Chris Hewitt Bio
Our mission statement in May Street is all about being an ‘innovative, passionate and transforming Christian centre, supporting people in God's city - in crisis, in community and in commerce.’ My job as ‘Mission Support Executive (Crisis) began in January 2005 working with RevKeith Drury who is Director of Mission in Ireland to Belfast. We had met when I was working in the Passionate Café in Belfast and recognized that we shared God’s heart for the city.
Hither-to I had worked as a Clinical Occupational Therapist (O.T.) in psychiatry and psychotherapy, and in the community, then for a further ten years as an O.T. lecturer. 0ccupational Therapy is a holistic approach to the rehabilitation of the patient/client in all areas of life: physical, psychological, emotional, social and economic. But after twenty years I had a growing longing to minister also to the spiritual.
So I left the University and moved sideways into church and community care work where for the last twenty years I have been able to use my 0.T. and counseling knowledge in a variety of situations and denominations. My role in May Street is to support those in crisis, and to this end there are two evening support groups for those going through bereavement and separation/divorce. Group members come from the Greater Belfast area and the seasons of grief are explored on a weekly basis.
My job also involves opening the church every day from Monday to Thursday 12.00 to 2.00 pm where I wait in the sanctuary for anyone to come in. People come in for many different reasons. Some have seen the sign outside welcoming them to come in to explore and to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the sanctuary café; they come in because they are curious or thirsty or simply because the church doors are open for the first time in years.
Some come in because they are tourists exploring the city, some because they are keen historians intrigued to see the inside of a huge Georgian church. Some are tired and want to sit down and rest. Some want to meditate, some to pray and some just to escape the noise of the City and the pressures of their busy jobs. Some are hurting and in need of comfort, and some are homeless in need of help; others are lonely in need of friendship.
An increasing number of individuals are joining us as meet at lunchtime for ‘church activities’ … Tuesday lunchtimes to pray for ourselves and our city … Wednesday lunchtimes to share communion … Thursday lunchtimes to worship God together at the midweek service and feed on his word through Keith, and earthly food from the ladies’ lunches in the church hall.
This is our work and heart’s desire: to love and encourage ‘our community’ and extend God’s kingdom in Belfast.
