A new beginning in an overlooked community
 

How Clayton Baptist Church is building meaningful relationships with residents, transforming lives through connection, compassion, and commitment

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as communities continued to grapple with its lasting impact, Clayton Baptist Church (CBC) took a bold step to bring hope and support to the people of the Thornaby estate. At the time, the estate, overlooked and underserved, made up half of the Clayton community.

Recognising both the need and the opportunity, CBC launched a mission to engage with the residents. The initial vision was to be a constant presence in a chaotic place, where transience was the norm, and to show the love of Jesus by building genuine relationships and fostering a sense of community.

The church’s first initiative, launched on Tuesday afternoons, was a community gathering called Thrive. Designed to engage families after school, Thrive quickly became a cornerstone of CBC’s outreach. The programme consistently reached near-full capacity, typically welcoming 25 to 30 attendees each week, the maximum number the small cabin they met in could accommodate.

More than just a gathering, Thrive became a gateway for building meaningful relationships, offering opportunities for prayer, and creating space for spiritual conversations. Encouragingly, several families who first connected through Thrive have since become more involved in the wider life of the church.

'We knew we could build upon Thrive and reach people on a deeper level, but we needed financial support, and that’s when the Baptist Insurance Company stepped in,'  said Teresa Beaufort Jones, the Community Pastor-Thornaby.

'In 2023, we applied for a grant. By January 2024, we received £9,325, allowing us to appoint a community worker and launch the next phase of our mission: Connect.

'Connect now brings together a smaller group of adults who meet weekly on Wednesdays, sharing life stories and building deeper relationships, and it is here that the community worker has been able to share her faith.

'Through Sustain, phase three of our programme, we can give ‘one to one’ support, helping people navigate their way to agencies and partners who are best placed to give practical support for housing, policing, council, and health services, and so on.'

There is still much to be done by CBC, including further development of the pathway to discipleship, which is currently in its early stages with great future potential.

Since their appointment, the community worker has averaged 251 contacts per quarter and has had 142 opportunities to pray with or share Jesus with individuals. While no one has yet made a formal declaration of faith, the community worker reports noticeable positive character changes among those she is journeying with, particularly among individuals who are young in faith. The potential for transformation in this community is truly inspiring.

'At the Baptist Insurance Company, we are committed to supporting work like this, not just financially, but also with our prayers,' said Anne Bishop, chair of the Baptist Insurance Grants Committee.

'Every policy taken out with us helps fund initiatives across the Baptist family, and this is a powerful reminder that together, we’re making a real difference.'
 

This story originally appeared on the Baptist Insurance website, and is republished with permission