A message from our parting Director of Ministry
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:3-4
Dear Acorn Community and Friends,
This letter marks the closure of my time as the director of ministry of Acorn. I wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you, to celebrate what we accomplised this year, and to share what I will be doing next.
A year ago I began my time with Acorn, hopeful as were many of you, that I would serve in this capacity for many years. We shared big hopes and dreams and a united faith in the Risen Lord to carry this amazing legacy of healing and listening to a new audience and a world that so desperately needs to know the hope of our Lord. We quickly discovered that we didn't have the needed resources to carry on and a new path and possibility began to be revealed. For the places and times when you didn't feel connected or when you felt estranged from Acorn, I humbly ask for your forgiveness.
And so here we are at a place where I am letting go and handing the Acorn legacy into the faithful hands of the leadership of GoHealth.
I continue to believe that this is all of God, and so I am now at peace with this transition. I know that Rev Gillian Straine is an ordained woman of exceptional faith with her own exceptional healing story. (I have put a link to one of her books below which may help you to learn a bit more about her amazing journey). I am reminded that the message of healing and the story of hope that springs from the Gospel is a deeply personal one and so I write this message to thank you individually for your witness and your trust. Although our journey together has been short, I have found each of you to be strong, faithful, and deliberate in your walk with Christ. That shall stay with me as I journey ahead. And I pray for God to continue to lead you each into places of deeper service. May you continue to hear God's call.
It really has been a busy year. We impacted new people with new academy material and began expanding our online footprint with new media and a new web site. Perhaps we have been in a time of organizational preparation for what is coming next, but at the same time each of our hubs continued to welcome people weekly and offer prayer. I was able to visit all of our hubs this year and meet most of you. I learned so much from each of you and was able to share stories and teach in Northern Ireland, North Carolina, Switzerland, France, and Sweden as I traveled this year. Our growing to-do list will be a part of the legacy which is entrusted to GoHealth along with our teaching materials, meaning the work continues even as the shape and look of it changes.
Many of you have reached out to me asking what's next for me. After some considerable time in prayer, I have decided to return to the corridors of the hospital, where I feel at home on the front-line offering hope and healing prayer to those who are sick and dying. I am presently in the midst of my onboarding with the Royal Marsden where I have been called to serve as a Chaplain after Easter. I will continue with my PTO (Permission to Officiate) in the Diocese of London, Southwark, and Europe, which means preaching and celebrating around the church and continuing to spread the healing hope of Jesus Christ. Some have asked if I will continue the Coffeepods, albeit without the name Acorn. I want to pray about that and take some time to see where God may open doors relative to further Healing Academy teaching opportunities and digital media. Of course I want to be respectful of GoHealth and my friend Gillian to support and encourage as we plant this "Acorn" into new soil where it can grow and flourish.
And so finally that leaves me to this issue of moving forward. Each of us individually must continue in our discipleship and trust where the Holy Spirit is leading. I imagine some of you will find new ministry within the wonderful network of GoHealth and others to other Christian organizations. One thing is sure, and that is God's call. God simply wants our willingness to be led and our willingness to trust. As I grow older I am convinced that God is not that interested in branding or denominationalism or the age-old theological divides which continue to stir pots around the world. I think God just wants our yes. My yes to Acorn over a year ago was not a regrettable decision, for it has, even with some bumps in the proverbial road, brought me to new beginnings and new opportunities.
The story of Acorn does not end with my exit and the official closure of the charity, but continues with GoHealth. Why not check out the video that I recorded with Gillian (CEO of GoHealth) where we chat about the future of Acorn and why we have arrived at this point. Perhaps that can leave you a bit more hopeful and transform the grief into joy. We are the people of resurrection and so know that our story is one of re-birth.
Watch the film: https://youtu.be/F3Fy-sJY9Dc
I close with this brief message from the GoHealth team and an "open door" for you to continue exploring what the Lord is calling you to today. There is much from the Acorn ethos which could benefit the offerings and shape of GoHealth, and each of you are the ambassadors of that legacy. Thanks for being such a blessing to me over these months. May the Acorns we plant today become a forest of listening, healing, and reconciliation for the Risen Lord.
Your servant in Christ Jesus.
Kris+
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…” - Romans 15:13
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A message from The GoHealth Team:
We know that Acorn has had a profound ministry over many years, and GoHealth is keen to be in contact with anyone involved. If you would like to hear about how GoHealth is continuing the ministry of Acorn, please fill out this form:
Stay in touch: Acorn contact form - stay in touch with GoHealth – Fill out form
This gives us the opportunity to be in touch with you about relevant upcoming conversations and updates, including relating to the listening course, hubs and other aspects of Acorn’s ministry and legacy. If you have stories of ‘Acorn's history’ you’d like to share with us, please feel free to add this below. All data will be held securely and used only for this purpose.
Gillian Straine has produced a deeply personal and searingly honest theological reflection on her own experience of joining what she calls the 'cancer community'. Tackling major themes such as 'meaning' and 'vulnerability', she explores the 'gift of cancer' - which is the way in which it exposes the myth that we are truly in control of our own lives. Her recurring emphasis on the importance of relationship and her use of pilgrimage as a metaphor for her own journey makes this a valuable and readable book of practical guidance and encouragement for fellow travellers. The message is clear and simple: God is with us, and there is hope. -- Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle and Church of England’s lead bishop on health (and Patron of Acorn)
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Our Future
Dear Acorn Family,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Please pray with us, and for us, in this journey.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
We continue praying!
Prayer for Faithfulness in a Time of Change
Lord of all seasons,
You who remain the same when everything around me shifts,
steady my heart in this moment of change.
Where I feel unsettled, anchor me in Your faithfulness.
Where I feel unsure, remind me of Your promises.
Where I feel stretched, strengthen me with Your Spirit.
Teach me to walk faithfully when the path is unfamiliar.
Help me to listen for Your voice above the noise of my own anxieties.
Guard me from rushing ahead or clinging to what is passing away.
Give me courage to follow You into what is new,
and grace to release what I cannot carry forward.
Let my trust in You grow deeper than my fear of change.
Let my obedience be rooted not in certainty about the future,
but in confidence that You go before me.
Shape my character in this transition.
Make me patient, hopeful, and attentive.
Keep my heart soft, my steps steady, and my eyes fixed on You.
Faithful God,
hold me fast,
lead me on,
and make me faithful in return.
Amen.
Coming Soon!
The trustees are in the process of organizing a celebratory event where the many lives changed by the ministry & witness of Acorncan be shared and celebrated. We will share that information widely once we have firmed up our plans.
We envision of sort of "homecoming" or "family reunion" which will have worship and sharing of stories as well as food and fellowship. We hope to offer this in a hybrid model for those who might only be able to join online.
