An open letter to our Acorn Community

Dear Acorn Family,

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Some of you will already be aware that we have been journeying through a tough season and a time of intentional and prayerful discernment. Most recently, we were sad to say farewell to our Director of Operations, Lisa and now, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, and generous contributions from people, further significant changes are on the horizon.

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The Trustees and our Director of Ministry, Kris Kramer, have been prayerfully discerning where God is leading us. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us and praying with us in this journey.

 

We have reached that difficult decision that Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, as an independent charity, must close. Through God’s goodness and guidance we have been thinking about our next steps – specifically we want to find the best way to honour the legacy of this Foundation and enable the seeds that Acorn has sown over the years, to continue to grow and flourish.

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Ultimately, we know that the healing work we have all been involved in – in all its dimensions – is God’s work, and irrespective of what happens to the shape of the ‘organisation’, the healing work of God can, will and must continue.

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As leaders of the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation, we want any formal transition to happen in a way that is healing and future focused. We also want to walk this path in a way that enables everyone involved to continue to grow as healing presences in the world.

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In recent weeks God has led us to explore options where, rather than simply ‘close’ the charity, we find a way for the legacy and ministry to continue within the sustainable home of another organisation. We are grateful to be in early conversations with The Guild of Health and St Raphael (GoHealth), an ecumenical Christian healing organisation that has been around for over 120 years.

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We don’t know yet where it is going to go and there are lots of details we need to explore together over the coming months. But we feel there is good here for what God is doing, and want to be faithful stewards within the wider healing work that God is doing in the world.

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Please pray with us, and for us, in this journey.

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At this stage it is not possible to say what will be happening with Acorn-hosted activities (e.g. the Healing Academy, Listening Academy, Podcast etc). Our Director of Ministry, Kris, continues to be a faithful leader, supporting this journey as we find our way forward, with God’s help and guidance.

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Within this letter we also wanted to acknowledge our gratitude to God for both Gordon Sykes-Little and Rev. Andy Heber – two trustees who, after long and faithful service, have reached the end of their term and have resigned from our Board. We are pleased to welcome one of our existing trustees, Jessica Johnson, into the role of Chair. If you would like to say hello, you can reach Jessica using the email: trustees@acornchristian.org

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In terms of our future, we will provide updates as the path becomes clearer. Please pray with us so that through whatever happens, God’s healing work in the world will be nurtured and expanded through the choices we make in the coming months.

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In the meantime, as leaders of Acorn, we want to affirm the work and ethos of GoHealth. We very much see GoHealth as a partner aligned with us in the healing work of God in the world. We would encourage you to visit their website, join their mailing list, and perhaps even sign up to become a member of their community.

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GoHealth has a long history of supporting and accompanying Christians from all walks of life. This includes working with churches and church leaders, training people in the healing ministry including prayer ministry. Today, GoHealth operates across England, Wales and Scotland alongside the Church of England, the Methodist Church, The Church of Scotland and other christian organisations such as the Salvation Army and the YMCA. In addition to prayer, training, worship and reflective resources, they support Healthy Healing Hubs. They engage with the academic study of healing and the medical health care profession, to best equip churches and individual christians to be a healing presence in their communities.

 

Thank you for being with us on the journey. Please continue to pray for us.

 

With humility, and with gratitude to God

 

The leadership group of Acorn – Your Trustees (Jessica, Elizabeth and Dianne) and our Director of Ministry (Kris)