If it were my son...

I have three wonderful children.

Our children give us more joy than anything else. Despite often feeling inadequate as parents, we live for our kids; I spent most of last Saturday on the floor laughing with them until my belly hurt. They are rapidly going through all the different stages of life, encountering emotionally and sometimes physical bruises on the way. However we want to give them the best start in life.

When we send them off to school we get nervous for them and wonder what or who will rob them of a little bit more of their innocence. We pray. A good friend once suggested that I should think about my children like ‘piggy banks’: “The world will rob them most days, but as long as you keep putting more in than is ever robbed from them they’ll always be in credit” We’ve tried to equip our children the best we can, instilling in them the faith and values that are important to us. We give them over to God, they are His.

My kids attend a great school which has pupils from all backgrounds, some of very troubled backgrounds. Sadly you can often see that reflected in the children, their behaviour, attitudes and fears. It’s all too easy for me to look at these scenarios and wonder what lies ahead for some of these children. Children that look just like my own, children that are at the same stage as mine. Children that seek love and affirmation just like mine. Statistically speaking my kids might have  better chances, but they too could easily fall foul of the brokenness of our world – I ache at the thought.

What would I do if one day I turn around to see one of my children, caught in addiction, homelessness, hunger, debt and violence? 

We are all someone’s child!

Yesterday I sat in a room full of the most influential people involved in homelessness in Glasgow. The group’s ability to change and delivery new strategies is significant, its desire to make changes is backed up by large budgets and the people in that room want to make a difference.

Each meeting we sit through statistic after statistic about some of the poorest people in Glasgow. Sometimes I forget that each number is a person, someone’s child: someone’s precious precious child. What would I do today differently if they were my children?

I believe that God is crying out saying “They are my children!” I believe that God weeps. Have you ever walked passed someone begging on the streets? We feel uncomfortable. If we’re brave we buy a cup of coffee and return with it for them, but all too often we walk passed making them feel invisible. I keep in my pocket some of Glasgow City Mission’s “Can we Help” cards.  These allow me to sit down and give a card to someone who is begging. In doing so I can explain all the ways in which we can help – starting with food. I want to live in a world where people feel it’s really important to sit, talk and understand how we can offer real help to people who need it, because one day it might be my son.

If you’d like some “Can we Help” cards contact the Glasgow City Mission office at info@glasgowcitymission.com The cards are free but we suggest a donation of £1 per card as this covers the cost of the first of many meals that we provide.

A week in the life of Grant Campbell (Just drinks coffee...?)

This last couple of weeks have been quite remarkable in the meetings and conversations that I have had the privilege of being involved in. I’m often asked what I actually do as a Chief Executive, and there are some weeks I ask myself the very same question over and over again. My job is an exciting and fulfilling one, which is sometimes mixed with tensions and frustration, but it’s often wonderful to see what’s happening in our city. God is always working. Here’s a snapshot of the past few days:

Tuesday 28^th January: Hamish Allan Centre – Improvements to the Night Shelter

Our Glasgow Winter Night Shelter has been up and running for two months now. With only four weeks left to run we met with the Hamish Allan Centre to see what improvements we could make to accommodating the men and women who use the shelter. The Hamish Allan Centre is the local authority’s first point of contact for those who present as homeless. We’ve been working closely with them over the past two years and our relationship seems to be getting better and better.

Not all, but some of those accessing the night shelter have complex needs. It can be hard with those who have addiction issues to prioritise seeking permanent accommodation. The Hamish Allan Centre accepted our proposal which improves the way people coming from the shelter can access and engage with the homeless services and increases the likelihood of those with complex needs actually getting the care they need.

Tuesday 28^th January: Kibble – Project OsKar

I travelled west to Paisley to visit Kibble, and more specifically Project OsKar.

This initiative has diverted over 50 tonnes of waste from landfill through a variety of recycling initiatives and by selling furniture through their warehouse showroom. Project OsKar works with six housing associations and has cleared and refurbished more than 10 flats and helped 150 low-income families equip their new homes.

It gives employment and volunteer opportunities for young people on the margins of society. It gives young people an opportunity to grab that elusive second chance. Really inspirational stuff.

Wednesday 29^th January: Granite House – Homelessness Prevention Integration Group

I was invited along to attend the H.P.I.G. (interesting name) which is a multi disciplinary gathering of all the local authority agencies and independent service provides who are involved in homelessness. There was a room full of 25 heads of departments, CEO’s and civic leaders.

There is an air of anticipation right now regarding the homelessness scene in Glasgow. There is a number of new personnel and a willingness to collaborate across different agencies to simply make the system work. We’re please that the Scottish Housing Regulator is holding microscope over Glasgow City Council at the moment and rightly so. This combination of factors is creating some momentum just now, and we want to take advantage of that to see if we can change things for the better. It was great to be able to contribute and for Glasgow City Mission to be represented at this meeting and for our perspective to be taken seriously.

