Mercy Ministries
Jesus wants his followers to help the poor. If you haven't understood that then you need to go back to the start of the Bible and read it again. James 1:27 tells us that "Religion which God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that how we treat the poor and troubled is actually how we treat him personally. That's why mercy ministry needs to be at the heart of what it means to be part of Queens Road Church.
Below is a list of some of the mercy ministries in which Queens Road Church is already involved in serving. There are also a couple of mercy ministries where we would like to get involved but are still waiting for volunteers. Take a look at the list and see where God stirs you to play your part in serving others, then click on the contact details to ask to be part of that team.
Jesus encourages you with the same promise that he gave to those who helped the poor in Matthew 25: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Open Room
Connecting with detached teenagers and helping them to find hope in Jesus.
For more info please email michael@qrc.org.uk
Wimbledon Foodbank
Wimbledon Foodbank is part of a national network of foodbanks giving out nutritionally balanced emergency food to people in crisis who have nowhere else to turn. Foodbanks also offer additional support to help break the cycle of poverty.
E: elim.wimbledon@virgin.net W: www.merton316.org/foodbank
Christians Against Poverty
C.A.P's free debt advice service offers a personal approach by visiting people in their own home to help with working out expenses, setting up a realistic budget, and negotiating affordable payments with creditors.
E: referrals@capuk.org W: www.capuk.org T: 0800 328 0006
Options
Options Wimbledon Pregnancy Resource Centre helps people who are considering their options after discovering that they are pregnant, or who are experiencing post-abortion trauma. Options offers free confidential counselling to people of all faiths or none.
E:info@optionswimbledon.org W:www.optionswimbledon.org T: 020 8540 7675
Street Pastors
Street Pastors is an multi-church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care and listen on a Friday or Saturday night. As the Street Pastors patrol the streets at night, they get to know people in the community & find out their needs are and what can be done to help. Their presence earns credibility in the community, so that people know that the Church is there for them in a practical way.
E: info@streetpastors.org.uk W: www.streetpastors.co.uk T: 0208 330 2809
Merton Against Trafficking
Merton Against Trafficking (‘MAT’) was set up in September 2008. It is a voluntary organisation dedicated to the elimination of trafficking people for exploitation within the London Borough of Merton. Human trafficking is a fast growing international crime which directly affects people within our community. The vision of MAT is that nobody should be bought or sold. Our group therefore aims to uncover the extent to which trafficking is a problem in Merton – and then to take action to stop this injustice.
E: stoptraffik.merton@gmail.com W: www.matonline.org.uk
Winter Night Shelter
YMCA London South West has established a steering team to help churches explore establishing a Winter Night Shelter in Wimbledon offering seven nights a week basic accommodation as an immediate response to homelessness during the coldest months of the year. If you would like to be involved then send an email to the address below.
W:www.merton316.org/winter-night-shelter
E: cath@sharejesusinternational.com
Jeremiah Project
The Jeremiah Project is a community initiative of the Churches in Mitcham working together in practical ways to benefit the whole community for good – unconditionally! It is supported by, and in association with, the ‘Churches Together in Mitcham’ Group of churches and has three PLANS for the people of Mitcham: to PROSPER them, to give them HOPE, and to give them a FUTURE worth having.
W: www.merton316.org/jeremiah-project
Job Club
GB Job Clubs is a charity with the aim of helping people find work by sharing best practice, training and resources, and by providing funding and mentors for Job Club members who wish to start their own business. A new GB Job Club is being planned for Wimbledon.
W: www.merton316.org/gb-job-club
The Elderly
We recently closed Acorn, our lunch club for the over 60s, because the leader had reached the age at which she felt she needed to retire. We are looking to gather a new team to launch a new ministry in this area. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact David Featherstone at david@qrc.org.uk
Merton Asylum Welcome
A drop-in centre which offers free advice, information, emotional and practical support for asylum seekers and refugees. Meeting Wednesday afternoons at Queens Road Church, Wimbledon.
E: yohannes.slra@yahoo.co.uk W: www.asylumwelcome.org.uk T: 020 8646 6564
Most of the above ministries are linked by a partnership of local churches in the London Borough of Merton, which is known as Merton316. Queens Road Church was instrumental in founding this platform for co-ordinating Christian mercy ministries in the borough. For more information, go to www.merton316.org