One man’s journey to connect a community

This article was originally shared on The Methodist Blog in January 2025 and written by a member of the Connexional Media Team. You can find the original blog here: One man’s journey to connect a community in West Yorkshire – The Methodist Church

“Hi, I’m David. I’m a pioneer listener and shaper,” was the conversation starter David often used to approach people in Pontefract, in the Yorkshire West District. For six months, he roamed the streets and engaged in conversations with people about what they thought was missing in Pontefract.

“My main observation is that this is not a bad place. There is goodness here and a lot of people working hard to attend to the needs of the town,” explains David, who likes to see the positive side of things: enjoying the music and singing at the Pontefract Warm Room, for instance.

“We each have our own voice, and if we don’t value that voice, if we don’t recognise the presence of God and the goodness that’s going on in this place, we have got some things to learn,” adds David whose aim is to help people listen to God that they may be changed by what they hear.

Through listening and caring, David devised a series of activities inspired by and for the people putting creativity, care and inclusivity at the heart of its activities. “We started a discussion group, a poetry workshop and a meditation group. We often meet in non-church places to answer the needs of the community, such as the local Creative Arts Centre,” says David.

If this New Place for New People project exists it’s thanks to the Aire and Calder Methodist Circuit which recognised the need for change in Pontefract. A historic market town near Wakefield, the town has poverty, hunger, health issues, health issues and youth crime, to name but a few.

For David, “It was an examination of how we feel about Pontefract, our faith in the place, and our faith in the presence of God. So we listened to where that presence was and recognized His call. ”

As the work evolves in 2025, it will include inviting the town (groups, individuals and organisations) to write poems inspired by the words, Pontefract is a Wonderful Place, with an event in the early summer to share/present the poems.

An excellent musician, David has also been invited to run regular music sessions for stroke survivors by the charity Stroke Association. He will also explore ways of using classical music to engage with the community, especially families and schools.

The aim is to connect with people in Pontefract, notably those gravitating on the edge of the church, people who might describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. “They want to make connections and it’s very important to listen and engage with them, as well as being ready to be changed by them,” concludes David.