Wednesday 29^th January: Business Partnerships

Had an absolutely fabulous meeting with a local Not for Profit. While I can’t go into all the details at the moment, I must share my surprise and delight at the social conscious that many business leaders have. While some companies are obliged to give a percentage of their profits, or do so for public relations reasons, there are some who simple what to do the right thing because it’s the right thing. How refreshing. While Glasgow City Mission is supported predominately by local churches, increasingly our commitment to social justice issues is challenging small and large businesses. In the run up to Christmas especially, scores of local businesses were only too happy to support our work. Glasgow City Mission, by the way in which we engage with those on the margins of society is challenging others to think about how they respond to those in need.

Thursday 30^th January: Glasgow City Chambers – Foodbank Forum

Foodbanks are never very far from the news these days, and we’re working hard with others in Glasgow and Scotland to ensure that we’re making the best of our resources, highlighting best practice and raising awareness of what is happening in our city. This meeting is an opportunity for foodbanks all over Glasgow to share what we’re are experiencing. While there are large amounts of anecdotal evidence, this group is also gathering data to reveal the extent of the problem in Glasgow and find lasting solutions. I was able to share with several independent food banks, the Trussell Trust and the local authority our findings. On Monday alone this week we had our busiest morning yet with 46 people visiting our own foodbank. There are some desperate stories out there of suffering but I am also encouraged by those willing to go the extra mile to help.

2014 could be a very exciting year for Glasgow City Mission as we work with others seeking to see God’s Kingdom come.   And it’s your praying, giving, fundraising, partnering, volunteering and goodwill that enables this to happen - thank you.

As the week draws to a close, I have the privilege of speaking at a Glasgow church on Sunday, and then enjoying the Superbowl with my neighbour into the wee small hours of Monday morning! A busy week it has been, but one that I pray bears much fruit for the sake of our city’s vulnerable.

Churches Worshipping 24/7

While there is not a guitar, organ, hymn book, worship band or data project in sight, churches all over the uk are worshiping through the night.

I’m delighted that churches are taking action to provide emergency accommodation for some of societies most vulnerable people, and they are doing it as an act of worship. Avodah (Hebrew) can be translated work or worship and I’m often challenged about the link between the two. What if our work is acceptable worship to God? What can we hold up at the end of the week – just like a little child who brings their crayon drawing to their dad – and looking to God say “I did that, do you like it?”

Our work isn't always worship, but it can be and has the potential to be. When our work is done in a way that reflects God and it is to the benefit of His glorious creation and kingdom it can be worship.

Christians are being obedient to the Father and reflecting something of God’s love to the homeless community in Glasgow – we’re giving them somewhere to sleep. We have employed a staff of 7 to deliver the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter service, but we also have a team of regular volunteers as well as further help from churches and others to make it all happen.

The team are working, and working really hard. As they work God is being worshiped, honoured, praised and He is getting the glory for the things he has done. The smell isn't always the best in the emergency shelter, but in God’s redeeming power there is a sweet aroma transcending to heaven and as God looks on at our work, or loving heavenly Father smiles at our crayon drawing and says “well done”. 

A BIG thank you to Renfield St Stephens Church for hosting this year’s Glasgow Winter Night Shelter and also a special thanks to all the partners, volunteers, supporters and fundraisers – “well done”

It’s Poverty & Homelessness Action Week (25 January – 2 February 2014) what could your church do as an act of worship/work to help those in poverty or who are homeless? Ideas are included in our Church Toolkits, why don't you have a look

Spot Changes for Leopards (Audio)

For those of you who missed it, we had a great weekend together looking at real change "Spot Changing for Leopards". Below are the audio files of the event. Enjoy.

Common Good

This is the rule of most perfect Christianity, its most exact definition, its highest point, namely, the seeking of the common good. For nothing can so make a person an imitator of Christ as caring for their neighbours.

St. John Chrysostom

I want to imitate Christ[i]. I don’t always get it right, but I try. I fell in love with Jesus because of how tenderly and gently he appeals to the broken and the marginalised in the gospel narratives. Somewhere in my journey I realised I was thoroughly broken and in need of His tenderness. 

Those in the New Testament accounts that had culturally come to accept that they were outsiders, castaways, shunned and ignored sat and ate with the living God. His words were warm, full of hope, acceptance and redemption.

Jesus spoke hard words too. Examine for yourself. You will find however those predominately harsh words spoken out of the Lord’s mouth were directed at the religious elite of the day. He criticised them for being stuck in their theological trenches and enslaving the people into rules and regulations that they themselves could not even keep.

Jesus ate dinner with prostitutes, thieves, con-men, the sick and the culturally excluded.

We can choose today to be part of the religious elite, arguing on our blogs and websites, tweets and Facebook about our theological positions and enslave people into our rules and regulations, or we can sit down and eat with the worlds poor and broken.

