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connecting you in prayer and action with Scripture Union

September â€“ November 2015

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dition:

Inside this e

Back to school New term, new opportunities

Light Party time! Our brilliant alternative to Halloween

Ancora goes live Welcome to our world

Serving Schools

Contents

Welcome to the autumn edition of Connecting You

3 Welcome

from National Director Tim Hastie-Smith

4–7 Back to school

At the start of this new academic year, read about how we’re sharing Jesus and supporting Christians in schools

8–9 Taking back Halloween

Light Parties are back with a bang in time for Halloween

Pull-out 2014-15 in review – see what

Long-standing SU supporter Martin Nunn tells his story

18–20 All-year-round ministry

A Canterbury church reaches out to children all year round with the support of SU – your church can too!

21 X:site-d for Jesus

Madness, mayhem and mission at our newest X:site location

Scripture Union is not primarily a schools ministry but we work in schools because that’s where children are. We’re blessed to have the opportunity to work in so many schools every year through our staff, local mission partners and hundreds of dedicated volunteers – all made possible by your gifts and prayers.

26–27 Children wide-open to God News from the launch of Guardians of Ancora

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your support made possible last year

It’s great that this new issue of Connecting You is landing on your doormat just as children and young people begin returning to school after the long summer break. We think it’s well overdue that we celebrate what Scripture Union is doing in schools across England and Wales – so just turn the page to get started!

15 Why I’m leaving a legacy

Light Parties

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celebrate

in prayer and action with Scripture Union

Design and print by Yeomans yeomansmarketing.co.uk For general enquiries Tel: 01908 856000 Fax: 01908 856111 info@scriptureunion.org.uk www.scriptureunion.org.uk © Scripture Union 2015 Registered Charity 213422 Limited Company 39828 Registered in England and Wales

Inside this editio

Back to school Loving kids where they learn

We want to serve schools wherever and however we are welcomed to do so. But we must never lose sight of why we are there – as good news people. We serve pupils, parents and teachers best when we share Jesus through our words and through our lives. I am Our work is greatly valued and appreciated more certain than ever that we must act with by pupils and parents – but especially teachers. honesty, integrity and openness about our While we know and work with many talented goal – we want to introduce them to the One Religious Studies staff, our teams meet they can trust. teachers all the time crying out for our help to deliver the spiritual aspects of the school curriculum in relevant, effective ways. Projects like Christmas Unwrapped, Lifepath, and, most recently, It’s Your Church, add enormous value Look out for prayers from the SU to schools, year after year. community – prayers for children that supporters like you know and love. Part of the reason for this is that we are a movement that’s not afraid to try new things.

September – November 2015 w e er h th th it ge n w To re ild

connecting you ch

Connecting You magazine is also available online at: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ connectingyou. If you have a story for Connecting You, or a suggestion on how we could improve our service to you, please contact the editor at the address to the right.

Published by Scripture Union 207–209 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2EB.

e w ore s ut ie m gop ll-o ev en e Pu l R 15 g ev f th a – hin s o nu 014 reac new An 2 e are good

Connecting You is the supporter and prayer magazine of Scripture Union England and Wales produced four times a year, bringing together news, features and comments from key volunteers and staff. We aim to keep you in touch with what God is doing through the work you support.

In Oswestry, local mission partner Ben Mayho has found an amazing way to support his local schools in handling boys who struggle to cope in mainstream education – he takes them out and teaches them bushcraft. You mightn’t have thought putting an axe into the hands of a difficult lad would be a good idea, but it does wonders to reach them! Partly because of this, 20 out of 21 schools in Ben’s area are asking for input from his schools work trust, and they are now looking for another worker to support Ben in what he’s doing.

Light Party time! Our brilliant alternative to Halloween

Ancora goes live Welcome to our world

This is our first issue of Connecting You since the launch of Guardians of Ancora, probably our most important new mission project ever! As our team has travelled around the country this summer, we’ve been thrilled by how excited people are getting about it. Thank you for all your support for Ancora so far. Turn to pages 26–27 to see how you can download it, try it for yourself and share it with children you know. 3

Serving Schools

Contents

Welcome to the autumn edition of Connecting You

3 Welcome

from National Director Tim Hastie-Smith

4–7 Back to school

At the start of this new academic year, read about how we’re sharing Jesus and supporting Christians in schools

8–9 Taking back Halloween

Light Parties are back with a bang in time for Halloween

Pull-out 2014-15 in review – see what

Long-standing SU supporter Martin Nunn tells his story

18–20 All-year-round ministry

A Canterbury church reaches out to children all year round with the support of SU – your church can too!

21 X:site-d for Jesus

Madness, mayhem and mission at our newest X:site location

26–27 Children wide-open to God News from the launch of Guardians of Ancora

new for 2

015

mo re ex part tra y th do em wn es loa an ds d

your support made possible last year

15 Why I’m leaving a legacy

Light Parties

p you need to hel

rything you een: inside: Eve llow light this Ha

‘For you are

all children

ren of the

of light, child

en to ter seewin our cen su com tre reso pet pu ur itio llo ce n ut s

celebrate

in prayer and action with Scripture Union

Inside this editio

Back to school Loving kids where they learn

September – November 2015 w e er h th th it ge n w To re ild

connecting you ch

Published by Scripture Union 207–209 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2EB.

e w ore s ut ie m gop ll-o ev en e Pu l R 15 g ev f th a – hin s o nu 014 reac new An 2 e are good

Light Party time! Our brilliant alternative to Halloween

Ancora goes live Welcome to our world

Back to school Thanks to your support, our teams and local mission partners reach tens of thousands of children and young people in schools with the good news of Jesus every year.

‘They came to us with the idea of going beyond lessons. Working with the school, we came up with the idea of “Christianity unlocked”– a whole week of different activities aimed at raising awareness of the Christian faith and, like the title says, “unlocking” it for students.’ Ben and the team, along with Scripture Union local mission partner, Graceworks, jumped at the chance of taking on this challenge and over five days, a 19-strong team delivered a huge programme involving assemblies, lessons, workshops and activities during lunchtime and after school.

Christianity lived out Over the week, more than 900 students heard the good news of Jesus and saw firsthand what it means to be a Christian.

We want to play our part in raising up a generation of young disciples who will follow Jesus throughout their lives. But when only around 5% of children in England and Wales regularly hear about Jesus in a local church, we have to take the news of Jesus to them. Almost all 5- to 16-year-olds are in full-time education – so that’s where we must be, too. Thanks to your prayers and support, we are able to share the good news of Jesus in schools in wonderful and varied ways but our

schools work doesn’t end there. We’re also working to support Christians, both children and teachers, as they seek to live for Jesus in schools themselves. Read on to hear about some exciting things we’re doing both to share Jesus and to support Christians in schools.

Sharing Jesus in schools Scripture Union’s face-to-face schools work is rich and multifaceted: regular involvement through a Christian Union, a lunchtime club or assemblies, or a full-on mission week, like the recent ‘Christianity Unlocked’ schools week at Frances Bardsley Academy, Romford. ‘Frances Bardsley wanted their students to learn about what it means to be a Christian in a way that went way beyond traditional lessons,’ says SU’s South East regional team development worker, Ben Poch.

‘It was amazing!’ said Ben. ‘Right from the start, the desire was to engage Years 7 to 13 with Christianity in ways that were relevant to them and I think we achieved that in an amazing way. We also wanted them to see how Christianity was being lived out by real Christians, and thanks to our young team (including several young people on SU’s 10:2 ministry training programme) we were able to do that. ‘

What did this exciting mission week look like? Naturally, Religious Studies lessons formed a key part of the team’s work but it wasn’t all work – the aim of the week was, after all, to go beyond the classroom! Alongside the lessons, the team ran fun lunchtime and after school sessions and sports ministry also played a big part in the week. One whole day revolved around the upcoming Rugby World Cup, for example, making use of Scripture Union’s The Games material (www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ thegames).

‘The response was fantastic’ The team, the school and the students all agree that the week had a real impact achieving much more than Religious Study lessons alone ever could. ‘We noticed the students, a lot of them with minimal understanding of the Christian faith, were fascinated to know more,’ reflects SU’s Ben Poch,’ and that was great to see!’ Miss Pitty, Head of Religious Studies for the school, agreed that having the team in school really helped to bring the Christian faith alive. ‘The response I’ve had from Year 10 has been fantastic’, says Miss Pitty. ‘The students enjoyed being given the opportunity to hear personal stories and it really helped to make the concept of forgiveness and reconciliation something that they could understand personally rather than an idea they just learn about.’ The week led to an enormous number of positive conversations about faith and, as a direct result of the mission week, the school’s weekly Exploring Christianity group has increased its numbers, too.

