Community Care
All of us need the ongoing care, encouragement and support of fellow Christians, in good times and bad. Our pastoral care programme is designed to reflect God's care and compassion for each individual.
The full-time pastors provide counselling on spiritual, doctrinal and personal matters as well as conducting home and hospital visits. However, in a church of our size, it is not physically possible, neither do we believe it to be biblically correct, for the whole burden of pastoral care to fall solely upon them. We have therefore developed a variety of ways in which ordinary members of the fellowship can exercise their gifts and care for each other at a number of different levels.
House fellowship groups are the primary means by which members of the fellowship may care for each other spiritually and practically, under the overall pastoral oversight of the fellowship group leader.
Pastoral Visitors
Drawn mainly from the ranks of the fellowship groups, our team of visitors consists of men and women to whom God has given a particular concern for giving practical help and comfort where needed. They exercise their gift in a whole host of ways, particularly in the areas of home and hospital visitations, and in long-term caring.
Listening
Sooner or later we all find ourselves hurting, or in spiritual or emotional difficulties. When that happens, we want you to know that there is a team of people at ABC who have been specially trained to help.
Exercising a broad-based ministry, our listeners can help individuals, couples and families under pressure through marital problems, bereavement, depression and other concerns. Every individual's needs are, of course, dealt with in the strictest confidence. If your problem subsequently seems to require specialist expertise unavailable within the church's listening team, outside help can be sought with your permission.
If you feel you might benefit from this ministry, please contact the Church Office Open Door
Surgery
Our pastors are available each week to anyone seeking counselling on practical, spiritual or personal matters, and half-hourly appointments can be booked via the Church Office.
Community Care
Our Community Care programme is based on the belief that 'love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action' (1 John 3:18). It is geared to discovering and implementing ways in which we can be of real service to the community. We seek to help and care for people 'where they are'. We also look to influence the structures of society to make them more pleasing to God.
The Community Care team currently operates in a number of different areas. A programme of visitation, particularly of the elderly, is under way. Through the local YWCA, we offer friendship and a listening ear for young residents, and regular events are organised for au pairs. We also have links with Manchester City Mission.
Our Community Care Team seeks to make our Christian voice heard in the social, political and moral issues of the day. We are registered as an agency for Community Service and have links with Trafford Education Authority. Church members and friends have been involved in the improvement of the area at the Altrincham Interchange. We run 'Money Management' courses to help people organise their finances, and marriage enrichment courses. Some of our members serve the homeless on the streets of the city-centre.
For further information please contact the Church Office (941 2018)
Child Contact Centre
Saturdays 9.30am-1pm
The Altrincham Child Contact Centre is for families split through separation or divorce. In such situations it's often difficult for any children involved to maintain a relationship with both parents - particularly with the non-custodial parent with whom they no longer live.
The Child Contact Centre therefore aims to provide neutral ground where non-custodial parents are able to meet and spend time with their children. Games, toys, puzzles and other activities are provided for a wide range of ages, and light refreshments are on sale.
The primary concern of the volunteers who man the centre is the right of the children to see both parents; it isn't a counselling or advisory service and doesn't 'take sides' between mums and dads.
The centre is open to anyone who needs to use it, and parents in separated families are welcome to visit any Saturday morning. Referrals can be made to the centre by solicitors, health visitors, the probation, social or court welfare services.
For any further information please contact: Judy Birchall (Co-ordinator) or the Church Office (941 2018)
Al-Anon
Although not a part of Altrincham Baptist Church, the Altrincham branch of Al-Anon meets regularly on our premises. As a national, non-denominational organisation, it aims to help and support those who recognise that their partners are suffering from a dependence on alcohol.