Today we hear from Anna Koslowska, Jan Pike and Jan Rossington.
Connection
Last week’s blog focused on the special culture of welcome and integration at ECFC. It is something grassroots developed through everyone’s involvement. Over the years. It was interesting to see this viewed from the outside perspective through the fresh eyes of a journalist’s article in the Bristol Cable. And how the ECFC values came through – Welcome, Connection, Justice and Being ourselves and joining in.
It has been lovely having Anna Koslowska join the ECFC team and really make an impact with her passion for her work with our children and everything else she brings in terms of connections across the church in Bristol and a real passion for worshiping God. This week Anna shares her initial reflections on what she has found at ECFC. Last week the focus was integration and the importance of Welcome the first of our values. This week Anna focuses on the second of the ECFC values, Connection:
‘I have now been here about three months and have been enjoying getting to know the culture here and the way we do things at ECFC. What I have been most struck by over the past months is how interruptible people are. And I think this is to do with how totally relationship oriented the culture is here. I’m reminded of Mark 5, when Jesus is on His way to heal a little girl who is dying. He has an important task, yet He is interrupted by a woman who needed healing on the way, He takes His time with her and honours her and won’t be rushed by the task ahead. This is the type of ministry I see at ECFC, there are many tasks to do, yet if someone walks through the door with a need or desire to talk, the task is laid down, the person is truly seen and honoured. I believe this is really the interruptible ministry of Jesus, and I believe He smiles every time he sees a task laid down in exchange for the person in front of us.’
Kids Matter
One of the really effective ways ECFC has been serving the local community over a number of years is by building connection with local Mums. We have been offering local women support building their English language and Parenting skills. Again this has been happening in the building over the years. A measure of the time was marked in July when Jan Pike retired from 12 years voluntary service delivering English as a Second Language (ESOL) and parenting skills (Kids Matter). Previous to this Jan had been delivering ESOL classes across East Bristol for many years on a paid basis. We see the legacy today with many women now engaged in either voluntary positions in the community or having gained employment. In addition, Bristol City Council continues to use multiple classrooms at ECFC teaching English and other skills each week. This week Jan shares the following story of the effectiveness of Kids Matter an organisation ECFC partnerships with to reduce the impact of poverty which very sadly is evident in many local families. Here is a link to breathtakingly positive story of the effectiveness of Kids Matter. Fatima did the Kids Matter course here at ECFC.
Jan Rossington currently runs ECFC’s English language classes on a Friday morning and will be starting a new Kids Matter course in October. If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from attending these courses please get in touch with Jan on bjrossington@gmail.com. Or if you would like to join in as a volunteer.