All change at Hope Into Action 

Jon Kuhrt joins as CEO, founder Ed Walker becomes the charity’s ambassador and former Baptists Together president Dianne Tidball becomes chair of trustees

 
Hope Into Action, whose unique purpose is to enable churches to house the homeless, was the God given vision of Ed Walker a member of Bretton Baptist Church in Peterborough. Thirteen years ago Ed and his wife used all they had to put a deposit on a house for the most vulnerable in their community - and now there are more than 100 houses provided by Christians with spare wealth, supported by loving churches, and given all the professional practices required by Hope Into Action.

The ministry is working in Alnwick in Northumberland, Bristol, Bournemouth and Canterbury and many other towns and cities. They have recently appointed a North of England and Scotland Development Officer to work with churches in those areas.
 
This is a multi-denominational network of churches who share a concern to offer love and hope to those on the margins. Tenants come from a variety of backgrounds including: prison, drug rehabilitation, refugees and those sofa surfing. What they all have in common is that they don’t have a network of relationships which can support and sustain them in their need. The network churches offer all the tenants love, friendship and support.
 
Ed Walker, the founder, has become the new ambassador for Hope Into Action and will pass over all management to the new CEO Jon Kuhrt who is a member of Lewin Road Baptist Church, Streatham. Jon is carrying on the vision of enabling churches to house the homeless with the network prayer of doubling the number of homes and church partners by the end of 2025. Jon has great experience of the issue of the homeless having previously been a home office adviser on faith groups serving the homeless.
 
Hope Into Action also has a new Chair of Trustees, Dianne Tidball, former Baptists Together President and member of Whetstone Baptist Church Leicestershire. She comments, 'We are excited by all that God has done in the past 13 years and looking forward to seeing how he will lead in the years ahead. 

'There are many challenges but encouraging Christians to partner with the homeless is a privilege. 

'If any church would like to be involved in housing the homeless, one house at a time, contact us through the website www.hopeintoaction.org.uk.'