Lockdown Opens Up Opportunities For Church

The pandemic has given Elim Church Northampton the chance to transform its relationship with the community. Chris Rolfe reports

- Chris Rolfe

When a volunteer from Elim Church Northampton dis-covered a 90-year-old man looking dishevelled and disorientated alone in his home, she knew action was needed.

She was delivering hot meals made by the church to vulnerable residents in the area.

Thanks to this timely visit, she was able to alert the relevant health carers, and the man received the help and attention he needed.

Meal deliveries is just one of the ways Elim Church Northampton has forged new links with residents, families and staff in its community during the pandemic, explains Co-Lead Pastor Lynda Heron.

“At the start of the pandemic, we noticed a few elderly people from our senior’s lunch club beginning to struggle. Many didn’t have family nearby, they weren’t familiar with the Internet or FaceTime and were becoming cut off from people.

“We began delivering hot meals once a week to maintain a connection and make sure everything was OK. It became a bit of a lifeline to them.”

The idea blossomed, with 50-plus meals now being delivered each week, cooked in the church’s kitchen by Assistant Pastor Ryan Ireland and Terry Anne from Northampton’s professional catering business Terry’s Kitchen.

But it’s not just church members and vulnerable locals who are benefiting, says Lynda.

“It’s working two ways, because we’re getting people from the community wanting to join our church teams to give out the meals.