Mission Interests

Part of our vision is ‘to make Christ known’. Some of the work we support does this overtly by teaching about Jesus, whilst other aspects of it are about showing care and compassion to others in Swindon and further afield.

At Harvest we usually support a local charity working with those who need food and / or shelter. In 2009 we gave our harvest gifts to the ‘Green Hut’ project and in 2010 our harvest gifts we donated to the Swindon Food Bank. Both of these charities provide valuablesupport to those in need in Swindon.

 The Filling Station

The Filling Station was started in 1988 and since then it has been providing hot soup and hot dogs, sandwiches etc to homeless people on a Thursday evening in the town centre from the back of a van and now a gazebo too!  For the last few years they have extended to Tuesday evenings as well. 

Toothill Church has supported the Filling Station as one of the harvest charities for many years, by donating tins of food and toiletries that are distributed weekly to those in need in Swindon. The Filling Station have issued an appeal for more support, as they are only getting about a quarter of what they need.

For a trial period from November 2010 we will have a box at the rear of the church for anyone to contribute gifts to the Filling Station. So here is a challenge ... When you buy your own shopping why not purchase 2/3 cans for the box.  Please make sure the tins you provide are food that can be eaten straight out of the tin – these people live rough and do not have cookers! ... (Reminder: Provide single size with ring pull openings where possible)

Water Aid

We regularly collect small change during lent to supply clean drinking water and sanitation to those in need.
Our giving in 2010 stands at just over £133 for this worthy cause.
 

Compassion

We sponsor a young lad in Tanzania, helping to pay for his schooling and some family support. Find out more about Compassion here.

Operation Christmas Child

Each Christmas we fill shoeboxes to send to children who otherwise would receive no gifts. In 2009 we also had support from St Mary’s Church, the local scouts, cubs and beavers and many others around Toothill who got to hear of this project, so that we sent well over a 100 boxes.

BMS World Mission

About a year ago we agreed to pray regularly for a family working with people with Aids in Guinea, West Africa.

Rob and Gen and three year old Sam are currently in England awaiting the birth of their second child. We had a lovely weekend with them at the end of January and are praying with them for God’s guidance about their future.