A number of charities are joining forces to better-support their local communities.
Bethany Christian Trust, Glasgow City Mission, Blythswood Care, The Cinnamon Network, Redeeming Our Communities and Care for Scotland have joined the Evangelical Alliance in setting up 'Serve Scotland'.
The new umbrella group will bring together the Christian voluntary sector in Scotland on local and national levels.
It hopes to be a point of contact for MSPs, Civil Servants and the media when they want to connect with church based community projects.
Local pilot groups have already launched in Glasgow, Dundee and the Highlands.
The Evangelical Alliance says the aim to share best practice and resources at a time of increasing budget cuts.
Fred Drummond, Chair of the Serve Board and National Director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said: "At a time of increased public sector budget cuts there has never been a more important time for churches to be effectively serving their local communities.
"There is already a huge amount of good work being done across Scotland from local lunch clubs, to night shelters, food banks and Street Pastors, but too often this is disjointed and there is no forum for people to share their work and see where the gaps are in our towns and cities.
"Additionally local authorities often have no idea who to speak to when they want to connect with the local church in their area.
"Serve Scotland addresses both of these problems and we believe it will be a significant tool in supporting communities and tackling poverty in Scotland."
Grant Campbell, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Mission, also commented: "Serve Scotland is ready to empower and inspire the Christian family to engage broken communities in significant ways, bringing tangible hope to those combatting a poverty of resources, relationships and aspiration.
"Glasgow City Mission is honoured to partner with other like-minded Christian organisations and churches to share resources and expertise in order that we might see real breakthroughs for people struggling in our nation.''
Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Keiran Turner from the Evangelical Alliance here:
