Time to Reflect

As we launch into 2015 at the London Jesus Centre, it’s good to pause and be thankful for the many great things that happened here in 2014. We have successfully launched four new groups, a book club, an art class, IT class and a new English group which continue to do well, and we welcomed 199 new visitors in the last quarter of the year among the 5864 visits we had.

One visitor commented that coming to the Centre had changed his life eternally, and for another it had been the best thing that had happened all year.

Our Christmas parties are always a great way to close one year and celebrate the lives of the people who come through our doors.  Christmas for many means rich food, fairy lights, fun, family comforts and all the sentimental feelings these produce, but for many it is an intensely lonely time when their lack of home and family is more keenly felt.

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed the company of over forty ‘Welcome Drop-In’ visitors.  A pizza buffet-style lunch was followed by a quiz, run by one of our former visitors who came in on his day off to help. This produced many laughs and many more creative answers to Christmas themed questions; there were some very interesting variations on ‘nine ladies dancing.’

Thanks goes out to The Salvation Army and Kier Project Investment who contributed to beautifully wrapped gift boxes filled with warm gloves, chocolates, hats, socks, sweets, deodorants, etc. There were just enough to give one to each visitor, which resulted in over forty happy faces. Then came round plates of handmade cupcakes and the party ended with a vibrant buzz of conversation. As volunteers, our aim was to mingle with the visitors, create a family atmosphere and enjoy the occasion with them rather than put something on for them, and I’m sure it did a little to take away some of the bleakness that many of London’s homeless feel at Christmas.

Two separate parties were held for our ESOL students, some of whom contributed delicious dishes from their countries. The beginners became kids again for an hour or so and played pass-the-parcel with a chocolate and a question relating to work covered during the previous term between each layer. The final prize was aptly won by our volunteer classroom assistant Denys, who has completed her first term and has given dedicated, empathetic support to students who have needed a little extra support. The Capital English class and Conversation Groups enjoyed an array of fine food contributed largely by the students and Citizenship based games were played along with a fun human bingo designed to help students to get to know each other better.

So we look to the coming year with a sense of gratitude for all the support received in 2014 by way of people’s time and financial gifts and with a resolve to face, with our visitors, the challenges that are sure to come in 2015.