On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Phil walks across the Hazelhurst Estate.

As he heads to visit someone he’s been getting to know, he spots Sarah* sitting outside her flat. It’s her birthday, and she’s waiting for her daughter to arrive. The two stop and chat. There’s laughter as Phil and the team share in Sarah’s excitement.

A little later, Phil and other members of St Mary’s visit Cynthia*, whom they first met by knocking on her door. Mobility issues mean she now rarely leaves her fourth-floor flat, making church attendance difficult. Yet the relationship has continued.

For Cynthia, these visits are deeply meaningful.

She never imagined members of the local church would come regularly to spend time with her. Now she looks forward to seeing familiar faces, sharing conversation and receiving prayer.

These moments may seem ordinary, but they reflect something significant happening at St Mary’s. The church’s desire to reach its community is increasingly being lived out through consistent, personal relationships.

As vicar, James Fletcher explains: “It’s moved evangelism from being something we knew was important, but basically felt guilty about because we weren’t really doing it, to being something which is wonderfully happening."

FROM FEAR TO FAITHFUL WITNESS

Few people embody that change more clearly than Phil.

Although he grew up in church, his faith was shaped by fear rather than freedom.

“I was frightened of getting things wrong,” he says. “Even in prayer meetings, I wouldn’t pray out loud because I was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Evangelism certainly wasn’t for me – or at least that’s what I thought.“

Things began to change when he joined St Mary’s. Slowly, God stretched him.

Another turning point came through his involvement with London City Mission.

Training through LCM’s Pioneer scheme and support from missionaries working alongside St Mary’s gave Phil both practical experience and growing confidence.

“My image of door-to-door evangelism was someone banging on doors and telling people to repent or face judgement. I thought, ‘There’s absolutely no way I can do that.’”

Instead, he discovered the importance of listening, building relationships and having meaningful conversations.

Missionary, Shane, started by taking Phil and other members of the church out into the local estates.

“Shane showed us how to listen well, build relationships and have genuine conversations. What surprised me most was how open people were,” he says. “Many Christians assume nobody wants to talk about faith anymore, but that hasn’t been my experience.”

Today, Phil leads the outreach team that regularly visits the local estate.

Looking back, he sees how much God has changed him.

“I was shy, nervous and quiet. I wouldn’t even pray out loud in a small group. Now I can knock on a stranger’s door and have a conversation about the gospel.

“That isn’t something I achieved on my own. The Lord has done it in me. And if he can do it in me, he can do it in anyone.”

REACHING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

As relationships have grown across the estate, another opportunity for mission has emerged through St Mary’s partnership with Smallwood Primary School.

Missionary Marije worked alongside church members to establish and develop an after-school club, creating a welcoming space for local children.

“Marije had that knowledge of how to engage the children, how to teach them. LCM really laid the foundations for what we do now,” explains Maria, who leads the church’s children’s and youth ministry.

Week by week, children came to play games, build friendships and explore the Christian faith.

For many, it quickly became a place where they felt they belonged.

“A lot of them felt like they didn’t fit in anywhere else, but they felt very welcome and safe and free to be themselves.”

The impact soon extended beyond the school gates.

Children who attended the after-school club began joining Friday Club at church. Over time, numbers steadily increased. What started as a relatively small group grew into a thriving ministry attended by around 25 children and young people each week.

More importantly, children began inviting others.

“We’ve seen this shift of children wanting to bring their families,” says Maria.

One of those children was Amelia.*

A GENTLE JOURNEY TO FAITH

“I have developed a relationship with God,” shares Kirsten. “It has not been sudden, but a gentle and steady process,” she says.

Over time, she came to recognise God’s presence in her life and developed a personal faith in Christ.

That journey eventually led to a public declaration of faith through baptism.

What began with a child attending an after-school club had grown into something much bigger, with an entire family becoming connected to the church community.

And Kirsten’s story is not isolated.

Through the school’s ministry, St Mary’s has seen increasing numbers of children, parents and families beginning to engage with church life, many of whom had little or no previous connection with Christianity.