Over the last 10 years ‘faith communities’ have been given particular recognition by government for their ability to contribute to discussions about regeneration, neighbourhood renewal and social inclusion. This has led to faith communities being represented on many public bodies and having a voice in various places from Local Strategic Partnerships to Regional Assemblies. The right for them to be at these tables has gone largely unchallenged until very recently.

In the last month, a report from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (Faith and Voluntary Action) has asked some hard questions about the reasons for singling out people of faith as having a specific contribution, whilst many other ‘special interest’ groups have been not been allowed such influence.

Far from being threatened by this, I think we should rise to the challenge and express what is distinctive about people whose lives are guided by faith inspired values. From a Christian perspective I think we have much that is unique, to offer to public debate and we should take our seat at the table with confidence.

Christian influence is of course nothing new. Indeed the NCVO report does make the point, “The acceptance, support, purpose and identity that are developed through the bonds of a worshipping community can also motivate and equip people to cross boundaries and to develop bridging and linking social capital. Many ‘public lives’ can be traced to early years in a faith community.” Christian communities at their best are characterised by their strong sense of common purpose and support for those who work for a just and equal society.

Our message is also a universal one. We do not seek to suggest that we only work for the rights and privileges of our own members, but we strive to make the world better for all. After all we work in co-operation with the Creator, acknowledging human failure and reaching for the values of the Kingdom.

And that highlights another key contribution we offer. Christians are essentially people of hope. We are convinced that God offers more and better for his creatures and we should always strive to greater things. When we read the parables of Jesus we are offered glimpses of how God desires the world to be. I read recently that when Jesus introduces his stories with the phrase “The Kingdom of God is like…” what he is really saying is, “This is what it is like when God is at work…”

Are you a cannibal?

What an unsavoury thought…. but it might be closer to the truth than you might think if you’re a chocolate lover. The United Nations have recognised that at least 12,000 children have been trafficked in the Ivory Coast in the cocoa farms, which produces 40% of the world’s cocoa for chocolate companies.

I sat several weeks ago in the District Celebration ‘Chain Reaction’ at the Sage Gateshead and thought how amazing the faith of those Christians was in challenging the injustice of the slave trade in their day. But then I was profoundly stirred to hear there are more people today suffering in one form or another of slavery than there were 200 years ago. The question so many people said afterwards in the positive feedback was “yes the chain reaction goes on but what can I do?”

So when I went to the Incarnate conference just a few weeks later and heard first hand the awful stories from someone who had visited the Ivory Coast and managed to talk to some of these children, I found myself as a chocolate lover both challenged and compelled to act. Especially as the UN figure of twelve thousand is just the tip of the iceberg…..many believe the figure to be closer to 100,000.

The campaign ‘Stop the Traffik’ http://www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign/ has a lot of information and advice on how we can make a difference in our time. Fair Trade was once thought to be an ideal of a few keen people to do good, but it is now commonly understood and practiced increasingly in the supermarkets. Public pressure has made the difference.

The boy whose story was told was asked what he would like to say to us choccy eaters, for which his reply was “you probably have my blood on you teeth and you’re eating my flesh”. Let’s get informed. Let’s find out where our chocolate comes from and how it’s produced. And let’s join the voices of the past and present to challenge all forms of slavery and stop the ‘traffik’! Jesus said “whenever you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me,” Matthew 25:40.

Stephen Lindridge – District Evangelism Enabler