Thank you Thanks to the prayers and generosity of people like you, we’re able to keep on adapting and developing our schools work programme so that children get to hear about Jesus in ways that are relevant to them. Thank you! 5

Back to school Thanks to your support, our teams and local mission partners reach tens of thousands of children and young people in schools with the good news of Jesus every year.

Christianity lived out Over the week, more than 900 students heard the good news of Jesus and saw firsthand what it means to be a Christian.

Supporting Christians in schools

Please pray for schools ministry Week beginning August 30

Christian witness in schools is about much more than schools weeks, lessons and assemblies. Thanks to your support, Scripture Union is also at work supporting Christian students and staff as they witness to friends and colleagues.

Sunday 30

Thank God for the hundreds of schools workers, both paid and volunteer, who help share the good news of Jesus each term. Pray at the start of this school year for really fruitful ministry. Bible stories and basic ideas about God. SchoolsLive’s recent BaseCamp stream was held up as an example of how materials can be developed with greater accessibility in mind. Plans also formed around increasing the amount of prayer for Christians in schools, especially through new creative resources for Pray Day in November.

A huge amount of natural mission goes on every day in schools and colleges – in conversations in classrooms and staffrooms, playgrounds and school halls. But frequently, children and young people do not feel adequately empowered or equipped to share Jesus with their friends – and teachers are unclear how much is appropriate to share without crossing what can seem like an invisible line. To find out what the gaps are, and to make plans to address them, Scripture Union hosted a two-day conference in Sheffield this summer. Under the leadership of two of our Schools Development Workers, Geoff Brown and Rob Steward, 15 delegates discussed how we can better support and resource Christians sharing Jesus in schools across England and Wales. Christian witness in schools is about much more than schools weeks, lessons and 6

assemblies. Thanks to your support, Scripture Union is also at work supporting Christian students and staff as they witness to friends and colleagues. ‘Our starting point was that the key people God has placed in schools to do schools work, are those who are already there – pupils, teachers and other staff,’ says Geoff Brown. ‘What we want to do is make more mission happen – to grow the number of people being missional every day, where they are.’ The groups heard about a highly successful testimony-sharing tool developed and used by FESTIVE, a national mission partner with SU working in Further Education colleges, and plans were put into place to adapt it for use in schools, too. News was shared of Christian groups meeting in schools which are attracting large numbers of unchurched children, unfamiliar with many

‘It feels like there is more awareness of the issues surrounding being a Christian in school, and a greater clarity about where to go from here,’ says Geoff. ‘There is a great deal of energy and enthusiasm around the possibilities of what is to come.’

Working with schools Occasionally SU comes under fire from those who don’t agree with our work in schools and we are, of course, sensitive to their views. Maintaining educational integrity is a key priority and we work alongside schools to ensure we are serving them effectively whilst aiming to inspire the local school community to have a greater understanding of God through the Bible.

Monday 31

On the back of the two-day conference in June, please pray that Scripture Union will continue to lead the way in effectively supporting Christian teachers and children and young people in schools. Tuesday 1

Please pray for Rob Steward (Schools Development Worker for the North West) and Geoff Brown (Schools Development Worker for the North East and Yorkshire) – for wisdom as they take these projects forward. Wednesday 2

Thank God for the amazing success of the schools mission week in Romford. Please pray that similar models will prove successful elsewhere around the country and that young people find faith as a result. Thursday 3

Scripture Union’s SchoolsLive offers masses of triedand-tested material for schools workers and those who run Christian groups. Please pray that word spreads about this great online resource. Friday 4

Ask God to use the fantastic, easy-to-use material on SchoolsLive as a way for people to be inspired to begin new Christian groups in schools. Saturday 5

Please pray for hard-pressed teachers to catch a vision for their ministry in schools and colleges. Often this is not about ‘doing’, but simply about being who God has called them to be. 7

Supporting Christians in schools

Please pray for schools ministry Week beginning August 30

Sunday 30

Monday 31

Ask God to use the fantastic, easy-to-use material on SchoolsLive as a way for people to be inspired to begin new Christian groups in schools. Saturday 5

Please pray for hard-pressed teachers to catch a vision for their ministry in schools and colleges. Often this is not about ‘doing’, but simply about being who God has called them to be. 7

Taking back Halloween Last year we launched our Light Party pack – and we had no idea how successful it would be! This year, it’s back and even better.

‘I enjoyed tonight’s Light Party a lot, much more than Halloween. Celebrating Halloween is like celebrating evil but celebrating with a Light Party is like celebrating God!’ – Juliette ‘We loved tonight’s Light party! We didn’t know what to expect but we just came here and thought, “We’re going to have fun and celebrate Jesus – his goodness and everything.”’ – Lianne

5 d 201es ands fotyrthoewmnloa w r d e a n re p xtra

‘Light parties let us celebrate Jesus and just be let loose and have fun. Everyone’s just here to celebrate the light!’ – Alex

New for 2015 Last year, 5,000 churches ordered packs and tested out the Light Party – and over 90% said they wanted to do it again! So, thanks to your fantastic feedback, we’ve developed an even better pack for 2015, including new ideas for parties and church services, suggestions on how to link your party in with the Rugby inside:

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It’s increasingly hard to ignore Halloween. It’s now the third highest spending festival in the shopper’s calendar, behind Christmas and Easter. It’s even bigger than Valentine’s Day according to retail research. So what should our response be? Cower behind the curtains, or get stuck in?

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So what did children themselves think? ‘I think it’s better to celebrate a Light Party than Halloween. It’s so much better than Halloween because you’re just dressing up all scary and walking around and this is like coming together as a family.’ – Shannon 8

‘I enjoyed the Light Party a lot, much more than Halloween.’ – Juliette

Last year, we gave our answer – and thanks to your support, we launched a brand new FREE resource to help churches reach children at Halloween time – the Light Party. Packed into a simple kit was everything needed to run a Light Party – games, crafts, discussion starters and more, all linked to the biblical theme of ‘Light’. At the centre, of course, was the Light of the World himself, Jesus.

Plus, free in every pack, is a copy of a brand new evangelistic booklet called Darkness: The Unwelcome Visitor. This beautiful booklet, written and illustrated by popular children’s author Catalina Echeverri, will be available to buy from just £9.99. With packs of 10 or 20 on offer, it’s the perfect going-home gift for every child at a Light Party (or could even be given away to trick-or-treaters on the door on October 31). Have a look at the back of the magazine for more information. ‘It’s actually one of the best and most useful things I’ve seen in a very long time!’ – Becci McGowan, World Harvest Bible Church

Every thing you need to help you celebrate light this Ha lloween: Them

‘For you are all

World Cup or Guardians of Ancora (see p26-27) and a bunch of extra resources available for download online.

‘Everyone’s just here to celebrate the light!’ – Alex

Get your FREE Light Party pack

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Compiled by experts in children’s ministry, our Light Party pack contains everything you need to get started. And it’s yours for FREE – order yours at lightparty.org.uk This resource comes to you free of charge, but if you’d like to support us in our mission to reach children and young people with the gospel please make a gift to Scripture Union using the form that came with this magazine, or online at scriptureunion.org.uk/donate. Thank you!

inside:

Ever ything you need to help you celebrate light this Halloween: Themed Light Party

outlines with crafts, games, top tips, All-age church Bible links and service suggest discussion ideas ions for All Saints How to respond Day to children’s questio ns about Hallow Access to lots of een extra FREE resourc es

‘For you are all

children of light,

children of the

day.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:5

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Taking back Halloween Last year we launched our Light Party pack – and we had no idea how successful it would be! This year, it’s back and even better.

5 d 201es ands fotyrthoewmnloa w r d e a n re p xtra

‘Light parties let us celebrate Jesus and just be let loose and have fun. Everyone’s just here to celebrate the light!’ – Alex

ed Light Party

children of ligh

t, children of the

day.’ 1 Thessalonian s 5:5

on iti es peturc t com eso llou ur su rre pu o er in ent entto wsee c

‘I enjoyed the Light Party a lot, much more than Halloween.’ – Juliette

Every thing you need to help you celebrate light this Ha lloween: Them

‘For you are all

World Cup or Guardians of Ancora (see p26-27) and a bunch of extra resources available for download online.

‘Everyone’s just here to celebrate the light!’ – Alex

Get your FREE Light Party pack

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d an es ds em a th nlo rty ow pa a d re extr mo

2 for new

inside:

Ever ything you need to help you celebrate light this Halloween: Themed Light Party

‘For you are all

children of light,

children of the

day.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:5

n itioes peturc t comresoullou our su e p er in entr entto wsee c

Prayers – week beginning September 6

Prayers – week beginning September 13

Sunday 6

Thursday 10

Sunday 13

Thursday 17

Scripture Union Singapore is sponsoring ‘Walking with Wounded Children’, a training seminar for children’s workers dealing with traumatised children which takes place this week. Please pray for the workers who will be trained that, through them, the children they work with will come into a healing relationship with God.

