Summer 2022 Newsletter

Introducing Elle!

We are pleased to announce that Elle Warrener-Davis will be joining Derby City Mission as our Managing Director

"You have things in your hand – gifts - that are not for you. You are just a vessel that God will use for others."

"You are going to be a light in the workplace and to the people, you meet"

"You will minister to those who are hurting, and minister to the needy"

These words were prophesied over me by different Christians as I began my journey of faith in God. As an eager new follower, I was immediately expectant for the evidence of how these words would be demonstrated. That was in 2013. God’s timing is perfect. I have come to see that God has been preparing me since then with even more experience, knowledge and skills in order to be ready for my new role here at Derby City Mission. And most importantly in living out His love for those who are broken, hurting and in need. My passion is to see lives touched by the power of God in a unique way which is personal to each individual. So that each person knows fully, without a doubt, that God has His hand on them, truly loves them, and sees them like no one else could ever do. As He did and continues to do with me. We serve a relational God who knows us fully and longs for us to fully know Him. I am humbled and privileged to be appointed to this new role as Managing Director of Derby City Mission. I am looking forward to serving with our wonderful staff team, and partnering with local churches and supporters. Together we can reach out to show the love of God in Derby; meeting individual needs in a practical way while proclaiming the gospel of Jesus for eternal hope.

You never ‘switch off' from being a Christian believer. But God does tell us to nourish our bodies and minds. So, I do enjoy trying out new hobbies and interests when I can. But mainly, I like getting out in the fresh air, walking in the Peak district or even just locally with Kai my Rottie (who is 9 years old now). I love to read, and also write poetry.

I have been married to Trevor Davis for 7 years. Come to New Life Church in Normanton and you will know him. He has been welcoming people into those doors for over 20 years! When we got married I gained 3 stepchildren and 2 grandchildren too. So, I was a new wife and a new mum and granny all at the same time! ‘God will give you back the years that the locust has eaten’ was also spoken over me and I can testify that God is true to His word! - Elle

Find Out More About Elle's Appointment Here!

AN UPDATE FROM OUR SAFE SPACE PROJECT

Safe Space is our facility in the city where we provide 24/7, all-around care and support to the rough sleepers in Derby, 365 days a year. Reflecting back over the past months, we have seen a lot of small steps forward with our guests. At the beginning of May, Roman, one of our support workers, sourced a beautiful wooden eight-seater table. Every Sunday staff and guests work together to set up a regular Sunday morning family breakfast. Our guests cook, and we sit together like a family and chat. We have had some truly amazing conversations at that table, where there has been a turning in lives, decisions made, and questions answered. The other day as we were eating bacon and egg cobs, three of our lovely guests just opened up. We talked for over an hour about their hopes and dreams. We talked about the choices they made in the past and how to correct past mistakes. We talked and laughed a lot. It was a magical, Godly moment where we felt the peace of the Lord on us. The ability to gather around at mealtime has brought so much joy into Safe Space.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW STUDENTS!

Tasos and Maria are joining us for the next 10 weeks from Derby University as part of their occupational therapy course. We are so excited as they are going to be actively getting involved with our guests, helping them get ready to move into their accommodation, pay bills and try to get more integrated into society. They will be doing all sorts of activities including cooking, social enterprise things and art. Please pray that they will be able to make breakthroughs with the guests who have troubled pasts and are trapped in homelessness.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED VOLUNTEERING?

We would love to see you in Safe Space. Many of our guests come from backgrounds where they have never experienced a meal loving cooked for them, or someone who is interested in them as a person or being taught how to do something useful. Do you have a skill you can teach? We are looking for people to run practical sessions or give a practical service for the health and welfare of our guests. If you are interested in volunteering, please come to our volunteer evening on July 6th.

We have a huge need for volunteers to join our projects

Derby City Mission and all we do would not be possible without our incredible team of volunteers! Working on the front line and behind the scenes to ensure we touch the lives of people most in need in our city. There are many volunteering options at Derby City Mission.

We have opportunities available for daytime, evening and weekend volunteering work and we would love to share these with you. We’re hosting an information evening on 6th July 2022 at 7:30 pm at our hub on Normanton Road.

