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Barney Barron’s experience of moving from a very affluent Hampshire village to a large estate, recognised as an area of high deprivation, was that he learnt to listen and not assume he knew.  He respected the knowledge and experience of those who had lived on the estate for a lifetime, spending two years living in the community, getting involved, building friendships before ever having a meeting as a church.  Therefore when he did begin to gather people the meeting reflected a local response to God rather than his understanding of what church should look like. An unnamed American student put it like this, ‘In working with young people in America, do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place might seem to you.  You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.’  (Donovan 1978: preface p.xiii)

When Barney Barron came as student minister to Leigh Park Baptist Church from a Hampshire village he found himself in a different world culturally.  He spent two years as a student minister listening and learning from the local community.  No new projects were started, but Barney got involved in local projects which were already running.

Following this initial two year period of getting to know the community, he set up what became known as Cafe Church – meeting in a cafe on a Friday night and teaching through conversation and discussion.  Those who came along found ways to reflect and engage with what is being learned.  Barney has continued to be involved in serving the community in projects which are already up and running, rather than relying on people attending church activities.  This includes working with the local children’s centre to start a Dads’ Group.  Through the relationships which have been built up with dads and children some have now begun to express an interest in faith.

‘Alan’ was one such dad who came to the Dads’ group and was then invited to a men’s night out with people from the church.  He then came to café church because he thought he could disrupt it, but through it has grown in his own faith and has now asked to be baptised.

Through this relational ministry, Barney is managing to reach people who would not have gone to a traditional church.  He is encouraged that the local people are now beginning to lead things in the church - on the core team, leading children’s work and running Faith and Football for young people in the community.  These are people who, when Barney first met them, would not have given church or God a thought.