by Justin and Brittany, Alliance workers serving with Envision in Manchester, England

When God called our family to Europe after six fruitful years of ministry in Asia, we grieved over what we were leaving behind. Friends and partners even asked why we would move on after investing so much in work God had called us to, especially since it was going so well. Now, four years later, while the setting for our ministry may have changed, we recognize the Lord is still using your prayers and giving to accomplish the same work He had been doing through us in Asia.

Greater Manchester is a city of almost three million people. Home to more than 200 languages, thriving industries, and top universities drawing students from around the world, Manchester is one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities. It is here that, 30 years ago, the Hong Kong Alliance planted a small church for Chinese immigrants. Today, this church has grown to over 2,000 people and has helped plant other churches around the country, including a small international church in the heart of Manchester’s most infamous neighborhood, Moss Side, where, according to recent estimates, only around 25 percent of people are Christian.

In the 1990s, Moss Side became known for gang violence and Pakistani restaurants known as “curry houses,” which were often operated by local immigrants. Manchester City’s historic soccer stadium—now demolished—was just a brisk, 15-minute walk from our pub-turned-café, The Giving Tree. Like many cities around the world, ours is changing and, thankfully, Moss Side is, too. It has become something different, diverse, and made young by the many Muslim families and university students to stand tall, an ode to the past, but also as a sign of renewal.

Joining the Work of the Local Church

Through an invitation from the local Chinese Alliance church, Envision Manchester was launched with a desire to collaborate with what God was already doing in the city. And the Lord has certainly exceeded our expectations. Sustained by your prayers and generosity, The Giving Tree has grown quickly into a place where the community comes for English classes, prayer meetings, coffee trainings, art, study, and more.

After six years of doing coffee ministry in Taiwan, we were ready to answer the call when our local church asked us to take part. Today, our vision is to continue building a Christ-centered community that nurtures spiritual growth, strengthens relationships, and serves our multicultural neighborhood with love and compassion. Everything we do is about creating welcoming spaces where people can connect, grow, explore faith, and, ultimately, be transformed by the love and truth of Jesus.

What a blessing it has been to see God at work through His people. Any given month at The Giving Tree, you may see believers from places like Ethiopia and Brazil volunteering behind the coffee bar; workers with an international student ministry holding staff meetings; a woman from Hong Kong teaching about fair trade and ethics in the coffee industry; or a local baker from our Chinese-heritage church leading a cookie-decorating workshop. Each week, Manchester University’s Christian Union coordinator leads Bible studies, and Manchester House of Prayer facilitates gatherings led by local church leaders. On top of all that, our local international Alliance church also meets weekly, leading worship in multiple languages.

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. The people mentioned above are just a glimpse of those who serve alongside us. As we have learned, God had been preparing this place and this team long before the city was put on our hearts. We praise Him for the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from the nations. Still, the diversity of the surrounding community is even greater. As you can imagine, cultures often clash, and we spent much of our first year here listening to the heart cries of as many groups as we could. It has not been easy. Conflict, language barriers, and cultural expectations all test unity. Yet, we thank God that the gospel is big enough for every culture and believer in this city, and our small team is united in a common goal: reaching the lost for Christ.

The Vital Role You Play

We can’t do this without you. Your prayers and support sustain the ministry happening each day at The Giving Tree. As a result of your partnership with Envision Manchester, God is gently cultivating community: in the laughter shared over a cup of coffee, in the courage of someone attending an English class for the first time, and the meaningful conversations that arise between people who might never have crossed paths elsewhere.

As we continue listening to the rhythms of the neighborhood, we recognize our strategic location among Arab peoples and university students presents an amazing opportunity to reach the nations, as God has already demonstrated. This reality reminds us daily that the ministry happening here is part of something larger than ourselves—something God has been orchestrating long before our arrival.

The Giving Tree has become a space shaped by stories: students navigating life far from home, families building new connections, and believers from many cultures discovering how deeply they can enrich one another’s faith. In a city known for its diversity and grit, The Giving Tree has stood in celebratory contrast. Once a place of alcohol and back-alley drug deals, it has become a place where the nations meet—a place where hearts are renewed and homes and neighborhoods witness Jesus at work. As you continue to pray for and give to our work, Envision Manchester will become an even more dynamic ministry, inviting more people to connect, grow, explore faith, and be transformed by the love and truth of Jesus.

Help Cultivate Student Outreach

Located in one of England’s most diverse cities, The Giving Tree is a café where Alliance workers serve coffee, lead ESL classes, and hold church services and other gospel-advancing events. Your gifts to this project will enable all this important work to continue taking place. To cultivate a gathering spot where people from all nations can learn what God’s love looks and feels like, click here. Learn more about Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2025–2026 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog here or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.

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Article updated by Alliance Life staff on March 5, 2026.