Joy to the World
Dear friends,
The theme of joy reverberates within the Advent Season. The Angels announced to the Shepherds, for example, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem they found the holy family in accommodation like their homes, (not in a dirty stable as is often depicted) and a baby wrapped up and sleeping like their babies.
This is the joy of the Gospel – ordinary people are included and their God-given gifts valued, recognised and mobilised.
The Greek word here for ‘joy’ is xará which literally means ‘grace recognised’. A sense of joy comes from recognising gifts.
Over the years, as Seedbeds, we have found ways to detect local joy. We recognise that every local community has the potential to flourish, and we believe that the key to releasing that potential lies in the growth of its local leaders and community builders. Whether our Change Makers, Pioneers, Pilgrims, Change Incubators or Scholars programmes, when we start with what is strong in local people and communities, what gifts they recognise in themselves and fan those strengths into flame, then long term change can come from within. This is where the real joy is found for us.
Some amazing opportunities have opened up for us in 2024. While very much planted in Winson Green, Seedbeds has begun to grow a global network of like-minded individuals and organisations who share our vision of a world where every local community can flourish in God’s love and shalom. In 2024, for example we have my No Wastelands book launches and/or local leadership programmes the UK, Australia, Ireland, Ukraine, Myanmar, Thailand and Germany.
By working together, we can create a powerful force for good that can transform the world, one local community at a time.
Our challenge then is not creating new opportunities, but growing organisational capacities. A key strategy for us will be ‘Seedbeds Equippers’ to resource and recognise new Seedbeds trainers, coaches and panelists. Many of these will come from our Alumni whom they and their local community have benefited from our programmes.
Could you consider a one off Advent gift to help us multiply our work from within new local communities? For example, £200 will help train a Seedbeds trainer to be licensed to lead Change Makers or Change Incubators with local community leaders and entrepreneurs and impact local communities through joy.
I hope this Advent Season can be one full of joy for you, your families and local communities. That we can ‘recognise grace’ and 2024 becomes a year full of life in abundance no matter what we face. As the shepherds heard the angelic beings sing, may we join them: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and shalom on earth for all people.”
Thanks for standing with us. Your support, prayers and encouragement are a life line for us and make so much possible.
Shalom,
Ash Barker
seedbeds.org
PS. Please buy No Wastelands: How to Grow Seedbeds of Shalom in Your Neighbourhood to inspire you and as a gift for someone close to you this Christmas. All proceeds go to support local community leadership development through Seedbeds.
PPS. To help raise much needed awareness for the book please vote for it in the Englewood Book of the Year before 3 December 2023
Change Maker
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