Southdown - For Churches Along the South Downs

Splash! for Schools & Communities

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:33:55 +0000

What we do...

We are a Christian Charity based in the Southdown area of West Sussex working with children and their families. We work in 15 primary, middle and secondary schools, as well as, in the community.

Activities and Events

In Schools : Every half term we lead assemblies in 15 local schools as well as taking some RE & PSHE lessons. We have also been involved in running some clubs in schools.

Our assemblies and lessons are fun, interactive and lively using puppets, drama, games, quizzes, music and story telling to teach young people more about the Christian faith and to help them to develop personally into good citizens.

In the Community: We run weekly children's & youth clubs, organise lots of special events and outings, lead an annual holiday club and are involved in providing parenting courses.

Connected to the Land. John Riddell

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 21:31:02 +0000

I share the following, with friends and colleagues, as it touches issues that go deep into the history of the land. Harmful stewardship and agronomic practices, injustices, displacement of peoples and bloodshed, have all contributed to our current situation concerning agriculture and the land. The land cries out for its redemption. So it’s calling also for a covering of prayer.

Five years ago, we would have surrendered the tenancy of our farm because there was no longer a living to be made from agriculture. However, God very clearly showed us through several completely independent prophetic words to "remain connected to the land". Our immediate interpretation of this was, on leaving the farm; we should maintain relationship with those still involved with the land. We then realized, in spite of the fiscal circumstances, God's desire was for us to remain on the farm and trust him. Being thrown together by the devastating effects of BSE, Foot and Mouth and an increasingly detrimental world market, 6 of us local farmers, some of whom would no longer be farming today, developed a simple working model of cooperation that enables us to survive. None of us are able to maintain a living purely from the agricultural holding we farm, but diversification projects and other non-agricultural income, enable us to remain connected to the land. So here was the realisation that this word God had given us was not just for us, but also for others in agriculture all facing similar pressures. While continuing to stand in the position God has given us, in spite of the circumstances, and contending the current trends and the destructive agenda of principalities and powers opposed to God's intention for the land, I decided to explore further what God meant by "remaining connected to the land". I drafted a plan for a personal thesis based around the theology of agriculture. What is God's primary intention for the land? What future does God intend for agriculture? My intention is to do this in the context of a groupwho gather from the sphere of agriculture. Supporting one another. Praying for the land; crying out to God with repentance, intercession and a deliberate intention to "stand in the gap". Hearing God's perspective. Discovering models of agriculture, which express His ways for the land...(First fruits, Sabbath, Jubilee). Declaring God's purpose. Prophesying what we hear to the land. Being agents of healing to the land. Exploring justice for the land. Addressing the relationship between landlord, tenant and local community and a more cooperative model of land management.

Pulborough

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 10:56:31 +0000

A group of people living in the village but working out their Christian commitment together in the wider context of church, both denominationally and across the South Downs area. For Example...

Liaise - a debt counselling service and

One Accord - a marriage refreshment ministry,

...are both run by people from Pulborough, devoted to church being expressed practically and relevantly in the life of the community

About Southdown

Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:23:49 +0000

Things we've been unable to achieve in isolation we CAN do together in cooperation

Taking responsibility together for the Southdown region...

Making a difference, in partnership, with others who want to see Christian values in our society.

So, Southdown is essentially a prophetic movement consisting of churches, initiatives and individuals working together for the life and well being of communities throughout the South Downs...

These Include...

Petworth Community Church
Pulborough Home Church
The Community Church, Storrington
Unity
Splash for Schools and Communities
One Accord
Liaise
Kidz Klubs
Petworth Area Chruches Together and Steyning Churches Together, run Kidz Klubs for primary school age children. Petworth in the Primary School on the 3rd Saturday of each month and Steyning in The Community Centre on the 1st Saturday of the month.