FAB Church, FAB course, FAB people!

Meet Clare and Soobie from FAB Church in Birmingham, both have of whom studied with the Newbigin Pioneering Hub.

Clare and Soobie, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed? Can you tell me a bit about yourselves in general?

Hey I’m Clare, a mother of four, and grandmother of three. I have lived on Firs and Bromford estate all my life. This is where my passion is, for young people and my community. My parents weren’t religious and I grew up knowing something was missing from my life. My mum did community work, so I followed in her footsteps.

I’m Soobie. I moved to Birmingham five years ago to live in a community house on The Firs and Bromford Estate. My background is in the performing arts, teaching and applied theatre. I have three grown up sons. My Mum is 94, and both she and Dad lived out their Christian faith in very practical ways. I have a brother who works with A Rocha International, so I guess we were both quite influenced by their quiet but dedicated example of discipleship.

You joined the Newbigin hub for Pioneer study; can you tell me what led you to do that, and how you found it?

Clare: I was put forward to the pioneer study by my boss Paul. I was really nervous and didn’t think I belonged as my journey of faith was just beginning. I felt better that my friend Soobie (we both help shape FAB Church) was also doing it. I felt so out of place to begin with as everyone had a background of churches, Bible knowledge etc. I was just beginning my faith journey, but in reality, I was the lucky one. I had no baggage of church and didn’t have to undo any old learning. It was all a clean slate pioneering; it’s the right way.

Soobie: Paul suggested that I join Clare on the Newbigin course as we had both taken on facilitating FAB Church. I was quite reluctant, to be honest! I had all the baggage Clare talks about and had visions of it being very much in the style of evangelism I remembered from my youth – basically very formulaic. However, the reality was so different. I loved studying again and the approach was creative, practical and reflective. It really helped me feel I could share faith in an authentic way and connect deeper with the geographical area I had moved to and the local community.

What were the highs and lows of studying part-time in a hub?

Clare: It was lovely meeting new people, listening to the stories, having different perspectives, having new materials, and meeting in new places. I wish I had more time. I’m not very good on a computer.

Soobie: I’m glad Clare and I got to do the course together. We got to know one another much better and Clare’s such a natural connector it was great to study alongside her. It was also brilliant being able to spend time with other trainee pioneers in the region and we still meet up and support one another. The only difficult thing I found was finding enough time and a suitable place to complete reading and assessments. I also had to have a different final project to Clare and so I chose the creation of a Peace Garden which we now use for community activities and FAB Church. It’s not been easy to maintain this, however, alongside everyday work and volunteer pioneering.

What type of pioneering activities have you been involved with, before and after your involvement in the hub?

Clare: I have been part of FAB Church for many years, meeting once a month sharing food, being creative in how we learn the Bible stories. After doing the course I have taken on more of a leadership role alongside Soobie. I help planning and shaping FAB Church: taking FAB Church into our community – showing up as FAB Church when we hold our community events. Being part of taking a bunch of our community to be baptised at Holy Island: myself, my daughter and granddaughter were also baptised with others. This year taking 31 people from our community to Wales for a weekend on ‘The Spirit and Water’, walking and eating lunch by waterfalls: a dream come true for many in our community.

Soobie: Until I did the course I didn’t think of myself as a pioneer but then realised I had done quite a few pioneer activities in the past, like co-founding a small Christian community which functioned as a physical theatre company in the 1990s. I also left mainstream church and joined a Fresh Expressions project in the early 2000s where I started to explore embodied spirituality and connect with less conventional faith seekers more. So, I guess I do have a pioneering spirit.

Since the course I have been mainly focussing on pioneering alongside Clare, making FAB Church a place of welcome; a family for all the various cultures and ages that want to explore faith. Seeing 10 of the FAB Church family baptised last year was so joyful. I have also been involved in connecting with sanctuary seekers at a local hotel.

How do you feel about connecting with people outside the church (the emotions involved, but also the practical areas of doing things with people who would not normally visit a church)?

Clare: Myself and Soobie have started a FAB Church youth group. We meet at church every other week. I have also been involved in peaceful protests in my community, calling ourselves peace chaplains, handing out peace doves, flowers, and cake. I love connecting with people outside the church, showing love, kindness, a listening ear, helping when I can but also giving them experiences like going to Holy Island and Wales, showing people they are worth it and are loved.

Soobie: I think Clare sums it up well! I’d just add that I have learned so much from the insights and reflections of those outside the ‘church’. The fresh way they approach Bible stories or connect to the Divine. It’s exciting and has expanded my faith. There are of course sad times too and I find pastorally it’s difficult, and exhausting, to balance working for a living alongside being available for people. I have also had to unlearn a lot of my expectations around what a ‘session’ may look like. Plan for the unexpected and be open to being interrupted!

Clare and Soobie, how can we pray for you?

Clare: My prayers go to my community. As the weather gets colder so do people’s homes. We have a lot of families who can’t afford to put the heating on.

Soobie: People frequently comment that I am a very busy person.  Pray that I might be better at finding the balance between doing and being.

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