A Cambridge God Adventure 17) Evangelism and social action

One of the wonders of letting believers go with the flow of their gifts is that anything can happen. One group, concerned about the needs of the undeveloped world, calling itself the World Development Group, also had a vision about opening church premises during the nationally dedicated One World Week. With Church Meeting backing they fleshed out a plan. The Mayor of Cambridge agreed to open a four day event at a special ceremony on the Saturday. Visitors would be ushered into the large Upper Hall to see an exhibition mounted by fifteen organizations. Downstairs in the Lower Hall continuous films would screen, again provided by different aid organizations.  Of course, basic refreshments would be available with a hunger lunch too!

Participants multiplied.  The choir and orchestra of a local school at Blinco Grove agreed to give a public concert with an international flavour on Saturday evening with a retiring offering for Save the Children. Sunday services would continue the theme with a member talk of her VSO experience in Papua New Guinea.

On Friday night the whole place buzzed as staff from Christian Aid, Tear Fund, Leprosy Mission, Save the Children, Oxfam, Help the Aged, Salvation Army, Baptist Missionary Society, SOS children's villages, United Nations Association, VSO and many more transformed our Upper Hall with colour and challenge.  Next day, after the Mayor declared the exhibition open, people began moving through the premises to face tough world challenges of poverty, hunger and violence. Later a packed evening concert with children in national costumes continued the message.

Too often in church life those two aspects - evangelism and social action - can be in serious tension. Yet, we were to discover how different giftings within one fellowship can enable the whole church to share in both.  Members of each group contributed to holistic mission. Gloriously, we found ourselves using our premises both to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ as well as to serve others' needs.