The challenge

St Mary Bredin is a large church with a large budget and is committed to investing all its buildings and resources to people who can witness to the love of Christ. But that is costly. We do not have large endowments and our income comes from the regular congregation and occasional visitors.

Our aim is to serve not only the people of Canterbury, but also other parts of the country and world. In recent years we have taken teams to East Africa, Ireland and Europe as well as to towns and villages near at hand. In addition we have brought people from elsewhere and sent others to be involved in projects in some of the poorest parts of the world.

We have a vision for St Mary Bredin and an important part of it is to see a body of people who overflow with generosity. Why? Because that is what God is like. “Remember our Lord Jesus Christ, who though He was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich”. What a life He lived! It is challenging, exciting and practical.

It is challenging because it is so different. The belief of the majority today can be simply stated: they say “to live is to get”. Get more money, more possessions; that is what life is about. In total contrast the example of Jesus can be summed up in the single phrase “to live is to give”.

You say it is not easy. It is worse than that. It is impossible! That is why the Spirit of Christ is so liberating. He alone can set us free, both from the love of money and anxiety about poverty – no wonder those who have experienced this Spirit get so excited.

It is also practical - nice feelings alone get us nowhere. When we actually let go of money, we release a little of our selfishness and false security. Action is essential – when you meet someone who gives you see the love of Christ in action.

Please consider ways in which you could join us in the realization of our hope to be a blessing to our community, the country and other parts of the world with which we are partnered.