“The only constant in life is change” – Heraclitus
Some words from our CEO, Jet Jones, as she reflects on a season of change:
When I reflect on the current season we find ourselves in, I have never experienced such a time of fast-paced change as we have found ourselves in over the last two years.
How we react and adapt to change is something we are never officially taught, yet it is such an important skill set for us to own.
For many of our churches, community groups and people we serve, the change has felt overwhelming at times, and fear, disappointment or lethargy creeps in. So, I find myself asking the Holy Spirit more and more each day; ‘how should we adjust our sails and adapt to weather the storm that we are navigating?’ I truly believe He speaks to us, and guides us daily, if our ear is in tune with His voice.
Leading Together For Change, and serving the poorest communities in our diocese, daily interacting with families on the cold-face of the storm, has made me very aware that the need is great and our service to the poor is essential during these times. Our work with the ‘Fresh Start’ project, serving refugees and migrants, or the Family Link Workers who engage with parents and children in poverty, our youth work through our Saints Student Lounge and The Warwick Message Bus initiative, and also the creation of warm hubs and delivering food parcels and social supermarkets, have all meant we have had to respond to the changing climate we find ourselves in.
Saints Nuneaton has navigated a significant change recently, with the impact of the rising cost of food and bills, we have adjusted our sails and created a new staffing structure and have moved to a self-serve café, using food from Ediblelinks. This was enabled by the miraculous provision of 4 display fridges that were donated ‘out of the blue’ to us from Debenhams and Telent, saving us £12,000. The re-launch was Saturday 22nd October after a 6 week turn-around time and we were thrilled to see families arrive in their droves, enjoying the warm space, accessing free refil drinks, affordable food and free fun activities. The change was stressful, it was hard, but we believe it was worth it, as we prepare to continue to support Nuneaton town’s people.
