The popular Faith Mission cafe in Portadown is to cease in its current format as part of ongoing efforts by the organisation to “streamline overheads”.
The Faith Mission, which is headquartered in Edinburgh, has made the decision after launching a formal consultation in February on the future of its 10 remaining shops across Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Portadown is the only one of Northern Ireland’s Faith Mission shops which will be affected.
Based at Magowan Building, the intention is that the long-standing shop and café will “transition to a sustainable model of a bookshop with a smaller self-service catering offering”.
Away from Northern Ireland and the shop and café in Edinburgh is expected to function under a different operator “whose vision and values align with ours”.
A further shop at Dunfermline, also in Scotland, will be repurposed into a ministry hub and run by a separate Christian charity.
At the same time, Faith Mission intends to launch a ‘web shop’ which will serve as a “dedicated channel and part of the renewed operation”.
Meanwhile, a “review of central costs is underway” in an effort to “streamline overheads”.
Confirmation of the changes came as response to the consultation, which has now closed, were received and considered.
Mervyn Tomb, General Director of The Faith Mission, said: “Following a recent Board meeting, the Trustees have approved a renewed plan for our bookshops.
“Our Trustees have approved a model that places our shops on a sustainable footing and equips them for the next chapter of ministry.
“For nearly 140 years, The Faith Mission has been committed to sharing the unchanging message of the gospel across the UK and Ireland. Our bookshops have long been part of that ministry as places where people discover the gospel, explore their faith, and are pointed to Jesus.
“Faith Mission Bookshops are more than Christian retailers. On high streets where many would never walk into a church, our shops are places where people enter in with life’s deeper questions. Our staff pray with them, open Scripture with them, and on many occasions have pointed them to Jesus. Many are then connected to a local church where their faith can grow.
“This important ministry can continue and grow if churches and communities choose to collaborate with us. We are appointing a dedicated church worker to build those relationships, and we warmly invite churches to partner with us: to source resources through their local shop, to visit and meet our staff, and to consider how their congregations might support this work through prayer, retail sales and volunteering.”
Having confirmed the changes for the Portadown shop and cafe – and those based in Scotland – Mr Tomb added: “These decisions affect valued colleagues and we are prioritising our support for them, as well as every member of staff, through this period of change.
“Our remaining shops across Northern Ireland will continue, strengthened by a new web shop, a coordinated marketing approach, and a rebrand that reflects our renewed sense of purpose.”
