Here’s one of those blog posts that does what it says on the tin!

The next few events for Arise Ministries are:

• 31st October: Bright and Light Party at Kingswood Baptist
• 4th-5th November: ‘Unlock The Power of the Church’ Evangelism Conference in Radcliffe, Manchester with Viz-A-Viz Ministries
• 12th November: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in East Sussex
• 22nd November: Ed and I are off to a ‘Getting Your Kids Through Church Without Them Ending Up Hating God’ conference run by Care For The Family.

Between those, here’s an idea of *some* of the things I’m working on:

• Developing a strategy for Just a ‘child’? Equipping Events in 2012 and beyond
• Keeping contact databases up to date and emailing out news and event promotion
• Following up people who have been to our Equipping Events or bought our resources to see how we can help them in their children’s ministry
• Making visual aids for equipping events
• Working on our social networking strategy
• Creating the monthly prayer diary
• Calculating costings to put together crib sheets for resources, events and publicity

I’ve booked the second half of this week off so I can spend some time with Maddie and Emi and Billy in half term! So a busy couple of days for me!

1st October: Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event—Fullbridge Church, Maldon

8th October: Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event—Kingswood Church, Basildon

October has seen the launch of our Just A ’Child’? Regional Equipping Events with the first in Maldon and the second in Basildon. Both were very different in terms of the people attending but both very good. Ed leads the sessions looking at reaching, releasing and discipling children in the church’s community. The day is relaxed and interactive and feedback has been very positive in that people feel equipped and inspired to head back to their church and either start up new ministry or develop existing ministry. My role is administration for the events as well as being there to chat to people. It’s a great opportunity to connect with churches and help them reach out to the children in their communities. It’s awesome to think of what God can and will do!

CONFIRMED 2012, Just A ‘Child’? Regional Equipping Events:

• 24th March –  Sandy, Bedfordshire
• 19th May – Plymouth, Devon
• 26th May – Croxley Green, Hertfordshire
• 2nd June – Southampton, Hampshire
• 13th October - Basildon, South Essex
• 10th November – East Sussex

TO BE CONFIRMED 2012, Just A ‘Child’? Regional Equipping Events:

• Suffolk
• West Yorkshire
• London

For more details on Just A ‘Child’? please visit www.ariseministries.org.uk or email info@ariseministries.org.uk

This past week my brother Russell had his induction service as Assistant Pastor at Yeovil Elim. I travelled down on the train and met Mum and Dad who had gone down a couple of days earlier. Spending a whirlwind 18 hours with my family was lovely, and I especially enjoyed being able to take Sam my 9 year old nephew to school. The induction service itself was great – a real sense of love and excitement from the church as they welcomed Russell, Becci, Chloe and Sam in (although they’ve already become very settled and active members of the church). I felt really proud of my brother and I know that they will be really happy at Yeovil Elim and God will use them all for amazing things. You can see one of Russell’s recent sermons here.

I have recently lead a couple of services back at my home church Elim Braintree. The 11.30 Young at Heart Service is an all age service incorporating songs, activities and stories designed to help children and adults engage together. It’s been a real privilege to be part of the life of my home church, giving something back after all the teaching and encouragement I’ve received over the years! With a wealth of Arise Ministries resources and ideas behind me I’ve been able to do things a little bit differently and have some fun while learning with the children and grown ups! Yesterday we were  thinking about Harvest and helping those in need and us young ones made this beautiful banner!

This week preparations are underway for our first Just A ‘Child’? Equipping Event of the new term – on Saturday 1st October at Fullbridge Church, Maldon. Really looking forward to sharing with people enthusiastic about children’s ministry and hopefully injecting some enthusiasm and vision for their ministry with children in the local area.

With the arrival of Viz-A-Viz Ministries’ new National Director comes lots of exciting plans, ideas, visions and things that will be happening over the coming months. To keep up to date with all that Viz-A-Viz Ministries is doing and planning, please sign up in whichever way suits you:

Become a follower on TWITTER!   @vizavizm
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Subscribe to receiving the BLOG:  www.vizaviz/latestnews
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Keep looking at the WEBSITE: www.vizaviz.org

Thanks!

>> In other news, Andy is preparing to move into his new place sometime this week so we’ve been busy painting his room and buying curtains! Please pray for a stress-free and easy move and that he will settle in quickly.

Well it’s been a little while since my last post and feels like an age since my holiday! We had a really lovely time down in Lyme Regis with Andy’s family – lots of cuddles with the twins which we enjoyed very much. The weather was kind to us and even managed to get a bit of sunburn on the beach! The house we stayed in was very nice and we were able to have a good relax while we were there! Unfortunately my Dad had several trips to A&E with severe pain in his leg which left him unable to move, and after a stressful couple of days for him and my mum was admitted to hospital and eventually given an injection which seems to have worked. It was hard being away from home and just wanting to be there to see him. On the way back from Lyme Regis, Andy and I stopped in at my brother’s new house in Yeovil. It was great to see Russell, Becci, Chloe and Sam, spend some time with them and visit Yeovil Elim where Russell has just started as the Assistant Pastor.

The second week of Holiday was spent in Braintree with Mum and Dad, and we spent lots of time with Maddie, Emi and Billy and my sister! Our big trip out was to Legoland which was chaos but lots of fun – Maddie (4) and Emi (3) loved the rollercoasters! We also went on a Gruffalo trail in Thorndon Country Park – and we did see the Gruffalo!!

Now getting back in the swing of things back at work – had a very busy week last week which was good. We’re preparing for our ‘Just A ‘Child’?’ Equipping Events this October which is very exciting. See here for more details on ‘Just A ‘Child’?’. The weekend I had the priviledge of leading the Young At Heart service at Braintree Elim, the all age service. I really enjoyed the challenge of doing something I haven’t done by myself before. We looked at the theme of ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ thinking about how we should respond in situations. We made traffic light fridge magnets to remind us to ‘Stop, Think and Go’ – think about our reactions before we act.

Tomorrow I’m off to a Bible In Literacy Seminar, Wednesday evening is a Creative Forum at Sawyers, Thursday Andy and I are doing a car boot sale in the morning, Friday I’m off to a service station in Bristol with Ed for a meeting about running a ‘Just A ‘Child’?’ event in Plymouth. Check my calendar for more of what I’m upto!

Newsletter will be coming out soon – watch this space!

I am off on Holiday!!! From the 19th-26th August Andy and I are in Lyme Regis with his family, stopping off at my brother’s new place in Yeovil on the way back and then spending a week in Essex with my family.

Looking forward to resting and recharging ready for September!