We're passionate about supporting the 50 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
Each month we hope to share a story about where we're seeing God at work. This month Savannah Cook from Wokingham Baptist shares the story of Seaford Court .
Seaford court is a homeless hostel for young people. A group of us visit every Tuesday evening as a befriending drop-in doing a variety of activities ranging from rock climbing to board games; painting to sitting round a fire pit roasting marshmallows. Amazingly most of the team have done this faithfully for the past 9 years. I find these Tuesday evenings a very significant part of my working week. Not only is it a time when we show love and acceptance to these young people, but I believe this regular drop-in has also given the young people a sense of belonging. Once a week may not seem like a lot, but to these young it is probably one of the more consistent things in their lives. Showing God’s compassion in these fragile relationships is quite special to me. Their brokenness highlights the importance of trust and it's the consistency of the team that has enabled this to develop. We often keep in touch with the young people once they move on from Seaford Court. I have been regularly meeting with one of the ex-residents helping him revise for an upcoming test. Some of the other members of the team went to visit him at his new flat. The ‘new home’ card we had sent him was sitting proudly on the mantelpiece, and the team told me how chuffed he was to show them round his new home. We meet and pray for these folks each week, and it’s wonderful to see how God has gently been at work in their lives and our lives. I pray that meeting God where they are at, with no set agenda, has an impact on them, more than we realise. We know working with young people is not predictable and we may not always see what they move onto when they’ve left, but it’s encouraging that we've shared part of their journey with them and their perception of church and Christians has been changed. Questions to ponder
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Connect
For those that are employed full or part time to work with children, young people and families there are 3 opportunities for us to meet throughout the year- March, June and October.
The next opportunity will be at the CYF Retreat; this is an opportunity for you to stop and connect with God and one another. Dave Llewellyn will be leading us. The location is Ascot Priory (SL5 8RT) The cost is £100 Please email Clare on c.hooper@scba.org.uk if you have any questions and to let me know if you're coming. There are 3 opportunities a year specifically for those employed in our churches to work with children, young people and families to gather together.
FUTURE CYF GATHERING DATES:
North: 24th September 2018 South: 27th September 2018 
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 and Simon
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)
An opportunity...
We would love to find 5 churches willing to pilot Godly Play in the park for 2018. If someone in your church is already trained in Godly Play than great; if not there then keep an eye out for training that might be happening near you. For those piloting Godly Play in the park SCBA might be able to help towards the cost of this training. Please do get in touch if you'd like to chat this through. If you click on the picture below you'll find more details regarding dates for training. 
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