There is no doubt that Tabernacl Baptist Church, Cardiff has been blessed with a unique location in the centre of Cardiff. With this location also comes challenges, including the question: ‘How do we use this unique location to reach out to those directly on our doorstep with God’s love?’
That’s one of the key questions the church has grappled with over the past few years, especially with the missional tension that the church is Welsh-language, but also with a genuine desire to reach out to whoever is on their doorstep.
The seeds of the answer to that question began to be planted a few years ago. When the Rev. Dr. Rosa Hunt first came to Cardiff to work with Cardiff Baptist College, she would start her commute through the city early in the morning, and would see a number of homeless people lining the streets of the city centre.
She prayed a simple, but critical prayer: ‘If you give me a chance to do something, Lord, I will do it.’
A few years later, Rosa was asked by Tabernacl if she would consider becoming their minister. The call was confirmed clearly, and she started ministry in Tabernacl in September 2022.
She prayed a simple, but critical prayer: ‘If you give me a chance to do something, Lord, I will do it.’
That period was key in the wider society, as the nation emerged from the pandemic, and gas prices shot up at the same time. During this time, the Government asked churches to consider opening ‘warm spaces’, places where people could come and spend time in a warm, safe environment.
It soon became apparent that Tabernacl had a unique opportunity to be able to offer something like this in Cardiff city centre – and build on the wonderful work of Cardiff’s Welsh-language churches who had previously been ministering to the homeless regularly.
Of course, one of the groups that would appreciate this work most would be the homeless community in Cardiff city centre, and so, Rosa’s prayer from a few years previously – and the church’s question – began to be answered!
At first, the Tabernacl ‘Canolfan Glyd’ (Warm Space) started with about 6 or 8 adults coming to the vestry for company and a warm lunch twice a week. Very soon, numbers grew, and it became a real challenge to ensure that enough food was available for them each week. The question was asked: how do we sustain this growth with a voluntary taskforce? After pushing on a number of doors in the city centre, including enquiring with supermarkets about leftover food, the answer came from an unexpected direction
Tabernacl members had noticed that the tables from the Italian Restaurant next door had begun to be placed in front of one of the chapel gates on the main street.
Rosa went to have a word with the owner – and a conversation that might have been embarrassing turned into a “lovely” one! The owner shared that he wanted to cook fresh meals for the homeless people who came to the church.
And that’s what happened! Giovanni’s Restaurant has been providing the highest quality food every week to Cardiff’s homeless people through Tabernacl’s ‘Canolfan Glyd’ for the past three years – for no charge.
The church has seen true blessing in the work. One blessing is the co-operation between churches – the 60 volunteers who now run the ‘Canolfan Glyd’ come from a range of the Welsh-language churches in Cardiff. The ‘Canolfan’ is a bustling space every Wednesday and Sunday lunchtime, and a large number of homeless and vulnerable adults receive food of the highest quality each week.
Rosa’s prayer – and the church’s question – began to be answered!
Of course, those who come also experience God’s love there. When Rosa was asked if the ‘Canolfan’ also opens up opportunities to talk about faith with those who come, the answer was: “Of course! And I myself learn about God’s love through those who come.”
Many have talked about how they have seen God at work in their lives – including lives saved from dangerous situations. Many ask for prayer, and feel that they are able to talk openly about faith with those who serve there.
Whatever walk of life they come from, those who come to the ‘Canolfan Glyd’ know that they are welcome there. Indeed, this is not just a ‘warm space’ in terms of a physical building – but a truly ‘warm’ place in every way that shines the love of Jesus to Cardiff city centre.
You can find out more about the Warm Space and the ministry of Y Tabernacl, Cardiff at their website here (Welsh-medium). You can also read similar stories that will encourage and inspire you for mission, and God’s work in Wales in the latest edition of The Messenger here.