Tom's News - Christmas 2009

We are at that time of year again when we can ponder and enjoy the amazing truth of Almighty God taking on human flesh. “Joy to the world” barely begins to describe it. 

As always the school year has flown by and it has been very busy. There have been a number of developments and new contacts in the work. Children and teachers alike continue to respond positively to the God of the bible. He continues to show himself to be the only true God.   

My church is right next to Derby High School, one of Bury’s biggest high schools. For many years churches and Christian groups in the town have tried to build relationships with the school, but without any success. I wrote to them about 18 months ago to offer my help with RE lessons, but got no response. So I was really grateful to God when the head of RE got in touch with me a few weeks ago to invite me in to help with some RE lessons. By the time we break up for Christmas I will have had the opportunity to speak to about 100 of their pupils about the Christian perspective on heaven and how to get there. About 30 other pupils are visiting soon to see our baptismal pool and listen to me explain why we do baptism as we do in a Baptist church.  About half of the pupils will be Muslim and I expect they will be surprised by what the bible actually says about God’s grace. The head of RE at the school is already talking in terms of a long-term relationship she would like to see developing between the church and the school. This is a wonderful answer to prayer, coming out of the disappointment of being stopped from going into the local CofE high school because I was not in a “Churches Together” church. For me, this situation reminds me of Isaiah 45: 2 where God says . . .

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron”

In September I began trying to make contact with schools in Collyhurst, near central Manchester. I am now delighted to be regularly visiting 3 schools in that area. One of them is a large Catholic school, St Patricks. It was a bit tough at first to persuade the head teacher to let me in. She reluctantly agreed to give Bible Explorer a go. When I arrived for the second session of Bible Explorer I was summoned to her office. Expecting the worst I walked into her office with a forced smile on my face. She immediately exploded into a long rant about how much “amazing feedback” she had received from teachers and pupils alike from the previous week’s session. It took a good few minutes for her to calm down, and all the while she was shaking my hand vigorously! She is also trying to find a way to bring me in to do Bible Explorer with the entire staff! I have since been booked in to “accidentally on purpose” coincide with their RE inspection just before Christmas, which is a common thing for CASCOT workers. But what really pleased me was her statement that she is going to recommend Bible Explorer to all the head teachers of the Catholic schools in North Manchester. Once again, God’s word expresses the situation well . . .

 “Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it” (Revelation 3:8)

God continues to bless the church as well. We have had further professions of faith and baptisms, with more to come.

Plans for the new year include; making contact with a local home for young homeless men to offer help and support; more door-to-door / street work around the local area of the church.  

On the home front, things are going well. The boys are growing up and William started school in September. He seems to be doing well and enjoying it. We are all looking forward to a cozy family Christmas.

May God bless you this Christmas.  

Tom King.

Dave's News - Christmas 2009

Dear friends,

The work in the Schools carries on, in enthusiasm, freshness, and creativity! Over the months, I have written various Gospel songs, and have used four of them in my assemblies! They have all gone down well, so much so that even Mr Young (St George School -Deputy Head), wants them put on a CD so he can learn them on his guitar!

Assemblies have surely been a key element in Cascot’s work within the Schools. Not only have I included the children in drama, but also in singing and playing musical instruments. In Oakwood School Warrington, there is such excitement from Teachers and Children alike! I have encouraged two Teachers to assist me with the singing, and they are thoroughly enjoying the experience!

 

My Bible themes over the last three months have all been on the miracles of Jesus! Starting with the feeding of the 5000, the walking on water, and the healings of the multitudes!

 

I do regular weekly Bible Clubs in Atherton and Newton Willows. There always seems to be good healthy enthusiasm from the children! On one occasion there was so many children attending during their lunch break that, I had to move the class into a larger classroom! Children love to read out loud, and they love discovering new stories, and appreciate the opportunity to improve on their reading skills!

 

I have been encouraged to preach at various Churches, especially Atherton Evangelical, Bolton Baptist, and Hebron. During these times I have led family and communion services. Atherton Hotshot club is going strong, and with the increased number of volunteers, the meetings are full of various activities, such as crafts, singing, quizzes, story telling, and lot’s of fun! At half term, we held a weeks mission there and that week was full of Gospel stories that the children could relate to. The good thing was, that some children from the Bible clubs from the schools attended the Hotshot special week! 

Thanking you all for your continual support! 

Dave.

Andrew's News - Christmas 2009

It’s Christmas! The cry screams from every radio and we here it in all the shops. So what is Christmas?

The great celebration of the Incarnation – Christ, the Son of God, coming in flesh to this world of time as a helpless, vulnerable baby; with a death sentence hanging over Him even before He has uttered His first words. The wonder of the story and the depth of love displayed to us are often lost in the hustle and bustle of traditional Christmas preparations. What a privilege then for us to go into schools at this time of year and retell the old, old story in fresh dynamic ways as we introduce children to the real meaning of Christmas and the demonstration of God’s love to the world.

The doors are still open to us very positively, but we must not take this for granted. In some parts of the country moves are being made to drop the Bible from the curriculum and replace it with comparative religion – and although in the adult world this is so often the case, it would only add to the confusion for children. Bible Explorer lessons continue to engage children with the message of the Bible and our hope is that schools would still want these lessons even if they were not specifically on the plan. Please don’t stop praying or think that things can’t change, and help us to take all the opportunities available whilst they exist.

Schools have generally booked assemblies and BX lessons in advance to July 2010, as well as Moving on sessions; Bible Clubs and after schools sessions. My diary remains consistently crowded and I’m always looking for more opportunities to have greater input in schools.

I have worked with Jireh Chapel, Warrington quite extensively over the past 10 months and this will continue into the New Year. It has been a real blessing sharing God’s word with the fellowship at Jireh, teaching all ages and challenging them to be the disciples of Christ that God desires us to be.

Thank you to all the churches that have invited me to take part in their services. I hope that you have been as blessed as I have in our fellowship of the Gospel. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, it means such a lot to be able to stand in front of any group knowing that there is a network of praying Christian brothers and sisters upholding us before the throne of grace.

May I take this opportunity to wish you, your family and your church a God blessed Christmas season and a spiritually prosperous New Year.