The Leadership Team are taking time out today to pray together and consider the big picture and big questions of SU’s ministry and mission. These are key days in understanding God’s way forward for the movement. Pray for them that they will know a clear sense of God’s presence and direction.

Today the SU local mission partners in the South East Region will be meeting along with staff, volunteers and 10:2 trainees to share ideas and hear from God; Patrick Regan of XLP will be speaking. Please pray that all who come will be encouraged and that deep and supportive relationships will be formed.

Monday 7

Friday 11

Please pray for preparations for the conference of Scripture Union staff and volunteers in the Former Soviet Republics which is taking place in October in Armenia. This replaces the April conference which was postponed. It will be a particularly special occasion as SU Armenia is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Nor Gekhi Campsite. Pray that the event will inspire and equip all those attending.

This week the 10:2 trainees in the South East Region will be receiving training in mission and evangelism. Pray that this ‘History Makers’ training will increase their vision and enthusiasm, and that they will be better equipped to serve God during their time with Scripture Union and in the work God calls them to in the future.

The Lifepath Brinkburn team will be getting together today for a meal and debrief session. Thank God for all those who gave up their time to make this a successful event and for all the children who encountered God in some way. Please pray that as the team reflect on the event they will be encouraged and that God will help them to learn any lessons that will make future events even more effective.

Monday 14

The Rugby Union World Cup kicks off today, with the final taking place on October 31. Scripture Union regional teams have been encouraging and equipping churches to run events in their schools and communities to make use of this opportunity to present the message of Jesus. Pray that these ventures will be effective.

This week is part of the induction process for the new gap year students on the Isle of Man and they will be spending time exploring the world of schools. Pray that they would be aware of God’s peace at this exciting and challenging time and ask God to make this year a rich time of discovering more of what it means to serve him.

Tuesday 15 Festive, an SU mission partner working in FE colleges and sixth forms, ask us to give thanks for the many copies of Beyond Beans on Toast (an evangelistic gift book for students leaving college for university) which were given away. As the university year begins, pray that these will sow seeds in the hearts of many as they start a new phase in their lives. Pray, too, for Festive worker Cathy as the new academic year starts and she spends time making new contacts and building new relationships.

Tuesday 8 This is Remember A Charity in your Will Week. Praise God for all those who faithfully give to support the work of Scripture Union in any way, giving thanks for the significant legacy income in recent years which has enabled a number of new developments. Pray that God will continue to meet our needs.

Friday 19

Saturday 20 Keyworth X:site takes place today. At a recent event an older (year 7) boy came with his younger sibling just to watch, as his mother said he found social situations difficult. The family have no church background as far as the team know. The boy joined in everything with enthusiasm and the mother has since asked if he could join the church youth group. Give thanks for those who take time to build relationships with young people like him and for the impact it has on their lives.

Wednesday 9 During September and October the GSUS Live mobile classroom, an interactive learning experience designed to show the relevance of Jesus and his teaching, will be visiting secondary schools in the North East Region. Pray that young people will engage with the experience and discover something of the truth about Jesus. Ask God to give wisdom and sensitivity to the volunteers who staff the classroom. 10

Saturday 12 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: I pray for Grace as she goes to university in September, that she will meet other Christians who will share the gospel with her and that she will respond.

Wednesday 16 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: I pray for my granddaughter, Layla, who has heard the gospel many times and loves singing the hymns and going to activities such as Spring Harvest. She is a wonderful leader in holiday club but has made no commitment to Jesus. 11

Prayers – week beginning September 6

Prayers – week beginning September 13

Sunday 6

Thursday 10

Sunday 13

Thursday 17

Monday 7

Friday 11

Monday 14

Friday 19

Prayers – week beginning September 20 Sunday 20

Thursday 24

From Monday to Wednesday the Scripture Union International Executive meets to consider the next steps in implementing new structures and ways of working within the worldwide SU family, including the process for the appointment of the Global Board and its Chair, and the Global Assembly in 2017. Pray for wisdom and discernment in their discussions and decisions.

Scripture Union’s North West Region, the North West Baptist Association, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Eden Network are working together to follow up the five-day community mission in Netherton that took place at the end of August. Please pray that many who were reached through the various events will come to faith in Jesus and that Emmanuel Baptist and Tom Grant, the Eden worker in Netherton, will continue to have a significant influence as they serve the community.

Monday 21 The northern Training in Schools Work course will be taking place this week in Sheffield; this popular three-day residential course is designed for those who are new to schools work or for those who want a refresher. Pray for those leading and those attending the course that they will not only become more effective in their ministries, but will also discover more of the strength which God provides.

Tuesday 22 Alan Charter (SU’s Ministry Development Director) has been seconded to a leadership role with the Global Children’s Forum, an international network in which Scripture Union has been active for several years. Pray for him as he prepares to take up this new role, remembering him especially as he is involved in meetings in the USA this week looking at future plans for various project teams and networking with other agencies.

Friday 25 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that James and Cameron would come to find a relationship with Jesus for themselves, and that the holiday club they attended this summer at our church would be a step on the way.

Saturday 26 X:site events are designed to enable children to bring non-Christian friends to a fun event where they can hear about Jesus. Pray for X:site Gloucester as it takes place today, and for those X:site events that are finding it hard to recruit core team and volunteers. Pray that God will provide the right people especially for some of the events in the North East and Yorkshire where extra support is needed.

Wednesday 23 Re:generation, our local mission partner in Harrow, ask for prayer for lunch and after school clubs that they might develop and that more volunteers might be trained to help with them. Also, that more schools would be open to Christmas roadshows (this work has grown in the last year) and that they will be able to do more Prayer Spaces in schools. (They ran the first one in March and it was very successful.) 12

Prayers – week beginning September 27 Friday 2

The southern Training in Schools Work course takes place over the next three days; like the northern course this caters for those new to schools work and those who want a refresher. Please pray for Lisa Jones and Ben Poch who will deliver the training and that all who participate will go away with fresh vision, new skills and renewed energy.

Wayne Dixon from SU’s local mission partner Christian Connections in Schools, in Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, asks us to pray for ‘Living 4 Jesus @ School’ which takes place this evening and aims to encourage, equip, enable, support and inspire Christian young people from local schools. It will double up as a launch for Christianity Awareness Week (12–17 October) in Maidenhead, in partnership with Christian band LZ7, local churches and some senior schools.

Tuesday 29

Saturday 3

The International Leading Staff Development course was postponed to next month following last year’s Ebola outbreak. Please pray for the SU International team and everyone else involved in preparing for this important event, which will take place in Kenya. Pray for the participants, that this will make a big impact on their ministries.

A tour is taking place over the autumn with the aim of introducing people to Explore Together, training them in the theories behind it and giving them the opportunity to experience it for themselves; the first event takes place next Tuesday in Derby. Please pray that this will give people a fresh vision for the way in which the Bible can be used in a range of situations to transform lives.

Sunday 27 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My grandson, Harvey, would like you to pray for two of his friends who have trouble at home. He would like them to come to know Jesus because he thinks it would help them through bad times.

Monday 28

Wednesday 30 Time out of work following surgery has enabled Jo-Ann Gaunt of Impact, SU’s local mission partner in Bedford, to rethink her role, looking to recruit more volunteers to enable the work to develop. Pray for her as she contacts church leaders seeking their support in this new move and that the right volunteers will be found.

Thursday 1 Pop Up Lifepath events in local churches, pioneered in the North West last year and visited by over 300 Year 4 pupils, are being repeated this year from 5 to 16 October. Pray for all the teachers and children who will attend as they look at the life of John Wesley and the faith of modern day Christians, through story, craft, drama, games and other activities. 13

Prayers – week beginning September 20 Sunday 20

Thursday 24

Prayers – week beginning September 27 Friday 2

Tuesday 29

Saturday 3

Monday 28

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Prayers – week beginning October 4 Sunday 4 Engage, an SU local mission partner in Woking, will be taking primary school assemblies this week. Their team of volunteers has changed. Pray that the new members will settle into the team, enjoy the experience and be able to communicate effectively, and that through them the children will catch something of God’s love.

Monday 5 A Sticky Faith event will be taking place in Malvern tonight with another in Hereford on Wednesday and a third in Buckingham on 19 October. Please pray that these events, put on in conjunction with Urban Saints, and designed to help churches explore ways of helping young people to develop lasting faith, will bring new energy to youth work in many churches.

Thursday 8 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that Oliver and Finn may come to know Jesus and that their parents will be accepting and open to Christians sharing the love of Jesus with them.

