A Year Has Gone by!
What a year it has been! It's been so exciting to see how God has opened up doors and it's been a huge privilege to be a part of so many exciting things since I last wrote to you. I'm honoured to have some brilliant people supporting me in so many ways.
I hope you enjoy reading what Raise has been up to and what's coming up! If you don't have lots of time - please just read the highlights in the box below.. If you have a little bit more time then skip over the highlights box and read on.
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HIGHLIGHTS FOR RAISE THIS TERM
- A huge thank you to those who continue to support me
- I'm a white van man!
- Easter Experience in 5 schools including a training evening
- Church Kids Workers Training Day in Beccles
- Two Praise Parties for two churches
- Prayer and Encounter Space for Peterborough Church
- Leading EPIC Weekend 2016
- Leading Kids work at Father's Heart Conference
- Leading Kids Work at New Church in Norwich
- Presenting The Big Story RE Day at Cringleford
- Working with a great team and 600 kids at New Wine
- What's coming up?
- Please pray for
- Can you help Raise?
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A huge thank you!
I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to those of you that have supported Raise in so many ways.
Thank you to the amazing volunteers who have given up their time and energy to take part in one of the events. Whether it's from volunteering at a Prayer Space, a Praise Party, Easter Experience or a Weekend Away. Thank you so much!
For those that have already given financially to help Raise through one off gifts or regular giving - I am so grateful.
Whether you have given financially, volunteered or been there to encourage and cover me in prayer. You are amazing! Thank you!
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I'm a white van man!
During the School Easter Experiences my good old faithful Antelope coloured Astra decided it was time to end our time together.
Thanks to a couple of generous givers I was able to get this stunner of a white van which has made things so much easier for the work I do with Raise.
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Kids Workers' Training Day - Beccles
It was such a privilege in February to go to Beccles Baptist Church and share my thoughts and experience of Kids Work and my encouragement for them. It was my first full day of training in a long while so I was pleased with how it was received.
Their youth worker , Beth, said about the day :
"The training day was absolutely brilliant. Really engaging and relevant for our children's ministry.
A great mix of talking/learning and having a go ourselves.
Some brilliant ideas that we can start using straight away as well as materials for us to look at in the future.
Andy's passion and heart for God really came across too and is very 'infectious', I feel so challenged and uplifted, it has re-ignited my passion for children's ministry (and that wasn't even on my list of objectives!)
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Easter Experiences
It seems strange writing about Easter in August but this is the first chance I've had.
With an army of amazing volunteers who gave up their time to be trained up first of all - we went into Cringleford Primary (which had over 300 pupils squeezed into one day), Barnham Broom, Great Witchingham, Thurton and Carbrooke.
We told the story of Easter at different stations and had an upfront assembly at the beginning and the end which included an airline pilot, a Bible puppet, songs and a quiz. It was well received by the schools and it's given me the opportunity to go back to some of the schools to lead other things.
One headteacher said : "The Easter Experience Day challenged the children's thinking and led them on the sort of journey Jesus experienced. The day will help children understand what Easter is really all about."
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Praise Parties
On Easter Sunday I was able to lead a Surprise themed Praise Party at Hope Community Church in Wymondham.
At the end of April myself and two superb volunteers led a Spy Surprise themed Praise Party at a church in Dereham.
At both events we finished off the session with some Encounter Prayer Stations. These included the giant bubble reminding us that we can't escape from God's presence and Healing a Broken world. The creative prayer stations seemed to be loved by all that took part.
The Children and Youth Worker at Dereham said : "Very professional service provided by Andy and his team with loads of creative ideas, buckets of enthusiasm and wacky games! Made the Bible accessible to the children and we had a ball! Thanks so much."
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Prayer and Encounter in Peterborough
It was great to return in March to Peterborough to set up and lead another Prayer and Encounter Station. We had a large number of families come through the doors in preparation for their night of prayer called ENOUGH.
One of the kids workers said about the event:
"A fresh, exciting and moving way of inviting families and children to engage with God and thinking about aspects of His character. Effective ways of opening up communication with God and creating memories and moments to think back on in the following days. A real privilege to be able to pray for and with friends and family from church."
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EPIC 2016
It was so great to come together with a brilliant team again, some from Hope Community Church and some from further afield, to deliver the EPIC Weekend for School Years 4-6. Our theme this year was the Egyptian EPIC Adventure and we looked at Promise, Presence, Power and Peace.
I know that this event makes a significant impact on the kids (and leaders) that come.
It's such an honour to work with some fantastic and gifted leaders.
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This is a video clip of one of the songs we did this year at EPIC 2016. It was one of our favourites from last year. Click on it to watch
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Father's Heart Conference - June 2016
In June, Raise went to a field in Ashill to lead the kids work at the Father's Heart Conference.
It was a great time with the kids and with the amazing volunteers and our awesome God.
