What is the Ministry?
Royal Oaks Community Support (ROCS) seeks to encourage vulnerable and isolated people in Canterbury; to enable them to overcome life’s struggles and to live enriched lives. We do this by providing extended family support through faith-based mentoring and befriending.
What is the vision of the ministry?
ROCS aims to be:
• Strategic in its activities and programmes
• Sustainable in providing ongoing support at an appropriate level
• Spontaneous in responding to those in need
• Speaking out on local issues, bringing a Christian perspective
• Supporting the growing number of church members working with people in the community
We believe that the church has a unique position and responsibility within the community ‘to bind up the broken hearted and to bring hope to those in despair’ (Isaiah 61:1-3). Whilst the Bible determines our message, the culture shapes how we communicate it. We are to be firm in faith yet flexible in approach, balancing what we do with what we say.
We recognise the importance of partnerships with other agencies as we don’t have all the answers. By working together we can bring about positive change in people’s lives.
What does it look like on a week to week basis?
We currently work with a number of elderly people. ROCS is a ministry in its infancy that is providing ‘that little bit of extra help’, developing our links with local homeless organisations and with young people and families through schools.
What would be involved in serving in this area?
- Mentoring in Schools is a 1-2 hour commitment each week
- The other projects are more flexible and so will require the team to respond to individual needs as they arise.
Time is the only qualification.
What sort of person are you looking for?
People who are willing to offer a listening ear, empathise, point people in the right direction to receive professional serves and befriend those in need.
What is the process if I want to get involved?
Check out the website www.thecitychurch.org.uk/rocs and e-mail info@thecitychurch.org.uk. We will then be able to tell you the current people we are serving and areas where we can be involved. We will then be able to see in which areas you are able to help.