Friday 9 Connect Kent, a residential holiday for children in years 6–8, takes place this weekend. It gives an opportunity for leaders who come with their groups to build closer relationships with the children and to enjoy a fun and creative environment in which they can meet with God in a larger group. Please pray for Sam Fowler, Matt Ager and Sarah Smart as they form the overall leadership team.

financial review

Tuesday 6 Today sees the start of the Prayer Fellowship Conference, attended mainly by retired members of staff and other older friends of the movement. Pray that as they gather, with a wealth of SU history, they will be inspired by what God is doing today. Pray, too, for the SU Council as it meets at the weekend, that God will guide discussions and that this will help to set the direction for future ministry.

Wednesday 7 SU Vanuatu’s campsite is being rebuilt after being partly destroyed by Hurricane Pam in March. Pray for wisdom for the SU Vanuatu council members during this time and that the work on the campsite will progress well. Give thanks for the encouragement of the visit in July of a team from SU New South Wales who joined local teams in visiting schools and communities to proclaim God’s love. 14

Saturday 10 Shine is an Urban Saints event for girls aged 11–18 which will be held on December 4–6 in Staffordshire. Hannah Legge, Development Worker in the Midlands Region, is part of the leadership team. Today the team will meet for training. Pray that as they prepare for this event they will have a clear sense of God’s vision and that he will prepare them for all they will do in December.

Mission report Highlights from the year ended 31 March 2015

e ur th f le yo ts s o op w ac nd pe ho p a g e im us un Se ort tho yo pp of nd su es a liv ren ild ch

financial review

Mission report Highlights from the year ended 31 March 2015

Thank you

As we look back on another amazing year for Scripture Union, I want to personally take this opportunity to say thank you. It’s only because of the support and prayers of people like you that the mission of Scripture Union has such an impact on the lives of so many children and young people. Thank you! As you look over this short summary of the 2014/15 year, I think you’ll agree that the impact of SU’s mission to introduce children and young people to Jesus has been huge. Imagine what we can achieve together in this next year – exciting, isn’t it?!

Tim Hastie-Smith National Director, Scripture Union

financial review

The BIG picture

Over 200,000

children and young people heard about Jesus through face-to-face SU ministry this year. Thank you for your help in making this possible!

Growing partnerships This year we worked with even more local mission partners to ensure that the good news was shared:

67 SU local mission partners 5 more partnerships than in 2013/14 15 new partnerships in development by

the end of the year

Volunteering Thank you to all our amazing volunteers for their faithful and selfless work!

3,543

known opportunities for volunteer involvement Equivalent to 7,943 working weeks or 169 full-time staff

International Scripture Union is an international mission movement, helping to share the good news of the gospel right across the world…

130

Scripture Union movements working in 120 countries

£463,000 given by and through

SU England and Wales to support other movements

We put the Christian message into children’s hands

Thanks to you, we were able to create and share great resources with children who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to hear and relate to the gospel message.

Christmas and Easter

40,000 children enjoyed

Christmas presentations given by our local mission partners (10,000 more than last year)

schools across England and Wales (80 more than for Christmas 2013)

That’s 95,000 children who were introduced to the good news of Jesus this Christmas (60,000 more than last year!)

55,000 disadvantaged children

42,480 copies of the Easter

310 Christmas presentations in

received a Christmas Bible Comic in their family’s food box

Bible Comic were given to children at Easter presentations in schools

It’s Your Move is a Scripture Union resource that helps children take that scary step to secondary school. Assemblies and presentations take place in many schools up and down the country for children in their final term of primary school, and children are given a copy of It’s Your Move to take home with them.

169,756 copies of It’s Your Move were distributed this year!

Thank you

Tim Hastie-Smith National Director, Scripture Union

financial review

The BIG picture

Over 200,000

children and young people heard about Jesus through face-to-face SU ministry this year. Thank you for your help in making this possible!

Growing partnerships This year we worked with even more local mission partners to ensure that the good news was shared:

67 SU local mission partners 5 more partnerships than in 2013/14 15 new partnerships in development by

the end of the year

Volunteering Thank you to all our amazing volunteers for their faithful and selfless work!

3,543

known opportunities for volunteer involvement Equivalent to 7,943 working weeks or 169 full-time staff

International Scripture Union is an international mission movement, helping to share the good news of the gospel right across the world…

130

Scripture Union movements working in 120 countries

£463,000 given by and through

SU England and Wales to support other movements

We put the Christian message into children’s hands

Thanks to you, we were able to create and share great resources with children who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to hear and relate to the gospel message.

Christmas and Easter

40,000 children enjoyed

Christmas presentations given by our local mission partners (10,000 more than last year)

schools across England and Wales (80 more than for Christmas 2013)

That’s 95,000 children who were introduced to the good news of Jesus this Christmas (60,000 more than last year!)

55,000 disadvantaged children

42,480 copies of the Easter

310 Christmas presentations in

received a Christmas Bible Comic in their family’s food box

Bible Comic were given to children at Easter presentations in schools

169,756 copies of It’s Your Move were distributed this year!

We meet children where they are, reaching the unreached It’s a sad reality that many children aren’t in churches, but thanks to your support we’ve been able to develop a range of schools and community-based ministries that take the gospel to children where they are.

Sports ministry Our sports ministry really started to take off during 2014/15. Scripture Union’s dedicated Sports Minister, Bob Milton, grew his ministry:

Over 125 children reached every week through physical education classes in three primary schools 50 young people reached every week at three local Multi-Use

Games Areas (MUGAs)

By the end of the year, 2 additional sports ministry projects were also getting underway in other parts of the country

Schools work

8 schools development workers provided training to around 1,000 people to help them improve their schools work 125,000 (estimated) children and young people reached over the academic year via 67 local mission partners 6,000 schools groups now registered on our SchoolsLive website – that’s over 100,000 children who’ve learnt more

about the Bible as a result of this free resource

2083 school children attended a Lifepath event and learnt

more about the Christian faith through the story of a famous historical Christian

Missions

21 missions run with 4,105 estimated guests 721 volunteers helped ensure these great gospel sharing opportunities were possible

We help churches develop healthy children’s work

Thanks to your support, we were able to continue to train and equip children’s and youth workers and produce helpful resources to make their crucial job as easy as possible…

LightLive Over

the last year there were 11,091 active groups on LightLive, that engaged with an estimated 119,000 children who benefited from fun and engaging Bible-based sessions.

Light During the year,

over 170,000 children’s activity magazines were distributed

2,363 copies of the Mega Makers! and Polar Explorers holiday club programmes were ordered to help churches run effective and exciting holiday clubs 9 church and community

Development workers built relationships with over 500 churches across England and Wales. Around 50 church relationships were made this year alone

8,000 copies of the Light Party Pack were distributed to help churches plan simple yet effective Light Parties as a Christian alternative to Halloween

Sports ministry Our sports ministry really started to take off during 2014/15. Scripture Union’s dedicated Sports Minister, Bob Milton, grew his ministry:

Over 125 children reached every week through physical education classes in three primary schools 50 young people reached every week at three local Multi-Use

Games Areas (MUGAs)

By the end of the year, 2 additional sports ministry projects were also getting underway in other parts of the country

Schools work

about the Bible as a result of this free resource

2083 school children attended a Lifepath event and learnt

more about the Christian faith through the story of a famous historical Christian

Missions

21 missions run with 4,105 estimated guests 721 volunteers helped ensure these great gospel sharing opportunities were possible

We help churches develop healthy children’s work

Thanks to your support, we were able to continue to train and equip children’s and youth workers and produce helpful resources to make their crucial job as easy as possible…

LightLive Over

the last year there were 11,091 active groups on LightLive, that engaged with an estimated 119,000 children who benefited from fun and engaging Bible-based sessions.

Light During the year,

over 170,000 children’s activity magazines were distributed

2,363 copies of the Mega Makers! and Polar Explorers holiday club programmes were ordered to help churches run effective and exciting holiday clubs 9 church and community

Development workers built relationships with over 500 churches across England and Wales. Around 50 church relationships were made this year alone

8,000 copies of the Light Party Pack were distributed to help churches plan simple yet effective Light Parties as a Christian alternative to Halloween

Financial review

We help young people to develop faith that lasts a lifetime Unfortunately, many young people give up on their faith as they enter adulthood, but we’re working hard to change that. Thanks to your support, in 2014/15 we were able to provide events, training opportunities, resources and practical help to keep them enthused in their faith…

Holidays

Along with the dedicated support of our volunteers and those who pray regularly for the mission work of Scripture Union, financial support is essential in ensuring we are able to continue to reach out effectively with the good news of Jesus. Here’s an overview of the income and expenditure for the 2014/15 financial year. Thanks to all of you who were able to support us in this way. Publishing sales £1,840,000

Donations and gifts £3,502,000

Income £7,381,000

Publishing Publishing conventional Face-to-face digital ministry £1,531,000 £1,645,000 £2,865,000

Expenditure £7,085,000

Scripture Union holidays are the perfect opportunity for children and young people to get away from home, have a great time and get to know more about the God who loves them.

