Partners’ Newsletter Autumn 2019
Director Writes We have just gone through a change of season from summer to autumn giving the land preparation time for winter, then it returns into new life for summer. Since becoming the Director of Bath and Wiltshire it has become apparent that to enable Wiltshire Youth for Christ to go into a new season with new growth, the people of Wiltshire need to stand alongside the charity, supporting the work in the area in various ways. After prayer and discussion between Bath Youth for Christ Trustees and our Wiltshire staff, the decision has been taken to work towards Wiltshire Youth for Christ becoming an independent centre and registered charity by January 2021. We will be looking to establish a board of Trustees for this new charity and increase support for the centre’s work. This could be a little uncomfortable for some. However, I do believe there are times when God wants to make us uncomfortable to develop our faith and see God work beyond our expectations. Jesus always empowered others, believing in their true potential. He wanted the disciples
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to grasp what it meant to truly trust Him in all situations. In Matthew 8: 23 – 27 Jesus teaches the disciples about keeping their faith strong in times of storms. Although the boat rocked, and it was really scary everyone made it out alive and had a deeper understanding of the meaning of faith. God has so many plans for Wiltshire Youth for Christ to flourish and grow, and Steve and Dan have the skills and experience to take the charity forward into its next exciting phase. Please do pray for Wiltshire Youth for Christ in this transition period, especially for the support of local people. In order to make this process a reality we need individuals and Churches to give financially as well as supporting the work through volunteering and praying. We are also interested in partnering with Churches and other organisations so that we can see the lives of more young people changed by Jesus. If you are interested in helping in anyway, then please contact dave@bathyfc.co.uk
Providing support in times of transition Dan Webb, Wiltshire Youth for Christ, has taken responsibility for overseeing the running of The Accompanying Project since April and has had his first experience of delivering the project at Fitzmaurice School, Bradford on Avon: “Meeting my year 6 pupil regularly has been a complete joy. It is different in many ways to our Connect Mentoring programme (exclusive to secondary schools) as it’s focussed on that vulnerable period between year 6 and year 7. The growth and change I have seen in the pupil has been incredible. Her confidence has sky-rocketed – last year she wouldn’t have said anything in a classroom setting, even to answer a simple question, because of her anxiety. Only a few weeks into her time at secondary school, she has already shared 2 presentations in front of her whole class!”
As part of his role in overseeing this work, Dan also leads the Bath Youth for Christ Accompanying team meetings, supports the various other Accompanying Hubs across the country and looks for ways to grow the project more locally. If you would like to know more about this or Connect Mentoring, maybe even get involved in some way, contact Dan directly at: dan@wiltshireyfc.org.uk. He would love to hear from you!
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Growing Up Going Up Steve supported the leadership team of St James Church, Devizes in July with a Transition Day for year 6 pupils - “Going Up Growing Up�. The event at Braeside Activitiy Centre, Devizes, saw around 80 students and staff from several primary schools in the area taking part. Starting with a talk around a camp fire area, the group heard how God is with us in times of transtion and new situations. The young people were then involved in various activities to learn how to put trust into action -
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high ropes, leaps of faith, blindfold challenges and team building excercises. The feedback from those taking part was very positive and we hope that this will become an annual event as an integral part of support and encouragement for those students starting a new chapter, providing an opportunity to develop faith and hope in their lives.
Prayer points for Wiltshire October> • Thank God for the impact made on communities in Devizes and Trowbridge this summer through the Pop-up cafes. Pray for the continued development of partnerships with churches and other organisations so that the Pop-up van resource can be used effectively in the area. • Pray for our Accompanying Project work as we finish with those who went up to secondary school this year and start. Please pray that God would open doors in Wiltshire primary schools to deliver the Accompanying project to a new cohort of children. • Please pray for leaders and interested students to come forward for a new Christian Union in a Trowbridge school. • Pray for Dan Webb and his family.
November> • Please pray for new volunteer mentors to keep the good work of Connect Mentoring going.
