Jesus Army: Sheffield Jesus Centre

Today's culture needs an accessible church. People move around. Their lifestyles are fluid. They have often left their roots behind. They want things now. And here. So 'church' needs to be flexible. Visible. Easy to find. Easy to touch and make demands of. Just like the mobile Jesus, in His days on earth He took Himself to people - all sorts of people, meeting their needs in the places where He found them.

These are some of the stories of the people we have been able to help (names have been changed)

Donna started drinking at an early age and had developed a bad drinking problem, using alcohol to block out her bad memories. She first visited the Jesus Centre for advice and help to find accommodation and is now enrolled in two life skills courses. The centre has changed Donna's life and made her a stronger person; her friends there have given her the courage to start again.

Ian was homeless, living rough and selling the Big Issue. He has visited the Jesus Centre for a long time. Sometimes he has fallen out with people there, but overall the friendship has survived. Volunteers took him to hospital when he was ill, visited him and picked him up on release and helped him get further medical help. Then they managed to get him into rented accommodation and have supported his tenancy, liasing with Housing Benefit and the landlord. Ian says we have helped him a lot.

Ali came to the drop-in as an asylum seeker with no support, roofless and addicted to drugs. He got his basic needs met here and called it 'home'. He stayed with a friend that he met there and got himself off drugs. He came to church and became a Christian; he was dramatically healed of serious stomach problems. We got him into his own accommodation. He has become a trained valuable volunteer, working in the kitchen. Recently he also obtained an accreditation for literacy at the class which he has attended at the Jesus Centre for many months. His comment: "I am very happy."

Catherine, an older lady living alone, came to the Jesus Centre and then became a regular attender of our church services. She said she was very happy to have 'found a family'.

Patrick had been coming round a long time. He had a recently broken relationship but found stability with us and eventually got a flat and various jobs and training courses. Two years on he is still around.

We had known Jenny and Martin for a few years. They joined the literacy class run by one of our volunteers and recently the wife asked to be baptised in water.

Glen, a new volunteer, trained in catering before spending years in mental institutions. He helped in the kitchen making the breakfasts for the drop-in. He went on from there to a part-time job in manufacturing before returning to the Jesus Centre to employment as one of the catering staff.

Harriet has been homeless for years with a drink problem. Her son has also been homeless in the city with addiction and mental health problems. He is currently in prison. She is easy-going and loves joining in with church services.