Yuletide Unity

Ian Bremner of FLABB Church is working with Dik Allen of Aylestone Baptist Church.

Yuletide Unity is a Christian Organization which is committed to meet the physical and spiritual needs of homeless people in Leicester. After a successful Christmas lunch held at the Case Restaurant in 2006, where 90 people were served a 5 course meal and received a rucksack full of clothes, goodies and a sleeping bag. Ian put forward the notion that as Christians it should be our responsibility to tackle this issue all year long, and not just offer support on one day a year.

As a consequence, Yuletide Unity established a sandwich run twice a week. Packed with fresh bacon butties, home made hot soup, biscuits and crisps, we meet up to 30 people, either sleeping rough or in hostels, and offer hot food and an opportunity to share in a time of fellowship.

We meet in the market at 11.00 p.m. for 20 mins of so. We distribute food and hot drinks and take time to talk to people who arrive. After this time, which can consist of sharing the Gospel, listening to problems or just establishing relationships, we walk around the town centre looking for other homeless people who may be in need of some warm food and company.

Christ stands as a model for the way that we should live our lives, and at the heart of the Christian message is the notion that love can change lives. We read in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) that we are called not to just love our friends and families, but also those who are considered different and estranged from us. Through combining these elements of an active expression of faith with the love required for all people, we feel that we are sharing the Gospel with those who are in the most need of hearing it.

We have received generous donations from various Churches and the Case continues to offer tremendous support. If you are in a position to offer your time, food, clothing or money, all of these would be warmly welcome.

Ian can be contacted through FLABB Church and Dik through Aylestone Baptist Church