Mornington is based on the on the understanding that there is a God who is committed to the outworking of social justice and reconciliation in homes, communities and societies. The Project, to that end, has been attempting to offer a holistic approach to community regeneration in the Lower Ormeau community for the last eleven years.

The context in which it has been operating has been, and remains, a challenging one. Unemployment in the area was at 42% at the last count, and unemployment amongfs18-25 year olds was a brutal 65%. Those familiar with the inter-related nature of disadvantages will have some idea of the other problems that beset the local community. The community has been hammered by civil strife, moreover, having endured a disproportionate level of sectarian attacks and assassinations, and being, now, the melting pot for much of the trauma that surrounds the 'Marching Issue'.

The Project is probably not unique, but is certainly unusual in the nature of the development of its core and main theme. It all began with the initiation of the project by a local women's group in 1989, and was subsequently substantially influenced by the steady trickle towards the project of a number of Christians from a range of denominational and cultural backgrounds, who became engaged at all levels of the organisation. This, in the context of a religiously polarised city is exceptional. One of the astounding aspects of our situation is that many of the Christians involved are of a protestant background, yet the unconditional welcome offered by the local community thwarts the stereotypes of community ghettoisation and threat that is understood to be the norm in Belfast.

Is the Project a 'Christian project' then? Well, it is not 'evangelistic', in the commonly used meaning of that word, but is recognised by everyone in and around the Project that work is carried out with a Christian flavour.

One of the less expected, but welcome outcomes of our work is that so many people have, in the context of the Project, come to a new and profound understanding of those from whom they differ, and respect has increased with that new insight and communication. The tendency for community work to be seen by the evangelical camp as a means to an end (i.e. a 'warm-up' tool to draw people into converting contexts) has been supplanted. We experience a fresh realisation that the enriching of lives with dignity and purpose and compassion is a goal which is indivisible from the Gospel. Mornington, in short, has been and is a forum for challenging and unsettling exchanges of experiences and ideas. The consensus that has emerged is that the purpose of the Project is to bring hope to those who need it most in our society, a holistic hope which addresses the body, mind and spirit of participants, and results in an enhanced community.

The desire which prevails within the Project to reflect God's heart for this patch of our society, for the propagation of compassion, and justice and peace will be the motivation for the design and source of sustenance of our work in the next years.