The James Family
The James' are devoted to community work amongst those on the margins of society; in partnership with the charity, Novo. This is a Latin word that means to 'make new'.
They write:
"We are innovators, artists, risk-takers, and catalysts. We believe creativity is critical to sparking and sustaining the transformation we long to see. Our leaders go, serve, equip, mobilize, and collaborate with others until the good news of Jesus' love is experienced by everyone. In 2022, Tower Hamlets had the highest percentage of children living in low-income families in the country and the lowest healthy life expectancy for women in London."
Joy's two focuses are serving vulnerable women and creativity. She works locally (creating prophetic street art, bringing hope and colour) but also internationally; she co-hosts monthly zoom calls for Christian artists worldwide, to inspire creativity in their spiritual lives and ministry. She also inputs creatively into Novo global conferences and supports their mission teams.
Joy supports vulnerable pregnant mums emotionally, through the latter half of pregnancy, birth, and the first 12 weeks post partum.
David and Joy both collaborate with the founders of the East London House of Prayer, prayerwalking the city with them regularly, asking God to transform and redeem our neighbourhood.
In addition to local ministry, David has taken a lead in forming a group for 9-11 year olds at our church, using discovery bible studies as a tool for making disciples who understand how much they are loved and are discovering God’s purpose for their lives.
Joy is the daughter of Mark and Elinor Gilmour, members of St Thomas' and Joy was brought up in St Thomas'.