Faith Guide and trainee vicar Mel Osborne found herself in unfamiliar territory when she became Children and Families Worker for three parishes in the New Forest. But with help from SU Mission Enabler Jenni Whymark, she is making great headway!
There were no children or young people in Mel’s churches, so she set out to engage with pupils at three local primary schools. She had lots of ideas but as this was her first role in children’s ministry, she really wanted advice from someone more experienced on what might work well in this mission situation.
Fortunately, Mel was introduced to SU Mission Enabler Jenni Whymark and became a Faith Guide. ‘It’s been brilliant,’ says Mel. ‘I’ll sound Jenni out on my ideas, and she’ll connect me to useful resources or people who have done similar things. She mentors me, advocates for me, and prays for me. The Faith Guide training has given me new resources and confidence, and now I’m part of a network of local Faith Guides, I no longer feel so on my own.'
"I no longer feel so on my own."
Ambassadors for Christ
One challenge Mel has faced is how to find opportunities to connect with pupils within a very busy school curriculum. What has worked well is setting up ‘ambassador’ groups of eight children in each school who champion the Christian faith. ‘They lead a worship assembly once a term, which they love. They get other children involved in a Christian justice activity – fundraising for water projects in a developing country, for example. They’ve set up permanent prayer spaces in each school with a prayer tree where all pupils can hang prayer or praise notes. There are also Bible-themed books and crafts. I’ve heard the children say, “That’s Mel’s space, it’s our space.” It’s great they feel a sense of ownership.'
‘These children aren’t always from Christian homes,’ Mel continues, ‘but they’re in the group because they want to be. They get their friends involved and learn about faith through leading the activities. As one young “ambassador” left to go to secondary school, she said “I’ve decided to give my life to Jesus. My mum’s not a Christian, but she says she’s OK with it if it makes me happy.” It made me happy too!’
Much of Mel’s work is pastoral. ‘I run arts and craft sessions – often Bible-based – which include children who might be struggling with home life or have special educational needs. It’s a safe space in which they can share their worries, and we can pray together and involve others in supporting them if needed.
"They are hearing the good news of Jesus and we’re seeing God at work."
A wider reach
Working in schools has helped Mel connect with parents who don’t attend church. ‘They know that we pray for them and their children,’ she says. ‘But we want to forge closer connections so that they are supportive if their children want to follow Jesus, especially once the children leave for secondary school. We’ve got an after-school choir starting, so while the children are singing, I plan to offer coffee and crafts to their parents and hopefully get to know them better.’
Mel concludes, ‘These parents and children don’t attend church. But they are hearing the good news of Jesus and we’re seeing God at work in a wider range of ways than might happen if the children simply sat in the church pews on a Sunday morning. With SU’s support, in faith we’re planting seeds of faith – and God is answering our prayers for those seeds to grow!’
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