Wiltshire Youth for Christ Partners' Newsletter

Partners’ Newsletter Spring 2018

Do you like surprises?

It was a full Youth for Christ conference this year, with lots of teaching, seminars, meeting others, hearing stories of transformation and talk of branding change which you can see from this new edition of Partners Newsletter. There was a lot to take away, however if I could condense it into one question it would be HOW WELL DO I KNOW JESUS? (not… how much do I know about Jesus?). with a sense of more than just having questions answered but also seeing something in Dan and I that suggested we have a relationship with the very source of life!

You will read in this edition of Partners that Dan and I have been talking about our faith in John of Gaunt School RE lessons. The challenge of such opportunities is helping the young people see that Jesus is more than a subject to be studied, but is a person to be known. I wonder whether the young people in the class left

It was striking at conference how, during informal conversations as well as within the Bible teaching, that a theme of the importance of us followers really knowing Jesus was clear, if we are to share Jesus and invite others to follow him too.

It may sound obvious, but I would encourage you, at the beginning of this year, to consider how well do I really know Jesus? We are doing so at Youth for Christ in Wiltshire as we go about our work to

Pop UP Café Now as we start 2018, its full steam ahead with planning events for the coming year.

This summer will see us running two weeks of the Pop-Up Youth Café, scheduled for w/c 30th July in Trowbridge and w/c 6th August in Devizes. Offering a safe and fun space, with activities and refreshments provided.

We plan to build on the success of previous years, when we have seen engagement with over a hundred young people, many of whom we see within a school setting. For more details visit www.wiltshireyfc.org.uk/ popupyouthcafe/ and if you could give a few days over the summer to help us deliver this outreach please get in touch.

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see the lives of young people changed by Jesus.

Thank you for your interest in and prayers for, our work among young people, please pray for our work in the coming year.

donate At the start of a new year, could you consider giving to support the work of Wiltshire Youth for Christ. £10 per month would help see the lives of young people changed by Jesus. If you can, please complete our response form on the back page and send it in to our office.

James Vaughton

Walk Wiltshire 2018 We are Walking across Wiltshire to see the lives of young people changed by Jesus We are taking on our biggest challenge yet. James, Steve and Dan are going to walk Wiltshire over 2 days. Yes, you read that right, we are going to walk 100km from Malmesbury Abbey to Salisbury Cathedral. The reason? We take seriously our commitment to serve young people in the county and are seeking to raise £4,000 for our work among young people so that we can continue to be, share, live and take good news to young people in Wiltshire.

What is Walk Wiltshire?

Over Friday and Saturday 18th-19th May, starting at Malmesbury Abbey, we will head south towards Castle Combe, onto Bradford on Avon and will stop for the night in Melksham, sleeping at Queensway Chapel.

Day 2 will take us along the canal towpath to Seend and then on to Salisbury Plain, hoping (subject to access) to cross the plain and to Salisbury where we will be welcomed at the Cathedral in the evening.

Would you like to join us for some or all of the walk?

If you would like to help us fundraise for the youth and schools work of Wiltshire Youth for Christ and fancy taking on this challenge, we would love you to join us. The route is planned, there will be a training day and you will be part of a great team. We have two options: Option 1 – Join us for one 20km stretch of the walk on day one or two. These sections are pre-planned and will have a set start and finish that makes it possible for you to be picked up Option 2 – Join us for the whole walk. You will need to have a good level of fitness and be able to demonstrate to Wiltshire Youth for Christ that you are able to take on this challenge.

If you want to get involved and fundraise to help us see the lives of young people changed by Jesus, please get in touch with James Vaughton, who can send you a Walker Pack james@wiltshireyfc.org.uk or 07891908950 If you don’t fancy the walk…Can you help us reach our fundraising target?

Please sponsor us at www.give.net/walkwilts2018

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Prayer points for Wiltshire February> • Pray for the delivery of Basic Youth Work Training (Steve and James) in Devizes on 10th February as we resource local volunteers in churches and community projects • The Accompanying Project starting in two Melksham primary schools this term. Pray for Hannah Tarring and her team of volunteers • Thank God for opportunities to reach young people and staff through recent RE lessons • Please pray for the St. Laurence Christian Union, which started a couple of weeks ago • Pray for the young people with whom we worked in the Accompanying Project, that they would continue to transition well into their new secondary schools.

