LUFC Youth Meeting

55 Wallwood Rd,
Leytonstone,
London,
E11 1AY

Youth Work Meeting

You may or may not have anything to do with “Sunday school” or “Girls Brigade”, but as you have something to do with LUFC I thought you may appreciate the opportunity to help us structure and plan our work in this vital area.

It has been said, many times; that the way a church caters for its children is a reflection on how much they value them being around. The children of our church have spiritual, physical and emotional needs, and as a church we should always be asking questions about how we cater for these needs, and what we can do to reshape our program, carefully allocating human resources and available facilities to make LUFC a safe and helpful place where they can grow and learn, and have fun! Did you know that most people who are active Christians in their 20’s and 50’s actually made a faith decision to commit under the age of 10!

In a recent study (well 1981!) James Fowler concluded that the growth of a child’s spirituality is best defined as follows:

First 12 months –Intuitive/Projective Faith (Where basic lessons of love and support are taught!)

From 1 – 11 years - Mythic/Literal Faith (This is said to be the age where people are more open to God than any other age in life!)

Around 12-17 years - Synthetic/Conventional Faith

From 17 to adult - Individuative/Projective Faith

If all this interests you I have several books on this topic. There are several links on the Web, here are some links if you want to read more – it is fascinating, and Fowler states that the age children respond more openly to faith is around 6 and 7 years of age.

http://www.hope.edu/academic/psychology/335/webrep/faithdev.html

http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/fowler.htm

http://www.lifespirals.com/TheMindSpiral/Fowler/fowler.html

Maybe you couldn't make the last Youth Work meeting but you have some observations and idea – please feel free to share them with me through an e-mail and we can bring them into our thinking. Also Church meeting on Sunday 4 th December will continue this thinking. And then there is prayer – O God help us to shape this vital work in the way you want us to.

Thanks Alison

Discussion Meeting: Shaping the way forward with Children and Young People’s work.

Manse - Monday 28th November, 2005 @ 8pm

Agenda - Shaping the way forward with Children and Young People’s work.

(8: 00) 1. Sharing stories.

(8: 10) 2. Celebrate the good things

Junior Church

Crèche

Girls Brigade

(8: 25) 3. New things on the Horizon

Toddler Group

Holiday Club