Some words to frame this new year

www.awayout.co.uk

I have a soft spot for beautiful, ornate frames.

According to the dictionary, a frame is both a rigid structure that surrounds something such as a picture, door, or windowpane, or it can be a verb meaning to formulate a plan or system.
When it comes to looking ahead to a new year, we thought we would begin by framing some words which have become our 'rigid structure' and which have helped us formulate who we are and what we stand for.
And just like those beautiful frames in the picture, these words also provide a focal point for all our services and projects, they pull it altogether and sum up the heart of A Way Out since the outset, through difficult times, in the high points, and for our future. Inspired by the words of Isaiah 61, we hope this will inspire you in your support of us for 2014.

The first of these words, is of course, love. You only have to know us for a few minutes when you will hear and see the words 'Love, Hope, Freedom.' This was, and always will be the basis of why A Way Out exists.
 
We love, walk alongside, support, reach-out to and contribute to the life changes of people who have a desperate need of love.

Love with no conditions. Love that refuses to operate on a three-strikes-and-your-out system but instead, motivated by Christian values, believes above all else that love wins

The next is Light. So many of the people who walk through our doors, enter having come from some very dark places.  But light is extraordinary in what it can accomplish.
Even the smallest glimmer can penetrate the darkness entirely. It's never truly dark again once light comes in.

Our teams of women's workers, food hub teams, coaches, family support workers, health specialists, volunteers and youth workers carry with them the heart and belief of A Way Out when they reach out to people. And in doing so they help switch on the light of possibility.

Things can be better. Things can improve. Light is powerful.

Another of the words so important to us, that frame 2014 is Restore. This is the notion that something that has become less than it was intended to be, something once beautiful now hidden under years of neglect, can be brought back to its former beauty. Even, made more beautiful than it ever was.

Truthfully, A Way Out can't do this all by ourselves. We can support, facilitate, walk alongside, love unconditionally, but our Christian beliefs determine that restoration comes in partnership with a loving, restorative God, and an army of supporters willing to do all they can to help rebuild broken people.

The final word is Freedom.
I heard a small child, once, ask his mum why she was getting upset looking at a lion inside a compound at the zoo. She simply replied, 'something so beautiful shouldn't be trapped.'

 

That's how we feel about the people we serve in Stockton-On-Tees. Every life is precious. It has value and each person has the right to be happy, whole and free to live a fulfilled, healthy life.

 

Freedom can be taken in many ways. Some of our service users are trapped by abuse, some by food poverty, some by addiction and exploitation. Some are trapped in cyclical behaviour leaving them excluded. Others are simply trapped by the limits of their thinking. It is our heart, and our motivation, to help people find freedom.

 

These are powerful words. But unless they link hands with 'action' they remain just sentiments written on a blog. Please allow us to take this opportunity to all of you who support us by volunteering, by prayer and through regular financial support. Your generosity helps us plan for the year ahead. It helps us prepare to love people, to bring light in the dark, to restore the broken and to passionately campaign for freedom. we couldn't do it without you.

 

Thank you!

 

If A Way Out remains a cause which you believe in, please can you circulate this New Year blog? Help us inspire others to help in the life-changing work we do. 

 

www.awayout.co.uk