The people at Bristo were this year involved again in both the Bethany Care Shelter and the Bethany Care Van.
Bristo is one of a large number of churches that actively support the Care Shelter. We are also one of the larger contributors to the service in that we provided the church as a venue for ten nights during its months of operation, between November and April. On two of those nights ‘Team Bristo’ provided the food, which we cooked on the premises, catering for between 40 – 50 people. We provided a main course and dessert, and served the food to exceptionally hungry service users.
Both of these nights were fun and full of fellowship as we cooked, served and then tidied up.
It’s worth noting that this service took on a particular importance to the service users this year after the closure of the Council’s Cowgate night centre this winter. After its closure the numbers coming to the Care Shelter increased fairly significantly.
Bristo also continues to contribute a team to man the Care Van every month, to serve rolls, soups, teas and coffees to service users as part of a consistent Christian witness on the streets.
Some people might be surprised to know that not all the users of the service are homeless. These are people who were homeless at some stage in the past, but who continue to come to the van to continue with relationships they’d had previously on the streets.
Although this is a fairly low-key ministry, the beauty of it is that it meets the basic needs of homeless people at the point of their need, and it does it on a consistent basis.
Our thanks go to Bethany and also Edinburgh City Mission (who partner with Bethany to provide the Care Van) for giving Bristo the opportunity to minister to the poor and vulnerable in Edinburgh and so align ourselves more fully with the heart of our Lord.
Craig Smith
