A June Family Fun Day showed the results of long-term mission in a former ‘no man’s land’ in East London.
St. John’s Park is a green space on the Isle of Dogs. Just a few years ago it was a place where no one dared to enter because of the gangs, drugs and high levels of crime. But now it is a vibrant hub of community where, particularly in the summer months, parents and children gather to enjoy time together.
This change has been brought about through the long-term ministry of Café Forever, a cafe run by London City Mission. In 2006 a disused council building in the middle of the park was transformed into a small shop selling cold drinks and snacks. Slowly but surely the gangs moved on, the crime levels dropped and now the park is used by all members of the community.
Fun days
The Family Fun Days are always the highlight of the summer in the park. The June event was attended by 600 people enjoying a selection of crafts, games and competitions, all free of charge.
Tom Carpenter, Team Leader at Café Forever, said: ‘St. John’s Park provided us with an opportunity to invite members of our community into a neutral space and enjoy time together. And through simply caring for the park and the people here we’ve seen it completely change.
‘We’ve had the opportunity to come alongside individuals and families and so have a direct impact on this community. By coming alongside people they get to know who Jesus is through what we are doing through this park. What we’ve found here is that genuine transformation only comes when people come into a genuine life transforming relationship with Jesus.’
