News: Manicures and Massages for the Homeless

A church in Bow is exchanging pews for pampering rough sleepers, in a bid to demonstrate God’s practical love. Whenever there’s a fifth Sunday in the month, the congregation of Epainos Ministries spills onto the streets of Tower Hamlets armed with hairbrushes instead of Bibles.

The self-styled ‘Church on The Streets’, serves three local hostels by offering its residents free hair and beauty treatments including pedicures, massage and manicures.
Denise Bentley heads up the initiative and claims it’s transformed many lives in East London but at first there was some scepticism:

“We’ve gone in and shown love. The initial response is surprise or a look of, ‘let me see if they’re going to get their bible out’, but we’ve been consistent and wanting to build relationships. They’ve opened up slowly but surely.

“We’ve seen change in their self esteem and a lot of people ask, ‘who is this Jesus guy and why are you doing this if you don’t want anything in return?’ That gives us an opportunity to say it’s because of Jesus’ love. Souls have certainly been saved and people’s lives have been changed.”

Denise’s Pastor, Rev. Davey Johnson at Epainos Ministries, came up with the idea in 2006. He was given a vision to close down ‘conventional church’ once a month and take worship and acts of kindness beyond four walls onto the streets. Denise was inspired and having previously volunteered at the homeless charity, Crisis, suggested hair care and beauty treatments would work well. Now 60% of their congregation serve in this way but in the beginning, some found it more difficult than others according to Denise:

“It was a change of culture and it was the youth who mostly grasped the vision. Now people are blessed by being able to give and are getting perspective. Before they might have said, ‘woe is me, I’m having a bad day’, but after seeing the hostel they say, ‘o my gosh, I can go home, put my kettle on and make a cup of tea.’ Now they feel grateful.

“It’s not about how skilled you are, it’s about your willingness to do it. The whole mindset is about whatever Jesus wants me do, just give me the opportunity to do it. It’s key to what Jesus challenges us to do.”

Church on the Streets is keen to develop its relationship with the men’s hostel. The men’s activities currently include playing Wii games and barbering but the men at Epainos Ministries want to take it further. Denise explains:

“Homeless men need male mentors. There is a cry for relationship and a need for someone to care, bond with and give prayerful support to. We need to find other ways to interact with them, whether it’s a film night, sport or career counselling and helping them to move into their own accommodation.”

The work of Church on the Streets has been recognised by the local authorities and they now work in partnership with Tower Hamlets College. Denise is very excited by the possibilities of working with the students:

“They’re becoming more socially minded by being able to serve with us. We’ve shown through our lifestyle what Jesus challenges us to do. It’s been of such worth and value to the college, that they’ve decided to build us into their curriculum. It will be part of the students’ mandate to work with Church on the Streets whenever we go out.”

Denise is a firm believer that more churches should step out in practical ways and unite to serve their community:

“There is an opportunity for churches to work together and serve the community in a strategic way. Where there is the possibility of sharing resources and best practice, it will make the church more efficient and more relevant. Churches need to use their local knowledge and tailor it to the needs of their community.”