Mission Enabler, Lisa Jones, had an amazing opportunity to support the team at Minnis Bay Mission in the summer. Minnis Bay, with its reputation for being family-friendly and fun, attracts over 300 children and young people each year. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, all SU summer missions and holidays were cancelled. Many event leaders made the decision to move online including Minnis Bay who quickly saw the potential of online mission. The volunteers worked together to produce amazing video resources and were able to build on their existing skillset to reach the 95 per cent of children and young people who have no contact with church.

This mission usually runs for two weeks in the summer and involves a large team of over 50 talented volunteers. Lisa worked alongside the team supporting and encouraging them with the production of suitable video content. The online programme included fantastic activities for all age groups including short Bible stories for younger ones and energetic worship workouts, creative craft challenges and guided prayer times for older children. 

The fun-packed videos, screened on YouTube at specific times for different age groups, were accompanied by Zoom sessions for teenagers to help them connect. During these informal interactive sessions young people chatted over fish and chips or pizza, played games, and heard moving testimonies and stories from the team with opportunities to pray and respond to Jesus. Minnis Bay online has made a significant impact reaching over 100 families with children and young people.

As this mission was such a success, the team made Christmas videos to reconnect with children and young people and reach new families.

Lisa extended the impact of the mission by linking Avtar Hunter Singh, Minnis Bay team lead, with Maggie Paddison, SU Local Mission Partner ACTS, based in Thanet. Earlier last year Lisa was instrumental in forging a partnership between Scripture Union and ACTS Thanet Trust. ACTS works with schools and churches in Thanet sharing the good news of Jesus in schools. Through this three-way relationship, Lisa plans to increase opportunities for children and young people to hear about Jesus.

The success of the move online has had a wider, and more enduring, reach than the team anticipated at the start of 2020 and plans to strengthen local links for 2021 are underway.