How faith, kindness, and partnership can quietly transform a town
What does it look like when faith is lived out beyond church walls and woven into the everyday life of a community? In this personal reflection, Mike shares how a lifetime of following Christ has shaped his commitment to social action, unity, and compassionate service. From small acts of friendship to the development of charities and partnerships across an entire town, this story reveals how God works patiently and powerfully through people, relationships, and local communities; often in ways that only become clear over time.
She was in her early forties with a young daughter. Both were receiving trauma counselling after abuse. In this context I had known them for two years. Under a court order their house needed to be sold by a deadline date just before Christmas.
The Church house was empty and the mother and child were given it for six months. Community and Church were connected in love.
Since coming to Selsey twenty years ago my wife, Diana, and I have served local churches and local charities. We have sought mission in social action and evangelism.
I was converted on the Good Friday of my 14th year and at 15 was regularly visiting a wheelchair bound man in our local community. Since then faith in Christ has always motivated acts of kindness and observing the pathways of God in the community.
In Isaiah 49, God uses Cyrus, a Persian King, to set his people free from captivity and shape their future purpose. He is given precious titles by God.
It has engaged my attention to explore how God works in a community and how this interacts with the church congregations. Looking for signs of the kingdom in our town has been fascinating.
In practical terms we have founded two charities that provide mental health care for young people and social care for older people.
Youth Dream runs a Youth Support Centre where services in counselling and mentoring are freely available. Community clubs and outreach to young people away from school seek to help 200 young people each year. 13 staff work in 8 local schools seeking to help with transition at eleven and to give new opportunities in life chances and choices.
Selsey Community Forum runs a Care Shop through which services are accessed in: befriending phone calls and activities to overcome loneliness, support for voluntary carers, those living with dementia and buddies to offer practical help. There is also employment, housing, money, transport, counselling and environmental support.
Being an isolated community of 12500 people the availability of local face to face free services is vital to the health of the population.
We have preached in local churches, used their premises and built pathways between community and faith. We have sought to promote Kingdom values in a community of understanding , kindness and love. This has particularly supported people living with dementia and those dealing with addictive habits.
Partnerships across the town are vital to the success of services as knowledge , expertise, experience and compassion are shared.
Of particular importance has been the development of unity among the four churches of the town expressed in key community events and monthly leaders meetings.
Similar people in significant positions share roles in church and community. This makes working together easier and encouraging support natural.
We see God at work in church structures and community activities. The churches have developed a coffee shop which attracts the lonely and inquisitive.
Several people have followed the pathway from Community to faith in Christ. Many of these have come in the bereavement journey. We run an end of life befriending service, bereavement support groups and individual help. An annual remembrance event has been enjoyed.
We have sought to share the model across Chichester District. A Care Hub now exists in Midhurst and a new Care Shop is to open in Wittering in September.
As chair of the two charities and of trustees at Beacon Church I have been privileged to have a strategic role in these kingdom pathways. In Philippians 1 Paul expresses thanks for his friends and their partnership in the Gospel. He mentions Christ Jesus seven times in the first ten verses. As my wife and I are grateful for our three loving children and eight grandchildren and all our fellow Christians we are thankful most of all forJesus. He saved us and His goodness and mercy have followed us over 70 years. We pray for others to follow too.
So we have learned…
1. to invest ourselves in our local community
2. to value the activity of other Christians in their community
3. to connect Community and Church with a ramp , not steps, so access and entry is as comfortable as possible.
4. to present Christ with loving acts and simple language
5. if all this seems too complicated, remember where it began for me in the simple act of offering friendship to someone who was lonely
About the Author
Dr Mike Nicholls and his wife Diana have three children , Emma, Helen and Tim in Australia.
Mike has been a pastor in two churches, a college tutor for fifteen years and latterly a charity volunteer.
Di and Mike have been together for 60 years and Jesus has been part of their life all those years.
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