Have you ever thought that when we read the Scriptures there are occasions when what the book is saying to us doesn’t really resonate in our heads or in our hearts? I have recently been thinking about a prayer that is repeated across 95% of church communities. It is called “The Our Father” prayer. It says, ‘Our Father who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’. If we really believe what we are saying – ‘Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven’ - why isn’t the whole church striving and straining to end homelessness, as the question is: Are there any homeless people in Heaven? Of course not. Therefore, the will of God must be that there be no homeless people on the earth. However, that is PC’s logic.
Aren’t we the most privileged of people as we seek to bring about the purpose of God to end homelessness in our Nation? As this month marks Homelessness Sunday and World Homelessness Day, and as Christian’s minds are being focused on the great need of the over half a million people who have nowhere permanent to live, let us all strive with urgency to talk to Christian friends, Christian Ministers, our own families about the tremendous need and how every one of us can get involved in doing something to change our Nation. Whether it is in our local church or through the local councillors or MP, whatever opportunity presents itself let us not miss one but make this Homelessness Sunday the best GP, its Partners and employees have ever had.
Bless you all.
Pastor Pete
Photo from Pastor Pete’s recent Partner visit to All Saints Church in Bath
OUR TEAM FOCUS: 2024
Achieve our heart’s desire to change lives and transform hearts.
Stewardship
Everything we do we want to do diligently, as though we are doing it for God himself.
A question we can ask: What would I do if I owned the place?
Faith
We want to encourage each other to grow in faith in Christ, showing proper respect, value and love to those who do not share our faith.
A question we can ask: What does love require of me?
We want to be in step with what God is calling us to do each day. We are dependent upon his provision and guidance. Jesus said he could only do what he saw the father doing and it Is the same for us.
A question we can ask: What do I need to do differently?
1,684 Partners Investors
£47.8m currently invested
1,543 Residents
“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing i had been eager to do all along.”
Galatians 2:10
OUR CULTURE
OUR CULTURE
Our first role is, and always will be, to serve. We want to lead passionately and strategically, but first and foremost we want to serve the men and women who we house and partner with, and our goal will always be to give people the opportunity to know Christ for themselves. In all that we do we want people to look at us and say “those guys are a gift to the Spirit.”
Our first role is, and always will be, to serve. We want to lead passionately and strategically, but first and foremost we want to serve the men and women who we house and partner with, and our goal will always be to give people the opportunity to know Christ for themselves.
TRUSTING TOGETHER WORKING HARD STAYING HUMBLE
TRUSTING TOGETHER WORKING HARD STAYING HUMBLE
We aim to remain Kingdom focused and prayerful in every decision. To serve Jesus, we have to know who we are in Him first. We work together, as part of God’s family; we work hard, knowing that we are ultimately working for Him; and we stay humble, because it’s not about any one of us - but about serving Jesus.
We aim to remain Kingdom -focused and prayerful in every decision. To serve Jesus, we have to know who we are in Him first. We work together, as part of God’s family; we work hard, knowing that we are ultimately working for Him; and we stay humble, because it’s not about any one of usbut about serving Jesus.
That means our work is based on love, compassion, patience and integrity, which flows out of that foundational identity of being a child of God.
That means our work is based on love, compassion, patience and integrity, which flows out of that foundational identity of how God sees us.
RELEASING PEOPLE INTO MINISTRY WORKING AS A TEAM LISTENING, CONSIDERING, RESPONDING
We know our purpose; focusing on goals and details with flexibility.
We know our purpose; focusing on goals and details with flexibility. We don’t have all the answers in advance - but we take initiative to think outside the box, proactively including and seeking the feedback of our team members.
Romans 8:19
We don’t have all the answers in advance - but we take initiative to think outside the box, proactively including and seeking the feedback of our team members.
That means we hold our heads up and see beyond what is in front of us: We aim high in faith whilst being good stewards. Sharing with others to improve and encourage.
Ephesians 3:20-21.
That means we hold our heads up and see beyond what is in front of us: We aim high in faith whilst being good stewards. Sharing with others to improve and encourage.
RELEASING PEOPLE INTO MINISTRY WORKING AS A TEAM LISTENING, CONSIDERING, RESPONDING
We want everyone to be in the will of God and use their God given talents as best they can. Whilst always remembering that we are entitled to make mistakes.
1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:32.
We want everyone to be in the will of God and use their God given talents as best they can. Whilst always remembering that we are entitled to make mistakes.
That means we continually look to care for and serve our partners, investors, residents and each other, which allows us to withness lives being transformed. John 13:34-35.
That means we continually look to care for and serve our partners, investors, residents and each other, which allows us to witness lives being transformed.
TEAM NEWS
Team Changes
This month, we’ve said farewell to Alan Moorhouse. Kara Homewood has left her permanent position at Mattersey, but is still on the temp staff team.
We’re thrilled that Lorna Hayden has joined us as Pastoral Support Worker at GP Southport, and Gareth Lloyd has joined the team at GP Flintshire. Two Mattersey Interns are moving into new roles: Anthony Rock as Project Worker, and David Wolfy as Training and Education Officer
A growing GP Family!
Charlotte Russell (Marketing) is off on Maternity from this month, and we’re excited that the GP family is growing, because Charlotte Herbert, Becky Parkinson and Veronika Kennard are all pregnant - due beginning 2025. Please pray for them, and those covering their responsibilities during Maternity.
Yet to join the GP Prayer Group? Scan the QR code: Prayer has always been an integral part of our culture at GP, and we’ve recently relaunched the Green Pastures Prayer Board on WhatsApp - this is a GP team-only place for prayer requests. We would love you to share what you’d like the team to be praying for; it can be anything that’s happening at Green Pastures or elsewhere.
Team Spotlight
Across our different Departments, we love to shine a light on some of our amazing team members, and today we meet Phil Morton, from our inspiring team at GP Derby.
Hi Phil, when did you join Green Pastures? I first joined GP in May 2022
What’s your role within the team and what do you enjoy most about it? I am a support worker in Derby GP and the thing I enjoy the most is getting to know the lads who live here and building relationships with them to then be able to know how best to support them
Share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that others may not know! I fell down a manhole as a small child and would have disappeared into the unknown if it hadn’t been for my rather large thick duffle coat which wedged me just inside the hole! My mum was able to pull me back out by my hood. The loose manhole cover happened to be directly outside the council building and I recall my mum tearing a strip off the unfortunate council worker who happened to step out just after I had been rescued!
What’s one project or accomplishment that you’re most proud of? Prior to coming to Derby GP and Covid, I oversaw a project for winter shelters across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire in 5 different locations. Mobilising around 20 staff and over 500 volunteers and being able to help around 450 individuals who otherwise had nowhere to sleep during some of the worse months of weather.
How do you contribute most towards changing lives? I contribute to changing lives by first and foremost prayer, then lots of encouragement and letting the residents know there are second chances and at times third and fourth as well.
If you could be a character from any film or book, who would you be? One of my favourite characters I would love to be is Wolverine.
If you had one wish about how people across GP interact with your department, what would it be? My one desire would be for people to come and have a look at what we do here in Derby and then invite us to their project so we can learn from one another.
