CAB Food Provision Summit
The evening of Thursday 2nd March 2023 saw our third network gathering, this time with a focus upon food provision by Christian groups in Brighton and Hove.
John Prideaux, Chairman of Brighton and Hove City Mission (BHCM), opened proceedings with a tribute to our friend and CAB colleague Mike Jourdain whose death in January this year caused us to bring this meeting forward. John explained the legacy created by Mike at the Brighton Foodbank and outlined their exciting plans to create a vibrant food and social hub in the former Lloyd’s building on Preston Circus.
CAB Administrator Tim Jones drew attention to the findings of Hannah Rich’s report ‘A Torn Safety Net: How the cost of living crisis threatens its own last line of defence’ before presenting on the unique Christian motivation for serving in this sector. Tim pointed out that, even given the dire national state of affairs with regards to energy and the cost of living, the Christian serves not out of moral obligation or virtue signalling but out of gratitude at being so kindly loved. As Matthew 10:8 says ‘Freely you have received, freely give’ and the Christian knows themselves to be constantly and infinitely supplied by God. This leads to dynamic ingenuity in ‘shar[ing] your food with the hungry, provid[ing] the poor wanderer with shelter and not turn[ing] away from your own flesh and blood’ (Isaiah 58:7 paraphrased) recognising and honouring the image of God in all people and calling on Him for the supply. Tim urged us to keep a simultaneous eye on the charity, political lobbying and mutual uplift dimensions.
There followed a lively and generative discussion time about ways to collaborate, chief amongst these being the desire to visit each other’s food provision works to gain fresh perspective and work better as a living network. BHCM Foodbank worker Carmina Popa underscored this, “Some of you have come to visit us - It’s been a joy to see your faces, we would love more of that! Let’s get around to each others Foodbanks and see how we operate and what we can take from each other.” Carmina shared about the pressures of price rises for food stocks but tempered this with the joy of seeing prayers for new workers being answered ‘We’ve had volunteers in abundance come through - God has massively answered our prayers.’
Carmina Popa of BHCM Brighton Food Bank (centre)
Matt Davis of Emmanuel Church’s Care For Our City programme presented on the ‘untapped wallet’ of businesses in the city, urging those gathered to ‘make the ask’!
He shared a story of a great donation to his work of £10,000 from VPI who administrate Shoreham power station, pointing out that this should embolden us to remind business of their corporate social responsibilities. We need to serve those with money well by asking them to invest it in the services we are providing. Matt grounded this in Scripture, sharing the story of Jesus’ disciples commandeering the donkey with only the explanation ‘The Lord has need of it’.
Matt said: ‘More money, more time, more commitment - in our church we ask for those things all the time and generosity is forthcoming’ Rachel Fellingham of the Clarendon Foodbank illustrated this by sharing a story of the generous donation of a complete Asda shop by members of the local congregation who were finding success in their own business and had heard of the need
‘I want to encourage you to be bolder: make bigger asks.’
We had a great evening together and were very encouraged! Our next planned network meeting will be on the evening of June 8th at the Fitzherbert Hub. Please get in touch with us at christianactionbrighton@gmail.com