Southampton Centre Of Mission

South England

Church Army has had a very long association with Southampton, so it is appropriate that it was one of the first cities in the UK where Church Army developed a Centre of Mission. Adapting to meet changing needs, its work now includes encouraging and enabling evangelism across the city from a base on the east side. Ruth is based in the Townhill Park area of Southampton, where her focus is supporting and sharing the gospel with families and children. Ruth Hills is the Evangelist leading the Southampton Centre of Mission.

meet Ruth

A lot of what I do is supporting single mums, many of whom have been in abusive relationships and struggle with their self-worth. I work together with Safe Families supporting many of our parents to take care of their children’s needs, to help keep these precious families together.

There’s a mum who we’ve been working alongside for years. I remember the first time she allowed us into her house, which was such an act of trust, and it was horrendous. It was cluttered, dirty, piles of clothes everywhere, dirty dishes on every surface of every room, leaking toilet and smelly.

We went in to clean and support her, but it kept going backwards. At first, we were supporting her to get it into a manageable place which she could maintain. We had a rota of people she trusted to check up on her and assisted her to get into a routine. Sometimes, she’d even take us on a tour of her house by video call.

But in the end, it was all too little, too late, for her to keep her children.

The house is so much better than it was. With no previous knowledge of the situation, most people would be shocked to go into it now, but we can clearly see the difference she has made. She is a carer to her long-term partner who has mental health issues, and it was obvious that she had never been taught how to look after a house.

For me, it’s important that she knows she’s still loved even when social services, by removing her children, have made her feel completely useless.

THAT EVEN WHEN SHE’S FAILED TO DO WHAT’S BEEN ASKED OF HER, WE STILL LOVE HER. IT BREAKS MY HEART, BUT WE’RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL, WITHOUT JUDGEMENT.

Ruth Hills, Southampton Centre of Mission

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Evangelists & Leaders

Ruth Hills

Partnerships

Founded in 676AD it is one of the five senior dioceses of the Church of England. The Diocese consists of about two thirds of the County of Hampshire and most of Bournemouth in the County of Dorset, excluding Portsmouth and the area immediately to its north and north-east.

St. Mary’s, Sholing are a friendly community who offer a place of friendship and belonging to people of all ages and backgrounds.
St. Mary’s, Sholing aim be a diverse church which is fun and attractive; a creative community expressing love in practical ways; a multi-generational family in which people feel they belong.