Appeal from Matrix

REBUILDING IN A BROKEN WORLD

Letter from Ian Nicholson
Executive Director

Dear friends of Matrix

Like you, I was shaken to the core by the sudden outburst of looting and violence in London during the summer. What particularly hit me was not so much the rioting but the underlying sickness and hopelessness of spirit which led thousands onto the streets to engage in mindless destruction. At about the same time, the local press (Surrey Advertiser, 19th July 2011) reported that ‘thousands of children in Guildford are living in poverty. Some of these disadvantaged children will typically live ten years less and are twice as likely to become disabled in life, often leaving school without skills and qualifications.’

For several days, I confess to battling with feelings of helplessness and doubt. The problems appear so big and endemic; the resources are increasingly hard to access, and genuine understanding of the issues is often lacking. Can we make any real difference? As I have reflected on the passage from the Bible (Proverbs 28 v 2 above), I have become increasingly convinced that the church has an opportunity to bring authoritative leadership - it is a time of huge opportunity. However, our response needs to be both creative and courageous.