Woodies News, news

With just two weeks to go till the official Launch of Love Running 2012, it's now time to unveil the official charities that we're raising money for.

Love Running sets out to help ordinary people get fit, get friends and change the world by raising money for three distinct areas - the poor, the oppressed and the needy.

A third of the money we raise will once again go to our long term partnership project in Zimbabwe. Since Love Running was launched we've supported a World Vision area development programme in one of the poorest parts of Zimbabwe. It's now the biggest programme of its kind in the country and we are the sole supporters.

The second third of the money is going to provide clean water and sanitation to a community of 6,000 people in rural Uganda. Currently young girls are forced to walk for 3-4 hours a day to collect water, leaving them vulnerable to injury, rape, disease and a disrupted education. We believe it is unjust that 900 million people worlwide have no access to clean water, with the result that 5,000 children die each day. We want to do something about it.

If you have been in prison, getting back to work can be a big problem. In the current job climate, who would want to employ you? Without work there is a significant chance that you will reoffend.

Paul Harrod from our church has recently set up an amazing charity, giving jobs and training opportunities to ex-offenders. His work was one of the features on this week's BBC1 "Inside Out West" programme. If you missed it, you can see it by clicking here (the feature starts at 10.12 mins). If you would like to find out more about the initiative called Bristol Together you can go to their website www.bristoltogether.co.uk.

It's wonderful to see Christian entrepreneurs setting up Kingdom initiatives!

Sat 8th Oct sees the fourth Single Parents Fair running at the Greenway Centre on Doncaster Rd in Southmead. It is an event for any lone parent family in Bristol. While the children are entertained with face painting, craft activities, street dance training and much more, the mums (and a few brave dads) will be treated to free pampering, including massage, professional haircuts and nail art. There will be professional family photos being taken and advice available from a number of agencies. There will be quality secondhand clothes and toys for each family to take home with them. The whole event is free and will be a touch of God's love on earth.

We need almost a hundred volunteers to make the event run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer please contact catparentsfair [dot] info.

The following article was posted in the summer newsletter for Sightseeing Bristol:

Mark's Open Top Bus Tour is Back!

After the success of his 'History of Christianity in Bristol' open top bus tour in 2010, Mark Van De Poll has once again joined forces with City Sightseeing; now making the tour available to church groups.

"Bristol has been home to men and women who changed the course of history by putting their faith into action to fight for justice, equality, freedom and truth.” says Mark. “My passion is to uncover the story of who we are as a people. How did we get to where we are, and what is our own personal part to play in our lifetime?”

Looking at William Tyndale, George Whitefield, John and Charles Wesley, George Muller and Mary Carpenter, the tour also explores three fascinating periods: ‘Medieval Bristol - A city built on prayer’,’ The Reformation - Bristol leads the way out of the Dark Ages’, and ‘The Spiritual Enlightenment - Bristol as the gateway to a faith revival’.