67 holidays run with 1,924 guests 1,005 volunteers involved

Training leaders of the future

18 young people completed the 10:2 Leadership Development programme, finding out more about their calling 6 young people attended the Training in Action holiday and developed their skills in youth work

25 Sticky Faith training events ran, providing children’s and youth workers with creative ways of keeping young people in church

Other including Holidays and investments: missions Legacies £302,000 £572,000 £1,165,000

Cost of International generating Governance activities funds: £514,000 £56,000 £474,000

For every £1 spent on the costs of fundraising, £9.94 was received from donations and legacies.

£5

££ ££

If you would like to support our mission with a regular gift, to allow us to plan ahead and do more to introduce children to Jesus, turn the page. This is a summary of Scripture Union’s financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2015, extracted from the full Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements which have been audited. A full statement of our financial activities can be found in our Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements, a copy of which can be obtained by contacting Scripture Union on 01908 856135.

Financial review

Holidays

Donations and gifts £3,502,000

Income £7,381,000

Publishing Publishing conventional Face-to-face digital ministry £1,531,000 £1,645,000 £2,865,000

Expenditure £7,085,000

Scripture Union holidays are the perfect opportunity for children and young people to get away from home, have a great time and get to know more about the God who loves them.

67 holidays run with 1,924 guests 1,005 volunteers involved

Training leaders of the future

25 Sticky Faith training events ran, providing children’s and youth workers with creative ways of keeping young people in church

Other including Holidays and investments: missions Legacies £302,000 £572,000 £1,165,000

Cost of International generating Governance activities funds: £514,000 £56,000 £474,000

For every £1 spent on the costs of fundraising, £9.94 was received from donations and legacies.

£5

££ ££

Let’s do more to reach children for Jesus Many generations have benefited from the ministry of Scripture Union. Will you help us to reach more children and young people with the gospel by setting up a regular donation? A regular gift enables SU to plan ahead as we share the good news of Jesus.

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Why I’m leaving a legacy Martin Nunn from Hayes, Kent, first encountered Scripture Union in his teens. Now in his eighties, he reflects on a life inspired and impacted by SU. I was brought up by Christian parents and became a Christian in my late teens. Around this time I was recommended to use SU Bible reading notes to help me read God’s Word every day. This I’ve done for well over 60 years, and my daily spiritual ‘feed’ has sustained and delighted me throughout my life, right up to today. I still use Encounter With God. In 1956, while in my early twenties, a Christian friend named Alan Galpin introduced me to beach missions and I spent three happy summers in Elie and Crail along the Fife Coast: ‘It’s worth experiencing if you’ve never done anything like that!’ he told me. He was right. People used to come, take a boarding house and stay for a month. They were lovely family events – the same families came back year after year, partly for the golf, and partly for the beach mission! I remember making and decorating massive beach pulpits, rushing down with our shovels and spades once the tide had gone out. I’ve kept in touch with some of the lads I befriended there, and some have gone on to become Christian leaders (one, David Arnott, even became Moderator of the Church of Scotland!) Those Scottish missions took place in July and when I was no longer able to return there, following my becoming a teacher in southern England, I transferred my involvement to SU’s Southwold mission for several years. The fellowship and camaraderie on those missions was a real joy to experience, and so was the privilege of introducing youngsters to their Saviour. I’m so thankful and grateful for those summers, working alongside other members of

the team. It really helped my own faith to grow. My career was in education and I led a flourishing Christian Union. I always introduced SU notes and, outside of school, I also helped run youth groups for 30 years in church. I have kept in touch with many of these young people and it is a constant joy to know that seeds sown many years ago continue to bear fruit today. I’m leaving a legacy to Scripture Union because SU has been faithful to its remit to spread the gospel, particularly among young people, and to advance the reading of God’s Word. That’s the important thing for me. To get to know God, you’ve got to get to know his Word – in both senses! – and from personal experience I know that SU is a movement which helps people do exactly that.

Leave a legacy that lasts ‘… we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done’ Psalm 78:4. After making provision for their family and loved ones, many lifelong Scripture Union supporters choose to leave a gift to our work in their Will. To find out more, visit www.scriptureunion.org.uk/legacy 15

Please write your details below Title

First name

Surname

Address Postcode Supporter reference number (if known) Telephone

Mobile

Regular monthly gift I wish to make a regular gift of £ To be taken on 6th

or 20th

Starting on of each subsequent month.

(FOR SCRIPTURE UNION OFFICIAL USE ONLY – This is not part of the instruction to your bank or building society.) 1/15199

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit Please fill in the form and send to: Scripture Union, 207–209 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2EB

To: The Manager

Bank/Building Society

Address Postcode Name(s) of account holder(s):

Bank/Building Society account no Service user number 8 4 0 6 5 1

Sort code reference number for office use only

Signature

Date D D M M Y Y

Prayers – week beginning October 11

Prayers – week beginning October 18

Sunday 11

Thursday 15

Sunday 18

Thursday 22

Our local mission partner in Anglesey, Gobaith Mon, has begun two discipleship courses. Mobilize is a 12-week course for 16- to 24-yearolds that provides a foundation in what it means to follow Jesus. It looks at the basics and deals with a range of practical issues. Pray for genuine growth in those who attend. Accelerate is designed to equip those over 18 for leadership and is running from October to December.

Please pray for the product development team as they look for new ideas for publications in a variety of media, asking that God will inspire and lead them. Pray especially about early thinking around a new approach to reaching 8- to 11-year-olds with the good news of Jesus and for wisdom and direction in this.

Give thanks for the publication of a new booklet for children, Darkness: The Unwelcome Visitor which explains how Jesus has overcome darkness, fear and despair through his death and resurrection. Pod Bhogal, SU’s Mission Publishing Leader, (Product Development) comments, ‘For many churches and children’s ministries, Halloween has become a significant seasonal opportunity for outreach. We want to serve them with engaging and compelling resources … this booklet is a great way for unchurched children to be introduced to Jesus.’

Next week Helen Franklin, Development Worker in Wales, will be working with Bethesda Chapel in Dinas Powys running a holiday club. Pray that this will help the church to reach new children with the love of Jesus and grow the faith of those who already know him, and that it will lead to new initiatives in the church to reach children.

Monday 12 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: Please pray that Joshua might come to know Jesus and be fostered into a Christian home.

Friday 16 Tonight sees the closing concert in the Maidenhead Christian Awareness week. Tomorrow afternoon there will be a meeting for all those interested in knowing more about Jesus and the Christian faith which will involve Christian young people from the schools, Christian staff and local church youth workers. Please pray that many young people who have had some contact during the week and especially at the concert will come in order to discover more.

Tuesday 13 Pray for Geoff Brown as he delivers Enable, a schools work course, in York. This course, produced by Schoolswork.co.uk, enables students to gain a better understanding of the educational context, of what Christian mission looks like in schools and how they can be more effective. It includes a blend of formal training and learning on the job. Induction takes place today with the first teaching day on November 17.

Today and tomorrow our local mission partners and volunteers in the North East and Yorkshire and the North West Regions will be gathering in Leeds for 24 hours together. Pray that it will be a time of encouragement and challenge for them all and that they will go away renewed and reinvigorated for their ministry.

Tuesday 20 In Sweden and Denmark Scripture Union movements are sharing in a project, which is trying to find effective ways to give the Bible to the ‘Digital Thinkers’, a generation of smartphone users who want to read the Bible using this medium. They are making a big investment in this and hope that it will help many other countries. Please pray for creativity and imagination.

Wednesday 14

Saturday 17

Schools are an important part of SU’s ministry in Sri Lanka. Currently the team visit more than twenty-five schools in the Colombo area to lead devotions. They would love to do more. Please pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of the school officials – many schools have a Buddhist background – and that SU will obtain permission to conduct devotions and invite children to SU camps.

The North West Team were a key part of setting up the Hot Pot Training day for children and youth workers in Preston. Today sees the third such event. Each time more and more people have come. Please pray that this will continue and that the team running it, who are drawn from different organisations and denominations, will have a spirit of unity and will be able to enthuse and envision those who attend.

Monday 19

Wednesday 21 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is for Sam (5) and Oliver (3), that through all the wonderful things in the world around them, they may see the reflected glory of a creator God and come to know him for themselves one day.

