When she moved into the Cambridgeshire village of Guilden Morden, Faith Guide Fiona never anticipated how God would call and equip her to Reveal Jesus to local children not in church. Through your support and her faithful service, already three children have decided to follow Jesus for themselves!
Fiona, a teacher, had led Sunday schools for many years. However, she was disappointed to discover that there was no Sunday school at the village church of St Mary’s or indeed any of the six churches in the Shingay benefice. The only time children visited was during festivals such as Christmas and harvest. But God was about to make a way!
Fiona felt called to train as a Licensed Lay Minister. Unable to do her placement because of pandemic restrictions, she researched charities and organisations to partner with.
On discovering Scripture Union, she contacted SU Mission Enabler Matt Farley, through whom she became a Faith Guide.
‘Matt’s been brilliant!’ says Fiona. ‘He helped me connect with children through our local church school. They’d been told in a recent inspection that they needed to do more on faith. And it’s incredible that, about that time, my husband got a well-paid job, enabling me to leave teaching and embark on ministry full-time, just as our last rector retired!
‘I offered to do some assemblies and SU’s Christmas Unwrapped which proved popular. There are only 50 pupils, and I got to know them pretty well. So, I planned a four-day holiday club for the end of August, when kids are getting bored, and parents are running out of ideas to entertain them!
Space, helpers and resources are all in short supply in a village, so we involved the Congregational Chapel as well as St Mary’s. ‘The holiday club theme was “water” and included the stories of Jesus walking on water and calling us to be fishers of men. We had crafts, games and activities including dressing up and acting out a Bible story. And we had a hugely popular tuck shop. ‘That first summer, 15 children joined us. The following year, we were inundated with requests to join. Our volunteers are amazing, but we don’t have many, so we had to limit the number of children to 25. I know God will provide more helpers with the right gifts in due time.’
"It’s wonderful that, in just two years, Fiona and her team have managed to Reveal Jesus to many children."
Putting prayer first Last Easter, Fiona also got involved with a pioneering project that Matt is running with new SU National Mission Partner Prayer Spaces in Schools. Matt says, ‘The aim is to meet regularly with a group of children to enable them to explore faith and encounter Jesus through prayer. Prayer spaces in schools offer a fantastic opportunity to do that.’
Fiona set up a lunchtime prayer club and during that first term a dozen children got to explore the different aspects of the Lord’s Prayer. That led to one girl asking how she could become a ‘proper’ Christian! So, Fiona told her, and soon after the girl got baptised at the Congregational Chapel, surrounded by her friends.
Fiona says, ‘Two of them then asked to be christened at St Mary’s. Their mum told me, “I’m not a Christian, but my dad is, and he’s delighted. So, I’d like them to go ahead.”’ Matt says, ‘It’s wonderful that, in just two years, Fiona and her team have managed to Reveal Jesus to many children in the village despite having no rector in post. Our amazing God finds so many ways and places to draw people to himself!’
How can you Reveal Jesus to the 95?
Is God calling you to new adventures as a Faith Guide? We’d love to support you! Find out more at su.org.uk/revealingjesus. And if being a Faith Guide isn’t for you right now, please do join us in praying for the amazing work they are doing across England and Wales.