Chaplaincy and education

The FCG has been doing lots of work to develop and support chaplaincy in education - recently publishing some papers and church support resources for further education and chaplaincy work which you may find interesting - you can have a look here.

Today FCG are taking part in an ecumenical conference in Manchester, hosted by the FCG member church, The Church of the Nazarene, on chaplaincy in education. Please join with me as we pray for the conference… that God will inspire and motivate those participating to share and develop this work further in their churches and communities.

To find out more about this vital work and how to get involved, click HERE.

A CALL TO PRAY… Throughout the year: Living God, we pray that you will guide and inspire all those students embarking on training for employment and all those seeking support and new learning for their personal development. We pray for the staff and chaplains at our colleges and learning providers, that they have the courage, wisdom and stamina to support the students. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20

Photo courtesy of Priscilla Du Preez at Unsplash

Safely raising children in an online world...

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (NRSV)

Today’s world can be a complex one to navigate with our children and young people in your families and churches. It can be hard to know how to support children whilst at the same time as letting them explore the world safely.

Help is at hand! Nick Soucy, an expert in online security, has put together some extensive guidance to support you and your churches with this.

You can check this out here.

Please feel free to share this with your churches and groups: Definitive Guide to Raising Religious Children in an Online World.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema at Unsplash

Mental health & Christian leadership - conference on 23rd Oct

A day conference for Christian leaders, chaplains, student workers and anyone interested in looking after their own mental health and that of others. This will be held at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, London on Wednesday 23rd October.

Lots of varied conference content and the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics… Theological input, panel discussions and a choice of workshops including exploring mental health first aid, supporting those in study, and worship and dementia.

The conference costs are £25 per person and you can find out more information and book your place here.

Come along and be inspired… learn together…

Develop skills and share good practice in this important area of ministry

For information contact sarah.lane.cawte@freechurches.org.uk

Tickets provided through Eventbrite

Forty seconds to pray...?

The Free Churches Group has been developing active links with the Christian charity, Festive, who are dedicated to support students and staff in further education. You can subscribe to their newsletter here to keep in the loop with their important work.

Each month Festive give their network the opportunity to join with them to pray for the specific needs of the lives of those in further education. So join with us all this month, as we pray together….

Seems like the summer is finally here! Colleges and sixth forms around the country start to wind up for the summer and students and staff look forward to a break. Half of our contacts will be heading off to university or employment and many Christian Union’s will have already been handed over to younger students.  Here are some prayer requests for July that should take no longer than 40 seconds to read through:

• Joshua asked for five copies of ‘Beyond Beans on Toast’ (an evangelistic book we produce and send out for free for year 13 leavers) to give to his friends who are not Christians yet. Pray that God would use the books to lead Joshua’s friends to himself. Pray for the hundreds of other copies of this book we have sent out this term. Pray that God would work powerfully through them.

• Joe at Sir John Deane’s is excited that a non-Christian has started to come to the CU. Normally only three come along, all Christians. Pray for this girl. Pray that the girl would be drawn into the wonderful truth of God’s Word and put her faith in Jesus. Pray that CU’s across the country would be welcoming places where non-Christians can feel comfortable attending.

• When Sharon became a Christian her father, who brought her up and is a practicing Pagan, rejected her, and she had to move in with her grandmother. Pray that God would keep her strong and give her grace for every situation. Pray for many other students who have met Jesus this last year through CU’s, chaplaincy and friends at college. Pray their faith and relationship with God would grow and flourish.

• Becci is new to chaplaincy at Shrewsbury College and just finding her feet. Pray for her that over these summer months that God would be building her up and equipping her for all that lies ahead from September. Ask God to make her very effective for the Kingdom in the place he has called her to.

Thanks for praying. Love from, The Festive team

Please share these prayers in your churches, house groups and networks…

(Photo courtesy of Igor Rodrigues at Unsplash)

Exploring Chaplaincy in Education - conference on 10th July - Manchester

Are you interested in exploring chaplaincy in education? Have you felt a calling to serve in this way? Are you currently working in education, but want to find out more about how your church can engage with colleges?

The Church of the Nazarene (who are members of FCG) in partnership with Festive, Chaplaincy Central and FCG are hosting a conference on 10th July in Manchester.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about chaplaincy in education and to find out ways that you can support churches and colleges to work together to support the pastoral needs of students.

The event will be hosted by the Nazarene Theological College and tickets costs £20. You can find out more and book your place HERE.

The kind of student support services, prayer and encouragement that chaplains can provide in colleges are crucial to the progress and confidence students have - although FE serves people of many ages, further education is a key time of transition from youth to adulthood for younger students and so the work and witness of a college chaplain can be vital in offering guidance and support to them.

You can read more about what an FE chaplain can offer here. Please join us as we pray for the work of college chaplains and the staff and students at colleges whom they support and encourage.

To find out more about FE chaplaincy, why not read this?