A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
to
Greenstones Christian Trust __________________________________________________________________________________
to
Greenstones Christian Trust __________________________________________________________________________________
TRUSTEES
Our founding Trustee
Rev Bob Spratt MBE
is now joined in managing the Trust by:-
Mr William Allen, Rev Calum Crombie, Mr Mike Ducker, Rev Rebecca Ducker
Our founding Trustee
Rev Bob Spratt MBE
is now joined in managing the Trust by:-
Mr William Allen, Rev Calum Crombie, Mr Mike Ducker, Rev Rebecca Ducker
AIMS (AS DECLARED ON THE CHARITY COMMISSION WEBSITE)
Inspired by the example of Jesus who "went about doing good", this Trust aims in His name to try to prioritise and help address some of the identified practical and spiritual needs of prisoners and their families in the United Kingdom and in Ethiopia and, through this holistic Christian approach, achieve positive changes for the benefit of them and the wider community - whatever their beliefs.
Inspired by the example of Jesus who "went about doing good", this Trust aims in His name to try to prioritise and help address some of the identified practical and spiritual needs of prisoners and their families in the United Kingdom and in Ethiopia and, through this holistic Christian approach, achieve positive changes for the benefit of them and the wider community - whatever their beliefs.
HISTORY
Greenstones Christian Trust was founded in 1974 under the name Northern Gospel Message Trust by the efforts of Bob Spratt who was joined by two other like minded trustees - David Devenish and the late John Orr. A non denominational Christian organisation it exists - as noted in the Trust Deed dated 28 March 1974 - for the furthering of the preaching of the Christian gospel.
In 2000 reflecting the wider area being covered the name of the Trust was changed to that presently used and two working titles have also been registered with the Charity Commission. "Missions to Prisons" - highlighting the focus of the work and "Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia" - identifying missions to prisons undertaken in partnership with "Justice for All Prison Fellowship Ethiopia".
As part of our non-denominational emphasis, two of our trustees are members of International Gospel Outreach whose motto - "recognising the whole church and reaching out to the whole world" - we fully subscribe to.
Our Basis of Faith is that used by the Evangelical Alliance of which Missions to Prisons is a member.
Over the years the focus has always tended to be on the need to share good news with people who may be a bit isolated - from rural communities to those in prison.
The use of Christian films such as those distributed by Fact and Faith and also through Religious Films and International Films provided many opportunities for this. In the 1980's developments in the visual media began to make 16mm cine films obsolete. This affected the cinema type work in rural communities and we found our focus moved increasingly towards prisons related work.
Now, as part of a much wider and still developing holistic prisons ministry which you can learn more about as you browse this site, we still do have opportunities to use the visual media in prisons. In addition to teaching and testimony DVD's, this includes sharing the story of Jesus with some of the many foreign nationals in UK prisons through the well known JESUS film. We have this on DVD in over 30 languages and offer it to prisons on free loan.
All of this can and indeed does further the preaching of the Christian gospel. We do not do all the preaching but just love to come alongside and help others - from whatever denomination - who are doing this in a way that is relevant to their hearers. We also believe it must be more than words!
It's word with action!
Greenstones Christian Trust was founded in 1974 under the name Northern Gospel Message Trust by the efforts of Bob Spratt who was joined by two other like minded trustees - David Devenish and the late John Orr. A non denominational Christian organisation it exists - as noted in the Trust Deed dated 28 March 1974 - for the furthering of the preaching of the Christian gospel.
In 2000 reflecting the wider area being covered the name of the Trust was changed to that presently used and two working titles have also been registered with the Charity Commission. "Missions to Prisons" - highlighting the focus of the work and "Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia" - identifying missions to prisons undertaken in partnership with "Justice for All Prison Fellowship Ethiopia".
As part of our non-denominational emphasis, two of our trustees are members of International Gospel Outreach whose motto - "recognising the whole church and reaching out to the whole world" - we fully subscribe to.
Our Basis of Faith is that used by the Evangelical Alliance of which Missions to Prisons is a member.
Over the years the focus has always tended to be on the need to share good news with people who may be a bit isolated - from rural communities to those in prison.
The use of Christian films such as those distributed by Fact and Faith and also through Religious Films and International Films provided many opportunities for this. In the 1980's developments in the visual media began to make 16mm cine films obsolete. This affected the cinema type work in rural communities and we found our focus moved increasingly towards prisons related work.
Now, as part of a much wider and still developing holistic prisons ministry which you can learn more about as you browse this site, we still do have opportunities to use the visual media in prisons. In addition to teaching and testimony DVD's, this includes sharing the story of Jesus with some of the many foreign nationals in UK prisons through the well known JESUS film. We have this on DVD in over 30 languages and offer it to prisons on free loan.
All of this can and indeed does further the preaching of the Christian gospel. We do not do all the preaching but just love to come alongside and help others - from whatever denomination - who are doing this in a way that is relevant to their hearers. We also believe it must be more than words!
It's word with action!
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We invite you to click here if you need to know more.
We invite you to click here if you need to know more.
