We're passionate about supporting the 60 employed CYF workers that are connected with the churches in our association. We also want to walk with all the churches and their volunteers as they seek to be Good News through many different ways including toddler groups, schools work, discipleship groups, youth clubs, Messy Church. Finally we never want to lose sight of the 95% of children and young people who are not in our churches and who God loves deeply and would love it if they got to know Him better.
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Inspire
This month Graham Sumbler from Woodley Baptist Church shares about how he's continued to connect with the young people from the Friday youth club his church runs.
How can we keep contact with the children who attend our Friday Night Outreach group? That is the question that has been going around my mind since Lockdown started. I have missed running this group so much as we have such an amazing group of children who attend. Our answer was to hand deliver a card designed by one of our Church Members and to bag up our usual sweet shop. We then got out as a team and delivered them all. After 5 days we had knocked on and delivered 122 cards and bags of sweets and had so many conversations with parents and children as well as a number of messages on our Facebook page. We were able to share God’s love by showing we cared enough to visit and listen. It was a real privilege to encourage, comfort and bless so many of our local families. We continue to pray for the families we visited and to follow up on some of what we found. God’s love goes beyond our church walls and this experience has challenged me to continue to show this. Have you got a story to share? So far we've heard from a church that runs a discipleship group for those aged 7-11, a church that works with homeless young people and the exciting work of one churches work with Girls Brigade, and a church that runs a club that combines soccer training and sharing faith with children. I'd love to hear from others; you can send me your thoughts on c.hooper@scba.org.uk
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Connect
There are lots of opportunities to connect over the year specifically for those employed in our churches to work with children, young people and families to gather together.
CYF GATHERING for those that work with children, young people and families.
On the 6th October 2020 we're having united North and South CYF Gathering. The timing is 1:30-3:00. Please do get in touch if you would like to come and I can send you the zoom meeting link. ZOOM HUDDLES (where we can connect and pray for one another)
We've done these loosely based on geography but you'd be welcome to come to the date that works best for you. Please get in touch if you would like to be part of one. Hosted by Savannah date tbc Hosted by Rachel date tbc Hosted by Simon date tbc Hosted by Chris date tbc The CYF Retreat
After an awesome CYF retreat in 2019 the next one has been provisionally booked for 15th-17th June 2021. We'll hopefully be returning to the House of the Open Door but this can't be confirmed until next year. Joth Hunt is going to be leading these sessions.
In whatever capacity you're involved in working with children, youth and families we'd love for you to become part of our Facebook community. Here we can share resources, ideas and encourage one another in the ministry that God has called us to.
Clare, Amy, Chris, Rachel, Simon (and there's Savannah too)
We are the CYF steering group and would value your prayers as we meet to discern how our association might best serve the churches in their work with children, young people and families.
Simon is the moderator of this group and can be contacted at- simon@coshambaptist.org |
Resource
Resources that might help when supporting children and families through illness and bereavement.
If you're ever in the position of supporting a dying child and their family please make sure you have someone who is looking out for you; who is praying for you and is there for you should you need to talk.
I am the CYF mission developer for SCBA and I would love to meet with you and listen to where you think God might be leading your church regarding how it's working with, or might work with children, young people and families.
Please get in touch regarding any training needs that you have, if you're looking to employ a CYF worker, if you need to chat something through or if there's something else you think I might be able to help with. There are many different opportunities out there that can help churches connect with those under 18. Here are a few of them which I would be more than happy to chat through with you. (Click on picture for the link)
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Training Courses
There are many different training opportunities for those that work with children, young people and families; here are a few of them. Please do get in touch if this is something you'd appreciate praying about and talking through with someone.
There are many different training opportunities for those that work with children, young people and families; here are a few of them. Please do get in touch if this is something you'd appreciate praying about and talking through with someone.
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Clare Hooper c.hooper@scba.org.uk 0784 037 8788 |
CYF Tool Kit: Not a training course but a tool kit to help your church or CYF team reflect on it's work with children, young people and families. It includes a quick check list. www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/279872/_CYF_links.aspx
Footsteps: If you're part of the CYF team at your church than this training is ideal. It will deepen your understanding and you'll develop the skills necessary for ministry amongst children, young people and families. www.scba.org.uk/footsteps.html Certificate in Theology, Ministry and Mission: Provides accredited training for those with experience and who are called to specialist ministries and mission with children, families and communities where they live. Integrates a high level of theological education and reflection and offers the opportunity for further study going forward. www.bristol-baptist.ac.uk/children-youth-ministry/children-family-course/ MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission: If you've got experience in working with children, young people or families and would like to have the opportunity to to sharpen your understanding by critically reflecting on your experience and theology than this opportunity might be a good fit for you. www.bristol-baptist.ac.uk/theological-studies/taught-ma/ |
