Light Into the World

The point of an evangelist is to go into the world and bring the Gospel Message

Taking Light into the darkness

Have three Points today that I would like to talk about

Peabody Connections

Peabody are running community groups in the Thamesmeas estates

Sometimes there is not a need to reinvent the wheel

Already have connections with peabody

Currently work closely with them with the foodbank

Could attend some of their events and speak with the young people to draw them in.

They have connected with 1,400 people in the area already through Schools and Businesses

One way to partner with Peabody is to become a Volunteer Personal and Social Devlopment officer

This would enable me to go and speak with young people between the ages of 8-25.

Addressing the first part of your question of how would you make connections with young people.

Gang Culture and Youth Community Project

Nicolas Fantastic Work Fresh Expressions for youth.

If we ran a youth community project we could apply to the Thamesmead Peadbody Grant and bring in some extra funds to help fund the work of the church.

They are awarding from £200 to £2000 depending on the grant.

I have had to find funding for our church by renting the rooms out upstairs.

Youth Need Reminding that they are loved, or even just knowing they are loved some may not feel that way

Giving them a sense of purpose

By giving them things to do around the church.

Let the 12 - 18 Year old’s lead from the front a Sunday a month?

The gangs are already using that age group in full capacity why couldnt a church do the same?

Listening to them. Giving them things to do things to be proud of.

Address the Gang culture one would could be:

Francis Chan and home church.

Gang brother hood problem

Sunday’s and Youth Nights but also time around houses with closeness gives them the opportunity to build the brotherhood that they would be missing in Gangs.

Change in Demographic

In the past ten years there has been a demographic change.

More Families have moved in.

I would suggest in running events that are family orientated

Nearest Cinema 30 min bus ride.

Cars are a luxury in Low Income house Holds

Could display Films at the church this would bring in young families and cut the cost of Cinema Tickets for them.

You Could then use the films to bring in the Gospel to their lives.

School Assembly Rayleigh

Run more family orientated events like Church BBQ’s and Quiz Nights

The biggest age group in the area is 0 - 9 years old.

We would want to reach out to this age group but we would have to win the parents to win this age group.

In doing so we would be cutting of the source to Gangs.

Gangs inlist children when they are around 8 or 9 years old.

We would be using the Model of an Indian Christian Charity they stop young girls from going into slavery by putting them into a christian school at a young age.

Giving them Purpose and Identity it has begun to slow down human trafficing out of India, becasuse the organisations are running out of resources of young girls to keep going

This is what we should do to battle the Gang problem here and cut off the source, by winning the young to Jesus.

Conclude

This would then anwser your full question of “Drawing on your experience, how would you make connections with them and enable them to come to a relationship with Jesus Christ?”

Fullfilling the Job role of an Evangelist to go and take the light of Christ into the world.