I want to imitate Christ I don’t always get it right, but I try. I believe that the more we imitate Christ, the more human - fully human we actually become. That is we reveal more of the image of God that we were created in when we imitate him. As we bear His image, reflect His nature maybe others will fall in love with Jesus as they discover how tenderly and gently he appeals to the broken and the marginalised.

I want to seek the Common Good for our city and our neighbours. John Chrysostom (347–407AD) challenged the church to seek the common good and this should not be seen in competition with ‘making disciples’ but part of it.

All too often our programmes, services and initiatives are clean, nice and inoffensive, while eating with those the world rejects is unpleasant and uncomfortable. I want to imitate Christ I don’t always get it right, but I try.

 
At this very moment I’m working with several agencies planning our emergency winter night shelter. We’re thrilled to be able to extend this act of love to some of the most vulnerable people in Glasgow this winter. I hope that as we do this we are imitating Christ and caring for our neighbours, and in doing so we are becoming more fully human.

Please pray for the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter, maybe your church would consider volunteering for this much needed service in the city. We're also looking for staff that can work over the 12 weeks. Please have a look at our website for details, or email gwns@glasowcitymission.com if you'd like to volunteer. 

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[i] Ephesians 5:1

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

I was walking though Glasgow last night and the temperature had really dropped from the morning when I'd left the house. I didn't have a jumper on, and as I pulled my jacket round tighter and tighter I had a quick and albeit short reminder of homelessness.

I was out in the cold only for an hour, the central heating would have kicked in by the time I got home. I was cold now, but that wouldn't be forever. I could knuckle down and cope until I got home.

We've had great weather over the summer and actually it's carried on into the autumn. We walk about in our summer clothes and our attitude becomes very carefree. It's great. However it got very cold last night, and I was caught out with only a few layers on. I got home and into the warm, and soon forgot about my quick paced walk to the railway station, how I'd pulled up my collar of my jacket and sunk my neck deeper and deeper down to keep warm - oh for a scarf. I was home now. Three children tucked snugly warm in bed, and an embrace from my wife as we talk on a comfy sofa about our days.

What if you don't have a home? What if you don't want to go back to your home because of abuse, violence, fear?

Today is World Homeless Day (10th October) and I'm reminded that while my story might be shared by a number of people, there are many who don't have somewhere warm and welcoming to go to at the end of the day. It isn't fiction, it isn't a movie that we can walk away from, it isn't a nightmare that we are going to wake up from. The reality is there are people in Scotland who are sleeping rough. There are people in Glasgow scared to go home because of the environment they'll encounter.

I'm currently working hard in preparation for the Glasgow Winter Night Shelter. Along with our partners there are many who care deeply about these issues, and give themselves tirelessly to help people in their immediate need as well as plan and campaign to change things for the future.

We're currently taking in all the harvest donations from churches and schools though out Glasgow, and I'm struck be peoples generosity and desire to help - Thank you.

Hope and Disappointment

In 2008 the US presidential campaign became one of the most intriguing in recent years. A moderate republican and the democrats looking at either the first ever female president or the first ever black president. There was a significant sense of anticipation in the States and around the world. Barack Obama ran a very memorably campaign with the mantra of ‘yes we can’ following his every move. Maybe things would be different this time.

In our own islands we saw the 1997 general election swing to Labour and huge anticipation of a nation looking for real change and things to be different.  Only in 2010 did we see another opportunity for renewed hope with the first coalition government since the Second World War. Maybe things would be different this time.

Politicians of all flavours seem to promise more than they can ever deliver, and I think that is where some of our scepticism comes from. Political leaders (and religious leaders) seem to inspire hope only to see people knocked off their pedestal. We’re tired of hypocrisy and genuinely seek change. No matter how often history seems to repeat itself there is a hope deep inside us longer for something more, something better. “Maybe things would be different this time.”

Maybe our expectations are too great, do we actually look to our political and religious leaders to bring about the change that is so desperately needed in our world? We see things that are wrong in the world and we ask ‘who’s in charge, they should fix this.’  We can identify the things that are broken and wrong, but who’s responsible and who has the power and authority to deal with it.

However I don’t think that our expectations are unrealistic; it’s just that we often put our faith in the wrong places. For real ‘Change we can believe in’ Firstly I need to recognise that I need to change, and secondly I need to recognise that I need the power of God to change me. This is the kind of change that doesn't disappoint.

We've being talking at Glasgow City Mission about Change in the people we serve. A hope that the power of God will have a significant effect on their lives. This is not a vain hope for change is core to the Christian message. It’s about sinners becoming saints, broken becoming whole, lost becoming found, warmonger becoming peacemaker, and the dead becoming alive.

Glasgow City Mission is having an evening of celebration and storytelling. It’s open to all and will include stories from our clients, an opportunity to hear from Bethany Christian Trust and their award winning ‘Passing the Baton’ programme, as well as a time for worship and prayer for the city.

Come and hear how you could be part of change.

Sunday September 15^th 6.30pm at St Silas Church Glasgow.

Further Details are on www.glasgowcitymission.com