The Vision for Jubilee was born out of the recent Recession. Even before the recession people over our town and surrounding area were suffering debt created poverty, with many not knowing how to break free from their money woes, the recession only making matters worse - estimated local debt levels almost doubling from £789.000 to £1,200,000.

In 2009 a group of concerned Christians from Churches within Oswestry and District began to meet to explore the situation, from which came a sense of calling from God to develop a local, specific, free to use and Christian-based Debt Advice Service, which would complement other local agencies, while providing something new, an important aspect of which would be to encourage and equip Churches to work together to help our communities - being people and congregations making a Kingdom difference for burdened people.

This led to a recommendation being made to Churches Together in Oswestry and District [CTOD] in November 2009, which was agreed to follow the' Community Money Advice' model and set up the Jubilee Money Advice Service for Oswestry and District.

While the model has been agreed there is still much to do before the service goes live. The Executive Committee are planning and preparing the next steps. Please support us if you can - how? See the Box Below.

At this stage there are 4 main ways that Churches and people can help:
[1] Invite the JMAS Executive to your church. We'd love to explain the calling and the plans we are following, for you understanding and our encouragment.
[2] Pray for the service, for its needs to be met in its setting up and for its making a positive Christian difference to the lives of people trapped in debt.
[3] Volunteer to be a helper. Many types of help will be needed, call us and see what you can do.
[4] Share your gifts and donations. We know that Christians and Churches have many calls upon their money. We ask that you will consider whether you can make a one off gift or an occasional/regular donation to support this service. It will mean much to non-Christian funders if we are able to point to goodly levels of support from local Churches and Christians.

Information and Invitation sent to CTOD Churches 5/3/10 see Letter to Churches re Jubilee Money Advice Service.doc