Surry Hills Urban Mission

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

About SHUM

Surry Hills Urban Mission is a short term mission for Christians in Sydney to share Christ’s love with the street people around Surry Hills and Central Station. The teams of Christian volunteers spend a month at at time on Tuesday evenings to connect with those marginalised by society. The team provides simple sandwiches and a warm cuppa but prioritises on conversations which points to Jesus Christ.

When you walk by Eddie Avenue on Tuesday nights, you might notice volunteers and attendees conversing about their lives, discussing big life questions, talking about Jesus, the Bible and praying together.

SHUM is a certified mission under Scripture Union NSW. Our participants come from Churches all across Sydney, wherever people have felt challenged to follow God’s call to evangelise to the people of Sydney.

Ministry to the marginalised

Surry Hills contains populations of homeless people, some below poverty families, shelters and brothels. The area has seen generations of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, unemployment and mental problems. In this environment the area can be like a spiritual vacuum. SHUM does not pretend to be a charity organisation or a professional counselling service. It is there to provide what we believe is needed to change people’s lives, the Word of God. With or without SHUM, God is working in Surry Hills. SHUM tries to point people back to God and to the love Jesus showed them by dying on the cross.

Since 2000, SHUM has provided a consistent and regular forum for street people to open up about their lives and a safe environment to consider their relationship with God. Many have been exposed to Christianity but feel rejected from traditional Church environments. Others are searching for answers or a purpose in life. Many are lost and despite the vastness of the street community, are alone.

The concept of mission for most people is to step out, to go, in order to spread the Good news to those who need to hear it. We hear so often of the needs of the unreached, the plight of those who have not heard the Gospel, the wonderful work of overseas missionaries. It is essential that we do not lose sight of the fact that mission already exists on our doorstep. Sydney needs missionaries, because many do not hear the Gospel. In the past years, we have seen remarkable developments in some of the marginalised people turning their lives around, coming back to God. But we know the real work is unseen.

Interview with Marshall Scott

Interview with Marshall Scott, Christian missionary working in Asia. Marshall speaks about his involvement and reflections with SHUM.