Our visiting lecturer couldn’t make it the other day as Oasis had gone bust. I was told briefly as my boss ran off to another meeting – astounded I couldn’t find anything on the web but just found this. No wonder I couldn’t find anything at the time – serves me right for putting two and two together and coming up with six and thankfully I got the wrong end of stick, although with many people affected, not good news.
I was revisiting some of Off the Beaten Track today and this story hit me again as I thought about church and change.
The prison walls had become the home they had forgotten, so long had they been there amongst the dust and dirt that any memory of the outside world was but a dream to them.
One day, which started like any other, they huddled together to talk. Having the same conversation they’d had every day for as long as any of them could remember, talk of escape. In the middle of this discussion something unusual happened. The cell door swung open.
The prisoners cowered against the back wall, shielding their eyes from the bright sunlight. A man stood there, someone they didn’t recognise, for had they not seen or heard anyone for these long years? The man spoke to them saying;‘You are free to go.’ The group sat in silence, for though they had planned to leave; now they were too afraid to do so. What world was out there? A place that surely must have changed beyond recognition. The prison walls suddenly seemed appealing, for hadn’t it become their home? No one moved, until one man, cautiously making his way to his feet, crossed the small cell and averting his gaze from what lay beyond quietly closed the door.
I am sure this is not an orginal idea, but Jesus included Judas in the last supper, even though he was about to betray him. What does this say to the exclusive way we often choose to do communion nowaways?
Here is an updatefrom Worth Unlimited an organsiation I was involved with for a while, if you are doing anything with young people at risk it will be worth a read, just so you can get a feel for the organisation. With stuff now happening all over the country it is great to hear how they are growing and impacting so many young people.
2008 has started at a fast pace across the branches with lots of developments and progress made. So much so that in fact it is impossible to contain everything that we could tell you about Worth Unlimited around the country within this one single email. We suggest that as well as what you read here, you do contact our Branch directors around the country who will be more than happy to provide you with even more stories and accounts from their branches which is where the real graft is done building hope, unlocking potential and realising worth among young people.
In this update :
· A Story … as yet unfinished
· Youth Mark Recognition for Local Branch
· Bridging the Gap
· New Initiative encourages wider Church involvement
· Macclesfield Grows
· Worth Unlimited in the Tyne Valley
· Significant Government financial backing for Worth Unlimited
· Media Interest Grows
· OCN Accreditation for “World Worth Living In”
· Annual Bike ride details announced
· Conclusions
A story … as yet unfinished
Once upon a time … there was a charity called dare2, set up with a significant launch grant from a businessman to help promote best practice in work with marginalised young people in UK. Just over two years ago its CEO, David Boul, met Tim Evans and realised he and Worth Unlimited had skills dare2 needed.
David continues the story, “A cross-funding arrangement was agreed and Tim got started on a strategic plan for dare2. Tim and I realised quickly that the two charities had far more in common – vision, mission and goals. By this time last year they had worked out a strategic alliance in which dare2 funded good practice development and testing with Worth.
With encouragement from both boards, co-operation got closer. Then last October we happily did the obvious and joined forces under the Worth Unlimited identity. Rather than go through the complexities of formal merger, dare2 trustees joined the Worth Board bringing the remainder of dare2’s launch grant.
All this may sound a bit remote from the world of a marginalised young person, but … together we now have a stronger national team to support Tim, a new treasurer – that’s me, and an increased number of branches with a strong emphasis on best practice. More importantly though, together we are having more impact with young people.”
Youth Mark Recognition
Worth Unlimited for Waltham Forest has just been awarded a Bronze level Youth Mark by the North London Connexions Partnership, following an intensive inspection of the projects that we run by a team of young people from North London Connexions. A team of young people including a young person who was one of our service users when she was young, spent more than 20 hours visiting the Mobile Youth Venue, a local secondary school and our office, speaking with our staff and many of the young people we work with. Their conclusion was that Worth Unlimited provides services that are welcoming, easy to locate, warm, cosy and user friendly.
Matt Perry received a certificate and award on behalf of the team of staff, volunteers and management group and assured the inspecting group that where areas for improvement had been identified (around making our policies easier to access and wearing name badges especially on the Mobile Youth Venue) these would be acted on. “We were keen to be inspected by young people,” said Matt, “Because as our service users it is their opinions that we value the most and want to act on. I am glad that the inspectors found our team and projects to be welcoming and friendly for young people and that they have given us some good ideas to build on and use to improve further what we offer.”
