Church rallies round families
£10,000 raised to help provide food parcels for those in need
GENEROUS giving by a Portsmouth Christian community saw more than £10,000 collected in just eight days for South African families in need.
Members of ChristCentral Church, which usually meets at the John Pounds Centre in Portsea, dug deep to raise funds to feed families surrounding a church near Cape Town after an appeal was launched on May 24.
In just eight days, the church and its community of 200 people donated £10,125 to the Taste and See initiative run out of New Generation Church Somerset West, which provides food parcels for families.
This donation is enough for the scheme to feed 31 additional families for six months – a huge relief after South Africa’s strict initial lockdown measures left many without work, and struggling to afford food.
The church said that £12 will feed four members of a family, with a month costing £52 and six months £312.
Lead pastor Adam North, whose wife Nikki is from South Africa, said: ‘This incredible act of generosity is greatly encouraging because it demonstrates how deep the Christian conviction is that we are all made equal and deserve equal dignity and justice, and that the church is called to play a role in pursuing this.
‘Many in our church were willing to forgo comfort, to give sacrificially in this time of uncertainty, to enable people they haven’t met on the other side of the world, on the margins of society, to feed their families.’
Even though all physical meetings are suspended, the church leadership team has been able to continue its work.
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown across Britain, the church moved from meeting in person to having online YouTube services and mid-week Zoom meetings, including services for children.
Adam, who took over as lead pastor in January, said: ‘It has been a really exciting opportunity to move things online and connect with more people.
‘It has given me a great opportunity to get more different voices involved in the services.’
ChristCentral Church has also been able to care and support many people affected locally by lockdown who have connected with the church, by making phone calls to those isolated, going and getting shopping for the vulnerable in our community, and providing financially through a special Covid-19 fund.
All are invited to join online services on Sundays at 10.30am at youtube.com/ christcentralchurch
Find out more about the church, and how to donate to its appeal fundraiser, atits website at christcentral.church