Acts 435: Giving Hope Through the Local Church
This year our charity, Acts 435, is celebrating 15 years of giving hope to individuals through the local church. As we mark this milestone, we’ve been reflecting on the impact our work—and each specific gift—can have on individuals and families experiencing poverty or hardship, and how it enables churches to shine the light of Jesus in their communities.
Founded in 2010, Acts 435 has, through a growing network of churches and local charities, helped over 59,000 individuals with a specific need. These needs vary widely: a washing machine for a family, a bus pass for someone starting a new job, or school uniform for a child whose parent has recently been made redundant. Each of these small gifts makes a big difference to someone who may feel hopeless, providing them with practical support and a sense of hope.
Our name comes from Acts 4:35, where the early church distributed resources to anyone who had a need—that is our vision as a charity. To achieve this, the local church is vital, connecting us with those in the community who are going without. As one of our volunteers recently said, “Supporting those in need in our communities should be an important part of the outreach of all churches.” Scripture shows us this example of helping those with nowhere else to turn.
By meeting practical needs, the local church can demonstrate mercy and hope to those struggling with poverty. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation recently reported that two in every ten adults in the UK are living in poverty, and about three in every ten children. These sobering statistics are unlikely to improve soon as the cost of living continues to rise and benefits fail to cover everyday essentials. For those who are struggling, the support a local church can provide is a glimmer of hope.
One such individual was Charis*, who had recently left an abusive and controlling relationship. Her finances had been controlled by her ex-partner, and she was starting again with no income or savings. She and her children were given a home with no carpets, and because she was on benefits, she had no funds to furnish it. The local church and Acts 435 donors stepped in to cover the cost of carpets. After they were fitted, Charis said:
“I would like to thank you all for making a massive difference in mine and my family’s life. If it wasn’t for this help, me and my children would have been without flooring for maybe years due to the cost of living and not being able to afford it. We really do appreciate everything. Thank you. I’m speechless.”
For people like Charis, Acts 435 meets very practical needs while also giving the local church an opportunity not only to demonstrate the biblical principles of the early church but, more importantly, to share the hope of Jesus with their community.
Each month we send out a prayer bulletin to those who have asked to receive it, including prayer requests for Acts 435 recipients who are on a journey of faith and open to attending church or hearing the gospel—like Joel*, from Manchester, who is curious about Jesus, or Diana*, from Tameside, whose mental health has been poor but who wants to go to church and is open to God.
This continually reminds us that while we are addressing desperate needs in communities, we are also creating opportunities for our partners to invite families to church or share the gospel with individuals.
If your church or local charity is interested in partnering with Acts 435 to bring hope to individuals in your community, we’d love to hear from you at acts435.org.uk/partner. It is a completely free resource, and we praise God for the faithful giving that means requests for help are met, on average, in just nine days!
*Name changed