Introducing Project Grantham
by Steve Casey on Sep.23, 2010, under Misc
I’ve been greatly encouraged to hear of what Daniel and Grace have been labouring toward. I trust that you will be equally encouraged and motivated to pray – find out more at www.projectgrantham.co.uk
‘PROJECT GRANTHAM’
For a long time my wife Grace and I have had a burden for a large estate in Grantham, Lincs. We prayed about doing outreach there and felt the Lord was prompting us to start a church on the estate.
Grantham is a market town of nearly 40,000 inhabitants and the Earlesfield Estate is on the southwest corner of the town. With 5500-6000 inhabitants, the Earlesfield is within the top 25% most deprived areas of England.
We started in January 2009, reading lots of books on church planting and church models. We also began networking a number of church planters. The lack of resources and information for reaching council estates was evident and we have struggled to fully understand the mind and thinking of the people who live on the estate. Neither of us are from council estates and we have experienced a stiff learning curve.
Beginning last September, we took three months visiting all the local church leaders and Christians in the town with varying responses, many of them supportive. Since January 2010 we have spent approximately two days a week on the estate getting to know people. A questionnaire has proved very helpful and we find most people open to chat about spiritual things. A number of contacts are being worked on and relationships built. Bibles, evangelistic books and literature have been gratefully accepted. A team of Bible College students joined us for a week in February and we were able to run two children’s clubs in the community centre. These were well attended with many enthusiastic children.
We are in this for the long haul and recognise that it is going to take time to win confidence and trust.
We only know of one elderly Christian couple who live on the estate and they are planning to move away. We have yet to meet any other Christians.
The whole project so far has been bathed in prayer and we have set up a prayer partnership scheme. Over 150 individuals now pray for us regularly as we keep them informed of progress.
It is impossible for us at this stage to move to the estate (we live 20 minutes away) but we are praying that God will give us a couple who are willing to live on the estate and work with us. There is so much more we could do – 1) Regular children’s activities 2) Prayer meetings 3) Somewhere to invite people 4) Occasional BBQs/Games evenings etc. 5) Run courses e.g. Christianity Explored.
The spiritual ignorance on the Earlesfield is appalling resulting in immorality, broken homes, substance abuse, vandalism and a general despondency. The Gospel is the only answer and we are 100% convinced that the Gospel can and will change hearts and lives and in turn transform the estate.
Jesus says: ‘I will build my church’.