March> • Please pray for Steve, Rachel and Erin Dewar. Steve’s Dad is suffering from Mylofibrosis and has been in hospital • For the developing plans of a new youth gathering, Limitless – a joined up vision with other youth workers in the area • Pray for Steve as he delivers assemblies in schools this month, and for the children and staff to be impacted by the message of Easter • Pray for more volunteers to come forward to help sustain Potterne Youth Club and for opportunities to develop activities and projects • Thank God for the Wiltshire Youth for Christ Advisory group – Keith Brindle, Alison Bennett, Barry Blackford and Catherine Haddow. Pray that they would bring support and wisdom to the team.

April> • For strong relationships to be built between young people at Youth Stream and for new people to feel welcomed • Please pray for Dan, Rachel, James and Benjamin Webb for strength and sustaining • Pray that relationships with both existing and new mentees at John of Gaunt develop, grow and are transformative.

• Pray for secondary schools in which we currently work - John of Gaunt, Lavington, Clarendon and St. Laurence • Pray for the preparation for the Pop-up cafes in the summer

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May> • Pray for help and discernment whilst planning and leading youth stream sessions.

• Pray for the staff and trustees of Wiltshire Youth for Christ to know Jesus more • Prayer for mentoring work in Clarendon Academy and new mentors settling into their roles • Pray for the continued link with schools, for more assembly and Collective Worship opportunities.

• Pray for an increase in the church’s desire to get to know and love their neighbours throughout the community and for opportunities to build relationships.

• Pray for James, Annie, Grace and Zac Vaughton. James and Annie as they deliver accompanying and James in his role as Director • Coming in November 2018…please be praying

GSUS Live coming to West Wilts!

“GSUS Live is a mobile education unit containing a multimedia classroom in a lorry trailer. It tells the story of three teenagers facing real-life issues and how they get inspiration from the Bible to overcome their problems.”

This unit really is a wow resource! It has visited over 800 schools across the UK and is finally making its maiden visit to West Wiltshire. In partnership with Youth for Christ and Counties evangelists, it will visit schools in Trowbridge, Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon and Warminster over a 6-week tour, beginning November 2018.

Working alongside the Key Stage 3 curriculum, students will board the lorry and be greeted by state-of-the-art technology that will explore what the Bible has to say about fear, forgiveness and rejection. This will be presented by volunteers from the local church, providing a tremendous opportunity for churches to establish a longer term working relationship with schools. Please partner with us in prayer for this unique event. If you would like to volunteer in any of the towns mentioned above please email dan@wiltshireyfc.org.uk

Wiltshire Youth for Christ Partners’ Evening Our Wiltshire Youth for Christ Partners’ evening will be a night of encouragement and inspiration including a mixture of spoken word, film and presentation. We would love you to join us for a complimentary drink and refreshments to find out more about what has happened and what will be happening in the coming year. The evening takes place from 7.30 to 9pm on Thursday 26th April at North Bradley Baptist Church, BA14 0TN. To book your place email admin@wiltshireyfc.org.uk or go to our website to book your place now online.

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Potterne Community Garden

Roots continue to grow in Potterne with increased use of the Community Garden.

Steve hosted a Christmas Carols Evening in

the space with around 50 people of all ages turning up for a simple a cappella service. A warm welcome and hot drinks kept everyone in festive spirits as we sang out the name of Jesus. The new vicar, Rev Alison Bridewell, led a prayer and blessing at the end of the evening. Steve is meeting with residents and groups to plan events and activities throughout 2018. The ground has been worked, seed sown, roots are well grounded and we are starting to see it flourish and bear fruit!

Youth Work Awards During Partners evening in April, we will recognise the commitment and achievements of those who volunteer in youth work and make a difference. We will be hosting our second youth work awards and we would like you to nominate someone within one or more of the three categories below.

1. Volunteer youth worker award (an adult volunteer who you think deserves to be recognised for their contribution to youth work) 2. Young person volunteer award (for those

18 and under who you think deserve to be recognised for their contribution) 3. The Jeremy Steeds Award is in memory of one of our trustees who died in 2017.

