New DIY Kit for Estates Ministry & Outreach

18 Oct 2002

A new resource kit for churches that want to do more on the housing estates in their area has been published. Written by Benny Hazlehurst & Chris Chapman, who have specialised in working on inner city and outer area estates the kit provides a practical and down to earth course ideal for small groups. It contains all the handouts and resources necessary to run the course and gives permission for them to be photocopied for use.

Benny and Chris note: 'So often people have said to us "We hardly have any contact with our estates - I wish we knew where to start!" Or, they say, "People from our estate sometimes come to the church but they always seem to drift away". We know that churches often feel ill equipped to make a difference and the DIY Kit is our response. It comes out of our work and experience and we hope it will help churches to feel able to develop their ministry on housing estates.'

The Rt Rev Laurie Green, Chair of the National Estate Churches Network comments, "Our housing estates, be they large or small, present complex challenges for today's Church - and many parishes feel ill-equipped to address them. But there are many positive stories to tell and there is a lot of expertise to share. This DIY Kit provides a practical 'way in' for churches who want to develop their ministry and outreach. It's written by people who have plenty of estate know-how. It really works, and I hope lots of people will use it in their housing estates."

Price: £6 per module or £24 for the whole DIY Kit (inc p&p).

Available from: The Board for Church in Society, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW Tel: 020 7939 9400.

Note about the Authors:

Benny Hazlehurst is now Vicar of Christ Church North Brixton, having been a Church Estates Outreach Worker in South London for 7 years. He is also a member of General Synod and the government's Community Forum for Neighbourhood Renewal.

Chris Chapman has worked for the last ten years as a Training Adviser for the Anglican Diocese of Southwark in South London. During this time he has specialised in working with churches in inner city and outer estate areas.

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