Friday 23 The Stream Conference which takes place today is organised by several agencies in the South East including Scripture Union. It is for all schools workers in the South East and today’s speaker is Professor Trevor Cooling, Faculty Director of National Institute for Christian Education Research. Please pray that the Stream network will grow and that through it more workers will be encouraged and resourced for their ministry.

Saturday 24 Pray for all the churches who are preparing to use the Light Party packs and Darkness: The Unwelcome Visitor to present a positive alternative to Halloween next Saturday. Pray that children will have a positive experience and will see the hope that Jesus offers in a dark world. 17

Prayers – week beginning October 11

Prayers – week beginning October 18

Sunday 11

Thursday 15

Sunday 18

Thursday 22

Monday 12 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: Please pray that Joshua might come to know Jesus and be fostered into a Christian home.

Wednesday 14

Saturday 17

Monday 19

All-year-round ministry One thing leads to another…The ministry you support multiplies through the year. We caught up with Mim Taylor, Children’s Worker at St Mary Bredin in Canterbury, to find out how Scripture Union has helped her grow allyear-round ministry in her local school. Mim, your ministry in your local school has really exploded over the last few years! Yes, looking back over the last three years it’s amazing how far we’ve come. When I took up my post three years ago, we were mostly only focused on the children in our church. That’s really changed. Where did it all start? Coming into my job, my first connection was when I was asked to start mentoring some Year 2 and Year 6 children who had come from difficult backgrounds, helping them talk about what was going on at home and understanding their behaviour. When I went into schools, I would also take cake in for the teachers to encourage them and start building relationships. That was great, but things really accelerated when we started working with SU.

Prayer Points

So, you’re about to move to secondary school? You’ve probably got loads of thoughts going round and round in your head! Stuff like: Will anyone tell How can I stop myself me where the from getting lost? toilets are?! Will anyone What will the like me? lessons (and the teachers!) be like?

How am I going to get there?

Week beginning October 25

If so, you’re holding the right book! It’s Your Move is your fun and friendly guide to moving to secondary

school. Inside these pages, you’ll discover lots of advice, together with stories of real people who have already made the move! As well as all that, there are poems and stories, puzzles and jokes, plus space to make this book your very own. So, what are you waiting for? Don’t worry, you’re not on So grab your pens your own! and PE kit, cos it’s your move!

YOUR GUIDE TO MOVIN G TO SECONDARY SCHOO L

www.scriptureunion.org. uk ISBN 978 1 84427 887 9

9 781844 27887 9

Tell us about that. I knew (SU regional worker) Sarah Smart from volunteering with SU at Big Church Day Out. She knew about my new role and asked whether I’d be interested in doing ‘Why Christmas?’ in our school with the Year 6s. She invited me along to see her running it in Gravesend and I was really impressed by the way it engaged the kids with the story of Jesus while fitting perfectly with the needs of the National Curriculum. At the same time, our Vicar became a governor at our local school and so, when I talked to the head teacher about running ‘Why Christmas?’ in our school, he was warm to the idea. And the teacher I was linked up to in the school is a Christian and understands what we are trying to do. So it was like God opened the doors for us.

Seasonal Presentations ‘Why Christmas?’ and ‘Why Easter?’ (nationally known as ‘Christmas Unwrapped’ and ‘Easter Cracked’) are two of the packages offered by our teams and local mission partners to schools. Delivered in partnership with local churches, they help to unpack the real meaning behind these festivals. Contact your regional SU team to find out what’s on offer near you: www.scriptureunion.org.uk/yourcommunity 18

How to help children on their move to secondary school – It’s your Move

It’s easy to forget how big a jump it is between primary and secondary school. Packed full of wise advice, It’s Your Move makes the transition a little easier – and when given in conjunction with a lesson facilitated by one of our local mission partners, it can make all the difference. Find out more at scriptureunion.org.uk/itsyourmove

Sunday 25

Thank God for the many open doors into English and Welsh schools through the curriculum, acts of worship and natural relationships with teachers. Monday 26

Please pray that there will continue to be an openness to partnerships with local churches in schools throughout England and Wales. Tuesday 27

Please lift to God today any teachers you know. Pray that he will strengthen and sustain them in their crucial work. Wednesday 28

Pray today for Christian Union groups in schools, especially those just getting off the ground or struggling to keep going. Ask God to send them encouragement today. Thursday 29

Thank God for Christians who serve on school governing boards. Pray that their influence would be felt in decisions large and small in our places of education. What happened next? It grew organically really! We tried out ‘Why Easter?’ the following Easter, and that was great, building on the relationships we’d established at Christmas. Then we added SU’s It’s Your Move! to help Year 6s make the difficult transition up to secondary school. This year we added It’s Your Church! which was good because we aimed that at the Year 5s, who were the only year group we’d not done anything with yet! So we’re doing lots of different things, all year round.

Friday 30

Pray for churches like St Mary Bredin who are seeking to reach more families in their local community through their work in schools. Saturday 31

On Halloween, please pray for the light of Christ to shine into any dark places in schools in our nation. 19

Prayer Points

How am I going to get there?

Week beginning October 25

If so, you’re holding the right book! It’s Your Move is your fun and friendly guide to moving to secondary

YOUR GUIDE TO MOVIN G TO SECONDARY SCHOO L

www.scriptureunion.org. uk ISBN 978 1 84427 887 9

9 781844 27887 9

How to help children on their move to secondary school – It’s your Move

Sunday 25

Thank God for the many open doors into English and Welsh schools through the curriculum, acts of worship and natural relationships with teachers. Monday 26

Please pray that there will continue to be an openness to partnerships with local churches in schools throughout England and Wales. Tuesday 27

Please lift to God today any teachers you know. Pray that he will strengthen and sustain them in their crucial work. Wednesday 28

Pray today for Christian Union groups in schools, especially those just getting off the ground or struggling to keep going. Ask God to send them encouragement today. Thursday 29

Friday 30

Pray for churches like St Mary Bredin who are seeking to reach more families in their local community through their work in schools. Saturday 31

On Halloween, please pray for the light of Christ to shine into any dark places in schools in our nation. 19

It’s Your Church

From: Name the TV station (school) you are making this programme for

A programme based on: Add the name of the church here

IYC AW.indd 1

12/08/2014 16:40

Support from Sarah is still so valuable – she comes over sometimes and helps me lead things, and it’s good to be in touch with her by email. Why do you think schools work is so important? Often teachers don’t feel very confident to teach RE, so we have a real opportunity to teach about our faith and to do it well. That’s the first thing. But just as important, I feel, is that we support and care for the teachers in our local communities themselves. They really appreciate a little appreciation! They’re doing a hard and important job and we need to pray for them and show them we love them.

Polar Explorers HoL

e Br id aY cLu - to 5 for

Join Sir Random Finds and Bare Feet on an expedition into the polar wilderness, and follow in the footsteps of some amazing New Testament characters. Learn that no one is too anything to be part of God’s big expedition – that is, to be a friend of Jesus and go out and help other people be friends of Jesus too.

PoLar ExPLorers is suitable for children with little or no experience of church, as well as those who are already part of a church community. A flexible programme, it provides everything you need to run a holiday club: craft, games, Bible discovery, small-group discussion, creative prayer and more!

PoLar ExPLorers DVD

Contains five storytelling episodes, one for each of the five Bible stories from PoLar ExPLorers. Presented by Gemma Hunt from CBeebies. Includes additional resources and a team training feature.

A Scripture U

n iday club pro ion ho l gr am Great new p ins

ired by ex

ide a pe s ri

Our holiday club material for 2015 takes kids on a journey through the New Testament to discover how they can be part of ‘God’s big expedition’ – to be a friend of Jesus and go out and help other people be friends of Jesus, too.

Imagine two hours of organised mayhem – wacky presenters, messy games, loud music and hilarious characters. And then imagine it all happening in a local church, with dozens of excited children loving every minute. No, we’re not talking about Saturday morning TV… we’re talking about X:site, SU’s template for modern, effective mission to 7 to 11s in the local church. Right across the country, thanks to the past generosity of supporters like you, thousands of children are getting to hear about Jesus for the first time – and they love it so much, they can’t wait to bring their friends.

Getting an X:site up and running is a great way to reach kids with the good news. And it’s now easier than ever, thanks to a new online resource your support has made possible.

Add your name here

TraveL LoG (5 to 8s) and ExPeDITIon LoG (8 to 11s)

Two specially designed activity books including all the Bible text you’ll need for PoLar ExPLorers together with puzzles, activities and opportunities to respond to the stories. Use in the club and as a souvenir to take home.

