Getting together

Is it time to get the Christians in your school together?  Maybe you feel that God is calling you to start a Christian group in your school so you can support each other or reach out to your friends.  ‘But hang on’ you say, where would I start?  Who would help me?  What resources are available?  What would we actually do each week?

You’re not alone if you are thinking this way.  2 young people, Lee and Jess, were in the same position as you just a few months ago.  When a new Christian teacher arrived at their school in Northumberland, they all got together and decided that it would be a good time to start some sort of Christian group.  

Not long afterwards, Geoff Brown, Scripture Union schools worker invited Lee and Jess to a training evening for young people who are leading Christian groups in their schools.  The training covered everything including what does the bible say about aspects of leadership, why have a group anyway, how to plan a programme, how to prepare and lead a bible study, group dynamics and building groups that last.  This is what their teacher, had to say after the event:

Thanks so much for inviting Lee and Jess to the event on Friday. They have been massively encouraged and focused by it.
 
Jess reported back to me yesterday that they both felt that our CU should be focused on helping build them up as stronger Christians, more able to share the gospel themselves. I don’t know if this was something you were encouraging, or just what they came away with, but I certainly felt that it seems right for us at this stage.

Providing training is not the only support that Scripture Union can offer young people who are keen to start a group.  The re:source website is the place to visit for stacks of resources, help, advice and ideas.  There you can download − for free − meeting outlines for your group on a whole range of topics (Easter, alcohol, success, exams, football, euthanasia, bereavement etc).  For each topic you can pick outlines targeted at either 11−14 or 14+ and those from a mainly or limited church background.  There is also the highly popular ‘Starting Up Guide’ that ‘does exactly what it says on the can’ − it helps you to start a group in your school.   To keep up to date with other news and ideas, you can sign up from the website for the monthly e−newsletter or the CD Rom with an additional 200 meeting outlines

Need some inspiration and some reasons to get going?  Well, look no further than what God has to say.  Why not get together with the other Christians in your school who might be interested and look at these passages together.  Simply ask yourselves: Who does God want his people to be in school and what does he want us to do?

•    Matthew 5:13 −16
•    2 Corinthians 5:18 − 6:1
•    1 Peter 2:9 −12

Be encouraged. Go for it.  Make a difference in your school….