Hot Potato Time with Christian Central! 

Ros recently visited Christian Central, a group of Christians working in Ipswich who meet to discuss contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint over a hot potato lunch.  Here's her report:

At 12:25 we wondered if everyone had taken this week off for their holidays ... but by 12:32, 20 people had walked through the doors of Museum Street Methodist Church fresh from workplaces from the centre of Ipswich.

Town workers queued up for their 'hot potato' and filling, ready for their monthly lunchtime catch up. People came from a number of different workplaces including the council offices, AXA, a number of law firms and also workers from the church offices.

Over lunch one of the founding members shared her testimony. "I used to work in the health sector and when I switched to a career in law, I wanted people to know I was a Christian straight away. I discovered that it's harder to tell people you're a believer after a few months of hiding. So on my first day in my new workplace, I asked the Lord for boldness and an opportunity. I introduced myself to a new colleague and said I was a Christian, to which she gave me a big hug ... "so am I", she said. Wow, God had gone before me!”  She nudged the lady sat on her left whilst saying, "We have remained work prayer partners ever since". Smiling, the prayer partner confirmed, "it's true, we've been supporting each other for years, it's been a real encouragement!"

The founding member continued with her story. "She was on a train journey and asked the Lord for boldness again, keen to share the love of Jesus with another. She noticed the man opposite was reading one of her favourite books, and so struck up a conversation. Turns out this man was a Christian and guess where he worked - Ipswich!  ‘Lord what are you up to?’ It wasn't long before The Lord had networked a number of believers who came together in Ipswich for pizza and to discuss the potential of setting up a monthly workplace hub called ‘Christian Central’."

When you give yourself to the Lord as a living sacrifice (Romans 11:1-2) you fall into His Kingdom plans. Then your life's journey, including your work journey, becomes exciting and full of God-incidences. Years later Christian Central is still thriving running events to reach out to other workers in the town.

If you work in Ipswich and are keen to meet other missional Christians please do contact Transform Work UK to be put in touch