Thought for the Week: Being encouragers

Ian Kirk-Smith reflects on encouragement

by Ian Kirk-Smith 30th September 2016

‘Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing’

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Many people have been attracted to the Religious Society of Friends because of its engagement with the world – taking practical action on concerns such as slavery, criminal justice, poverty, peace, housing, equality and human rights. This strand is central to much contemporary Quakerism. William Penn grounded it in faith: ‘True godliness don’t turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavours to mend it.’