What is Zac's?

Ann asked about Zac's so I've rehashed some of my old posts to give you a little glimpse.

What is Zac's?

More than twenty years ago Sean Stillman, who worked with bikers, had the idea of setting up a church that would be more approachable than 'normal' churches. So every Sunday evening for seven years Sean and Lorraine, a local singer, would hold a gathering in a pub in Swansea's city centre. Lorraine would sing a song or two, Sean would share a thought for the day type thing, and there'd be opportunity to question and discuss faith as well as meet people and build friendships. 

At that time it was called Zac's Place, church in a pub? (The question mark was important because  no-one knew if it would work.) A pub wasn't the ideal setting though for some of those with addiction issues who went along so when an old gospel hall came up for sale, Exousia Trust that was created to support Sean, bought it and now it's Zac's Place, church for ragamuffins.

With its own premises Zac's was now able to offer more. We've not quite returned to all the activities that went on before lockdown but we're getting there. Except for music gigs. The disrepair of the hall followed by the preparation for the building work has made it unusable. In the past we've hosted many musicians including Barry Maguire (Eve of Destruction fame).

Me looking all star-struck with Barry Maguire!

The building is used on some weekday mornings, in conjunction with the Wallich charity, for breakfast for rough sleepers and on Thursdays and Fridays a hot meal is provided for up to 90 homeless or vulnerably-housed people. We keep a supply of food and clothing for those need them, and on Tuesday evenings it's our Tribal Gathering, our 'Sunday morning' church meeting. Because, yes, we are a church now, a community of like-minded people who care about each other. At least that's the basic grouping that meets each week but we're also joined at each week by all sorts. 

Nobody is turned away. Zac's is known to be the last place in Swansea to ban someone. Someone who's been banned from every other facility for ragamuffins can still come to Zac's. We put up with a lot. Yes, now and again a temporary ban has to be put in place but it's with reluctance.

Drinking on the premises isn't allowed but drunks are welcome. As are addicts and the smelly, the ones with obvious mental health problems and the ones whose symptoms are less clearly seen, the ones who say they love or hate God and the ones who think they're unloveable. As Sean says, "Zac's is a level playing field." Everyone deserves respect, the chance to speak, and the chance to be listened to.

A lot of churches these day boast that they're welcoming and inclusive. I would argue that they can safely say that because the only people who will attend are those with vaguely similar beliefs, people who know how to behave and who know to leave their bad habits at home. 

Zac's truly is inclusive. It's where everyone belongs; it's where I belong.

As someone who has been involved there for a number of years I can get a bit blasé about it but just about everyone who comes in says that it is special. But let me quote Andrew Roberts from his book, Holy Habits.

"(At Zac's) I encountered a community of self-proclaimed ragamuffins that was one of the most authentic Christian communities I have ever met. I met people really trying their very best to make all welcome. The love was tangible. At Zac's the hungry are fed (the food is great), the naked are clothed, the sick are prayed for and God's word is proclaimed. The Kingdom of God is at hand."