New Episode: Don't Forget the Positives!

It’s easy to focus on the challenges of life and ministry in deprived communities—the statistics, the hardships, and the uphill battles. But if we only look at the struggle, we miss the profound beauty of what God is doing in our schemes and council estates.

In this episode of the In Context podcast, Steve Kneale and Gary Matthews look to shift the lens toward the joys of estate ministry. Together, they explore the unique blessings of living and serving in these tight-knit communities.

In this episode, we’re doing things a bit differently. Our Midlands Director, Gary Matthews, and Director of Communications, Steve Kneale, sit down for a candid conversation about the 'why' behind the work.

Though their roles are focused on supporting and advocating for ministry rather than being the boots on the ground, the heart for the estate remains the same. They discuss their personal journeys to Medhurst, the unique challenges of building a support structure for council estate churches, and their shared hopes for what the future of Medhurst will look like.

If you are part of a council estate church and would like to contact Gary about attending the pastors lunches or joining the Medhurst Church Network, then you can contact him via email: gary@medhurstministries.org

In Part One of What Is Working Class?, Ian talks with Steve Kneale about growing up in a traditional working-class Christian family. Steve reflects on attending a middle-class church while holding onto his working-class roots, exploring the tensions between faith, community, and social identity. They discuss how assimilation, assumptions, and prejudice shape the perception of class, showing that the term working class encompasses far more than a single experience or culture.

In this episode of In Context, Ian sits down with Steve Kneale to explore his journey from growing up in a working-class Christian family to pastoring a church in one of the UK’s most deprived communities. Steve shares the challenges, lessons, and faith-driven insights that shaped his ministry and discusses how these experiences will be used to guide him in his new role with Medhurst Ministries. Join us for a candid conversation about resilience, community, and the calling to serve.

You can find Steve Blogging here: https://buildingjerusalem.blog/

and you can support his new role financially through Stewardship below: https://account.stewardship.org.uk/gift/start/Steve_Kneale

This week, Ian and Gary conclude the discussion on the findings of Ian’s research on C. H. Spurgeon’s teaching methods and their relevance for training preachers from working-class communities. This episode how the working-class are facing the same issues in today's church and how, if the church, replicated the ministry of Spurgeon, we could see a more inclusive church.

Please find the links as described in the podcast:

The Research
Preaching Like the Working-Class

The Books
Letters to My Students, Spurgeon & The Poor and Spurgeon The pastor