Good News Family Care

As I’ve mentioned previously my particular placement in Buxton is working half time at the Charis House, which is associated with Good News Family Care. The rest of the time will be spent working with Buxton Community Church.

Good News Family Care was started 13 years ago as a family center. It has transformed into a women’s refuge mostly serving homeless and victims of domestic abuse. The house is massive with 11 rooms and a “flat” for occupancy by clients. There are also several common rooms both upstairs and downstairs. Also the two couples who are the directors of the entire operation each have their own flat upstairs where they live with their families. This branch of GNFC is called the Charis House.

Attached to the Charis House using 5 rooms downstairs is the Good News Nursery. They serve mothers living in the house as well as other families in the community. They care for children from birth to 5 years and are open from 8 to 6.

Once women have moved out of the house they are assigned a community support worker. The two women who currently serve in this position are responsible for ensuring that the former residents are continuing and healthy and responsible lifestyle out of the house. They are available for making appointments, taking them to appointments, taking them shopping, spending time with them, as well as supervising finances. I’m sure that there are many other responsibilities of a community support worker that I have not yet encountered.

GNFC also has a rehab that used to be housed in the top floor of the Charis House but recently moved a separate house. Women must already be de-toxed before admittance to the house. They are taken daily to the GNFC farm to work—rain, snow, or shine.

The GNFC farm is several miles outside of Buxton. Its purpose is to give clients a valuable work experience. They have approximately 500 hens. The eggs are sold at the house as a way to raise money for the charity. They also have a wood-working project for men as another way to fundraise.

Along with the dedicated staff of the many branches of GNFC, they have several volunteers who usually spend a year in Buxton. Most volunteers come through an English organization called Time For God. This is the organization that the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission have teamed up with. They support Christian volunteers from all over the world creating a global community for GNFC.

The last ministry of GNFC is the church. When the organization started the associated church was naturally named Good News Church. But because of the growth of the church, it eventually split into two congregations: Good News Church, now homed in Whaley Bride, a community near Buxton, and Buxton Community Church, homed in the house. It is a non-denomination church with the congregation made up primarily of residents and staff along with a few other community members. The pastor is Mick the husband from my host family.

Within the church there are several ministries—all of which I’m involved with in some regard. They sponsor the Buxton Christians Football (Soccer) Club, Little Fishes (a weekly group for moms and children under 5), Women’s Group, various small groups and Bible Studies, and Rock Solid (youth group).

GNFC is a growing ministry that is doing a great job supporting families and making a difference in the Buxton community. I’m really enjoying learning more about the work done and having my own opportunity to do good in my new community.