December> • Please pray for Potterne Youth Club, which meets every Friday evening, specifically for new volunteers to support the project. • Pray for Steve Dewar and his family. • Please pray for Christmas services Steve will be delivering. • Across all our projects pray that God would give us opportunities to share the good news of the Christmas message with young people.
January> • Pray for Steve and Dan at the annual staff conference from 6-10 January, that they would find inspiration and develop good connections with staff and volunteers from other centres. • Please pray for Dan as he considers the future of a discipleship group for young people.
• Please pray for the development of Wiltshire Youth for Christ as a whole, as we look to gather necessary resources in the new season we’re about to enter. • Thank God for the support of the Wiltshire Youth for Christ advisory group and pray for us as we seek to recruit Trustees for a new centre. • Thank God for the success of the Christian Union at St. Laurence School and pray for more young people to come along and be touched by God’s love. 5
Opportunities to meet young people in the community The Summer of 2019 saw another successful year of Summer Pop Up Youth Café. These took place in Devizes (July 29th – 2rd August) and Trowbridge (August 5th-9th). Members of the Wilts Youth for Christ team and others from local churches had an opportunity to work together in detached youth work ministry. During those weeks we saw over 200 teenagers get involved in various ways. We received fantastic feedback and participation from the young people, and some great conversations took place. The summer events included a skate competition in Stallards skate park, Active Trowbridge inflatables at both locations, Neighbourhood Police Teams and other community organisations popping along. We appreciate the support by the Devizes and Trowbridge Area Boards, Local Youth Networks and supermarkets that provided some refreshments. Steve also had an opportunity to meet the Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner – Angus MacPherson to showcase the Pop-Up Van and share opportunities for building stronger communities and responding to local needs. The resource has already supported several churches in Lavington and Potterne Benefice with youth engagements during fetes and weekends away, Holiday Clubs and the
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Wiltshire Skate series event in Melksham. As the project develops, Steve is engaging with local churches, businesses, residents and organisations to ensure that partnership and pioneering this youth work resource makes a positive local impact. The comment of a young person attending one of our events shows the significance of this project: “No one else decides to do the stuff that Wiltshire Youth for Christ does. We don’t have the commuity to support us, but you provide the setting for us to be together .”
I would like to give a gift towards the Pop-up mission this year. 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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Gathering young Christians in school Gathering young people who are trying to make sense of faith in God right in the thick of school life, with all its pressures and stresses, is often high-impact and, of course, a fantastic privilege. Dan Webb has been co-leading the Christian Union at St Laurence School for 2 years now. A loyal group of students from different church backgrounds meet on a Monday after school to pray, eat, play games, discuss relevant issues and explore what it means to maintain a Christian faith in a school context. We meet at the Breathing Space from 3-4pm each week. “I love coming to CU, it’s the highlight of my week…even though it’s at the start of the week!
It’s been encouraging to meet other people I never knew were Christians and to know there are others who can help me if I’ve had a bad day.” Harry, 13. It’s important that everyone feels welcome to the CU, so if you know someone who attends St Laurence School and may be interested in joining us each Monday, please let Dan know! dan@wiltshireyfc.org.uk. We have started exploring the idea of running a Christian Union in another school, this time in Trowbridge, and are looking for leaders from the local area to co-lead this with Dan. Interested?! Dan would love to hear from you.
Making Disciples Sometimes it is important to remind ourselves that as Christians we are called by Jesus to make disciples not converts. There are some fundamental differences between these, one being the importance of regular, frequent and intentional gathering together to pray and encourage one another.
highlighted that there is still the need for a weekly discipleship group. During the next few months the group will unpack a variety of important themes with young people aged 14-18, including “Foundations”, “Digital Evangelism”, “Priorities and Distractions” and a series on mental health.
Dan Webb, our Youth and Schools Worker in Trowbridge has received renewed interest from young people from different areas within the town and surrounding area which has
If you know of anyone in the area who may benefit from coming along to Youth Stream, please contact Dan dan@wiltshireyfc.org.uk.
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