Please support our 2021 Seedbeds Advent Appeal here
Dear Friends
As we enter a new Advent Season, after such a tough year, I hope you will be filled afresh with joy, wonder and peace. In the Advent Season we especially prepare for God entering into the human experience to bring ‘peace on earth and good will to all peoples’ (Luke 2:14). God’s purposes are that all fully experience God’s ‘Shalom’ – a sacred harmony between God, people and the earth. We especially long to see how what this ‘Prince of Peace’ gained will be realised amongst those who suffer now.
I certainly need a good re-filling! This year Covid-19 hit hard the people and places we love and serve. Like many, 2021 felt like driving up a steep hill with only a whiff of fuel fumes left in the tank. In the hands of God, however, just keeping on going can be enough sometimes. One of our emerging leaders in Winson Green recently said, ‘I wouldn’t be alive, never mind thriving and helping others now, if it wasn’t for Change Makers this year.’
Thanks to your support of us through Seedbeds this year:
We blessed those who struggled with the Pandemic and the aftermath.
We deepened our roots in local communities.
We invested in emerging leaders who are helping us build back better.
A real highlight was empowering over 300 urban leaders to better seek God’s dream of shalom in their neighbourhoods, including East London, Birmingham and Bradford in the UK as well as with our international partners based in Myanmar, Ukraine and Germany. We also prepared for the future by securing and restoring Lodge Road Church Centre in Winson Green as a community base, as well as the Greenhouse at Barnes Close as a new residential campus with Newbigin School for Urban Leadership re-launched as Seedbeds to better focus on growing leaders and communities into fullness of life.
We’ve seen signs that more of God’s Shalom is possible if we can be better resourced. Our hope is that all the local communities and partners we serve will become like seedbeds growing fresh new roots, connections and life through releasing the unique potential of their local leaders. We can do this now through: Change Makers emerging leaders programmes in England and also in Scotland; School for Urban Leadership accredited and immersion courses; capacity building with local communities and international partners; mobilising more people into action through our speaking, films and books.
However, we need help.
Anji and I know we can’t keep running on empty if these dreams are to come true. Would you pray for us and give a special gift to our Seedbeds Advent Appeal 2021? If two hundred people gave £100 before Christmas Day then all our emerging leaders programmes for next year would be underwritten. You can give online here.
Find out more about our work over the past year here.
From my family to yours, I hope this Advent Season is full of wonder, joy and peace and that in 2022 you experience more of God’s shalom than you ever have before.
Shalom,
Rev Dr Ash Barker
Executive Director,
Seedbeds.org
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