Update School days Every week the CYFC team spend at least 26 hours in schools just for our regular sessions. In addition to this, we will often spend more time in the schools for tutor time, one to one student support sessions, lessons and anything else that can enable us to the support the students and staff. The year so far at Pittville has been great fun. Lunch time detached has seen relationships grow between the young people and the CYFC team. We have also been joined by Luke Goodway (Assistant Pastor of Elim Cheltenham). Luke has got stuck in straight away playing football with the lads and ladies, getting to know them and being involved in Rock Solid after school on Tuesdays. We have had many good conversations with young people during detached. We have been dispelling many myths about Christians, including someone saying we wouldn’t interact with muslims. The young people that come to Rock Solid continue to ask questions about life issues and God. So far this year we have helped many young people work through issues of self harm, bullying as well as questions of identity and where God fits into our lives. Our work at Bournside is very different as we are just involved in the Christian Union. When we first got involved at the CU there were around four young people that were committed to coming week in, week out. We've been blessed to see that number rise to fourteen, now I'd love to say its all down to us but it really has been down to God and the young people that have stepped out and invited their friends. At Christmas the whole of the CU ran a Christmas assembly for the year 7s. They stood up and publicly shared in front of their peers the meaning of Christmas, using adverts as a medium to covey this message. The funniest thing we saw this year is a young person who is not a Christian but comes to the CU telling her Christian friend to come to CU because it’s fun! It reminded us that God uses whoever and that we're very privileged to do the work we do in schools! Our work in all the schools continues to expand as we have more and more opportunities to work with young people. We are often asked if we are busy, the answer is never no; the opportunities far outstrip the resources. Saying that, we love being busy! May 2013 Congratulations to Flik and Tom who got married on 7th April. It was a great day and a lovely celebration of their marriage. We pray that Mr and Mrs Foster will have many happy years together. Please pray for Flik and Tom as they start out on this adventure. We look forward to all the exciting things that God has planned for them as a couple. Congratulations Flik with the team on her wedding day.
Transcript
Update
School days
Every week the CYFC team spend at least 26
hours in schools just for our regular sessions. In
addition to this, we will often spend more time in
the schools for tutor time, one to one student
support sessions, lessons and anything else that
can enable us to the support the students and staff.
The year so far at Pittville has been great fun.
Lunch time detached has seen relationships grow
between the young people and the CYFC team.
We have also been joined by Luke Goodway
(Assistant Pastor of Elim Cheltenham). Luke has
got stuck in straight away playing football with the
lads and ladies, getting to know them and being
involved in Rock Solid after school on Tuesdays.
We have had many good conversations with young
people during detached. We have been dispelling
many myths about Christians, including someone
saying we wouldn’t interact with muslims. The
young people that come to Rock Solid continue to
ask questions about life issues and God. So far
this year we have helped many young people work
through issues of self harm, bullying as well as
questions of identity and where God fits into our
lives.
Our work at Bournside is very different as we are
just involved in the Christian Union. When we first
got involved at the CU there were around four
young people that were committed to coming week
in, week out. We've been blessed to see that
number rise to fourteen, now I'd love to say its all
down to us but it really has been down to God and
the young people that have stepped out and invited
their friends. At Christmas the whole of the CU ran
a Christmas assembly for the year 7s. They stood
up and publicly shared in front of their peers the
meaning of Christmas, using adverts as a medium
to covey this message. The funniest thing we saw
this year is a young person who is not a Christian
but comes to the CU telling her Christian friend to
come to CU because it’s fun! It reminded us that
God uses whoever and that we're very privileged to
do the work we do in schools!
Our work in all the schools continues to expand as
we have more and more opportunities to work with
young people. We are often asked if we are busy,
the answer is never no; the opportunities far
outstrip the resources. Saying that, we love being
busy!
May 2013
Congratulations to Flik and Tom
who got married on 7th April. It
was a great day and a lovely
celebration of their marriage. We
pray that Mr and Mrs Foster will
have many happy years together.
Please pray for Flik and Tom as
they start out on this adventure.
We look forward to all the exciting
things that God has planned for
them as a couple.
