An introduction to the work of the Church Urban Fund and how you can get involved.

2. The Poorest in England
• No hope, or self worth
• Escaping violence
• Broken families and people
• Damaged children
• Homeless/sleeping rough
• Addicts/abused
• Lonely/isolated, losing the will to live
• Malnourished/hungry
• Trapped by circumstances beyond their control

3. Poverty...
“Poverty isn’t something that just happens in faraway places
– it’s a fact of too many people’s lives on our own doorsteps.
When people suffer from material poverty and deprivation
they don’t just suffer the lack of a few things,
they lack a sense of confidence,
they lack a sense of having a stake in society around them.
They feel that they’ve fallen off the edge
and that they’re dispensable.”
Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
July 2009 www.cuf.org.uk

4. Our Gospel Imperative
Jesus said:
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of mine,
you did for me.
Matthew 25v5-6 and v40

5. Church Urban Fund’s Mission
• To transform the lives of the poorest
and most marginalised in England
• We do this through Christians
called to work in local communities

6. How are lives transformed?
• By the power of Jesus working in people responding
passionately to their calling
• By sacrificial living/long term
commitment to the poorest
• By empowering the poorest
to help themselves

7. David’s story
• David’s life went downhill when he split from his wife
• Then he lost his son in a car crash
• He became depressed
• Then homeless and alone in London
• David was introduced to Rudi at Streetlytes
• He was invited to an evening drop in at a hostel
• Rudi helped David turn his life around
• Now David helps other homeless people get back on
their feet

8. One body, many parts
• We are all made in the image of God
• No one chooses to be in poverty
• Everyone has value
• Everyone can contribute to society
• God did not make spare or worthless people
• If one part of the body suffers, the whole body
suffers

9. Together...
• We share responsibility for each other
• We are made whole by our relationships with others
• We can transform lives

10. The Vision
Church Urban Fund wants:
• To see every church, in every community tackling
poverty together
• So that all Christians in England are giving:
- time and money
- action and prayer

11. Rudi Richardson, Streetlytes UK
• Rudi was born in prison to a prostitute mother
• He suffered with addictions for 32 years and was
homeless for seven years.
• His life spiralled out of control
• Then, Rudi had a life changing experience of God
• He was called to serve similar people to him
• He set up Streetlytes UK
• Church Urban Fund were first supporters and funders
• Streetlytes now run a series of drop ins for the homeless

12. Rudi is a Christian Community Hero
and he needs your support

13. Other community heroes...
• Mohinder Kaur helps asylum seekers and
refugees mend their broken lives
• Christine Wyard helps people overcome
unemployment and learning disabilities
• Julie-Anne Wanless helps struggling parents
give children a better start
• Andy Barratt helps disadvantaged youth get
their lives back on track

14. Why Christian Community Heroes
Need Your Support
• Urgent need and significantly reduced income
• 25% facing closure/reduced services
• 60% expect their situation to worsen
• 50% trying to increase services for growing need
CUF Research on 150 projects – September 2011

15. As a church...
• Use our range of seasonal reflections, talks and
prayers at www.cuf.org.uk/resources-churches
• Hold a Poverty Sunday service
• Start a collection box network
• Hold a fundraising event for Church Urban Fund
• Book a speaker
• Share our films
• Remember the work of CUF in your prayers

16. As an individual…
Sponsor a Christian Community Hero
Monthly gifts can help people in need.
For example sponsor Rudi to help more homeless
people:
• £5 a month can buy 5 pairs of thermal socks
• £10 a month can buy one sleeping bag
• £25 a month will buy imperishable food supplies
• £50 a month will pay for 35 hygiene packs
(toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shower gel, flannel)

17. Together
We can love our neighbours
We can transform the lives of the poorest and
most marginalised in England