D2: How to make an impact by identifying the right people

Biblical/Practical Intro

“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.’” Acts 6:1-4 NIVUK

At a glance

Calling is important.
Gathering the right people who have a calling, heart and vision to bring about change strategically and spiritually is key to making a real difference in new housing.
Identify a key person to act as a catalyst in the area – whatever the size, from village to county.
Work together across denominations to maximize the impact.

Key Points

It is the vision of the New Housing Hub (NHH) to ‘Work Together to share God’s Love in Every New Housing Area’. One of the ways this vision might be realised is by bringing together people who might make an impact.

Firstly, there needs to be someone with a passion and influence to drive forward the vision within a particular area. John has been working for a county-wide Churches Together group. He has a vision for missional engagement in new housing across the county. He has identified where every new house is going to be built within the county thus enabling a strategic overview of which churches, denominations or networks might be able to take a lead in any particular area, whether large or small. He has been able to act as a catalyst within the county, highlighting the importance of mission within new housing areas and nurturing relationships across denominations, enabling conferences and training events. A housing developer in another county noted the importance of having a key person to connect with from the churches.

Secondly, by working across denominations and networks there is a greater possibility of having the human and financial resources to cover every area of new housing across a geographical area. Not even the largest denominations have the resources to meaningfully engage with every area of new housing, but by working together as the body of Christ across the nation, the vision may be more attainable.

John and Pete (a rural pioneer practitioner, national enabler and national Fresh Expressions leader who has a vision for the county) explained how churches of all denominations, both pioneers and members of more established churches, might work together alongside local councils and other stakeholders to make a difference within new housing areas. It was fascinating to note that whether they were talking about pioneers, established church structures or the council, the key principle that kept emerging was about the importance of gathering the right people together to make a difference.

Pete noted that it’s important to identify people who feel they have a calling to this work and a heart for an area, rather than bringing people together on the basis of their role. He stated, ‘We need people with a heart and a call rather than a job.’

This was echoed by Richard who noted that the diocesan new housing group was working well because it contained people on the ground, people who were enthusiastic about being engaged with new housing and had chosen to be part of the group. This group was playing a significant role in helping their Bishop create a strategic response.

The CEO of a local Council described the meetings that had developed between the council and local Christians; the strength of the group was that it had emerged organically – the CEO couldn’t remember if it was the churches or the council who had instigated the group; regardless, it had been formed by people who had a heart for the flourishing of the local community. This was a relational gathering of people who wanted to be there. The CEO noted, ‘The moment it has minutes it will die!’

Finally allowing the right people to lead in order to make an impact means that leadership must be shared across churches, so that those with the resources and calling may take a lead on different estates. In Bicester the CiB (Churches in Bicester) are working together as there is so much new housing so that different denominations and churches are heading up the mission on different new housing estates. This denominational lead model is working well within CiB. These different individuals, teams and churches are engaging on the different estates and are also able to share ideas, pray together and practically support each other. Together they are making a greater impact on the town’s new housing estates.

Learning Points

Having people with a call and heart for new housing at the forefront of the vision seems more effective than having a group of people with more powerful roles, but without necessarily a call to or involvement in new housing. The proviso for this being that those with the authority give permission to these people to drive forward a vision, as with the example above.

Engaging With New Housing