Join the community

Go to www.scriptureunion.org .uk/holidayclubs to find downloads and extra material, logos and artwork. Join the discussions on the bulletin boards and get ideas of how to reach even more children!

eye level

is the Scripture Union initiative that challenges churches to catch up with children and young people who have not yet caught sight of Jesus and responded to him, meeting him on their level. networks.

Use with the PoLar ExPLorers DVD presented by CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt

eye level provides resources, training and

www.scriptureunion.org.uk

ISBN 978 184427 840 4

PE RB COVER AW.indd 1

A brilliant resource DVD, featuring CBeebies’ Gemma Hunt and the loveable husky Blizz, complements the resource book and take-home logbooks for kids. View the full range at www.scriptureunion.org.uk/shop

In ph cl ot

es iable ud cop and o ces ur xtras e e lin

£12.99

9 781844 278404

fre so e

What do you find most helpful about the various SU materials you use? The main thing I’m looking at is the biblical foundation. It is always really solid Bible teaching and I like the way it’s open about Jesus. I don’t have time to write my own material from scratch, particularly for our holiday club, so it’s good to have so many creative ideas to draw from, as well as the

church

Presenter:

So the church has been able to bring kids from non-church families into its life through work in the school? Yes! It’s a slow process – you don’t suddenly get ten families turning up at church through it – but it is happening. One boy who came the first year was invited by a friend from a family belonging to St Mary Bredin. He was quiet, but he really enjoyed the week. The next year he was back, with his younger sister. And this year their mum was one of the first to sign them up as soon as registration opened because they love it and she loves them coming.

flexibility for us to adapt it and make it our own.

It’s your

Television programme:

s 11 o u r -y aL e a c e m aT e r i r-ol ds

How have you been able to build on that, out of school hours? The main way has been through our summer holiday club. The school allowed us to promote it in school which has meant that our numbers have grown every year from 30 in the first year to 65 this year. We ran a Light Party last year, too, and used the SU Light Party Pack which was brilliant. But I would say that the biggest impact has been on the kids who were already part of our church. It has really helped them to understand and take ownership of their own faith, and to share it with their friends.

X:site–d for Jesus

Television presenter’s notebook

Launched in 2014, It’s Your Church helps churches connect with their local schools by inviting children to visit their building and get to know their community. Interactive and enquiry-based, it’s ideal for 8- to 11-year-olds who are visiting a church as part of their RE syllabus. Watch a video explaining It’s Your Church at www.scriptureunion.org.uk/itsyourchurch

26/06/2014 11:50

That’s exactly what the team at Inglewhite Congregational Church near Preston discovered when they set up one of our newest X:sites back in 2014. Since then it’s been attracting more than 40 kids every two months. ‘It is a lot of fun for everyone involved,’ says Clare Irwin, team leader of Inglewhite X:site. ‘The team has a ball. The junior leaders love it.

Most importantly the children love it.’ The church first identified X:site as a great way to attract and keep 7 to 11s who are not yet ready for youth clubs, but are feeling a little too old for kids’ work. ‘It’s such an important age to engage children,’ says Clare. ‘They are capable of really quite sophisticated thinking about God and spirituality at that age but they still want to be able to have fun and be children.’ Getting X:site up and running was a challenge but made easier by good quality, ready-to-use resources from Scripture Union, says Clare: ’We couldn’t do it without the material – it’s essential for us. What hasn’t been a challenge has been getting kids to come back – and to bring their friends. Our X:site is very effective as an outreach. Children themselves are introducing us to children and families we wouldn’t have reached otherwise. And that’s what it’s all about: we want the children to come to Jesus.’

Get X:sited Running an X:site is easier than you might think. With our free online X:site Resource Book available from www.scriptureunion.org.uk/xsite, you can discover how to set up and run an X:site event of your own and benefit from three years’ worth of teaching material and accompanying resources. 21

It’s Your Church

From: Name the TV station (school) you are making this programme for

A programme based on: Add the name of the church here

IYC AW.indd 1

12/08/2014 16:40

Polar Explorers HoL

e Br id aY cLu - to 5 for

PoLar ExPLorers DVD

Contains five storytelling episodes, one for each of the five Bible stories from PoLar ExPLorers. Presented by Gemma Hunt from CBeebies. Includes additional resources and a team training feature.

A Scripture U

n iday club pro ion ho l gr am Great new p ins

ired by ex

ide a pe s ri

Getting an X:site up and running is a great way to reach kids with the good news. And it’s now easier than ever, thanks to a new online resource your support has made possible.

Add your name here

TraveL LoG (5 to 8s) and ExPeDITIon LoG (8 to 11s)

Join the community

Go to www.scriptureunion.org .uk/holidayclubs to find downloads and extra material, logos and artwork. Join the discussions on the bulletin boards and get ideas of how to reach even more children!

eye level

Use with the PoLar ExPLorers DVD presented by CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt

eye level provides resources, training and

www.scriptureunion.org.uk

ISBN 978 184427 840 4

PE RB COVER AW.indd 1

In ph cl ot

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£12.99

9 781844 278404

fre so e

church

Presenter:

flexibility for us to adapt it and make it our own.

It’s your

Television programme:

s 11 o u r -y aL e a c e m aT e r i r-ol ds

X:site–d for Jesus

Television presenter’s notebook

26/06/2014 11:50

Prayers – week beginning November 1 Sunday 1 This week is observed as a Global Week of Prayer by the whole international Scripture Union family. It gives an opportunity to thank God for all he is doing around the world through the ministry of Scripture Union and to pray for those national movements and staff who deliver it. More information can be found on the Scripture Union International website www.su-international.org.

Monday 2 The routine but essential task of uploading material onto LightLive, SchoolsLive and WordLive web pages falls to the team of publishing support assistants. Pray for Marion Zebedee as she manages the team and seeks to enable them to find time for more creative tasks. Pray that the projected development of our digital platform will facilitate this.

Thursday 5 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that Ben would have more opportunities to learn about the good news of Jesus in company with other young people.

Friday 6 Over this weekend representatives from the North East and Yorkshire Region will be attending a training conference in Novosibirsk for key Scripture Union volunteers in Siberia. Pray that this will be a real encouragement to all and that it will enable a growing partnership between the region and Siberia.

Tuesday 3 Thank God for the publication of a new Christmas comic based on the Guardians of Ancora Bible engagement game. It has strong links with the game and will encourage children who have not encountered it to enter the world of Ancora. Pray that it will bring the truth of Christmas to those who have not heard it and will encourage more children to engage with the Bible.

Saturday 7 As we increasingly move into digital communication, apps for smartphones and tablets become more important as ways of helping people to engage with the Bible and understand SU’s ministry. Ask God to give the publishing team wisdom in navigating the complexities of app development, thinking especially of Guardians of Ancora, SU Bookshelf, Daily Bread, Encounter with God and WordLive.

Wednesday 4 Following the success of last year’s campaign, we will be distributing the new Christmas Bible Comic through regional teams, local mission partners and local foodbanks. Pray for the practical arrangements, that the copies arrive at distribution points safely and that they get into the right hands. Pray that those who receive them will read them and be encouraged to think about the love of God in Jesus. 22

Prayers – week beginning November 8 Sunday 8

Thursday 12

The Digital Transformation Project is an important one for Scripture Union. Please pray for the project team and the digital experts working alongside them as they shape the way we operate in the digital space to best serve our varied ministries. Pray for guidance and wisdom as they make important decisions to ensure that SU’s digital presence is not only appealing but a practical support to many.

EPIC is a termly inter-church children’s event for 7- to 11-year-olds in East Devon. It has a team of over thirty volunteers from eleven local churches. With a live band, messy games, pizza, cake, small group time and a short interactive talk, this is a great opportunity for children to invite their friends who don’t come to church. Please pray for more volunteers to create the team for the events, for friendships to be forged, faith to flourish and many children to have an encounter with Jesus.

Monday 9 Distribution of Bible reading guides in Sierra Leone has opened doors to ministry in new areas. One new Bible study group, which started with 5 members, has grown to 26. A student joined one of the groups after losing all but one of her family in the Ebola epidemic. She has discovered a Heavenly Father who really cares for and loves her. Please pray that she and others like her will fully trust the Lord and experience his comfort.

Tuesday 10

Friday 13

Over the next two days Claire and Jennifer of Faith in Schools, our local mission partner in Newham, will be running assemblies training, to equip local Christians to lead Christian-based assemblies in a multi-cultural setting. Pray for a good response and that those trained will be able to lead assemblies with wisdom and sensitivity.

The Youth Work Conference takes place this weekend; pray for SU speakers including Tim Haste Smith, Richard Shaw, Sam Fowler and Hannah Legge (who will be speaking on chaplaincy). Pray too that this conference will again inspire and inform many in youth work so that they will be able to add a new dimension to youth work in their churches.

