyday skills and tasks.’
Bulwell is able to be a resource to the local community and other URCs in the area because of the diversity of people it is able to prepare for everyday discipleship. The Holy Habits resources from the BRF, and also from the URC, are designed to help individuals and churches with this important task. Could these help you or your church?
