Placement churches

 

I am doing my year placement with my home church in Haslemere. The church itself is called 3 Counties, (Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire). I spend most of my time, working with two different age groups. Our youth group is called Liquid, which is aimed at 14-19 year olds and also a group called Lava, which is our 11-14 year olds. Lava is a 3 Counties initiative and is aimed at working with this age group dealing with issues, which crop up in their lives and learning about the bible and how it can be applied to their various situations. Liquid is a joint initiative with a local church called St Stephen’s aimed at a slightly older audience, and it’s emphasis is on personal intimacy with Christ and learning to grow together as a community and help to support each other in our own individual relationships with Christ.

 

I have been involved with helping our Lava Lads on a Monday night, which is aimed predominantly at building relationships within the community. The delivery of the Christian message is much more subtle than in other church groups and is more of an evangelistic event. This is a really important way of developing friendships with the youth in Haslemere and I believe a vital first step in leading people to Christ.

 

On a Tuesday night we have girls and guys bible studies. I help lead the bible study, which sees around 10 guys weekly. It is such a valuable resource in helping the young people in their walk with God. We learn more about the Word and each other, with the opportunity to ask questions in a safe environment.

 

On Saturdays we hold different events weekly. Every fortnight there is an opportunity to serve the community from 10am- 1pm. This is a follow on from a summer event with was a week of service named ‘The Wave’. We go out as a team and do odd jobs throughout the town, from gardening to sport. This is an amazing opportunity to bless the community in which we live, doing work for no charge. It has been crucial in challenging the stereotypes that community often attaches to the youth and has seen the young and old of this community beginning to interact with one another. Other events on a Saturday include Worship School. These are held once every 6 weeks and are aimed at equipping the young people both practically and spiritually with the heart of worship. It aims to show that worship is more than just singing songs on a Sunday but is a lifestyle and that ‘worship time’ on a Sunday night is just one expression of this. We also have Liquid Youth Meals, we get to know each one another. We have different themes for each meal, which sees inventive ideas and interpretations!

 

I am also involved in schools work. We do assemblies, teach lessons and go in every lunchtime on a Tuesday and Thursday to hang out with the kids. It’s been great to get to know the kids in the community whilst being a chance to follow up with kids who may go to Lava or Liquid. Schools work is a good evangelistic tool to enable the young people to ask us questions about what we believe which in turn sparks their own questions.

 

Also have had the opportunity at Liquid to do a bit of preaching and I also play in the worship band. Liquid and Lava have been for me chances to develop me and stretch me in many ways.

 

I am incredibly excited about the year ahead and what God has in store!!!!

 

Barney