Winter Newsletter 2022

What memories does the word Christmas stir in you?

Christmas can mean an eager expectation of presents and precious family time. Or thoughts of good food and a break from usual activities. Yet it is a time when we rightly celebrate together how the Son of God willingly came to earth to be born as a baby...

Keep reading the full version of this article from Elle, Derby City Mission's Managing Director here

The Gift of Kindness

Christmas is an exciting time for children. The hope and expectation of new toys, their heart’s desire, like their friends at school have - can put a lot of pressure on parents. One single mum last year said that she felt such a failure because she couldn’t afford to buy the gifts her children wanted. That’s where our Christmas Connection project comes in...

Keep reading the full version of this article about our Christmas Connection appeal here

Bringing Hope and Supper

At DCM, we are all about making people feel they are valued and part of a community. At the beginning of October, Safe Space started a Monday Supper Club for our guests to enjoy a hot, nutritious meal together, and it has been great to welcome back volunteers to cook, chat to guests and play games or do craft activities.

With an upbeat feel and good-humoured banter between staff, volunteers and guests, we hope to be able to run the Supper Club on other nights of the week...

Keep reading the full version of this article about our new Supper Club here

A Listening Ear Amidst Festive Cheer

Derby Street Pastors, operated through Derby City Mission, has been demonstrating God’s love in Derby’s Night Time Economy by listening, caring and helping those who find themselves in a vulnerable state since February 2009.

The Night Time Economy becomes busier during the lead-up to and over the Christmas and New Year period. Alongside this, there is an increase in the number of people we assist because they are drunk, suffering as a consequence of violence and being affected by mental health issues...

Keep reading the full version of this article about our Street Pastors here

Poverty Prevention

• Harvest donations to the foodbank have been down in a year when more food is needed to help those struggling with the cost of living increases. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He will more than meet our needs.

• Pray that God will provide enough presents of the right ages to bless children and families through our Christmas Connection Project.

• Pray for breakthroughs in the lives of those Jubilee is helping deal with post pandemic debt and rising living costs. Pray too for wisdom, health and energy for the staff and volunteers.

Community Outreach

• Give thanks for the 6 new Street Pastors who are undergoing training this autumn and pray that more people will be called to further strengthen the team in the spring recruitment drive.

• Pray for divine appointments and the right words to speak hope and life as the Street Pastors listen to revellers on the streets, particularly over Christmas and New Year.

Crisis Support

• Pray for the mental health of our guests and clients which often suffers, with thoughts of suicide increasing, at this time of year. May they find hope in Jesus and
support from the team.

• Pray for staff in the Safe Space, MyPlace and ByMySide teams, for their health and wellbeing as they support and carry the burdens of the guests and clients.

• Ask God to call more volunteers so that the Safe Space Supper Clubs can be extended to other nights.

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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

Derby City Mission is partnering with Derby Food for Thought Alliance and Derby City Vision to facilitate a co-ordinated response to the current cost of living crisis, which is affecting so many of the people we serve. We want prayer to be our first response rather than our last resort. So we are gathering on the first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm - 9pm, to bring the needs of our community and country to our faithful God.

To Find Out More About Our Jubilee Clinics, Click Here