Rob Jones at the 2010 Gweini Conference

ACTS Community church is based in Tylerstown in the Rhondda.  It set up a CAP Centre in 2008,  providing debt-advice and support to the most vulnerable in the area.

Rhondda Cynon Taff is one of the most deprived Local Authority areas in Wales - three quarters of its sub-areas (LSOAs) are ranked in the more deprived half of those in the Nation.  It is not surprising that the church has encountered a growing need for support. In the first year of operating, ACTS gave out 4,000 meals via the Rhondda Foodbank it runs, in conjunction with its CAP Centre. The church is currently engaged with 45 households working through the debt counselling process.

"The heartbeat vision of the church is to help transform community," says Rob Jones, Core Leader at ACTS. "These values have been built into the church since we opened our doors in 2008. We're clearly inspired and motivated by many passages within the Bible, not least Isaiah 58: 'Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter...''"

Rob recalls one particular individual who has been helped by the CAP Centre. Her story is typical of those the Centre supports: "One lady was on her own struggling with credit cards and loans - all with crippling interest. We were introduced to the situation in conjunction with social services and were able to put in place a plan that would enable her to become debt-free in just over a year. She is now on the cusp of becoming debt-free. This has given her control over her own life, boosted her self-respect and self-esteem as well as equipped her with some great tools for going forward.”
It is clear that the church has a great passion for helping people. "We have three trained debt coaches and a whole team of volunteer support workers (about 25) from the Church who work alongside them. Local knowledge and understanding plays a huge part. What works in a city centre, rural Wales or North Wales doesn't necessarily work in the Valleys," says Rob. "It's about being context specific."

Looking to the future

ACTS church is currently looking for new premises in order to develop these initiatives further, with the aim of having a high street presence providing daily interaction with folks in the community. "We are here for the long haul to bring transformation to a needy community," says Rob. "It's all about giving a voice to the defenceless and the vulnerable."

Rob and the ACTS team can be contacted at http://actscommunitychurch.co.uk/. They will be pleased to share their experiences with you.

For more information on CAP in Wales, click here.