Faithworks Ferndown in Launched
On Sunday afternoon, the 2nd July, over 60 people gathered in the Parish Hall to celebrate the launch of Faithworks Ferndown. With a common interest in and a heart for serving the local community, they were joined by the Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Liz Stevens and her Escort, Mr Paul Matthews.
This new initiative, led by a group of local Christians, was supported by Virginia Luckett, the Development Manager of Faithworks headquarters in London, Rev Jonathan Martin, Chaplain to Poole Borough Council and Ann Bishop of Faithworks Poole. In a series of presentations they covered the national, regional and local achievements that the organisation has been involved in since being formed just five years ago by Rev Steve Chalke MBE, the well known Christian media presenter and government advisor.
Susan Sutherland, chair of the Faithworks Ferndown Forum, then explained how the Bus Stop Club project, now funded by grants from the Local Network Fund and EDDC, had been initiated by Turbary Church to provide support to the mothers and children of the Trickett’s Cross estate. A listening ear, a friendly word and a cup of tea (and a biscuit) is available to those who may be experiencing problems in their lives, or just feeling lonely.
Faithworks Ferndown provides a practical way for the local churches to work together to serve the needy in the community. The Forum will act as a management team for new projects to ensure that they are properly organised and adequately resourced (by applying to funding sources). Attendees were encouraged to propose new projects to meet local needs. At the conclusion, we were very heartened to receive an invitation from the Mayor to speak to the Town Council about the initiative.
The musicians of Ferndown Community Church had opened the event with a couple of rousing worship songs and closed with “Be Thou my Vision”. Pastor John Berridge of Turbary Church then prayed for the members of the Forum and gave the final blessing.
The Faithworks Ferndown Forum can be contacted via a new web site at www.ferndown.org. This provides local community information to assist everyone living in Ferndown.
