Helping beggars?

Over the years I have met many beggars, rough sleepers, "pan handlers" and a few clever con men with very convincing hard luck stories.

There were quite a few around Gloucester Green, St.Giles and Bonn Square in Oxford. Hornchurch had some and there were plenty along the Embankment and South Bank in London.

One of the hard luck stories that I have heard is the cleverly constructed tale about a sick relative and needing some extra cash for the train or bus fare to get to them.

I remember working with a London City Missioner in north London who was conned by a young man, dressed like a tramp, in his thirties who said that had travelled to London to meet his brother and start a new life.  He claimed that he had fallen on hard times and run out of money during his long journey from the north of England. He spent a few days at the mission. He heard the Gospel. He was fed, given new clothes and some cash for his train fare to get to his brother.  When he was ready to leave, he thanked the missioner for his kindness and help, and then confessed that there was no brother or prospect of a new life with him. It was a convincing con and he was off to spin his sob story and to find another sucker who would help him.

If you give to some beggars then the money will go on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. Some beggars are not poor. There was a beggar by St James's Park station who "earned" more than some of the shop staff. The Hornchurch beggars stank of marijuana.

I have supported Big Issue sellers, but sadly I have known of cases where they are not genuinely homeless or needy. However, I believe that most of them are in need of a hand up and not a hand out.

I would recommend that if you wish to help the homeless, beggars and the needy, then give to a well established charity, like the Salvation Army, London City Mission, Shelter and street pastors etc.


Don't give cash. Sometimes give food and drink, but always support the worthy charities. They invest in accommodation, clothing and food etc. for these people and have the resources to help them effectively. Sometimes I tell the young fit beggars to consider working on a farm. There is plenty of work. "If a man does not work, then he should not eat" is taught in the New Testament (see 2 Thessalonian 3:10). To beg and sit idly asking for money is soul destroying. It is spiritually destructive, so we should encourage these idlers to find work or to do something constructive. I do ask them, "have you considered fruit picking?"

Sad to hear about abuse at Jesus Fellowship Church, the Jesus Army

When I first attended Bugbrooke Chapel, the Jesus Fellowship Church (JFC), in the early 1970s, I was really impressed by the charismatic Christianity, the vibrant worship and earnest evangelism. I remember Noel Stanton's powerful preaching and commitment to charismatic ministry. He was deeply loved and admired by his flock, which was growing rapidly. I had happy times of fellowship at the chapel and at Noel's manse. I met some truly gracious and loving Christian people at the JFC. I greatly respected David Lantsbury. He was one of the leaders, then a local school teacher, who shone brightly at that time. In those days it was part of the Baptist Union and part of the evangelical mainstream that was embracing the charismatic movement. It was a member of the Evangelical Alliance. In time both the Baptist Union and the Evangelical Alliance removed JFC from their membership.

 JFC became inward looking and many believed a cult. Noel Stanton was regarded as a supreme leader and prophet, who could not be disobeyed. The leadership began to embrace community living, and celibacy was seen as a higher calling and recommended way of life. The celibates and community dwellers allegedly thought of themselves as superior saints. The autocratic leadership style that evolved was a far cry from the democratic Baptist way, decisions by the rule of the members through church meetings.

Then rumours of abuse and accounts of heavy shepherding, strange manipulative practices and harsh control emerged. Now some horror stories are circulating and they have the ring of truth about them. There is a significant amount of personal testimony to serious sexual, psychological and physical abuse. And Noel Stanton does not come out well. About 2,000 attended his funeral at the Jesus Centre in Northampton. Hundreds were at his burial at Cornhill Manor. A YouTube video shows the event.  He has been accused of serious misconduct, and crimes allegedly took place on his watch as senior pastor and chief overseer/elder. It is very sad indeed that a man who saw many conversions, church growth, spiritual gifts, and congregational ministerial development, seems to have badly failed members of his flock. Some very dark deeds are now coming to light. Yet I remember the good times, in the early seventies when "the Lord took hold of Bugbrooke". Maybe you saw that TV documentary.

Jason Roy was robbed by a disgraceful umpiring decision by Dharmasena

Jason Roy was clearly not out today at Edgbaston in the ICC semi final match against the Australians. He did not touch the touch. His bat and glove were not near the ball, yet he was given out by Dharmasena. This bad decision needs a VAR system or hawkeye. It should not be left to an appeal system. If video evidence shows that at batsman is not out, then the bad umpiring decision should not stand. Never. It was a disgrace, and if Roy is fined for bad language then Roy should ask Dharmasena to pay for it. Dharmasena should give his match payment to charity. He does not deserve a penny of it.