23 February 2016 | Binfield, UK [Victor Hulbert] For Alastair Agbaje ‘Part time’ is an interesting definition when it comes to Adventist Service. In addition to his 75% role as chaplain at Newbold College of Higher Education, Alastair also serves 25% time as Community Services and Teen’s director for the Trans-European Division.
That enthusiasm came through as he talked about his recent trip to Denmark. In a tedNEWS video report he shared how inspired he was by visiting ‘Happy Hand’, a shop supplying quality second hand clothes in Copenhagen. Run principally by volunteers from the Adventist church, the shop is a real asset for many, including Syrian refugees, and those whose incomes can’t stretch to the prices of the high street.
However, the shop does more than that; there is a sit down corner where customers can enjoy a hot drink, a chat, or sometimes listen to the local pastor, Robert Fisher playing his guitar. Books and pamphlets are available as are opportunities for counselling.
Such is the success of the Copenhagen shop that another one has been opened in the north of Denmark and a third shop is planned near to Vejlefjordskolen, a school run by the Church in the west of the country.
“I left there with a sense of ‘what a fantastic concept’, how can we replicate this?” Agbaje stated. He not only affirmed what the team were doing, but committed himself to using that inspiration to create similar projects and initiatives in other parts of Europe.
The Seventh-day Adventist World Church has made ‘total membership involvement’ one of it’s key priorities for the next five years. From Copenhagen, a refugee camp in Dunkirk, France, student led initiatives at Newbold College or ‘being the sermon’ on World Youth day, Alastair believes he is seeing that start to happen.
His multiple hats, and his love for family may put his workload somewhere above 100%, but his engaging smile, his enthusiasm and his clear love for people will tell you that he does not count percentages, he counts lives being influenced for good – for God. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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