Peterborough’s new UCKG HelpCentre

All sorts of problems, Church (building), Church service, UCKG HelpCentre, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God,

Friday, 7 July 2017

There was a full house for the inaugural service in Peterborough’s new UCKG HelpCentre on Saturday 1 July, which was led by Bishop Álvaro Lima, who heads the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG HelpCentre) in the UK.

The HelpCentre occupies the Victorian Westgate church building in the heart of Peterborough’s city centre, which was formerly owned by the United Reformed Church East Midlands. The UCKG HelpCentre purchased the main church building and the hall that is attached in November 2016, and has just completed Phase I of an extensive refurbishment programme.

The Bishop was accompanied by Assistants from some of the HelpCentres in London, who went out into the streets to invite local people to the inauguration, and who later spoke of their experiences within the UCKG HelpCentre.

In a simple but moving service, Bishop Álvaro talked about the way the HelpCentre serves its local community, explained what it does and why it has come to Peterborough.

Speaking of his companions, he said: “Look at how many stories of success we have here. All sorts of problems, people from all walks of life, with one thing in common, they found a way out through the power of faith.

“You can now go out and spread the word in Peterborough to anyone who finds themselves at the end of the road, without strength and with no hope, that there’s a new place where they can find a way out by faith.”

UCKG churches are termed HelpCentres as they are open daily, offering four services of public prayer each day, individual pastoral support for whoever requests it and a number of special interest groups including the Victory Youth Group (VYG) for 14-25s and Caleb for older people. Each day of the week the focus is on a different aspect of life, to cover the problems people experience.

Everyone is welcome to services and to take advantage of the UCKG HelpCentre’s pastoral support, irrespective of whether they profess any faith or not.

ENDS

Notes to editors

UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith through its branches in England and Wales.

The Local Ecumenical Partnership between the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church, which formerly worshipped as a single church community in Westgate Church, now meet in the community centre behind the old church building. They have renamed their place of worship Westgate New Church. Their website is westgatechurch.org.uk.

For further information please contact the UCKG HelpCentre Press Officer via e-mail on press@uckg.org or direct line 020 7686 6033, or call the PR consultant on 07867 510909.