Mercy Church in Adamsdown, Cardiff

Dai Hankey

Mercy Church

The former dockland area of Adamsdown in Cardiff is a fascinating community with a rich gospel history. Indeed the Forward Movement was birthed out of a prayer meeting in the basement of Clifton Street Presbyterian Church when John Pugh was the pastor there (do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy of Grace, Grit and Gumption by Geraint Fielder, if you haven’t read it!) Sadly this church, like many other churches in the area, has long since closed its doors.

Today, Adamsdown is a densely populated and incredibly diverse community and is the main dispersal area for asylum seekers in Cardiff. There are dozens of hostels, rehabs and bedsits in the area giving it a feeling of transiency and many people consequently feel rootless and hopeless. Over recent years the decline of Adamsdown has been heart-breaking as poverty, deprivation, social breakdown, addiction and crime have had a devastating impact. It is in this context that Mercy Church hopes to shine the light of the gospel of Jesus through words and works of mercy.

Mercy Church was planted in January of this year by a small team of Christians who either live in or love Adamsdown. Mercy is led by Dai and Michelle Hankey who have lived in Adamsdown with their 4 kiddos for the last 8 years. The church has been meeting in the Hankey's home for the last 8 months but we have recently leased a building (formerly a bank) right in the heart of the community on Clifton Street. Mercy on Clifton will be the ‘home’ of Mercy Church and it is our prayer that it will be a place of presence, praise, prayer and gospel proclamation.

Please join us in praying to that end!

Prayer points:

• We are a young church so please pray that we would grow together in love for Jesus and for one another.
• We are a small church (less than 20 of us including kids) so please pray for God to send labourers and leaders to join us. We are especially praying for a pastoral couple, a gifted administrator and those with a passion for young people to join the team.
• We are a poor church so please pray for God to pour out His rich resources on us.
• We are a weak church so please pray that we would know the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in us and through us.
• We are a faith-filled church so please join us in praying for many, many men women and children to come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

You can find out more at www.mercychurch.co.uk.