Building For Eternity
England is facing a severe housing crisis, affecting millions across the country. But what does this mean for the Church, and how can Christians respond with both compassion and action? In this article, Callum James shares how a prayer led to a calling and how the Church can play a vital role in regeneration through what he calls ‘regenerative evangelism’.
CALLUM JAMES: England faces a housing crisis.
The lack of safe, warm and affordable homes leaves thousands, young and old, in unsuitable temporary accommodation each night.
Worse still, millions are currently living in severe deprivation, with more than 1 in 5 people (14.3 million) in the UK living in poverty.
Living in a poorly built environment exacerbates this problem, leading to reduced life expectancy and fewer opportunities. In short, where you live has a significant impact on your health and the options available to you.
Jesus was clear in Matthew 25:40-45. Our call as Christians, through loving our neighbours as ourselves, is to support those who need it, as if we were supporting Christ himself.
The value of loving others and the desire to help those in need were key conduits in the formation of Housing Associations. The late 19th century witnessed Victorian philanthropists establishing charitable trusts to assist the homeless and alleviate poverty. Their continued formation played a crucial role in improving the substandard living conditions of London's slums and providing access to more suitable living environments during the early 20th century. Today, Housing Associations provide 4.4 million affordable homes across the UK and play a pivotal role in creating sustainable communities.
A passion for people and a passion for place
My journey into housing started with a prayer.
Having been dismissed by my first employer after university, a trusted friend treated me to lunch. Their wisdom still resonates: use this time to seek God. Seek His will for your work and seek the desires He’s placed on your heart. Having taken that time, I was left with a sense of ‘how can I help, how can I learn?’
A few weeks later, I landed a job as a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at a Housing Association. Their vision was clear: to provide homes for people in need and build sustainable communities. All this was driven by a bold ambition to help solve the housing crisis.
I found that, despite working in a secular organisation, the principles and values of my work reflected clear Kingdom values: loving our neighbours, not overlooking others because of their appearance, seeing people as individuals and having empathy for those in need.
While working for this Housing Association, my passion for people and places grew. An opportunity arose to join the Regeneration Team—the people responsible for creating opportunities and delivering lasting change for future generations. The role opened the door to new learning, including studying Town Planning. As my knowledge grew, so did my determination to help those living in the most deprived places.
Often defined by tight alleyways, minimal surveillance, poor lighting and a lack of usable green space or places for interaction, living in a 1960s deprived community reduces health outcomes and typically inhibits one's access to the same opportunities available in less deprived neighbourhoods.
High-rise living: Huge numbers of residential tower blocks like these were built in the 1960s and 70s to reduce housing shortages
Sadly, many of these issues stem from poor design—design that, at the time of construction, served a different purpose for a different kind of community. Sixty years later, these areas are now associated with reduced life expectancy and limited opportunities.
I don’t think this is fair, and I’m convinced God has given me a calling to make a change. We don’t choose where we’re born, yet the reality often shapes the course of our lives. But this doesn't have to be a negative thing. I believe the places we live should and can offer potential, not limit it.
Our approach is one of conversation.
When working with local communities and key stakeholders, we always begin by listening. Our primary concern is understanding what matters to residents, what they love about their area and what they believe could be improved. From there, we collaborate to explore solutions that meet today’s needs and create lasting benefits for future generations.
We know that changes to the built environment, if approached with care and humility, can change lives within our communities. However, the built environment is just one part of the picture. Local churches also play a vital role, even in areas not targeted for ‘regeneration’. Our impact as the Church can shape not only the present but future generations and even affect eternity.
A regenerative evangelism
I believe we all have a role in supporting those in need. One way the Church can play its part is through regenerative evangelism.
Jesus spent much of His time on earth walking through communities, engaging in conversations and understanding individuals and their needs. Our evangelism should be the same. By working with the local communities in which our local church is situated, we can understand what matters, what works and what could change. Equipped with this knowledge, our prayers will go deeper, and our resources will be better allocated to what is truly needed.
We have an opportunity to reevaluate how we serve our communities. We should remind ourselves that behind each door is a family, a group of people in need of Jesus—in need of His love, compassion, mercy and grace. We need to be convinced that our prayers and conversations can impact communities, not just for today but for an eternity to come.
By Callum James
Callum is a Regeneration and Placemaking Manager based in Norwich with his wife, Charis and daughter, Joanna. Together, they attend Kings City West, where they've been serving together for the last six years. They have a passion to bring those on the outskirts of community into Jesus' fold.