Southdown

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.

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.

Our reason for being is to worship God with all of our lives and share His love with others.

Neat, but what does that mean?

In the outworking of Christian family life together we are pursuing the following goals and objectives. All our expressions of Church should relate in some way to these goals.

Objectives for life together

1.    The development of open and honest relationships with all members.

2.    Bringing Holy Spirit life and ministry to one another when we meet.

3.    The pursuit of freely expressed worship in all its forms.

Our Vision is church in community...

To see a Christian community in every village, hamlet, estate and people group in Petworth and district, so everyone is in sight of a Christian. Also, to release people and resources for this purpose, in this country and the whole world as God shows us.

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 

The first thing to say  is that we are about relationships. We share beliefs, values, lifestyle, purpose and this all centres on being a Christian - a disciple of Christ. The bible is our resource for knowing about Him.

The church is an organic entity, the “body” of believers, so what is written here is not intended to pin us down, apply labels or package us neatly but to give you a flavour of who we are and how we operate.

Roots - A small group came together in 1980, meeting in homes and developing a vision for relating as family in presenting God’s values in the community, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since then numbers have grown, new churches have been planted and Rydon School hall has become our “home”.