Our latest Street Stories event, 'Birds, Fish & Donkeys: bringing back Kingdom provision and economics' took place in the Collier Room at Methodist Central Hall (fitting as Samuel Francis Collier was ahead of his time as an entrepreneur in the early 20th century). Numbers were low – why don't Christians like to talk about money? – but it was an excellent meeting with great stories, thoughtful and inspiring content from our three guests, Matt Wilson, Monique Kufour and Matt Parfitt (click on their names to find out ​more about the enterprises they head up) and a lively Q&A session.

​The evening also featured the launch by Andrew Belfield of The Ravens – a new community of entrepreneurs, business and faith leaders who want to invest in  civic, social and for-profit entrepreneurs and provide a platform of support, encouragement, training and investment to empower the marketplace leaders of tomorrow. Find out more here.

An audio recording of the evening is available on request.

Some background from Andrew Belfield to the themes of the upcoming Street Stories event 'Birds, Fish & Donkeys: bringing back Kingdom provision and economics'. Tuesday 8th November, 7:15pm, Methodist Central Hall, M1 1JQ. Book your place here

Our next 'Street Stories' event will be on Tuesday November 8, 7:15pm in Methodist Central Hall, Manchester. 'Birds, Fish & Donkeys: bringing back Kingdom Provision and Economics' is a timely theme for the current 'cost of living crisis' asking what practical guidance can we find in the Bible to re-assure us of the caring kindness of God? We are told to seek first the Kingdom and “all of these things” that everyone worries about will be “added to us”. But what does that look like? We read of birds bringing provision, a fish with a tax payment and a donkey for transport! Really? How does God’s provision work in modern times? Where does entrepreneurship and wealth creation fit in the Kingdom of God?

With guests Matt Wilson, Monique Kufour, Matt Parfitt and including the launch of 'The Ravens'. More details and booking info here. Space is limited.

Our next 'Street Stories' event will be on November 15, 7:15pm in Methodist Central Hall, Manchester. We are partnering with Greater Manchester Movement for Recovery to look at how what the churches are already doing has the potential to play a major part in our region's recovery strategy from the pandemic. With guests Andy Burnham, Adrian Nottingham and Erinma Bell. More details and booking info here. Space is limited.

The third of our three online 'Street Stories' events on aspects of 'Facing Up To Race' took place last Sunday on the subject of young people and race. Thank you to our speakers Gabriel Oyediwura, Christie Spurling and Beatrice Smith. View the full event below.

The second of our three online 'Street Stories' events on aspects of 'Facing Up to Race' took place last night. Thank you to Beatrice Smith for facilitating, Robert Beckford for a brilliant opening presentation, and to Dr Joe Aldred and Ben Tarbuck for open and honest discussion. View the full event below. Next is 'Generating Justice' on August 30 - more details here.

The first of our three online 'Street Stories' events on aspects of 'Facing Up to Race' took place last night. Big thanks to Faye Bruce of the Caribbean Health Network for her presentation and also to Dr Steve Taylor and Rosie Holden from Christians in Caring Professions. View the full event below. Next is 'Church Complicity' on Wednesday - more details here.

Our Street Stories event planned for June 4 had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus Lockdown. Then on May 26 the brutal public killing by police officers of black man George Floyd sparked an upsurge of #BlackLivesMatter in the USA, with similar protests in the UK. We felt we should find an alternative way to discuss issues around racism and have planned 3 short Zoom events on Facing Up To Race, with the same guest speakers, plus a few more. Dates and more info here. 

We had an excellent Street Stories event on Tuesday night. The theme was "Re:Mind: Mental Health and Well-Being in Greater Manchester". A big thank you to all our guest speakers and interviewers and to everyone who came and participated in some lively Q&A groups. This is a big subject and it was good to cover it from a variety of approaches from personal and organisational, right up to policy and theoretical aspects. There was also some insight into how churches, and particularly pastors, can welcome and care for people with mental health problems. This is obviously a topic that touched many and that people feel strongly about. Maybe we need to return to it at some point. Thoughts?