A Short History

From 1998 to 2005 Zac's Place continued to be specifically for those who would not normally feel comfortable in traditional church settings and also for those on the fringes of, or dropped out of, church for what ever reason.

The gatherings aimed to provide opportunity for expression of and enquiry into the Christian faith in a relaxed pub environment. The format consisted of quality live music and other performance art and straight talking in languages and images that relate at street level.

Over the 7 year period somewhere in the region of 300 events took place in four different regular venues, using dozens of musicians, storytellers and artists, and a significant number of people benefited from the community that surrounded them. Some folk were encouraged in their recovery from addictions and we worked alongside local and national agencies, others whose faith had been battered by negative church experience had their wounds tended whilst others found a level of communication they could relate and respond to to see their christian faith develop. Some people are still around, for some it was an important staging post others were travellers passing through.

By way of fringe events Zac's Place worked in partnership with HTV Wales and produced a series of five TV programmes for network broadcast which featured musicians such as Martyn Joseph & Rick Elias, poet Stewart Henderson and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams! Other TV interviews were featured on Channel 4's Don Roaming and BBC's Songs of Praise. We also hosted a benefit gig for Kosovan refugees and ran a second stage, featuring Glen Kaiser & Mike Peters at a Motorhead gig in Swansea's Singleton Park. In 2000 we produced a fundraising compilation CD featuring many of our regular artists from that period.

"The work going forward at Zac's Place is in every way innovative, courageous and important for the community in general as well as the Christian community. I have been privileged to watch the development of this initiative over several years and would want to pay the most sincere tribute to the dedication and vision of those who have been running it." Rowan Williams - Archbishop of Canterbury October 2005

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

In November 2003 Exousia Trust bought a city centre premises - The Gospel Hall in George Street, Swansea. The Gospel Hall, now called 'Zac's Place' had been used as a city centre place of worship for the past century and closed it's doors in Nov 2002. We are delighted to have been able to raise the funds from within our support base to enable us to develop the work from a new city centre HQ, picking up the batton there, as well as persue opportunity for city centre pub ministry. This is all very much work in progress, changing and developing all the time balencing the time and resources we have available, but at the heart is a desire to encourage and disciple those in the christian faith who slip through the net of mainstream church and bring them to a position of being able to serve the needs of those in the community around them. Much has happened, there is much still to do . . . . .

For a full run down of events, gatherings and also third party community use see the relevent pages - look to see where you may fit in and benefit or contribute. New regular gatherings include 'Soul food', bible study, and a soup kitchen on Thursday evening serving the city's rough sleepers. As the venue is being refurbished new events will happen and the art commissions based on the Beatitudes are also taking shape for the benefit of ourselves and the wider community.

'Zac's Place - A Church for Ragamuffins' is a mission Church of Exousia Trust. It is twinned with St. Martin's in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia and associated with Concern Australia.

We are also pleased to be able to work in Partnership with many other organizations and agencies

Zac's Place - email: zacsplace@exousia.demon.co.uk

"Of all the places I have performed around the world in the last decade or so, Zac's Place stands out as one of the most unique and effective outreaches into the community I've seen. It is unpretentious and non-exclusive, two traits I believe characterized the early church. Moreover, it has proven to be a refuge for both believer and those still seeking, the strong and the weary, young and old, rich and poor. This, to me, is true church." Rick Elias - Singer / Songwriter / Producer ( 'A Ragamuffin Band' and Tom Hanks' film 'That Thing You Do.')

Further Reading:

Jesus OK, The Church No Way!

CLICK HERE for an example from the articles written for music venues we were doing gigs in.

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