Did you know that over 22,000 people now rely on Message Community Groceries to keep their families fed? And whilst they’re driving down the cost of the food shop so no member goes hungry, the stores are about more than food. Their heart is mission and introducing people to Jesus.
This is why every single store is opened in partnership with a local church, and our teams unashamedly make it a priority to pray with members, chat to them about Jesus and invite them to church. As they’re invited, grocery members are coming along and local churches are growing!
One place this is happening is in Telford. Partnering with All Nations Church we opened a grocery there in November, and as the gospel is being shared with members, the impact has been phenomenal.
We caught up with church leader Rick Kaul to hear more. ‘As a church we were praying about how we could impact our community with the gospel, and it was then we heard about Community Groceries. Their heart to share Jesus in word and action excited us, and I’m so glad that as a church we stepped out and opened the store.
‘Life for people in Telford is tough, and the grocery provides a much-needed lifeline. As we get to know members, we’re able to tell them about the hope Jesus offers. Through these conversations we’ve seen people asking about faith and starting to come along to church. One third of our congregation is now made up of grocery members. Each week they’re coming along to church and hearing the gospel preached! The other Sunday we got to celebrate as 13 members were baptised and at the same service another 24 responded to the gospel!’
And it’s not just in Telford that God’s moving in this way. Partner churches growing and having to start new services, Alpha courses are being run across stores each week to answer people’s questions about Christianity. In Manchester, demand from members to have a church close to their homes in Wythenshawe has led to a new church being planted at The Message’s HQ in Sharston, where each week over 150 new believers are meeting and growing in their love of Jesus.