We looked at our Emotions over the weekend and how to give them to Jesus. One of our main songs we did over the weekend was Deep Cries Out - which talks about a river of living water. Due to the huge thunderstorm we had on the Saturday we actually had a river running through the venue!
The last session on Sunday finished was an All age Service which was lots of fun. We ended our time together talking about being full of joy and used the story of the four friends opening up the roof to lower their friend in front of Jesus to be healed. It was great to creatively pray with the kids and their families as part of it as well. |
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Kids Work @ new Church
In June I had the opportunity to lead the kids work at a new church in Norwich.
We had a mix of video, songs, crazy games (including human hungry hippos) and some times of prayer and encountering Jesus.
I'm looking forward to returning their to lead another session in August.
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Big Story RE Day
In July, Raise armed with some more excellent volunteers went into Cringleford School again and presented the Big Story RE Day to years 3, 4 and 5. It involved a storyteller, a giant jigsaw, motions and phrases to help remember the whole bible and a visit from Abraham.
It was well received by the school and each child had a booklet to take home to help them remember the big story and who it all points to.
The RE Subject Leader said about the day : "The children loved putting together the large jigsaw, and learning the poem and actions. They really enjoyed learning the songs and accompanying actions The booklet was really well made."
I'm hoping that this day can be offered to other schools in the future.
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Boulder Gang - New Wine 2016
Setting up Raise enables me to be free to be part of something bigger.
This July it was amazing to spend over a week in a cow shed with 600 10-11 year olds and an outstanding team.
One of the things I was involved in was the upfront panto and hosting the evening entertainment part of the programme. I loved it! One night I got the chance to deliver the talk and speak about being encouragers (using the story of David and Jonathon) and about our eternal encourager.
The photos above are pictures of the family prayer and encounter room I prepared and led. It was so great to see so many families engaging with God in creative ways. It was the biggest prayer and encounter room I've done. It had 4 zones and 24 stations in it. There were two other specific days where kids could choose whether they wanted to come into the encounter room. It was awesome to see around 400 kids choosing to come in and encounter Jesus over those two days.
I was blown away by what God was doing in the kids and leaders lives. I loved how when I was praying with one boy on the throne encounter station that three boys came over and started praying with him and had pictures and words for him.
As you can probably tell this was a very special week and opportunity for me. I look forward to what next year brings.
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Continuing Support
Raise continues to be a project of North Breckland YFC. It has been so great to be part of the team there. NBYFC are looking after the details of Raise (like finance) so that I can focus on doing the work.
I continue to head up three primary school lunch clubs, a monthly kids club at Mattishall and some assemblies.
I'm very appreciative of Ang and all the team there. Please click on the blue button below to see their website. |
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Some things that are coming up!
September
Prayer Space - In Thomas Bullock School in Shipdham
Walk Thru The Bible Training - I'm hoping to be trained up so I can offer this to schools.
October
Prayer Space - In Weasenham and East Rudham School
December
Christmas Experience - I will be approaching new schools to offer them the Christmas Experience this year.
Other things!
There are some other projects and events in the pipe line too that I hope to be writing about next time.
I also continue to go into schools and do assemblies / collective worship for them.
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Please Pray for...
It would be fantastic for you to cover Raise with prayer over these coming months.
Here's some things you can pray for:
- Personal - Our families. Last week my niece unexpectedly died. Please pray for our family as we work through this. My sister in law has also been diagnosed with cancer and starts treatment next week.
- Favour - That I continue to find favour in the schools I visit for new prayer spaces and other opportunities.
- Inspiration - That God inspires my writing time as I prepare new things.
- Training - That I get to the Walk through the Bible Training
- Finances - that I continue to find regular support on our faith adventure.
- Volunteers - That I am able to find the right volunteers for the different activities and events that I run, and that they would be blessed in their serving.
- Word - That word spreads and new opportunities come up for Raise
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Four things that you can do to help
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Pray
It is so important that this ministry is covered in prayer. Please pray for me! If you need ideas, see prayer points above. |
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Spread the Word
For the work of Raise to grow and impact more children's lives - people need to hear about us!
There are a number of ways you can do that :
- Like and Share on facebook - we can be found here: www.facebook.com/raisekidswork
- Encourage people to sign up to the newsletter
- Visit the website and tell others about the website www.raisekidswork.org.uk
- Follow us on Twitter. Tweet about us! @RaiseKidsWork
- Tell people about Raise!
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Volunteer
Raise is always looking for volunteers to join teams to help with the different activities it is involved with. If this something that you would like to be part of then we would love to hear from you.
Some of the activities include helping host a prayer space in a school...Being part of a holiday club... helping at a church residential.... being part of a one off event.
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Give
If you could support us financially that would be amazing! Whether it's with a one off gift or a regular gift - we would love to hear from you. |
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Contact
andy@raisekidswork.org.uk |
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