2. Introduction This powerpoint is compiled to resource Swindon Agreed Syllabus RE Units KS1 How do Christians care for others? Lower KS2 How do Christians show their commitment to Jesus’ teaching? Upper KS2 Commitment-How have Christians sought to follow the teaching of Jesus? It is to provide materials that are distinctive to Swindon representing two local projects – The Swindon Foodbank and The Gateway Furniture Project. Both set up by local Christians to serve those in need in their community. The powerpoint is extensive and includes photos and interviews with people of faith motivated to serve God in this way. It can be used in it’s entirety or appropriate parts can be selected, particularly for younger children. Photographs can be copied and used separately.

3. How do these people feel? What can change this situation? What’s wrong here?

4. What would you want to say to her? What do you think this little girl is thinking?

5. Foodbank gives food boxes to those in need. People are given vouchers by support groups like the Job Centre, Social Services, Children’s Centres and Churches. They can take the voucher to the Foodbank to exchange it for food. People come because they are in crisis –they might be ill or the main wage earner has left the family or there has been a delay in their benefit payments. There can be many ways people can find themselves in difficulty.

6. The food is sorted by type of food and the ‘best before date’. It is checked to ensure it is still good to eat. Then it is stored in boxes on shelves in a warehouse. The food is donated to the Foodbank from a range of places – supermarket collections encourage people who are shopping there to buy and give something. Schools Harvest Festivals in the Autumn time donate their collections. Local churches, banks and businesses also collect from people

7. Think about these words of Jesus……………………… ‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet lose their soul?’ The Bible NT. Mark 8 v 36 NIV version or ‘ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it”. The Bible NT. Luke 9 v23-24 NIV version

8. What job do you do? Why did you decide to work at the Foodbank? I felt that Jesus wanted me to ‘Die to self’ and be what God wanted me to be. I feel fulfilled doing this work as the Project communicates God’s love to people. My wife is not a Christian but she supports my decisions. I am Andrew. I am the Project Manager at the Foodbank. Six years ago I was living a prosperous life and what would be considered a good standard of living- I was a business and life coach helping other people to also be successful. I felt that there was a force greater than all our human understanding at work in the world – I felt I had to search for what it was. My search led me to become a Christian, I was ‘Born Again’. I wanted to serve God and asked God to use me.

9. The warehouse is manned by volunteers. They use a ‘shopping list’ to pick food to make up the boxes depending on the quantity required for a single person, a couple or a family with 2 or 4 children.

10. What else did Richard say? I have been working at the Food Bank for 2 years and not long ago I became Project Manager. I look after all the volunteers that help at the Foodbank and make sure that all the food gets collected, sorted, packed and given to people in need. Not all the people who volunteer are Christians, they may be helping because they believe that it is right to help others who are not so fortunate as themselves. Sometimes we get students from New College and Swindon College come and help.

11. There are different sized food boxes – for a single person a smaller box of food. A family with 4 children will get a 30kg box of food worth about £50. Most of the food is donated by the people of Swindon (98%)

13. June Byrd is a Christian who attends Freshbrook Evangelical Church in West Swindon. She has been helping at the Foodbank for two and a half months. She saw the Foodbank distributing boxes in the town centre and wondered if something similar could happen in her area of Freshbrook. The people in my church at Freshbrook were praying and we felt we heard God say to us ‘Care for my people’. This made the church get involved with the Foodbank and our church is a local distribution point for the Food Bank.

14. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me” The Bible NT Matthew 25 v 35,36 and 40 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me” The Bible NT Matthew 25 v 35,36 and 40 Jesus gives us this teaching…………

15. Who do they help and how do they help them? There was one situation where a grandson was living in the custody of his grandfather and his grandfather died – he had been the person providing the care and food. Suddenly the young man was destitute – so the Foodbank was able to help him. We give the food to people who have just got out of prison or they are escaping domestic abuse or they have lost their job. Often people need not just food but also a listening ear and information on who else might be able to help them get out of their crisis. Sometimes you just need to give some toilet rolls as well- they are so grateful for them. Food is a thing that gives people dignity and rids them of their anxiety. People of all faiths and none come to get food and Julie feels she is ‘Showing Jesus’ love for people’. They pray for each individual who comes (after they leave) and Julie believes God goes with them.

16. What is this about? What do you think a Furniture Project is for?

17. Gateway Furniture Project is run by Gateway Church in West Swindon. They receive donations of good quality furniture, appliances and household items that are no longer wanted or needed. They then re-supply these to local people in need. This ‘furniture re-distribution’ means that people who are need are helped in their darkest times. It is a way to show love in a practical way to help those who are struggling in life.

18. They check all the items and have to repair some to ensure they are safe and good enough to be used again. For example, this set of bunk beds is receiving attention in the workshop area in the warehouse.

19. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, To proclaim freedom to the captives And release from darkness for the prisoners, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour And the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, And provide for those who grieve in Zion- To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, The oil of joy instead of mourning, A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. The Bible OT Isaiah 61 and NT Luke 4 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, To proclaim freedom to the captives And release from darkness for the prisoners, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour And the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, And provide for those who grieve in Zion- To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, The oil of joy instead of mourning, A garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. The Bible OT Isaiah 61 and NT Luke 4

20. This Dawn, the Project Manager of the Gateway Furniture Project. She is a member of the Gateway Church which set up the project. The Church is nearby on the same site as the project warehouse. When people come for help we offer them a “starter pack” of crockery and cutlery – in an emergency if they are suddenly out of their home and in B+B – it helps restore their dignity and lift them from the desperate situation they find themselves in.

21. Here is one of the volunteers called Jenny. A year ago I was given a sign that God wanted me to help the homeless by offering them hope and dignity. God can use me doing this work to express Jesus’ love for people. I always pray for everyone who comes. We all pray too when we need something for people in need.

22. There are further benefits to Gateway Furniture! Their work benefits the environment because things are recycled and re-used stopping tonnes of furniture worth using, from going to the rubbish tip and being turned into landfill. It also helps the people who volunteer with them to gain confidence and develop new skills.

23. In the last year they have helped 500 families! It stopped 50 tonnes going to landfill! They have given away 2000 items!