The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church

Kindness and compassion are at the heart of volunteering for James Van As.

By supporting the work of the Rapid Relief Team, the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, James is able to put his Christian values into practice and help people through times of need or difficulty.

He says there is a real sense of achievement in knowing that your actions have helped somebody else and shown the “Christian spirit of kindness and compassion to mankind”.
Watch James share what volunteering means to him.

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What does faith look like in action? For Jason Guest, it means stepping beyond yourself, thinking about other people and finding a practical way to give back.

Through volunteering with the Rapid Relief Team, the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, Jason helps recognise people whose vital contributions can sometimes be overlooked – from police officers and firefighters to doctors, nurses and care workers.
“It takes you away from yourself and gives you an opportunity to genuinely think about other people and the amazing things they’re doing”

Jason describes volunteering as an “unmissable experience” that enables him to show his appreciation and celebrate the important work these groups do every day.

Listen to Jason explain why volunteering provides such a powerful connection with his faith.

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In 2022, Tony Van As reached an emotional and physical rock bottom. Then, as he describes it, he had a remarkable spiritual experience which set him on the path to recovery. Now he wants to help others. He joins us for another episode of Behind the Plymouth Brethren – a not-so Exclusive podcast, to speak about his experience with alcoholism and how he was helped by his family, his faith, and other recovering alcoholics he met through AA.

If you're impacted by alcoholism, help is available. Visit AA.org or Al-anon.org for more information.

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Inspired by her faith and grateful for the kindness she has experienced in her own life, Laila sees volunteering as an opportunity to give that kindness to others.

She has seen first-hand how a hot meal, a friendly conversation or even a simple smile can make a meaningful difference to somebody experiencing a difficult time.

This belief motivates Laila Griffiths to volunteer with the Rapid Relief Team, the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. At events supporting homelessness charities in Gloucester, she has helped provide meals and connect people with organisations that can offer further support.

Hear more from Laila in the video.

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Matthew Lynes has volunteered with the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, for more than 10 years, having first become involved when the RRT was starting out and supporting events in his local community.

Inspired by a longstanding interest in the work of the emergency services, Matthew wanted to give something back to those who put themselves on the line to protect others.
More than a decade later, that motivation remains at the heart of every event he supports.

Matthew says the feedback from those supported by RRT is phenomenal. Often, it is not simply the food and refreshments that make a difference, but the presence of the volunteers and the warmth of the recognisable “RRT smile”.

Hear more about what Matthew has to say about the positive impact of volunteering in the video.

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The Covid-19 lockdown marked a turning point for Ross Norman, inspiring a lasting passion for helping others.

During this challenging period, Ross recognised the need to support people in his village. He began checking in on elderly neighbours who were isolated and helping wherever he could, from cooking meals to providing lifts to hospital.

“It feels like it’s just part of who you are. There’s a scripture that speaks about the strong coming to the aid of the weak.”
Ross believes that everyone has a strength they can use to support others, and that, whoever you are, there will always be someone who can rely on your help.

Watch Ross’s story.

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Crispy toasted bread cases filled with creamy eggs, cheese and tender asparagus. An easy, elegant recipe that's perfect for brunch, lunch or entertaining guests. 🌿

✅ Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Total: 30 mins
✅ Serves: 4

Ingredients:

8 slices sandwich bread
Asparagus spears
Eggs
Grated cheese
Cream
Salt & pepper
Butter

Instructions:

1. Flatten bread slices and press into a greased muffin tin to form cases. Brush with butter and bake until lightly golden.
2. Arrange asparagus in each bread case. Whisk together eggs, cream, cheese, salt and pepper, then pour into the cases.
3. Bake until the filling is set and golden. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Perfect for brunches, gatherings or a simple family meal. Faith, family and food unite us at the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

#BrethrenValues #PlymouthBrethrenBeliefs #PlymouthBrethrenRules

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On 19 August 2026, the Sydney Morning Herald published a video titled “A timeline of right-wing stunts funded by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church”.

This headline is a lie.

The Plymouth Brethren has never funded any political activity for any party.

This video was published before we were even given an opportunity to reject the assertion that our church funded these stunts, which is an outrageous breach of editorial standards.
Regrettably, it is just the latest example of the appalling journalism we have been subjected to from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

However it does serve as a clear example of the discrimination and prejudice our Church is being subjected to by these media outlets.

Following the publication of this video the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age published a further article titled “Exclusive Brethren secretly paid far-right activists to perform stunts disrupting the federal election.”

The claims made in the article are without evidence and are false.

Below is the response the Church provided to the journalist:
“The church was not involved in, did not coordinate efforts in, and made no payments or donations during, the 2025 election. It had no interaction whatsoever with any political party or third-party group. If members did donate or have involvement with those groups, that was under their name not the church’s. As a final point, the church completely rejects antisemitism, which is completely antithetical to our views.”

Watch Lloyd Grimshaw’s, Director of the PBCC, reaction to the story during his appearance at the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2025 Federal Election here.

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Golden puff pastry pies filled with rich lamb, rosemary and melted mozzarella cheese. A hearty family favourite that's perfect for lunchboxes, entertaining or a comforting winter meal. ✨

✅ Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 30 mins | Total: 45 mins
✅ Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
1 brown onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 rosemary sprigs, chopped
500g lamb mince
1 tbsp tomato paste
Salt & pepper
125ml red wine
1 tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp water
100g grated mozzarella
4 sheets puff pastry, thawed

Instructions:

1. Cook onion, carrot and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add rosemary, lamb and tomato paste, then cook until browned.
2. Pour in the red wine and simmer until vegetables are tender. Mix cornflour and water, stir through and cook until thickened.
3. Cut pastry to fit your pie maker or muffin tin. Fill with lamb mixture, top with mozzarella and cover with pastry.
4. Cook until golden and crisp, then serve warm or freeze for later.

Perfect for sharing around the family table. Faith, family and food unite us at the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

#BrethrenValues #PlymouthBrethrenBeliefs #PlymouthBrethrenRules

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