Church YFC on
its ‘mettle’ again – as new Bible resource
spawns 136 study groups YFC on
its ‘mettle’ again – as new Bible resource
spawns 136 study groups In the
three months since its inception, the new resource has
already been adopted by 136 new groups, with many more
only awaiting the green light from church leadership
teams or ministers. Over 3,000 introductory packs have
already been requested and 6,000 Bible reading notes have
been circulated to interested groups and individuals.
Mettle is
not a ‘quick fix’, superficial course about
Christianity. It’s more of an ongoing programme that
will help teenagers make informed choices, based on
biblical thinking, throughout this rapidly changing and
challenging time of their lives. The resources are easy
to adapt for groups of any size and are suitable for
those with or without a church background. Mettle is
made up of Core Subjects (basics of Christianity), Hot
Potatoes (key issues facing young people), and Wildcards
(fun ideas to strengthen the group through social/practical
activities). YFC’s
special Intro Pack provides enough material for 6 sample
group sessions along with a DVD and guidelines on how to
make the most of these new resources. The sample sessions
can be dropped in and enjoyed at any point in a youth
club’s current programme. It is also an ideal launch
pad with which to set up a new group of some sort. Mettle
Intro Packs cost £12 from YFC at mettle@yfc.co.uk or
0121 550 8055. Too
many people are leaving the church, disillusioned with
what they find If, as
Christians, we believe the local church is important in
God’s plans, then how do we encourage them to return
and become an active part of our church? Everybody
has an opinion about why people leave church. There are
two unhealthy reactions. The first is that ‘backsliders’
aren’t ‘real’ Christians anyway. The
second response is, inversely, almost as arrogant –
it assumes their departure was completely our fault, and
leads to a cycle of guilt and desperate attempts to make
the church ‘relevant’ and accommodating. The truth
is somewhere in the middle. Some people will leave
no matter what we do, but it is also fair to say many
have left because they felt hurt or let down by the
church. Could we
become churches that include people who haven’t got
everything sorted yet? The thing about Jesus’
disciples is that much of the time they got things wrong,
and needed to sort themselves out. What we
need are churches where things might be a bit messy, but
where people are welcome and where everyone is a sinner
in need of grace, regardless of how long they have been
warming the pews. The truth
is there is only one norm we have to conform to, and that
is Jesus. In following him, we have to stop worrying what
the future will hold, what people will think about our
churches, and what they will think about us. By
Richard Hardy of Care for the Family Baptists
packing their bags for Held at
the Brighton Centre for the first time, organisers hope
that the Assembly – entitled Centring the Margins
– will attract up to 3,000, many of them young
people and families. It will be the first major
Baptist event since the World Congress, held in The
speakers will include the Rev David Coffey, BUGB general
secretary and president of the Baptist World Alliance,
and the well-known author Richard Foster, whose
Celebration of Discipline was a best-seller. An
“exciting” fringe and seminar programme is also
on the menu. David Coffey says: “The
Assembly is the most significant Baptist event in the
calendar, and I would encourage as many as possible to
come.” The
Assembly runs from April 28 – 30. The
registration fee is £80 plus VAT. Register before
11 March and pay £72. Day visitors can pay £25 a
day. Contact
information@baptistassembly.org.uk or ring 01235 517621. |