 One of our roles as a Mission Team is to review our support of our Mission partners, and where necessary to move on to new projects. For a while, we have been considering our urban mission links. Many people in our parish will remember the links we have had with Stepney and Toynbee Hall in recent years and there was a strong feeling that the time was right to look for new London links. After prayerful consideration, we would like to introduce you to three new urban links .
Our relationship with each of these are in the early stages, and we would welcome anyone who would like to know more. We are looking for people who could offer prayer support and/or a deeper involvement. Each of these new partners has a contact person within our church who would welcome a chance to discuss this further and answer any questions.
Walthamstow Youth Project
 The parish of Walthamstow has long felt a call from God to reach beyond the church into their diverse and sometimes troubled local community, where gang culture is prevalent. Our support has enabled them to take on a new Youth Work Student, alongside their full-time youth worker, in order to expand their outreach to young people on two nearby estates. Kirk Edwards will be using his passion for music and football – he almost entered the professional game – to share his faith and to help young people grow as Christians. He will also be studying towards a recognised qualification in youth work.
‘I love a challenge’, says Kirk, ‘and am really looking forward to joining the team in Walthamstow. I believe that every young person has something to offer and it’s usually a case of someone taking the time to take an interest in them and their talents. I have a passion to see young people come to know the love that God has for them.’
Please pray for Kirk and for the rest of the team as they bring the good news of Jesus to the young people of Walthamstow and their families.
If you would like to find out more or would like to be involved in developing this new link, please get in touch with Tom Sefton.
The Alternatives Trust
Alternatives is there to give hope to vulnerable women and children in East London and to help women facing a decision that will change the rest of their life. Established in 1994, Alternatives provides free pregnancy testing, counselling and support for those facing unplanned pregnancy. Individuals can be helped to reach a decision  where their right to choose is respected at all times. It covers four main areas; a Crisis Pregnancy Centre, a Relationships and Sex Education Team, the 'We Are Family' Club which offers parenting support and life skills for vulnerable young mothers and their children and The Journey Support Programme which offers healing and hope for women who struggle with past abortion or miscarriage. Alternatives is also developing its counselling work with Deep Release to support those most abused or traumatised through their life experiences.
Alternatives works like a family for those who need one. It makes God's compassionate love real to those in need.
As a Parish, we will be supporting the Alternatives Trust by reintroducing the Christmas toy collection to provide Christmas and birthday presents for these families, as well as baby equipment and clothes. We would encourage anyone who is interested in this new link to contact either Julia Mould or Jo McDougal. We would like to build up a small team to support the Trust through prayer, as well as helping to organise the Christmas toy collection.
Spitalfields Urban Mission Scheme
 Spitalfields in East London is one of the most dynamic, creative,multicultural and diverse neighbourhoods in one of the few genuinely global cities in the world. Christ Church Spitalfields is a friendly group of people exploring together the beauty, generosity and power of God, whilst helping others get to know the love of Jesus. We as a parish have agreed to sponsor an intern, initially for this coming year. They will be on the frontline of Gods Mission and on the cutting edge of contemporary culture. The person will work in a variety of different ministries including children, youth, arts, music and cross-cultural mission.
If you would like further information about this, please speak to Bob Kiteley or have a look at their website www.ccspitalfields.org
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