News

City Gates has launched an exciting venture that will unite all its Soho-based missions under one new initiative - Glo (Green Light Outreach).

Glo will function as an umbrella project for a number of different church projects, such as the Red Light outreach, homeless ministry, Friday night evangelism and the work with London's international community.

However, the way these activities are run will remain largely the same. Church leader Barney Skrentny explains: 'We decided to launch Glo because if it has an identity that's slightly separate from City Gates, then it means we can raise funds, prayer and manpower involvement from external sources.

'We want to try to share the ministry and responsibility for tackling some of London's city centre issues with anyone else who's interested in working with us. But from our point of view, nothing really changes.'

Glo is the successor to a former City Gates outreach in the West End - the Green Light Project - which back in the 80s was a vehicle for generating money, prayer and volunteers outside the church.

Rather than sticking with the original name, City Gates' decided to christen its new initiative the Green Light Outreach, 'just to make that break between what happened in the 80s and what's happening now', says Barney.

City Gates is currently looking for groups and individuals that can partner with it on Glo projects – this includes past members who might like to continue supporting the church in some way.

One organisation that has already agreed to support Glo is Turn Trust, a Christian philanthropic and social action charity based in north London.

Turn Trust has agreed to fund a six-month project that will house City Gates volunteers in a flat in Soho while they work with the church on a variety of mission and ministry activities.