Trailblazing initiative brings gospel to disadvantaged

Four years since its inception, a pioneering initiative to bring the gospel to economically disadvantaged and ethnic minority areas is bringing transformation across the UK.

The Sychar Gospel Fund was established in 2021 with a vision to support local churches in the poorest areas of Britain – it has distributed more than £1.4 million in grants to 125 men and women from 40 different churches to date.

“We are delighted to report on the way in which the Lord has blessed the aims of the Fund to help churches in economically disadvantaged and ethnically unreached areas of Britain raise up and train men and women for gospel ministry in their communities,” said Trevor Archer, chair of the Sychar Gospel Fund Advisory Board.

“We give praise to the Lord for these and many other needy places in Britain where the Sychar Gospel Fund is able to play some part in strengthening gospel witness.”

One recipient of the fund, Ben Wighton, described the two-year grant he received as “life-changing”. Through the support of the Sychar Gospel Fund, Wighton is able to study part time at Oak Hill College while serving and training at St Nicholas Church in London.

“That’s where the Sychar trust has been amazing in providing some of the funding that’s enabled Ben to study and to serve and grow his pastoral ministry skills at St Nic’s,” said Tim Dennis, rector of St Nicholas Tooting. “It’s been a win for Ben, a win for us as a church family,” he said.

But the benefit of Wighton’s training isn’t limited to St Nic’s. This autumn, Wighton will step into a new role as the pastor of a Baptist church in Wandsworth in south west London, multiplying the reach of the fund’s investment.

Further north in Hull, Rasoul Badrlou has also benefitted from the work of the Sychar Gospel Fund through a three-year grant for training as an international worker for Christ Church Newlands.

Receiving theological training through Crosslands and ministry experience under pastor Scott McKay, Badrlou currently leads a language school and Bible study attended by 40 people through the week.

“We’re hugely grateful to the Sychar trust for enabling the employment and training of Rasoul for work among asylum seekers and refugees,” McKay said. “It’s really flourished since Rasoul joined the team.”