Warm Welcome campaign to launch
A campaign to support churches and other community organisations open their doors and provide warm and welcoming spaces this winter will launch on Wednesday (28 September)
The Warm Welcome Campaign is a community response to the cost of living crisis. Working with partners of all kinds, it wants to equip thousands of organisations to provide a warm and safe welcome to everyone struggling to heat their homes this winter.
'Our aim is for no one to be left in the cold,' the campaign states. 'We hope to collaborate, so that in every single area of the UK a Warm Welcome Space is available to help turn someone’s difficulty into an opportunity to belong in their local context.'
The campaign is an initiative of ChurchWorks, alongside a number of key partners such as Christians Against Poverty, Stewardship and Edge Ministries. ChurchWorks brings together major Christian denominations and the government, and launched in October 2021.
Baptist churches planning to open their buildings are encouraged to register with the campaign and attend the online launch, which takes place on Wednesday 28 Sept at 7.30pm.
Steve Tinning, the Baptist Union Public Issues Enabler, said, 'It has been a real privilege to be one of the Baptist Union’s representatives on the ChurchWorks Commission as they have developed this campaign and I commend it to our churches with enthusiasm.
'We have been hearing how Baptist churches up and down the country are mobilising to support those in greatest need over the coming months, but we are also aware that many churches are facing their own challenges with the cost of energy increasing so dramatically.
'Whether your church’s plans are already in full flow, or whether you are just wondering what might be possible, my hope is that you will consider signing up to the warmwelcome.uk campaign and be supported by your Baptist family and this wider gospel movement as together we demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to so many through this difficult time.'
The launch invitation states, 'We are looking forward to hearing from people, across the country, who are planning their Warm Welcome space, as well as by national supporters of the campaign.
'The launch event is an opportunity to hear all that is planned, in terms of support and resources, for local groups looking to organise themselves to create a Warm Welcome over the winter.'
Visit warmwelcome.uk for more
Register for the online launch on 28 September here
Baptist Times, 23/09/2022