Does God care about my work? by London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.

Where God has placed you is where he has called you to make a difference. Whether that's at home, on the factory floor, in your office, paid or unpaid - we are each to play a part in God's redemptive purposes for our island and our world. This 3 part mini-series is a great tool to help you be inspired and motivated to work for the glory of God and to serve those around you. Join Mark Greene as he explores what the Bible has to say about work and hear from others who are making a difference where they are placed.

(If you are intending to watch this series as a Small Group, there is also a free study guide for you to follow.)

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The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Luke 4: 18-19

Serving those unlike ourselves

In the introduction to the book “Enabling Church”, John Naude opens with, “The way we value people for who they are, as they are, is so important”.

Jesus reaches out to those on the margins – the broken, the lost, the weak - refugees, current and recovering addicts, low-income groups, prisoners and ex-offenders as well as those with physical and mental challenges (and often combinations of all these) to name but a few. As disciples of Christ, we are called to do the same. That includes the hardest-to-reach people - even those despised and rejected by society.

It is natural for us to serve those who are like us. We’re inclined to care for and share our lives with the people who live near us, look like us, talk like us, and live like us. It can be uncomfortable to reach out to people who aren’t like us. Yet Jesus calls us to press through our discomfort and to open our hearts to all who need the love and justice of God.

It may not always be easy

My work at Holy Trinity Church as Co-ordinator of Guernsey Caring for Ex-Offenders (GCFEO) and also as part of the Prison Chaplaincy team, has afforded me the privilege of being able to walk alongside ex-offenders and prisoners as they seek to rebuild their broken lives. It hasn’t always been easy and there have been many disappointments along the way, but being able to show and act with love, hope and mercy towards the people I have been called to serve, gives me such joy and purpose.

Reintegrating into the community after release from prison is often an incredibly difficult journey for ex-offenders.  Adjusting to life outside prison can be overwhelming. It is not just about avoiding reoffending—it's about healing, rebuilding identity, and restoring dignity.

Offering compassion, support, and opportunities to ex-offenders isn’t just the right thing to do; it's essential for building safer, more inclusive communities for everyone. Their crimes may be serious, and the pain they’ve caused is real. But as followers of Christ, we are called to believe in redemption. We believe in a Saviour who forgave the thief on the cross and ate with the outcast. His grace isn’t limited to the sins we find easier to forgive. It doesn’t mean we ignore the past or act without wisdom. But it does mean we lead with compassion, not condemnation.

10 years of GCFEO

Guernsey Caring for Ex-offenders celebrated it’s 10th anniversary on March 24th 2025. Over these 10 years I have seen many ex-offenders who, having accepted the support of GCFEO, have turned from a life of offending and with little self-worth, to become useful, trusted and worthy members of the community. This makes everything so very worthwhile. An even greater delight is when I see those who go on to lead their lives with Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

The church should be a place where even the most broken can find hope and healing.

If we believe no one is beyond God’s grace, then we must be willing to show that grace—even when it’s hard. Let’s be that kind of people. The kind that doesn’t just preach the Gospel—but lives it.

The Bible is full of instruction and encouragement that should lead us, as Christians to love and serve others at all times.

Jesus told us in the gospel of Matthew chapter 22, that the 2 main commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

The need around us

Jesus sets the bar high for us to put others before ourselves and to love our neighbour. He is also clear in Luke 4 that His mission is to proclaim good news to the poor, to set the captives free and bring liberty to the oppressed. And He invites us as the Church to join with Him in this mission.

Trinity has always nurtured a heart for the community but recently I was invited to join a programme, meeting with a national alliance of church-based hubs to help us build on existing Social Transformation Ministries. Over the past 9 months I have studied with others to look at how Trinity can offer our local community an even more powerful demonstration of God's hope and love.

The impact that a church can have on its community is crucial whether this is through church based projects, programmes and events or through offering time and commitment to work in partnership with local social transformation charities.

The local area around Trinity seems to have become a vibrant hub for social transformation charities - Guernsey Welfare Service, Guernsey Caring for Ex-Offenders, Action for Children, Independence, Guernsey Community Savings and Mill Street Community Cafe are all so close and all offer an opportunity for partnership to demonstrate love to our local community.

My hope now is that we will continue to explore ways in which we as a church can help those who are facing challenges in life and offer the love and hope of Jesus by offering support in a crisis, building community or helping someone make changes that will alter the course of their life for the better. As Jesus said in the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 that whatever we do for the ‘least of these’ we are doing that for Him.

This course has encouraged me to look at how Trinity can be challenged to develop our Social Transformation Initiatives. I hope to look at one project where we come alongside young men who feel like there is no escape for them apart from getting caught in a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits. Taking our place in working with Jesus to restore and repair broken lives.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:12

At Christmas

At Christmas we love to show a bit of love to others by getting involved in the Love Christmas initiative that has been running in the UK since 2020 which shares kindness and gives hope to those who need it most.

It's a joy to give out Bags of Kindness to groups that we have identified as needing a little hope and love. Make sure to look out for this initiative throughout December each year to find out how you can get involved. Social transformation is about helping to play our part in seeing people’s lives transformed by Jesus - we have the privilege of being there and providing the support and love whilst He is at work. Social transformation invites us to do what is good in God’s eyes and the prophet Micah reminds us in the Bible that what is required of us by the Lord.

Is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

Micah 6:8

After all, as the apostle James writes, what good is it if we claim to have faith but our deeds do not reflect that. So, let’s work together to see Gods kingdom come on earth by following His lead and loving our neighbour.