A revival of grace

In the final part of the series focussing on the Church of Scotland’s work in Priority Areas, Neill Shaw reflects on the importance of work in some of Scotland’s poorest areas.

IT has been my great pleasure, over the last five articles, to open a window onto life in Priority Area communities and congregations.

We have met and heard the stories of Jack, Mary, Keith and William; each of them has described powerfully the struggles of life for so many living in these communities – but also the hope, joy and deep belonging that they’ve found in the outstretched arms of Christ, expressed through their local Church of Scotland.

“I was isolated and ashamed”, Mary said, describing the impact of mental illness and the dark place in which it left her. “But the café gave me a reason to get out of the house again.” Mary isn’t alone in telling this story, we’ve heard something similar over and over again: where the Church is active in mission, people are seen, they are heard and they are loved and restored.

As we wrap up this series, we want to look ahead to the future. These stories give us both cause to hope and a challenge to respond. The work of the Priority Areas team is evolving, together with the whole church, as we navigate these times of uncertainty and transition. Since I joined the Priority Areas team, two years ago, the staff allocation has reduced from five members of staff to two. By necessity this has meant our focus and approach to work has changed. Naomi Dornan and I, led by Sarah Johnson (Mission Support Manager), have embraced this as a chance to invest our time in what we believe will bring growth and new life to Priority Areas: nurturing mission and discipleship.

“That kind of transformation doesn’t come from programmes alone – it comes through people; faithful people who listen, show up and serve.

After a wide-ranging review, we have shaped our work around six strategic outcomes to guide us through the next two years:

• Increasing our ability to make visible the missional work in areas of deprivation: learning from, championing, advocating for, and applauding these efforts.

• Increasing our ability to strengthen the missional work in areas of deprivation.

• Increasing our ability to encourage and inspire pioneering and mission in areas of deprivation.

• Increasing our ability to enhance support networks for those working and living in areas of deprivation by bringing people together and standing with them.

• Increasing our confidence and ability to bring talk of Jesus, prayer, worship, and faith formation into every aspect of our work, keeping our missional focus.

• Increasing our ability to challenge poverty and work towards lasting transformation within communities by addressing systemic issues and fostering long-term change.

These are not theoretical ideas – they grow out of the stories we’ve heard. Jack told us how his local church “didn’t give up” on him, when he was struggling with addiction and anger. “They showed me kindness and that made me want to change. They saw more in me than I saw in myself.”

That kind of transformation doesn’t come from programmes alone – it comes through people; faithful people who listen, show up and serve. As we plan our work into the future, that is where our team will invest its time and energy.

We also heard from Keith, who had experienced homelessness, addiction, and trauma. When he came to the church for a meal and a conversation, it sparked a journey that helped him regain his confidence and find stability. “I’m in recovery now, and I’ve got plans for the future. It was coming here that gave me that.”

In our review, we identified 10 key conclusions that will shape our work alongside the strategic outcomes. These are:

• Building strong relationships with presbyteries is essential. Communities with high levels of deprivation face complex challenges and vulnerabilities that are not widely understood.

• Equipping and training: The Learning Programme remains vital to thriving mission and ministry in Priority Areas.

• Supporting congregations with funding applications to ensure the success of projects in areas of deprivation.

• Networking events, including the Big Conversation, are key, particularly for congregations in presbyteries with few Priority Areas, where there are feelings of isolation.

• Effective communication and shared learning are crucial to build a sense of community and a network of support.

• Additional methods of support will be explored. For example: focused learning communities; twinning for short-term projects or longer-term mutual learning; cross-presbytery Priority Area hubs.

• The Priority Areas team will work to keep the issue of poverty at the forefront of the Church’s priorities and decisions.

• Engagement in adult recruitment within the wider Faith Action department should continue, to incorporate learning from the Young Adult Volunteer programmes into future planning.

• The staff will increase the frequency and depth of their engagement. Stakeholders emphasised that visits and face-to-face support are the most valued form of assistance.

• The Priority Areas team will work closely with the wider Mission Support and Faith Action teams.

For William, connection was key. “Coming here brought me out of my shell. I was very introverted and have very little family… It has brought me back into the community. I was almost agoraphobic – at the point where I didn’t want to leave the house.”

The Church helped William find rhythm and stability in his life. “It’s really because of here – working with the staffhere, meeting with people – that has given me the confidence to reach out to places, speak to people and try to become part of the community. I can see that I have changed a lot and feel I have grown because of the help that I have found here.”

These stories are not exceptions – they are signs of the quiet, steady revival of grace happening in our Priority Areas week-byweek. As we go forward, we want to hold fast to this truth: Jesus is at work in the hard places, through His people. Our job is to make space for that, to strengthen those who are already serving, and to keep telling the stories of hope, hospitality and transformation that show us who the Church is called to be. ¤