Recognising his spirit of encouragement, this award is for a young person who has overcome a particular challenge. This is the one award for which there will also be a prize as well as the trophy for the winner.

To make a nomination please go to our website and complete the form or email admin@ wiltshireyfc.org.uk with your nomination

RE lessons in John of Gaunt School Many will be aware that Wiltshire Youth for Christ is now based in John of Gaunt School.

We are getting to know staff and some new opportunities have arisen. Dan and James were invited to take part in year 10 and year 11 GCSE RE lessons before Christmas and early in the New Year. It was a great privilege to share something of our hope as we responded to some tough questions, possibly of personal as well as intellectual interest. Questions included:

• Why does an all-powerful, all-loving God let bad things happen?

• Do you believe non-Christians go to hell?

We look forward to more opportunities!

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• Have you ever doubted?

• Do you mind atheists celebrating Christmas?

• What is your evidence for eternal life?

• How do you handle the difference between your beliefs mainstream society views?

Sharing the gospel with hundreds over the Christmas period!

Although we are now into a New Year, we want to share the great opportunities we had to celebrate Jesus at Christmas. The team joined with others in churches and schools, sharing the Good News of Jesus. In the village of Great Cheverell, Steve arranged a special visit by a donkey to lead the entire School of Holy Trinity Academy across the village to St Peters Church. Leading the service, Steve brought together local clergy and international author Bob Hartman to share the story of Christmas and its relevance to our lives today. With a packed church including parents and local church congregation, it was a memorable occasion

and one that the children will not forget. In Potterne, Steve organised the crib service on Christmas Eve at St Marys Church. With activities to make it a “Messy Church” and an interactive performance by the “Open the Book” team, the service was a great way to bring families together to remember the Gift of Jesus. A gift worth sharing.

Melksham Accompanying Project After many months of discussion, we are excited to have launched the Accompanying Project in Forest and Sandridge school at the end of January. Wiltshire Youth for Christ has worked with Melksham Team Ministry to train Hannah Tarring (Children and Families Worker at St. Michael’s) and a team of volunteers.

The Accompanying Project will bring with it new challenges and exciting opportunities to connect with the schools within our community. We are looking forward to seeing the project develop and positive relationships form between our volunteers, the children and the school. We pray that God will further equip us this year to enable us to branch out into more schools in 2019.

We have a wonderful opportunity through this project to journey alongside children as they prepare for the next step in their school experience. Please continue to pray for the Melksham Accompanying Hub, that we might rely on God in all that we do and that

the children we work with would feel valued, significant and encouraged. If you are interested in becoming an Accompanying Project Hub check out www.accompanying.uk and get in touch

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Together we can see young people’s lives changed by Jesus.

I would like to give a monthly gift of £ _____________ or a one-off gift of £ _____________ to see young people’s lives changed HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE? Enclosed cash or cheque

(please make cheques payable to Wiltshire Youth for Christ) Give by standing order TO: The manager, bank/building society: ACCOUNT NO:

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Please pay Wiltshire Youth for Christ, account number 20029580, Sort Code 20-05-12, Barclays, 4-5 Southgate, Bath BA1 1AQ, the above sum at the frequency stated, starting on 12th day of the next month.

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Please claim Gift Aid on all my applicable gifts from today AND/OR in the past 4 years Signed: Date:

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Please ensure that you inform Wiltshire Youth for Christ if you: 1. Want to cancel this declaration; 2. Change your home address or name; 3. No longer pay sufficient tax to cover all of your Gift Aid claims.

By ticking the box above I confirm that I have paid/will pay enough Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax each tax year (6th April5th April) to cover the tax claimed back by ALL the charities ( not just Wiltshire Youth for Christ) I financially support each tax year. I am aware that no other taxes contribute to this figure and that Wiltshire Youth for Christ will claim 25p for every £1 donated by myself from today onwards.

Please return to the address below

Wiltshire

c/o John of Gaunt School Wingfield Road Trowbridge BA14 9EH T 01225 336055 E admin@wiltshireyfc.org.uk www.wiltshireyfc.org.uk Charity No. 1165745. A member of British Youth for Christ