The Start of something new

On Friday the 10th of June St Luke’s Church in Endon opened their doors to the local Young People by inviting them to a BBQ and to register for their new Youth Club. This was the culmination of months of work with NSYFC working with St Luke’s team of volunteers to put everything in place to run the Club. There are now over 15 young people coming to the club enjoying the activities and hearing the Good News of Jesus.

Please pray for the team as they continue to work with St Luke’s to reach their local Young People.

 

New Church Partnership
Longton Fellowship of Christian Churches

Hi, my name is Kate Marshall and I run The FLY Project A new initiative, supported by the Longton Fellowship of Christian Churches, to establish and develop Youth Ministry in and around Longton.

Although only three months into the project we have already established good relationships with the local schools, where we deliver regular assemblies, lessons and Christian clubs.

Currently some of the Year 7's at Edensor are putting together a Street Theatre production, “United Through Creation”. A re-telling of the Creation story through drama, dance, and music. For the past few weeks all the young people have been busy devising scripts and making props. The production will be performed in the shopping precinct in Longton town centre on Wednesday 20th July at 1.30pm.

Looking to the future, in the autumn we hope to establish a regular youth club in Longton Hall and also have plans for a holiday club in the October half-term.

So why is the project called FLY? We wanted a name that would be instantly recognisable and would be user friendly. Also I was fed up with telling people that LFCC had nothing whatsoever to do with cricket!! Fly is an acronym for – Fellowship of Longton Youth and whilst we are a Christian organisation we want to embrace the cultural diversity in the area and establish understanding and unity between the young people through fellowship.

There are many references to flight in the Bible - The dove representing the Holy Spirit. Or wings as protection; “ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you can hide. His truth will be your protection.” Ps.91:4

Fly is also a 'street' word – to be 'fly' is to be 'hip', 'cool', 'out there'. Better yet, in the “Urban Dictionary” fly is a descriptive term defined as: “Something so completely awesome, that it is; in truth. Unexplainable, yet perfect.”

When I read that, well that was a real God moment! FLY had to be our name, because that definition sums up what we, as Christians believe and through the ministry of this project we aim to teach that truth so that the young people of Longton can spread their wings and Fly with the Lord.

 

Growing Leaders

You will be encouraged to know that all 13 Young People completed the 9 month course, “Growing Young Leaders”. and we are now looking at how we can best support and serve them as they put what they have learnt into practise in their own lives and churches.

We celebrated their achievement by spending the day at Alton Towers and then having a BBQ and presentation event at the Bishop of Stafford’s house. We would like to thank Bishop Geoff and his wife for his support and their hospitality.

Please pray for the next intake of Young Leaders who will start the course in September.

A word from the Bishop;

‘I was really delighted to be able to present the certificates to the first group of Young Leaders as they completed their training.  It has been really encouraging for me in my first year as a bishop to know that there are such talented and enthusiastic young Christians in this Diocese!  The atmosphere when  my wife Ann and I have been able to join them at Dovedale has been great and we have come away energised by the experience.  Being a Christian should mean experiencing the joy that these young people have found in their ministry! All credit to those who have been guiding and shaping them.

As a Diocese we are very committed to encouraging young Christians and enabling them to grow in both faith and confidence in leadership roles.  To this end Bishop Jonathan and the three Area Bishops are looking forward to the special ‘Regeneration’ Evening that will be held  on March 4th.  Following a similar occasion held in Sheffield in the Spring, we will be there simply to listen to young people from our Diocese and to hear what it is like to be a young Christian in our churches today.  This will form part of shaping our Diocesan Youth Policy and I hope that those who have completed the Young Leaders Course will want to be involved in helping us set up this important evening and taking forward whatever comes from it!’
Every blessing,
+Geoff