Bridging the Gap
15 young people from local Muslim and Christian communities in Waltham Forest recently spent a weekend together in Cumbria with support from our team and the Active Change Foundation. We explored the question “One Community OR Worlds Apart?”. The young people who got on so well together concluded that Waltham Forest could be and should be one community and that this one community is diverse with many different faiths and cultures making a contribution, not unlike a football team with different players playing different roles but still being ONE team.
The BBC filmed part of the residential broadcast a film about the project on BBC 2 on Friday 14th March on the Daily Politics Show which included comment by a Minister for Community Cohesion.
Continue reading
Today I went to sheffield for a celebration of the life of my aunt and uncle, who died earlier this year. They were quiet heros of the faith, and always supported and encouraged my work, as local methodist preachers they were well known in the area and it was great to hear the stories from the local people whose lives they touched over the past 60 or so years. They were learners and continued to run bible studies and attended theology classes in the university into their 70’s, but more than this they loved people faithfully. Their support and hospitality was renowned, and the minister commented on Priscillas ability to put herself in the shoes of others and so the care she showed was always just right. Morris was often the MC for our family events, with a great sense of humour, and appropriatly wise words for each occassion. These two quiet and faithfull saints will be missed and never forgotton.
After the flight was cancelled due to the terminal 5 fiasco, I flew back with Luthansa and (via a slight bit of blagging) got bumped up to business class. The best part of which was when they weighed the my suitcase which I thought was small enough for hand luggage but was too heavy, however the check in lady (note lady not woman – this was business class you know!) said “as you are flying business class sir, it will be fine to make an exception”
I couldnt believe it not only geting bumped but no risk of loosing bags! off on holiday next week but doubt my blagging skills are up to getting the whole family bumped up still we can give it a go!
Next week I am off to the IASYM conference in Germany looking at ecclesiology and youthwork. Then back to the UK for a couple of days of hectic prep and final marking, before taking off with the family to Spain to see my sis and have a two week break, so not sure when i will next post, but am keen to explore the issue of mission as a resource for breaking out of the current church paradigm and the link between this and the need for a heretical imperative to help us fully move beyond our existing pagan christian understanding.Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj movies What’s Eating Gilbert Grape dvdrip
Last night was Opportunity Chard
when 32 projects came together to put their case for funding before the community. 30k was up for grabs and the total all the projects were asking for was 99K so competion was hot. Everyone had a display board and 3 mins to talk about their project. Then the community voted for the project they most wanted to support. People had 5 votes and could only vote once for each project. There were over 400 people there and we were on first. Kevin one of the older yp spoke brilliantly about the need for lights for the skate park and was followed by Sam who as an under 16 couldn’t vote, so he summed up asking the adults to vote for us as they couldn’t. 90 mins later everyone had done their presentations and votes were cast.
We came 4th with just shy of 100 votes and so got the whole 5k we were asking for. It was a nervous night, but the young people did brilliantly!Macross dvd
Great video here hattip to Jim
Glimpses is an exciting and ground-breaking resource for youth workers that explores the subject of spirituality in a contemporary and relevant way.
Written by Nigel Pimlott and Steve Bullock from the Diocese of Gloucester, Glimpses is published by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and comprises of a book and DVD. Glimpses offers a host of resource ideas for youth workers.
Spirituality is a subject high on the agenda of young people, youth workers and the NYA alike, Glimpses will enable youth workers to effectively integrate the spiritual dynamic of youth work into their everyday practice.
FYT president and Chair of the NYA Bishop Roger Sainsbury has also welcomed the emphasis on spirituality within the youth work agenda: ‘Young people today are very aware of global conflicts in the world and growing divisions in our own communities in the U.K. both often linked to religion – it has never been more important to clarify the place of spirituality and spiritual development in youth work.’
Glimpses comprises of five sections: Reflections provides a series of visual images to engage with. Atmospheres explores the power and importance of environments and Essences tries to get to the heart of what is meant by spirituality and spiritual development. Stations provides a range of some 30 practical tools to aid exploration and engagement, whilst Breaths is packed full of miscellaneous ideas and resources. All this and a DVD full of images, music and video clips to use with the resource.
One of the main features of Glimpses is that it can also double up as an effective tool for churches to use in their adult services, meetings, house and cell groups. Full of resources, discussion starters, images, videos and material it promotes reflection and stimulates thinking.
Glimpses is exclusively available from FYT for just £13 including p&p. (rrp £15 plus p&p). Please send your cheque (payable to ‘FYT’) name and address to the FYT office. Or visit the FYT web site resources section – http://www.fyt.org.uk/resource,print,1.htm