As the church rallies to support the most vulnerable within their communities, Cinnamon Network, a Christian social action charity, is pooling resources to ensure that 'goodwill becomes best practice'.
It’s often said that a crisis brings out the best and the worst in people. We’re certainly seeing that right now. While we’ve all been appalled at the reports of fistfights over toilet rolls, we’ve also been elated to see a nation opening their windows to cheer for our frontline health workers.
Physical separation has, in reality, heightened our sense of togetherness. There is an incredible wave of compassion and goodwill flowing through our communities. People genuinely want to help.
But we need to work together to ensure that goodwill becomes best practice. Without guidance, there is a risk that we could do more harm than good.
The church is stepping up
In recent weeks the need for the church has become more important and more apparent. Up and down the country, local churches who are rooted in their communities have been coordinating a response to support those who are falling through the cracks.
The way those projects look on the ground is radically different to the way they looked barely a month ago. Foodbanks are now delivery services; emotional health support groups are now virtual meet ups; debt counselling is being done online; and family support is now remote.
Alongside this, churches are also getting to grips with the phenomenon of online services, online giving and online mass. Everything has changed. Even the most technologically advanced among us is left floundering with the sheer scale of transformation we’re all experiencing.
Delivering best practice
However, there is a wealth of knowledge and expertise out there. No church should feel that they have to muddle through and learn by trial and error.
Cinnamon Network has been working for more than a decade to help churches deliver effective, best practice social action initiatives in their communities. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, we’re pooling our knowledge, bringing in the experts and connecting churches with the knowledge, advice and resources they need right now.
On the Cinnamon website, churches can tap into the latest guidance in relation to a whole range of issues that churches are facing, including:
- Working in collaboration
- Supporting mental health and wellbeing
- Becoming an online church
- Staying fit in the midst of lockdown
- Parenting through the crisis
- Maintaining tithes and offerings
Get your questions answered
In addition to the online resources, the weekly Cinnamon Connect Webinar is for anyone, and especially clergy and church volunteers, who wants to effectively and safely support their community in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
Each Thursday, Cinnamon Advisor, Nick Amis, will speak with a different specialist who can offer insight and advice in relation to a specific area such as supporting mental health, working with the NHS or fundraising.
You can join the live webinar and ask specific questions, or you can catch up on demand.
In a world of division, we can show unity
There are so many issues where churches have different theological views. It’s great when we can journey together ecumenically, putting those issues aside to reach out to the last, the least and the lost. When we do that, we bring credibility to the message of the gospel.
In John 17:20-23 Jesus prayed, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message… that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me so they may be brought to complete unity”.
When different churches work together in the community, our unity is a witness; not only to the fact that the church is a loving community, but that God loves the community. Jesus goes on to say that “then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them”!
Actions speak louder than words
People will never know that God loves them, unless we show them. Our words are demonstrated by action, and our actions are an opportunity to speak words of life. As St. Francis of Assisi famously said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”
We’re all familiar with the book of James and its call for us to take our faith and do something with it, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (James 2:14-17)
But of course, we don’t want to it get it wrong. At Cinnamon we’re encouraging churches to live out God’s message of love in their communities. By working with others who have greater insight and knowledge, we can do so with confidence.
God offers us love – no strings attached – and that’s the kind of love we want to see churches offering, even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
Kate Sharma works in the Communications Team at Cinnamon Network UK. She has spent the best part of two decades writing and documenting the varied and innovative ways that churches are helping to transform communities in the UK and overseas.
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