More Baptist churches partnering CAP
A total of 80 Baptist churches across the UK are now partnering with charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to help people struggling with debt, joblessness and addictions in their local communities
Following another big training day, in June, at CAP’s Bradford-based headquarters, a raft of churches are now launching services to help the poorest and most socially marginalised.
Members of Fakenham Baptist Community Church, in Norfolk, were among them and have trained to start a CAP Release Group, an innovative new ministry aimed at freeing people from addictions such as smoking and drinking. Inspired by the 12-steps approach, it gives people both one-to-one and group support for a range of life-controlling dependencies.
Jon Baker, who is heading up the group, said, 'I hope that our new CAP Release Group will bring hope and ultimately genuine freedom to people living with life-controlling habits in the North Norfolk area – like CAP did for me when I was struggling with a compulsive gambling addiction.
'The love and support which I experienced through CAP was completely humbling and overwhelming. It was that which inspired me to train to run a release group.'
Edinburgh Central Baptist Church, which already runs a CAP Debt Centre, and Leominster Baptist Church have both trained this time to open CAP Job Clubs, to help unemployed people in their communities.
The clubs are designed to equip members with the skills and confidence to find work. In the past three years since CAP launched this project, more than 1,000 people have found employment. In fact, CAP Job Clubs is up to seven times more successful than some Government-commissioned work programmes.
Christians Against Poverty offers a uniquely in-depth and caring service to thousands of people every year, regardless of their age, gender, faith and background and does this mostly due to an army of regular givers, both individuals and churches.
Find out how your church can partner with CAP via capuk.org/partner
Baptist Times, 27/07/2016