It's easy to be comfortable in church each week, but there's a world outside that's hurting

When Phil Worthington at-tended a seminar asking what the church would look like post-crisis he came away with two different questions.

“Wasn’t the world already in crisis?” he asks. “And how should the church respond?”

Phil, who pastors Elim-affiliated Mount of Olives church in the Forest of Dean, lists a range of issues that existed long before Covid-19.

“We already had environmental problems, Brexit and cultural issues around gender, for example. Al l coronavirus has done is highlight the crises we were already in. People who were hungry are hungrier, people who were poor are poorer.

“It’s easy to be comfortable in church every week, but there’s a world outside that’s hurting. It feels like a challenge from God asking what we’re doing about these things.”

For Phil and his church, the answer has been to meet needs in their community. Mount of Olives supports its local food bank and has been taking opportunities to help families in crisis.

“We heard about a family whose house had burned down. They had no insurance and were out of work. They were being rehoused but had lost everything, so we got together all the furniture they needed. People donated pots and pans and toys for the children. They were incredibly generous and I was like a white van man for a couple of weeks.

“It seemed obvious that if there’s a crisis in your community, the church should address it and prove we mean what we say about loving people.”

Phil has plans for the church to offer new practical support this year.

“I’m planning to run a mental health course for teenagers because that’s a huge need right now.