Ripples on a Pond I’m not sure if many people are very good at listening. If we were, perhaps there would not need to be so many counsellors and therapists. Yet, we love to be listened to. It...

The cost-of-living crisis is a phrase that we hear time and again. Indeed, Thrive Ireland are working in partnership alongside a number of organisations who are at the coalface – often weeping with...

This is a talk that was originally given by David Smyth, Director of Evangelical Alliance at Thrive Ireland’s “Speaking Out” Conference on 19th November 2019. He was subsequently asked to use the content...

The current context, politically and in community, is palpably defined by impasse & apathy.  Church and community practitioners are convinced that the feeling of being “stuck” is contributing...

We are instructed in the bible to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. Jesus also tells us to “love our neighbour”. But this message goes out to all Christians in every country. I...

I work with churches across N. Ireland helping them to connect and reach out to their local community. Part of this process is enabling them to conduct a community audit of need in their area. There...

So in Part 1 I talked about Tearfund’s Inspired Individuals programme and how it got me thinking about the importance of relationship and community – and how relationship is at the heart of peacebuilding,...

Until 4 years ago my experience in community development and peacebuilding was all from N. Ireland. I spent 15 years working in community in Newtownards in an organisation called The Link Family and...

Setting the Scene I spent 10 days last May hosting my friend and Tearfund Inspired Individual Christophe Mbonyingabo from Rwanda. In case you don’t know, and lets face it, not many of us...