Our 2021 Seedbeds Advent Appeal

Please support our 2021?Seedbeds Advent Appeal?here

Dear Friends,?

As we enter a new Advent Season, after such a tough year, I hope you will be filled afresh with joy, wonder and peace. In the Advent Season we especially prepare for God entering into the human experience to bring ‘peace on earth and good will to all peoples’?(Luke 2:14). God's purposes are that all fully experience God's 'Shalom' - a sacred harmony between God, people and the earth. We especially long to see how what this ‘Prince of Peace’ gained will be realised amongst those who suffer now.

I certainly need a good re-filling! This year Covid-19 hit hard the people and places we love and serve. Like many, 2021 felt like driving up a steep hill with only a whiff of fuel fumes left in the tank. In the hands of God, however, just keeping on going can be enough sometimes. One of our emerging leaders in Winson Green recently said, ‘I wouldn’t be alive, never mind thriving and helping others now, if it wasn’t for Change Makers this year.’?

Thanks to your prayers and support of us through?Seedbeds?this year:

We blessed those who struggled with the Pandemic and the aftermath.?See?here.

We deepened our roots in local communities. See?here.

We invested in emerging leaders who are helping us build back better.?See?here.?

A real highlight was empowering over?300?urban leaders to better seek God’s dream of shalom in their neighbourhoods, including East London, Birmingham and Bradford in the UK as well as with our international partners based in Myanmar, Ukraine and Germany. We also prepared for the future by securing and restoring?Lodge Road Church Centre?in Winson Green as a community base, as well as the?Greenhouse at Barnes Close?as a new residential campus with Newbigin School for Urban Leadership re-launched as Seedbeds to better focus on growing leaders and communities into fullness of life.

We’ve seen signs that more of God’s Shalom is possible if we can be better resourced. Our hope is that all the local communities and partners we serve will become like seedbeds growing fresh new roots, connections and life through releasing the unique potential of their local leaders. We can do this now through:?Change Makers?emerging leaders programmes in England and also in Scotland;?School for Urban Leadership?accredited and immersion courses; capacity building with?local communities?and?international partners; mobilisng more people into action through our?speaking, films and books.?

However, we need help.

Anji and I know we can’t keep running on empty if these dreams are to come true.?Would you pray for us and give a special gift to our Seedbeds Advent Appeal 2021??If two hundred people gave ￡100 before Christmas Day then all our emerging leaders programmes for next year would be underwritten.?You can give online?here.

From my family to yours, I hope this Advent Season is full of wonder, joy and peace and that in 2022 you experience more of God’s shalom than you ever have before.?

Shalom,?

Rev Dr Ash Barker

Executive Director,?

Seedbeds.org

Thanks to your prayers and support of us through?Seedbeds?this year:

We blessed those who struggled with the Pandemic and the aftermath.?See an?inspiring film?here?

We deepened our roots in local communities.?See?here?for more details.?

We invested in emerging leaders who are helping us build back better.?See?here?for some inspiring films.?

A real highlight was empowering over?300?urban leaders to better seek God’s dream of shalom in their neighbourhoods through?Change Makers??emerging leaders programme,?School for Urban Leadership?accredited and immersion courses, capacity building with?local communities??and?international partners?and?our?speaking, films and books.??We are hoping to go deeper and wider next year!?

Local Seedbeds: These community leaders connected?together from these?neighbourhoods:?

East London with Royal Docks and East Ham. Pictured here is Sally and Dave Mann sharing their vast experiences with Change Makers (Cohort 5) in East Ham. These two Local Seedbeds have grown leaders who have been Change Makers and some MA students. Two are now Ministers in two local churches as well as others leading community youth, family and sports programmes. A social enterprise pitched at the first Change Makers by Jonny Adams is now run as New Life gardening service with staff met at their local homelessness service.

Birmingham with Winson Green and Firs and Bromford. ?Pictured here is Louise Jones pitching her idea for 'Beauty and the Feast' at Change Makers (Cohort 4) panel and graduation, which now serves girls in Winson Green. Both these Local Seedbeds have Change Makers who lead new local congregations, charities and community projects. Bromford also has an amazing bike and education social enterprise led by Stewart called Gear-up as well as Listen Threads led by young women including Chloe, both of whom were Change Makers this year.

New Local Seedbeds with leaders from Bradford, Weoley Castle and Lemington Spa. Pictured is Lewis and Abbie Usher who are pioneering a new work in Bradford, North of England. They are experienced community workers, transitioning to led their own community based organisation and enterprises there.

Some of our leaders were part of our MA programmes that reached around the world online. Pictured is Shane Claibourne live from a?death penalty protest in our 'Resilient Discipleship' unit with Nazarene Theological College. We led 4 MA Units this year and will lead 5 next year as part of our School for Urban Leadership programmes.

The launch of Anji's book, Missionary?Not Just a Position, inspired and informed multitudes.?Pictured here is Sally Mann and Anji at the book launch in Winson Green that drew over 200 people from all walks of life and including local bands, dancing, food and a lot of fun. A few books were sold too!

Film making brought stories alive,?helping amplify voices and promote our causes. Picture here is Sam Allam and Aiden Barker filming Ash Lewis. This film can be seen here. Ash Lewis did Change Makers (Cohort 2), helped co-ordinate CM and is now running for local council.

We also built capacities with international partners based in:?

Myanmar?with key democratic leaders seeking to restore justice and?support leadership development.?Pictured here is Ash at a protest a few years ago. Our connections over 25 year with Burmese leaders re-ignited this year after a bloody Military coup in February and requests for help from old friends. We especially think we can support National Unity Government and the 300,000 Civil Disobedience Movement leaders in health, education and enterprise work now as well as help prepare for a future without Military Rule.

Ukraine?with the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary’s (UETS) MA Programmes. Pictured here is John Hayes and I leading a course. This year, also with Dave and Sally Mann, we ran 2 MA units for leaders online and in person. We ask for prayers for all they face, including a fresh threat from a Russian invasion. Ash with John Hayes are due in Kiev next April.

?Germany?with the amazing PX leaders who serve in?the red light district of Frankfurt and support similar work with us in Thailand. Pictured here is Laura (centre) and the team on top of Wasely Hill after a team building trip to Birmingham. Laura was a former MA student with us. We hope to run an immersion course to Bangkok together next July.

We prepared and invested for the future we hope will come...

Securing and restoring Lodge Road Church Centre?in Winson Green as a community base. Pictured here is a community meal after Anji's commissioning as a URC Minister. This huge community building is now full and overflowing with community activities and congregations. It's also an administrative base for Ash and Sharon with Seedbeds.

The?Greenhouse at Barnes Close??was also secured, is being restored and was approved as a new residential campus by both the University of Manchester and University of Gloucestershire for accredited programmes. Pictured here are some of Change Makers enjoying a day out. The Greenhouse now has partnerships to offer residential programmes with Nazarene Theological College, Moorlands College, Spurgons College and CMS.

We launched Seedbeds to better grow leaders and communities into fullness of life (this work was formerly called Newbigin School for Urban Leadership). Pictured here with Ash is James Crystal at the Seedbeds launch in July. Jay, who was one of our first Change Makers, now leads Eeverse Clothing and CIC. We’ve seen signs that more of God’s Shalom is possible if we can be better resourced. Our hope is that all the local communities and partners we serve will become like seedbeds growing fresh new roots, connections and life through releasing the unique potential of their local leaders. We can do this now through:?Change Makers?emerging leaders programmes in England and also in Scotland;?School for Urban Leadership?accredited and immersion courses; capacity building with?local communities?and?international partners; mobilisng more people into action through our?speaking, films and books.