Alabaré Christian Community

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About Alabaré

VISION STATEMENT

To be a sign of the love which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share. We are called by God to a Covenant Community of prayer, worship and fellowship which enables us to serve each other and the vulnerable of our world, making hospitality our special care.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE
The Alabaré Christian Community Charitable Trust was founded by John & Alicia Proctor in 1984 in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex. Twelve months later they moved to Wilton near Salisbury in Wiltshire where the Community has developed ever since. The purpose of the community was to encourage Christians of differing denominations to work and pray together in order to give witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and make a greater impact on society. Alabaré is Spanish for 'I will praise'.

On moving to Wilton they established a family home in what had been a convent and were known as Maranatha House of Prayer. This was an open house that welcomed anyone that came whether they be the men of the road seeking a warm drink and a meal, or people in crisis
requiring love and shelter or Christians gathering to give praise to God. These were challenging times with three small boys and never being sure how the financial needs would be met. During this time the Community became a Covenant Community where the members made a commitment to one another and began to tithe a portion of their income to the work of the Community.
These very demands led them into prayer and discernment as to how they could continue to meet the needs that kept presenting themselves and in 1991 they founded a further charity Alabaré Christian Care Centres to facilitate the outreach ministry of the Community.
The Community was advised at the outset that this work could grow and it was therefore wise to establish the new Charity as a Company, Limited by Guarantee. We weren't looking that far ahead but turnover has increased from £50,000 in 1992 to a projected turnover of £3m for 2004. Over this period the Charity has positioned itself as one of the leading providers of care within the community.

Throughout these early years people came and went adding to the life and spirit of the Community that always averaged five covenant members. It was small and intimate but God used this small group in a very powerful way. If it had not been for their response in faith Alabaré, as we know it today would not exist.
The Community slowly started growing and in September 2000 took its next major step forward purchasing a property jointly with some of its members to establish a residential community and retreat centre. Alabaré House of Prayer as it is known is in the heart of Salisbury offering retreats, days of reflection and hospitality to people seeking accommodation. The residential aspect of Community life proved a very painful experience to those involved, and we are currently waiting on the Lord to see in which direction this moves us forward.
October 2003 saw the launch of Friends of Alabaré, a charity to draw together the supporters of both the Community and the Care Centres.

What do the charities offer?

We are working to provide spiritual renewal, accommodation for homeless people, a caring Christian Community for adults with learning disabilities, Counselling, Day Care activities for people on low incomes, and an Information Bureau for people with disabilities and their carers. We also offer supported employment schemes and are now working with some of the most vulnerable who have suffered from drug and alcohol dependency, which in turn has led some into crime and prostitution. Here are some of the projects established through Alabaré Christian Care Centres.