Religion is the opium of the people. Today religion declines and drugs are on the rise. Global celebrities argue life’s emotional pain has reached such levels that we should legalise drugs. Local Vennture volunteers see things differently.

In the daytime, our Ambassadors deal with discarded needles – no longer cans. Last week they attended a memorial service for two street people, who died prematurely.

At night, our Street Pastor and Lean on Me volunteers face more young people playing with hard drugs. Too many ruin their night out and some dice with death.

County lines and knife crime hit the headlines. This is not the utopia promised by material prosperity.

Recently the head of Barnardo’s spoke of a ‘Poverty of Hope’ among young people. Social media drives their isolation. No one connects with them meaningfully. Life seems without purpose.

Trust is hard when besieged by fracturing relationships. Without anyone who cares people retreat into darkness collecting bad experiences - life shaping traumas. We need a powerful cure to address the cause of our pain – not just numb it.

When Vennture volunteers come alongside people they surprise them with ‘Love’. They care without judging.

They listen. They help people find different choices, different ways of thinking, different ways through and out of being stuck. They help them help themselves. They help them rediscover hope. They bring practical meaning to The Power of Jesus’ Love.

This practical, powerful love helps people face reality.

Love supports each person in discovering themselves, facing their mistakes and finding forgiveness. Love promotes responsibility. Love empowers each person to move on and value the choices they have in their life. Love sustains people in a way of life that is more about others than self. Love gives people a reason to get up in the morning – it brings back hope.

This is a different kind of religion. It is not mind numbing or divorced from reality. It is far better than any opiate.