At Eltham Park we support various charities throughout the year.
- Action for Children
- Christian Aid
- MHA
- Leprosy Mission
- Whitechapel Mission
- Junior Mission for All
- Other charitable giving
Action for Children was founded over 140 years ago by a group of Methodist Ministers. Originally known as the National Children’s Home, it later became NCH and is now known as Action for Children.
Although the name has changed, its values and mission have not.
It supports and speaks out for the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK.
We at Eltham Park raise funds in order to support the valuable work undertaken by this important charity.
We also raise money through collections made at Church services such as Christingle and Children around the Christmas tree. Through the generosity of our congregation, we are usually able to send around £1,000 a year to Action for Children
For further information contact:
www.actionforchildren.org.uk
Christian Aid believes in a world free from poverty and injustice.
For more than sixty years Christian Aid has been providing relief to those hit by disaster, helping people help themselves out of poverty and speaking out against injustice.
Christian Aid is about helping people, regardless of religion or nationality, on the ground and in the corridors of power.
Christian Aid tackles poverty by:
- funding long-term development work
- responding to emergencies
- challenging the unjust systems that make and keep people poor
The history of Christian Aid
Christian Aid was established in the aftermath of World War II, when British and Irish church leaders met, determined to do everything possible to help European refugees who had lost everything. The name they gave themselves was Christian Reconstruction in Europe (CRE). Their purpose was not to evangelise, but to alleviate suffering for ordinary people, no matter what their faith.
In the 1964 the CRE changed its name to Christian Aid.
How do we help Christian Aid in our church?
The church supports the work of Christian Aid by responding to its special appeals and by jointly organising with St Luke’s Church, Eltham, the annual door-to-door collection in May in Christian Aid week. This is a hefty task requiring people to deliver envelopes and collect them from the 3,473 addresses in the parish. But on a mild May evening, it is a pleasure to take to the streets and meet up with our neighbours, most of whom are delighted to support this worthy cause. Even when it’s raining, there is a sense of achievement in getting soaked on behalf of those in distant lands who need our support.
This year we raised more than £2,500 during Christian Aid week alone. Get in touch if you would like to get involved in Christian Aid Week.
If you want to get involved with Christian Aid locally contact David West on 020 8317 1548 or email dandawest@btinternet.com
If you want to get more information about Christian Aid contact:
www.christianaid.org.uk
www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/christianaidweek/slideshow.aspx
Founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1943, MHA is a charity providing care, accommodation and support services for more than 17,000 older people throughout Britain. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of older people, inspired by Christian concern.
The Leprosy Mission is an international Christian development organisation that diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care, including reconstructive surgery, to leprosy patients. Their aim is to transform and empower the lives of people affected by leprosy.
The Whitechapel Mission has been serving the homeless and marginalised for 140 years – including a day centre, skills training and career advice, activity programmes and specialist support for complex needs. By encouraging each person to address the issues which caused their homelessness, they help them to gain the skills and confidence to make lasting changes in their lives.
They believe everyone deserves a chance, regardless of their background, race or religion.
They are open every day of the year and expect to see as many as 300 homeless and vulnerable men and women each day. They do this without public funding.
The JMA promise is to ‘learn, pray and serve with the worldwide church of Jesus Christ’
A brief history of JMA at Eltham Park
For 50 years JMA has provided an opportunity for the young people of Eltham Park to raise funds for Missions at home and overseas. In the early years the collectors had books in which they recorded the weekly donations. These were paid in every week to the Secretary, Ethel Wymer, queuing round the large kitchen table, hoping the money added up correctly. There were also outings to the Mission House and Westminster Central Hall.
What does JMA do today?
The aim is to raise money (mainly through collecting loose change in special boxes) to support the missionary activity of the Church throughout the world. One fifth of all money collected is used for Mission in Britain and the remainder in other parts of the world.
For further details contact:
David West, JMA Secretary
020 8317 1548
Other charitable giving
In addition to our regular charities, we donate the ‘coffee money’ which is given for refreshments after the Sunday morning service. These charities are chosen by members of the congregation and are changed throughout the year.
From time to time we respond to crises such as famine or disaster with special collections.