"DNA is an extremely well orgamised outfit - efficient, reliable, disciplined, focussed and refreshingly uncompromising in discipling, connecting trainees with contemporary culture, enabling them to grow in character, experience Christian ministry and to understand /think theologically and biblically. This course is of high standard, carefully structured with the support given to the placement discipler and co-ordinator of an equally high standard. As a church, it also introduced us to a model for supporting trainees in ministry for the future."
Rev. Bob Fuller
St John's Church, Colchester
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Bishopbriggs Community Church, Glasgow
I'm Nancy. I live in Kirkintilloch which is just outside of Glasgow. I part of Bishopbriggs Community Church which is where I am doing my DNA placement. Both my children are grown up I have a daughter and a son who is married and has three daughters, a son and a foster son. So I am taking on the challenge of a year in with God a little later than most.
I am involved in a number of activities in the church, I can be helping out in the nursery in the morning, singing children’s songs and doing crafts and then off to the Glasgow City Mission for the homeless, singing worship songs and sharing about God in the New Life group. This group was the result of running Alpha courses for a few years for the Mission. This group have now started to run their very first Alpha course with some support from ourselves. It is a privilege to work alongside them in the kitchen preparing the food for the meal and then helping with the leading of the small discussion group after the talk. I really look forward each week to seeing and hearing what God is doing in their lives, it’s incredible to see the changes.
During the week I am involved in leading worship for my cell group and have been encouraged to take a more active role within the group and co-lead the group with my mentor. This is proving to be interesting and a little out of my comfort zone. I am also trying to source some information regarding the new prison being built in Bishopbriggs that is due for completion on the spring. The Church is seeking God as to how we could be of service to the prison. Some of the ladies in the church have enquired about helping out in the prison crèche and we have a cell group who thought they could get involved with Prison Fellowship and offer visit some of the inmates. I am trying to find out how we can get involved in these activities, but it is slow going.
On a Friday evening I am now helping out in our Youth Cafe. This cafe is open to the young folks in the area and offers a safe place for them to come and hang out and have a chat with some of the staff. The group is run by the young folks some of whom are not in church and is under the supervision of the church youth worker who just happens to be my daughter Laura, a bit or role reversal as she is the boss. Laura tries to encourage them to get involved in their community and takes their views to the local community council meeting. The young folk wanted to raise some funds for charity and got involved with Oxfam and hosted an Oxjam gig. They raised £600 from the event and it was great to work with them on the night of the gig. I was so proud of how they all worked together.
All of these activities are about building relationships within the community which require a great deal of effort and time from the leader of each group. They give tirelessly of their time to further the kingdom of God by investing in people. This has been such a challenge and I looking forward to seeing how each of the groups will develop. I know God has some amazing things in store for me over the year. I know it won’t always be easy but it will certainly be phenomenal journey.