Congratulations
Flik with the team on her wedding day.
Two new team members
The team has recently been joined
by Lauren who is on a six week
placement with us from Redcliffe
College. She is registered blind
and is accompanied by Goldie, her
Guide Dog. Lauren is sharing her
faith with the young people we
work with and challenging them
about disability and overcoming
circumstances with God. Here she
tells us a little about herself.
At the age of 13 I lost my sight to a
rare eye condition called LHON. I
struggled to come to terms with
this and it was made yet more
difficult due to the fact that I had to
move to a boarding school in
Worcester. I still came home
every weekend and was able to
continue with my dancing and
going to a youth group at my local
church. At this point I did not
attend the church for the faith
aspect, I just wanted to see my
friends and have an opportunity to
be a normal teenager.
At my boarding school we had a
religious service every week. At
first I used to dread these services
as I felt that I had been dealt a
rough hand by God and that he
could not be a caring person. As
the weeks progressed I met a
young girl at my school who was
suffering with a brain tumour,
which she died of a year ago. Her
relationship and faith in and with
God encouraged me greatly. She
was a shining light to me and
challenged my denial of God.
When I was 15 I began to think
that there was a God and decided
to attend my local church’s
services. The youth workers at my
church began to support me and
show me the love of God. They
listened to every problem that I
faced and made time for me when
I needed this. They even took my
phone calls from boarding school
at ten o’clock at night when I was
homesick and unable to
comprehend why I was blind.
They believed in me and when the
world tried to tell me I couldn't do
something they were always there
cheering me on to carry on and not
give up. My parents also
supported me through this time
and even though they are not
Christians devotedly took me to
church every week and picked me
up. My belief in God developed
and grew stronger. I soon realised
that God was bigger than all of the
problems that I was facing and he
was the one person that I could
always trust in, my biggest
supporter.
At the age of sixteen I developed
further and further in my
relationship with God, I decided
that I wanted to get baptised on
the 28th March 2010. It has been
a decision that I have never
regretted; I know that I am loved
and when the world says that I am
not normal I don’t care. God
doesn't care whether I am disabled
or able bodied and this is all that
matters.
I now attend a theological college
in Gloucester; I am passionate
about working with young people
who face issues in either a youth
work or teaching position. I have
carried out youth work for my
church supporting the Sunday
School teaching for the 10-13 year
olds and also working in the
crèche. I am a devoted member of
a Christian summer camp group
and work there every year in the
summer. I also help with Excite a
scripture union group that takes
place monthly at my church and
used to work in a supporting role at
my school with autistic children.
Life is never quiet in the CYFC
office. So far this year Flik has got
married, we’ve been joined by
Lauren and Goldie who are on
placement from Redcliffe College
and we have brought in two new
trustees. At the same time Jon
and Trev are nearing the end of
their youth work degrees. They
have finished all their lectures and
are now working on submitting
their final pieces of coursework.
Following the completion of his
course we are reviewing how we
will employ Jon as we move
forward which we will be able to
tell you about later in the term.
Trevor will be looking for work and
we know he will be a real asset to
whoever he ends up working for.
In the midst of all the busyness it
is essential that we take time out
to seek God. Our Monday
morning prayer meetings at 9am
are one of the most important
parts of our week. You are more
than welcome to join us for coffee
and prayer as we pray for the
young people we work with and all
aspects of our work.
It is great to have Lauren with us
this term and during her placement
we will be teaching young people
how to play Blind Football. So far
the team have had a few practices
with comical results. During her
placement Lauren will be sharing
with young people about her
blindness and challenging their
perceptions. She will also be
explaining how her faith sustains
her in the midst of difficulty, a
message so many young people
we work with need to hear.
Paul’s thoughts
Lauren and Goldie
Pates CU
Praise
For our new trustees.
For the successful Hog Roast
quiz night.
For the time that Lauren will be
spending with us.
For the many conversations we
have with young people about
faith.
For the impact we have been
able to make in the lives of
young people so far this year.
Prayer
For young people as they go
through the challenges of life.
That we may be used to show
God cares for the young people
we work with.
