SHAPING THE FUTURE

The CRIBS team attended an inspiring commissioning conference at the beginning of September.  Imagine was a day for over 200 schools workers from around the country to learn, pray and share ideas.  We were encouraged to imagine what God could do through us. We know that God is at work. He is at work everywhere.  We have been trying to keep our minds and hearts in a state of readiness looking for signs of His work as we go into schools. Faith in God opens up a new world of possibilities.  Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)  So when God gives us a vision of a future packed with salvation, wholeness and abundance, faith makes it possible to turn that into reality.

We are all aware of the massive influences on young people for good and bad.  But we engage with young people in the education system because we believe that we can make a difference – our attitudes and actions can influence them too. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God as being like the yeast a woman used in making bread.  “Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."  (Matthew 13:33)  Yeast is an amazing substance.  It has been used for thousands of years to leaven bread, to cause it to rise, to make it tasty.  It’s hard to beat the smell and taste of freshly-baked bread.  The yeast mentioned in the Bible was a soft, dough-like substance – a fungus, actually – that was kept from one bread baking session to another. A small portion of this yeast-dough was used to start or leaven each new batch of bread dough. 
But until yeast is applied to warmed and moistened flour it has no impact.  It has potential, but it has no active power.  When that active yeast is mixed with warm water and encounters flour it begins to be effective.  When yeast is introduced to the right conditions it makes all the difference.  And just a little yeast can permeate a large lump of dough.

“Inseparable, integrated, infused, expanding.  Hidden, yet at work—always has been, always will be.”

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast. It crept into the world through a baby. It affected the lives of twelve radically different men. It changed a Pharisee called Paul and began to spread through the world, challenging the commonly-accepted values. Slaves whispered to each other in the market place, 'Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!' and their whispers undermined an empire and turned the world into a different place.

So that is why we are looking well into the future and imagining what schools, churches, communities could look like.  That is why we are giving ourselves to serving schools; teaching Christianity in the best way we can, being school governors, supporting and encouraging school staff, promoting and resourcing Christian groups.  Because the kingdom of God is within us—and secretly, silently it is growing and transforming.  You can’t see the yeast, it is there mixed in, inseparable, integrated, infused, expanding. Hidden, yet at work—always has been, always will be.

Nicola's view from the summit

What do you imagine for the future of our secondary schools? Is it positive or negative? Maybe in your mind it involves academics, multi-media, power and autonomy, cynicism, segregation and racism, or violence. Hebrews 11:1 says ‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ How big is our faith? What could we corporately imagine happening in our schools: are we sure that he has good things planned for our schools and certain that what we don’t see will happen?

Our faith says that a little yeast working through the dough would change a culture. Let’s paint a picture.  What if young people were set free from loneliness, isolation, depression, addiction, low-self esteem, self-harm and suicidal thoughts? Do I have the faith to believe it could happen?  What if racist barriers were broken, bullying stopped, and value was found not just in academia but in community, fulfilment of potential and self-worth? Do you have the faith to believe it can happen? What if every single young person in a school knew that they were loved by their Creator and Saviour? Imagine people being healed and salvation coming! Do we have the faith to believe this will happen?!

A year ago I dreamed of schools being places where our Christian teens weren’t embarrassed to be called followers of Jesus, young people who were prepared to count the cost and stand up anyway. I believe this will happen (helped by the fact that it already is happening!), but when it comes to seeing a cultural shift – do I truly believe that can happen? Faith: the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. Let’s be certain, as the Church, that what we hope for in schools will happen.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul talks about ‘becoming all things to all men so that by all possible means he might save some.’ This means immersing ourselves in the world but not being of the world. The best people to transform their generation are the young people themselves who can fully immerse themselves in their school world but not becoming part of it. There are 17 secondary schools in Bexley and currently groups of Christians meeting regularly in 4 (Chis&Sid, Blackfen, Bexley Grammar and Townley) with another 2 starting this term (Beths and Hurstmere). Doors are opening and young people are desperate to see their friends come to know Jesus and cultures changed by the power of the Spirit. My role in the Christian Unions is simply to support and encourage them, spur them on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), and help them in whatever way they need. They have vision and are already making an impact.

Tuesday 6th September was the first day back for Bexley Grammar students and 21 people turned up to pray between 8.15 and 8.30 for their school! Morning prayer happens every morning. The CU at Chis & Sid are known throughout their school: they have offered to pray for healing during lunch times and seen really exciting things happen during meetings. The Blackfen girls are already excited about the coming year and conversations about Jesus are happening all over the place. (Please contact me if you go to any of these schools and don’t yet know about the CUs.)

Will you stand and join in this dream with us? Things change when we pray. Jesus said, “From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it.” (John 14:14, The Message). Why not encourage the young people in your church to be part of what God’s doing in Bexley by either joining a CU in their school or praying about setting one up if it doesn’t exist yet? Come and speak to me if the latter rings true. Schools can be hostile, difficult places to stand out from the crowd, but a small amount of yeast works its way through a whole batch of dough. May our faith run wild.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen"

This is Jerry Nelson.  He is married to Mary and together they have raised three wonderful children who are now adults! If you are part of a Sidcup church then it’s likely you will know Jerry. Up to the middle of 2010 Jerry worked in the insurance industry in the city.  But for more years than he can remember he has also been involved in children’s work in church.  He’s now keen to join the CRIBS team and help shape the future of many children in Bexley.  In addition to working with the primary team and on the 3:16 bus, Jerry will co-ordinate our after school clubs and residential weekends.  Everyone joining the CRIBS team has to raise their salary, which can be a daunting prospect: but it does mean that each worker has their own support base; people who have a heart-link to the person and their work.  We are sure that Jerry will affect the lives of many more children in Bexley, so it would be great if we were able to raise his salary so that he can do what he feels God is calling him to do full-time.    If you are able to give a regular amount each month towards his support then please get in touch with Ron at the CRIBS Office.

3:16 Bus Project

• Refit costs:  £25,870  - all paid for!
• Visits to 10 schools from January to July 2011
• Over 3,000 children have already been on board
• Visits to 7 churches for youth groups and church members
• All but 3 weeks booked for academic year 2011-2012
• Some incredible feedback from pupils and teachers
• Children going home and asking parents for a Bible
• Children learning how to pray

Carole's Soul Survivor

I’d like to paint an image for you of Soul Survivor 2011 down in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. I am standing in a huge white tent about the size of at least a football pitch, if not more. Twice every day this tent is filled with 9000 young people, eager to praise and worship God and to learn from His Word.                     

I had the privilege of taking 17 young people from three different churches this year, with their youth leaders. The first night one of them gave his life to Jesus - it was amazing to see him going up to the front with one of the other young people. What a great start to our 5 days. During the following 4 days, they all experienced the Holy Spirit in so many different ways. The teaching during the main sessions was around enabling, empowering and equipping the young people to live for Jesus as they return to their own churches and schools.  Watching them worship and pray for each other was so humbling as they were praying expecting a touch from God.

Back at the campsite, we had a social tent, giving us the opportunity to eat and meet all together. How precious those times were, especially when impromptu worship sessions took place, talks about the Word or worship sessions alongside playing cards and other games.  I know we can’t experience the highs of a big event like this every week back in Bexley, but it doesn’t half give our young people a massive boost as they follow Jesus in their schools.