11 minute read
How restrictions could revolutionise mission
Schools and churches have closed, and mission plans have been cancelled or postponed. But we’re fi nding that COVID-19 lockdown is also opening up some fantastic new mission fi elds. Toby Chant from SU’s South West regional team explores the opportunities.
It’s been really interesting to see some trends emerging TOBY CHANT under coronavirus restrictions that I believe will shape how we do mission both now and in the future. Across the country, use of digital tools has soared and, with most of us having to stay home, we’re using them to keep connected. Parents are holding work meetings using online video conferencing, while their children access their lessons online. Families, friends and community groups are using apps such as WhatsApp to stay connected, perhaps making even more ‘contact’ than ever before.
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As a result, digital has also become much more honest and unpolished. Now, it’s more about keeping up our collective spirits and our connections than presenting an airbrushed image to the outside world. In addition, lockdown has prompted a surge of interest in spirituality. Children and young people have had their lives turned upside down and are having to rethink what’s really important to them. As part of their search for purpose, stability and comfort they are open to learning more about faith and prayer. Thanks to your ongoing support, I have the privilege, along with other SU sta¨ , to think through how we can make the most of digital tools in mission, and I’m really excited at the prospect. Here are some initial thoughts as we step into this brave new world: Maintain existing relationships Digital tools can help churches keep in touch with children and young people they already know, so that when lockdown ends they don’t have to rebuild relationships from scratch. For example, churches could o¨ er online assemblies for local schools to send out as part of their online daily teaching programmes. Group activities, such as schools clubs, could be adapted to work online – provided that can be done within Safeguarding policies. Our new digital Lockdown resources (see page 16) include lots of ideas for your online groups to use in discussion and prayer, as well as information to help you consider some of the issues.
Reach out to children and young people without church backgrounds It’s probably the case that children and young people who aren’t part of a church will fi nd it much less daunting to participate in something online than if you invited them to a church building. And many of our new Lockdown resources are designed
to help churches embrace this opportunity. As well as providing videos and other content to be shared with the 95, we’ve also included guidelines on what to consider when inviting the 95 to your online ‘events’. Experiment with content Your church could invite a volunteer or well-known local personality to make short ‘a day in the life of’ videos for your Facebook page using their phone – perhaps to demonstrate how faith is part of their everyday life. With appropriate permissions, your children and young people could create and submit content too, or perhaps take part in an online Sunday church service.
Improve your own team’s connectedness and effectiveness Our SU South West team used to physically meet up monthly for a catch up. But with the travel involved, it would take a whole day. Now we have a daily online video conferencing session to pray, to update each other about developments, brainstorm ideas and to respond quickly and e¥ ciently to new opportunities. Of course, we still long for the day we can meet up in person again, but the impetus to meet daily has been hugely benefi cial. I don’t think digital will ever replace the value of face-to-face in mission work. But I can see a future where the two work seamlessly together, helping us to reach many more non-church children and young people with the gospel than we ever thought possible. And I believe that those churches that are swift – but thoughtful – in embracing digital tools now, will be the ones that thrive in the future.
Prayers
WEEK BEGINNING JUNE 21
Please pray that children and young people will discover Jesus during lockdown
Sunday 21 Give thanks to God that children and young people are re-evaluating what is important in life and are open to learning about him. Monday 22 Ask God to gently guide those children and young people, particularly those that aren’t part of a church, to discover that he is the one strong foundation that they need in life. Pray that their hearts and minds will be opened to the love he has for each one of them, and that in him their lives have unique purpose and meaning. Tuesday 23 Please pray that God will give churches across the country a vision for the future. Pray he will give them the wisdom to know which old ways of doing mission they need to lay down, which new ways of mission they need to pursue, and equip them with any new learning and skills they need.
Wednesday 24 Pray that God will give churches the discernment to recognise what their key values and assets are – these things have not changed in spite of lockdown. Thursday 25 Ask God to bless churches with a vision for how they use those values and assets in new ways as we look forward into a new landscape. Friday 26 Praise God for the wonders of technology and how it can help us stay connected with children and young people in spite of restrictions. Saturday 27 Give thanks to God for the faithfulness of Scripture Union supporters – for their prayers and their gifts, which have meant we could develop new resources for lockdown so rapidly.
Prayers
Sunday 28 The Scripture Union General Assembly for chairs and directors of all national movements is taking place online this weekend and fi nishes tomorrow. Pray for open conversations, a sense of fellowship and clarity about the way forward.
Monday 29 A number of Lifepaths were planned for last week including Malvern, Malmesbury and Brinkburn. Give thanks for the impact of Lifepaths and pray for a lasting infl uence on those who have attended over the years.
Tuesday 30 Pray for all the young people who were due to attend the Rooted retreat last weekend. Pray that during lockdown they will continue to fi nd ways of exploring their faith and living it out in everyday life.
