6. Called Back

Part 1 of Simon's story "I didn't see a way forward. I didn't see a way out of it. So I decided I'd just try to end it all. And it was actually my landlord who mentioned Christians Against Poverty.

Part of any call to action must be centred around the place and primacy of prayer. We pray that God would ‘rend the heavens and come down’ (Isaiah 64:1) and that his kingdom would be seen here ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10). We’re to pray for those unable to heat their homes in winter or pay their Council Tax or afford enough food. We’re to pray for those plunged into debt and struggling to survive. We’re to pray for political and business leaders.

The Church’s call to action includes being ready to participate in establishing the kingdom of God here on earth. Our participation in combating it will, need to be equally multifaceted, ready to embrace the complexity of 21st-century poverty in the UK. Opening debt centres, pioneering community run projects, planting churches in deprived areas of our cities and also of our rural neighbourhoods, practically serving those among us who are crushed by debt and poverty are part of our Jubilee participation.

People who have been stripped of dignity, community and agency, diminished by fear and shame will be restored, healed, and made fully alive (Micah 4:4). They will bring their work, their ‘glory and honour’, into the New Jerusalem as a form of worship to Jesus (Revelation 21:26). Those who now have nothing but owe much are offered the possibility that the work of their hands will be received by God as worship. This is the world to come, which we await with eager expectation.

Part 4 of Simon's story "Life can still be tough but I know that I've always got my church family around me to support me. And I know that I've always got Jesus as my best friend and, as it says on my favourite t-shirt, as my superhero"

As the Church, we are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus – to teach, to explain, to preach, to discuss and to share what life with Jesus is really like. We live in a place where most people in our cities, towns and villages do not know Jesus and his wonderful promises. The Church’s call to action includes being ready to participate in establishing the kingdom of God here on earth and in making the Jubilee of Jesus a real experience for people today.

Part 3 of Simon's story. "I have experienced God's all-knowing, all encompassing love. He filled a hole in my heart that had been waiting to be filled with His love"

Jesus’ arrival launched ‘the great reset’: freedom from the power of sin and Satan, release for the captives and good news for those in poverty.

The provision God had placed in his Law, designed to promote justice and fairness and keep oppression and debt at bay, had been abandoned and oppression of those experiencing poverty had become the norm. The prophets spoke into the space of inequality and poverty and called the people back.

Part 2 of Simon's story. "The feeling I had that day when I received the call from CAP whas like someone had removed a massive sack of sugar off my shoulders and for the first time in a long time, I was able to sleep soundly again. Hearing the words, "You are now debt free" and the sounds of CAP staff celebrating my freedom from debt was totally uplifting"