Wednesday 11 Tim Hastie-Smith and Richard Witham will be meeting with the International Sports Coalition in the USA for the next few days. Sport forms a major part of many people’s lives and is a valuable way of meeting others to share the love of Christ. Pray that these meetings will provide valuable new insights as Scripture Union around the world develops sports ministries.

Saturday 14 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is for Rhys, the 8-year-old who lives next door. For a while he came with me to church, enjoyed the fellowship and activities and gained an awareness of Jesus. I pray that he will come to know Jesus in his heart. 23

Thursday 5 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that Ben would have more opportunities to learn about the good news of Jesus in company with other young people.

Prayers – week beginning November 8 Sunday 8

Thursday 12

Tuesday 10

Friday 13

Prayers – week beginning November 15

Prayers – week beginning November 22

Sunday 15

Thursday 19

Sunday 22

Wednesday 25

Pray that WordLive, our online daily Bible reading guide, will continue to help people connect with God, and also with other Christians online. Give thanks for the online community that has grown up in the comments section with people sharing insights and prayer requests and supporting one another.

Today the South East Regional Team will be meeting to review strategy and plan for the future. Please pray that, as they take time out of their busy schedules to spend time with one another and to listen to God, they will be able to see clearly the needs and priorities within a large and diverse region, understand what God is calling them to and know his power equipping them.

Steve Hutchinson, Development Worker in the Midland Region, is taking a family service at Forest Gate Church in Mitcheldean today. Pray for him, that the good news of Jesus may come across clearly and that the congregation may be drawn closer to God. Pray for all members of the SU family who visit churches to take one-off services, asking that God will guide their thoughts and that they may be used by him.

The Board which meets today consists of Trustees and the Leadership Team and takes a broad overview of mission priorities, progress and major projects. Earlier, a Publishing Review meeting, involving some members of the Leadership Team and several trustees, will be conducting an in-depth review of publishing plans, priorities, progress and finances. Pray that God’s wisdom will be evident in both meetings.

Monday 16 In Argentina Bible engagement is gaining momentum following the Essential 100 Challenge initiative. Demand for Encounter with God continues to grow and new requests for workshops are coming in. SU is planning a workshop for new writers involving interactive sessions to be held in an online virtual classroom. Join them in prayer that God will continue to bless the Bible ministry and the upcoming workshop.

Tuesday 17 Today is Pray Day for Schools when, across the country and in many other parts of the world, schools become a focus for prayer. Take time today to pray for all in the SU family around the world involved in schools work in any way. Pray too for schools in your community and children and young people you know who are at school. For more information, go to www.prayforschools.org.

Friday 20 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that Tom and Catherine will come to know Jesus and that the power of his love will free them from the demons of depression and anxiety.

Saturday 21 X:site events take place today in Gloucester and Keyworth. Please continue to pray that children will come and will bring their friends so that they can hear about the love of Jesus in an open and fun environment. Pray for team that they will build good relationships with the children and will have profitable conversations.

Monday 23 It is 20 years since Christmas Unwrapped was first put on in Slough; it takes place again this week. It has led to similar events in many other venues. Give thanks for all that has been achieved over the years and pray for all those across the country who will be inviting schools to come to churches and discover something of the true meaning of Christmas.

Supporter prayer: Lord, may Reece come to know you as his Lord and Saviour. May finding you be a needed life-changing experience for him. Amen.

Friday 27 Faith in Schools, our local mission partner in Newham, will be running volunteer training today to help local Christians who want to come into schools and talk about what it means to be a Christian in the twenty-first century. Pray that there will be a sense of enthusiasm and that God will help them to see how faith can be shared wisely and sensitively.

Saturday 28

Wednesday 18 Please pray for Oasis Youth Development Trust, a relatively new SU local mission partner working in St Helens and Wigan. Pray for worker Sandra Morris and volunteers as they work towards making new links with schools and churches to create opportunities to reach young people with the truth that God loves them. Please pray for guidance and protection for all involved and for the provision of financial resources to develop and sustain their work.

Thursday 26 – Your prayers

Tuesday 24 Scripture Union in the Republic of Ireland has recently appointed Emma Fawcett as Ministry Leader for Camps and Volunteer Management. Please pray that God will use her in recruiting and developing the volunteers who are central to this ministry. Pray, too, that SU Ireland will be able to recruit five Interns (gap year team) for the next year to assist in running retreats and camps.

Kent Ecumenical Youth and Children’s Officers Group, of which SU is a partner, organise today’s Toolbox, a conference for all volunteer youth and children’s workers in Kent and beyond. The theme is ‘What are we waiting for?’ and the guest speaker is Carolyn Edwards, Lecturer in Evangelism, Mission and Ministry at Cliff College and an SU mission leader. Pray that many will come and be refreshed, inspired and equipped in their ministry. 25

Prayers – week beginning November 15

Prayers – week beginning November 22

Sunday 15

Thursday 19

Sunday 22

Wednesday 25

Friday 20 – Your prayers Supporter prayer: My prayer is that Tom and Catherine will come to know Jesus and that the power of his love will free them from the demons of depression and anxiety.

Supporter prayer: Lord, may Reece come to know you as his Lord and Saviour. May finding you be a needed life-changing experience for him. Amen.

Saturday 28

Thursday 26 – Your prayers

Children wide open to God says survey, as Guardians of Ancora launches that children are so open to God, and that they pray. That’s not new information for us – we know that! So it was great to show that we at SU are being positive and proactive about reaching children at a stage when they are so wide open, and we have developed something that gives them space and time to explore and experience.’

Children are open to spirituality and have a natural inclination for prayer, whether or not their parents have an active faith, says a new piece of research that we commissioned as part of our Guardians of Ancora project. The survey of children aged 8 to 12 years old and their parents backs up what we at SU have always known – that children have enquiring minds, big imaginations and an innate desire to reach out to God, and, given the right stimulus, will do so naturally. That’s what’s so exciting about Guardians of Ancora, our groundbreaking Bible discovery app launched this July. Finally, after years of careful development, the full app was available for children to download and begin to explore for themselves.

New global role for Alan

Maggie Barfield, lead developer of Guardians of Ancora, spoke to members of the British media about the findings of the survey, and explained how the app will help to nurture embryonic faith among children: ‘What was surprising to me was how newsworthy it was

What is Guardians of Ancora? And how can I get it? Much more than a computer game, Guardians of Ancora puts children in the middle of a whole virtual world, with the freedom to explore at their own speed, and complete challenges related to real Bible stories. Children are ‘guardians’ of the city of Ancora, tasked with finding lost stories and meeting a host of fascinating characters along the way. It’s immersive, it’s beautiful to look at, and it’s massive fun. But most of all, it’s simply the best way of bringing the Bible to life for children! But you don’t have to take our word for it – download Guardians of Ancora now, completely free, via the Apple Appstore, Google Play or on Amazon for Kindle Fire Devices.

Research is playing a key part in the development of Ancora, and will continue to do so in the months and years to come. ‘Ancora is an example of what in technical games terminology is called iterative technology,’ says Maggie. ‘The app was built through extensive testing by children and will continue to be tweaked and changed as we discover how children are using it.’ Data gathered from children’s use of the game will also feed into the largest ever longitudinal study of the faith development of 8- to 11-year-olds, in turn helping us to create more effective tools for Bible engagement with this age group.

We’re excited to announce that, from September, Alan Charter (SU’s Ministry Development Director) is being seconded from SU England and Wales to help lead the next phase of the development of the Global Children’s Forum. Alan, a key member of our leadership team for many years, has been involved in GCF since its beginnings in 2008. He has a passion that the organisation becomes a hub for greater collaboration between those working to share the gospel with children, and a catalyst for new projects and resources that will reach and disciple more of the world’s 2 billion children. ‘It’s really exciting for both Alan and SU,’ says Managing Director David Thorpe. ‘This role will use Alan’s concern for children and families, his breadth of experience and his strengths in networking and relationship-building to pursue the mission of GCF that is so strongly aligned to SU’s aims and priorities.’ Please pray for Alan, as well as his wife Claire and their family, as he takes up his new responsibilities. Find out more about the Global Children’s Forum at aimlower.com

We’re really excited by the potential this game has to reach millions of children and we hope to continue to improve the experience and add more biblical content as time goes on. 26

New global role for Alan

We’re really excited by the potential this game has to reach millions of children and we hope to continue to improve the experience and add more biblical content as time goes on. 26

darkness the unwelcome visitor The Dark is Scary. The Light is Stronger! introducing This evangelistic booklet is ideal for is perfect for: and , een children to Jesus during Hallow es giving away at alternative Halloween events and Light Parti giving to children who are Halloween trick or treating using as an evangelistic tool in your service

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