Wednesday 1 Many Local Mission Partners including Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust, Engage (Woking), Lighthouse (Crawley), LightSpace (Grantham), Watford Schools Trust and Christian Connections in Schools (Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead) had
WEEK BEGINNING planned a range JUNE 28 of transition activities around It’s Your Move. Pray for children making the move to secondary education, especially after an unsettling period, asking that e¨ ective ways may be found to support them. Thursday 2 Potters Bar mission started in 2017 and has been very e¨ ective; Cath Hawes takes over as leader this year. Felpham Mission has been renamed Impact Felpham with Dan Balsdon as new leader. Pray for Cath and Dan now that the mission has been cancelled. Friday 3 Thank God for all the volunteers who give up their time to serve on holidays and missions. Pray that they would be encouraged as they think about new ways of sharing God’s love with children and young people. Saturday 4 Lagger camps, run by Steve Hutchinson, have helped many to meet Jesus. A day of Lagger experiences was originally planned for today to encourage those who come to the mid-week children’s club, Kidzone, to attend the camps. Pray that children who have attended Lagger and Kidzone will continue to grow in faith.
Prayers
Sunday 5 Join Scripture Union Indonesia in praising God for the growth of their children’s and youth ministry. Their camp ministry this year will have been a¨ected by coronavirus. Pray that all children and young people with whom they are in contact will have a deepening relationship with Jesus.
Monday 6 Impact 2020, a schools mission week across Portsmouth with Guvna B and Sadie Robertson, ending with a gig at Portsmouth Guildhall, was Guvna B scheduled for this week. Pray that new ways will be found to reach many young people. Tuesday 7 Blend on Tour last year reached out to young people with games, crafts and a barbecue in a field next to a housing estate in Goudhurst, Kent. SU Misison Enabler Lisa Jones is in discussions about the possibility of taking it to other locations in the area. Pray for fruitful conversations as they plan for a longer-term future. Wednesday 8 Head of Regional Mission Richard Shaw has an online meeting with regional team
WEEK BEGINNING leaders today. JULY 5 Pray for the team as they work together leading our national and regional mission and look for new ways of reaching the 95. Thursday 9 Local Mission Partner Scripture Union Ministries Trust on the Isle of Man is moving their o¥ce from Port St Mary to Douglas. This will give a more centralised base but will be a big change for many people. Pray that the move will open up new opportunities. Friday 10 The first All Together Now weekend at Great Wood for families who foster or who have adopted was planned for this weekend. Give thanks to God for many Christians who foster and pray for those who support them. Saturday 11 Please pray for all of those who have been part of Rooted Hubs in high schools across the north, that they will have more opportunities to explore their self-worth and value in light of who God is and the love he has for them.
Prayers
Sunday 12 Scripture Union in German-speaking Switzerland are starting to plan holiday camps for 2021. This is an intense time, with many conversations and negotiations. Pray for a variety of good and interesting camps and the right people to lead them. Monday 13 Local Mission Partner Fleet and Crookham Churches Together in Schools planned to run Youth Alpha throughout the summer term for young people from school CUs. Pray that they will be able to help young people to fi nd ways of meeting with God.
Tuesday 14 Local Mission Partner Schools Christian Worker Project in Oswestry is working to help schools address mental health issues. Please pray for Jane Webber who was due to deliver lessons in primary and secondary schools on anxiety and o¨ er mentoring for students referred by sta¨ .
Wednesday 15 Much activity this year has been cancelled, curtailed or a¨ ected in some way by coronavirus. Pray for teams and guests who will have been disappointed as plans have changed and for sta¨ and Local Mission Partner workers who have had to fi nd new ways of working.
WEEK BEGINNING Thursday 16 JULY 12 Join Local Mission Partner Missional Generation (South Yorkshire) in thanking God for the Mission United Faith In Life gatherings that have given many young people the opportunity to grow in their faith in Jesus and put that faith into action through mission activities in local communities.
Friday 17 Trevor Ranger of Local Mission Partner Synergy (based in the west of England) was planning to speak at an all-age open-air event on a farm in Severn Beach, near Bristol this Sunday. He is also working towards two holiday clubs in the summer. Pray that however plans work out he will know God’s guidance in his ministry. Saturday 18 Please pray for SU’s Steve Hutchinson as he formulates plans and thinks about detailed programme ideas to develop the outdoors bushcraft activity further at the Barnwood Youth HUB in Gloucester.
Prayers
Sunday 19 Pray for strengthened coordination in the SU structures in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), involving the regions and branches, so that the SU vision will be maintained. Pray too for God’s guidance and new direction for the provision, printing and distribution of SU Bible reading notes in schools. Monday 20 Project OneLife will see mission through sport made a key priority for the churches in Gloucestershire and is gaining momentum as it reaches a crucial stage. Pray for wisdom as Local Mission Partner PSALMS seeks God’s guidance in understanding their future role in this. Tuesday 21 Pray for the sta¨ team in the north as they meet today, asking that God will give them wisdom as they look for the best ways to reach the 95 with the good news of Jesus. Wednesday 22 Please pray that the LifeSpace prayer spaces run by the Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust will help secondary school students reflect on choices they have to make and to see the way that God might be involved in their lives.
WEEK BEGINNING Thursday 23 JULY 19 Pray that Local Mission Partner Contagious (based in Alnwick) will have wisdom and creativity as they seek to go to where the young people are. Usually they would engage in activities in and around local schools, supporting out-of-school activities, and building positive links with other youth workers, the wider community and local churches. Friday 24 Pray for youth workers across the country, who at times may feel isolated or alone, and for sta¨ and LMPs as they seek opportunities to connect with them, and that they might also connect with other youth and children’s workers in their area. Saturday 25 If Prison Walls Could Speak is a new production being developed by Local Mission Partner Artless Theatre Company in partnership with Release International. Pray for creativity and that, in a world a¨ected by coronavirus, churches and schools will be willing to book the production.
