Members and friends of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Newbridge have launched out on a drive to support local traders and businesses in the town.

The church has been active in its community outreach work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and this move to help support the local traders is seen as an essential ongoing campaign to promote the well-being of people working and living in the area.

Pastor Peter Cho, minister at Tabernacle whose building is located right in the middle of the shopping centre at High Street, said: “We are all in this crisis together and we must all do our best to look after each other. That is why we are asking our people to buy whenever possible from local shops, eat at local cafes and support other businesses to help them bounce back from a really challenging time both financially and psychologically. Let’s give Newbridge a big boost in the run-up to Christmas and beyond!

“As Christians, we are praying for our community that God will protect us and help us to reset our lives in a wholesome, loving way by following the Lord Jesus Christ but people also need our practical day-to-day support.”

Tabernacle has been developing its online worship services and fellowship meetings since the beginning of the pandemic last March and it is now preparing to upgrade its “live” streaming by having a new BT Fibre line installed.  This will give the church even more opportunity to help publicise and promote what Newbridge has to offer in the future.

“We are grateful for the generous financial support we are receiving to do this from our members; a partner church – PhilaAntioch English Ministry – in the United States, and the Comic Relief Voluntary Services Emergency Fund (VSEF) funded by the Welsh Government and administered by the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO)”, Pastor Cho added.