During this informal session, you will have the opportunity to hear how our projects run and the various types of volunteering roles available.

You’ll hear about the next steps which will include some essential and non-mandatory training available during the year.

Interestedin attending? Please book your place by clicking here!

Derby Street Pastors Update - Summer 2022

Our Street Pastors are trained volunteers from many local churches who provide a visible, reassuring presence for everyone in the city centre. We are usually out and about, prayerfully patrolling, between 10 pm and 4 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

“We are extremely grateful for the work you do and for your help with our son. He has now recovered, albeit rather shaken and so are we. Not quite sure what happened to him. He said he suddenly felt really ill, went outside for some air with his friends and then remembers nothing else!! So again, thank you for being on the streets.”

- Feedback from a parent of a lad our Street Pastors recently supported.

2022 is already flying by so quickly and so much has already happened within the Street Pastor community. We have seen Richard and Shirley Wormsley step back as our Coordinator and Administer as they go into a new season of their lives and have recruited Terry Langley as our new Coordinator taking up the reigns on the 13th of June. We cannot thank Richard and Shirley enough for the strong foundation they have provided for us and the dedication they have shown to help Street Pastors go from strength to strength. We have benefited greatly from their support and how they have demonstrated the unconditional love of God to each one of us and for the City of Derby.

Our teams have resiliently come together to continue to share the love of God within the Night-Time Economy. There have been some really great conversations with the door staff who have shared their lives with us and look forward to seeing us. The community of which we are part is full of diversity and yet we are all coming together to support those revellers who come into the city to enjoy our vibrant nightlife as one family. As a collective, we have watched over those who are perhaps some of the most vulnerable who need a helping hand, an ear to listen and a pair of flip-flops when the dancing shoes have been taken off.

Find out how the Street Pastors helped Derby retain Purple Flag Status for another year here.

It is always really humbling when we receive thanks from those who we have helped and from their families too who are so grateful for our support and kindness. We do none of this in our own strength and know that they are all God appointments to meet with people where they are at, with no judgement or expectation. Our teams, and prayer partners, pray before, during and after their shifts, praising God for using us ordinary people in such an extraordinary way.

We are going to be recruiting new Street Pastors to join and strengthen our teams in September. If you're interested in finding out more about our Street Pastor Project, click here.

We'd also love to invite you along to our latest Volunteer Information Evening. - Take a look at details of the upcoming event here.

Poverty Prevention

Pray for households living on a knife-edge; please pray for those who are hungry and living deep in poverty.

Please pray for wisdom for our Jubilee Debt and Benefit advisors, that they’re able to best support those who are struggling.

Community Outreach

Please pray for Terry as he starts his new role as Street Pastor Coordinator.

Please pray for our community projects throughout the city that they continue to make a positive impact in the city and in the lives of those we are supporting

Crisis Support

Please believe with us for God to change the lives of our Safe Space guests as we introduce more volunteers into the space.

Please pray for relationships between our projects and partnering agencies.

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If you would like to pray more for DCM and different aspects of God’s work in our city, why not sign up to receive the monthly Prayershield bulletin at www.derbycitymission.org.uk/prayershield

This journey to transform lives in the city of Derby for the better would not be possible without you! We’d love you to join us at these upcoming events, volunteer with us, fundraise with us
and celebrate all that we’re able to accomplish together to advance the Kingdom of God. Thank you!

Fundraise for Derby City Mission

Are you ready to jump out of your comfort zone and make a difference? The longer evenings and warmer weather of summer gives a great opportunity for you to get active and find exciting ways to contribute to the united mission we are working towards! Fundraising for Derby City Mission will help to transform the lives of people in need in our city!

Over the last couple of years, through the pandemic and now with the cost of living crisis, we have seen a significant drop in giving to the Mission. We need to raise up a new generation of regular donors to take up the baton to replace many faithful supporters who are now with their Saviour. Are you able to answer to call through regular giving or by holding a fundraising event?

To help you with your fundraising efforts and make giving as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a new fundraising pack! A resource that is full of everything you will need to hold your own fundraiser (or join in with something already going on)...

You can download that Fundraising Information Pack here.