That Lauren will make a real
impact in the six weeks she is
with us.
For Flik and Tom as they settle
in to married life.
For our plans for the coming
academic year.
For a new boys group starting at
All Saints Academy next term.
That we can assemble the
correct team for the coming
year.
For Jon and Trev as they
prepare the final elements of
work for their degrees.
For the clubs at all of our
schools that young people will
continue to be open to exploring
faith.
For Love Cheltenham to make a
positive impact in the town.
This term at Pates we have been
working through a resource
produced by YFC and Open Doors
looking at the persecuted church
and themes such as sacrifice,
prayer and evangelism.
The group that we have at the
school has been growing in
numbers this term with a number
of younger students joining us.
Many of these new students have
come along as a result of one
student inviting her friends. She
has developed a real commitment
and passion for seeing the group
grow. She has taken the
opportunity to ask people to come
along at every opportunity, on the
bus, during class or over lunch. A
number of the young people are
also looking to join Underground.
One of the main things that we
have been trying to do is
encourage the young people to get
stuck into reading their Bibles
regularly away from the CU. We
have been challenging them each
week to think ahead to the next
session and come prepared with a
passage of Scripture that they
have read and a few comments on
what they took from it that they
could share with the group. We
have been really impressed with
the way that the young people
have responded to this and that
they always come prepared with a
verse and something to say.
From now until the end of the
academic year we will be looking
at the big stories of the Bible and
how they are all tied together.
Easter fun For the second year running we
had a day during the Easter
holidays for young people from All
Saints Academy to have some fun
whilst exploring the meaning of
Easter.
Our Annual Report was presented at our AGM in March.
The report is available to look at along with all our
newsletters at www.issuu.com/cheltenhamyfc all of which
can also be downloaded. If you would like a paper copy
of the report please contact the office and we will be
happy to send you a copy.
At our AGM we also welcomed Steve Jones of Cambray
Baptist as a trustee. He joins Sarah Stone, who is now
Annual Report
Chair of Trustees, Lindsay Houghton (Treasurer) and
Kath Warner. Since the meeting Rob Goldsmith of St.
Mark C of E Church has been co-opted on to the Board
of Trustees.
We also said goodbye to Debra Legge who stepped
down after five years and as acting Chairman since
September.
Jesus’ team
In April we spent a day talking
about the importance of teamwork
at St. Mark’s Junior School. All
240 students spent some time with
us as we illustrated the importance
of teamwork by playing Danish
longball. We also considered what
the Bible tells us about being part
of a team and how we are all
valued by God.
Supporting
young people During this term we have
continued to support a number of
young people through mentoring.
We have also supported young
people dealing with issues of
bereavement. Many young people
face significant issues but they
frequently fall between the gaps
and do not get the support they
need. We are able to support
these young people through what
are often times of real challenge.
Hog roast
In February 125 people came
to the CYFC Quiz night and
Hog Roast. After munching
their way through the hog the
took part in the quiz with
questions on a variety of
subjects. The team baby
photo round gave people lots
of amusement! On the night
Daniel Crowe won a huge
Easter egg in a treasure map
challenge. His face lit up the
room when it was announced
he had won.
The night raised £372 towards
our work. Thank you to St.
Matthews’ Church for agreeing
to host us for the evening.
Special thanks to all those who
came and supported us on the
night. We hope you enjoyed
the evening.
Upcoming Events
May
5th 6.30pm Paul preaching at St. Matts
20th 7.45pm Prayer for Schools meeting, Parton Manor
Junior School, Churchdown
30th Love Cheltenham
June
19th 7.30pm Lets talk about sex roadshow, Bournside
School Drama Studio (Tickets £7)
July
14th 10.30am Paul preaching at St. Mark C of E
August
31st Jon’s parachute jump
The Flat, The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham. GL51 6NP [email protected] 01242 524408 Charity Number 1059805
Ways to give
To make a one-off or regular donation to our ministry you can give via our Virgin Money Giving page. You
can also set up a fundraising page if you wish to do a sponsored event. Visit www.tinyurl.com/give2cyfc
