Engage

Paul Webster writes,

How often has it been said that some good things come out of Wales! Well this time they have, with a mighty rush. A wonderful team from Cardiff called “Care for the Family” is offering support and ideas for churches to use when trying to engage their communities.  Rob Parsons their executive director spoke to the 400+ representatives of various denominations and from all over the Midlands. His introduction laid down the flagstones which led us to a better understanding of need in our communities and a realisation that the Lord is willing and able to help us address those needs in relevant and meaningful ways. It might mean meeting people where they are at this time and it certainly will not be a walk over but it is where we are called to go.

Teri, Christine ,Sue and a chauffeur went up to the University of Nottingham to the conference ; while the ladies went their various ways to different seminars I began in one called “Money Matters” This talk mainly by Paula Pridham was about handling debt and involves a course called “Quidz In” which is intended to give parents the knowledge and background to advise their children about sensible practice in handling money. I found it fascinating but also grim and would like to do some further training to enable me to lead a course at St. Paul’s for our neighbours.

Teri in the mean time went to a course called “20s and30s Building relationships”, Sue went to “Transitioning your church to engage”. Chris went to “Drugs and your community” If you are interested in more details ask any of us about our courses or visit one of these websites:

www.engagetoday.org.uk

www.dpyk.org.uk (drug proof your kids)

www.quidzin.org.uk

After a quick lunch we looked at the exhibition and gathered leaflets about the vast collection of resources available from a growing number of interested organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Mother’s Union and Parish Nursing Ministries UK. The afternoon plenary sessions were very good. Ian Coffey spoke about leading your church to engage and David Oliver opened a discussion on how we engage people in work. We then went off to our final seminars to finish the day.

Everybody came away filled with enthusiasm and prepared to look at ways in which we as a congregation can get closer to our neighbours, there are bound to be hours of discussion ahead before we introduce some of these initiatives, but wemust pray that whatever we decide God will be in it.