From Mary:
"One thing I wished I knew before starting children’s work was how hard it is to work with Volunteers – not only finding them but just how to use them too."
There are a few of us who work in isolation, as a one-man’s band – which has pressures of its own. But whether you’re a full-timer, or a volunteer yourself, most of us work alongside at least one volunteer. Of course, if everyone who helped with a children’s or youth group was lovely, enthusiastic, hard-working, cheerful, reliable, prayerful and a delight to be with… our groups wouldn’t reflect the church at all!
Your church and mine are full of forgiven sinners – being changed by God’s Spirit to be more like Jesus, but still far from perfect. So how do we work together? Here are a few ideas that might help:... continue reading
We're thrilled to have a new addition to The Good Book family, here in the UK office. Rachel Jones is going to be working with us as our editorial intern for the next six months.
Rachel, who loves pasta and hails from Burnley (where she grew up with her 2 brothers and 1 sister) is going to be spending her time learning the ropes of the publishing business, with a particular emphasis on writing and editing. She's particularly looking forward to seeing how books grow from idea to finished manuscript.
Please do pray for her as she settles in to her new home, new role at Good Book and finds a new church in the local area. And do look out for her posts on the blog in the coming months ...
From Sally:
"I wish I had known that young people have loads of questions about faith, so don't make difficult subjects taboo – they want answers!"
Most children and teenagers like to ask questions. Most leaders and helpers worry they won’t be able to answer them! The most important guideline here is: It’s ok not to know the answer.
We so easily put pressure on ourselves over this:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.’
Psalm 91:1-2
When children act out the nativity in a school play or nursery group, it really doesn't have much in common with the historical Christmas.
Over the course of time, we've cut huge, crucial bits out. We've added in nice but completely made-up details. We've made it into a tale for children and forgotten the real events. There were certainly no kings or a donkey!
We have turned Christmas history into a nativity play.
I don't want to spoil the party. Nativity plays are a part of the whole Christmas experience, along with desperate last-minute shopping and sending cards to people who you didn't make the effort to see last year. I've been in the front row of both my son's nativity plays smiling proudly. It's just that the real Christmas is much more interesting than what we've turned it into. It's worth rescuing and re-telling.
And that is just what Carl Laferton has done in Christmas Uncut. Read more HERE and get the book for just $1.99 until Monday night. Simply use the code cu1113 at the checkout.
Church of England synod vote 'paves way' for female bishops
Bible drop: Christian group takes to sky to sneak Gospel into North Korea
Christianity at risk of dying out in a generation, warns Lord Carey
'Convert or die,' Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram tells Christian women
Church of England officials on six-figure salaries
Warsi: Christian minorities 'endangered' in Middle East
Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
From Rich:
"I think the thing I would love to have known is what is the normal experience for a youth worker - because there have been times when I've been under pressure when I've not known whether I'm doing the right thing, or the wrong thing, from what people have said - and whether that means I should / shouldn't be doing the job."
From Dave:
"I wish someone had told me that I’d get better if I stayed in it! When I started I knew one thing – how to play the chocolate game. I’m still pretty awful at thinking of games, but I did spend my first couple of years at youth leaders training weekends with a notebook asking for new games from longer established youth workers!! And I do know where to look on the internet now for games!"... continue reading
Can you fix your own heart?
Yes, you can…
Engineer Tal Golesworthy has managed complex projects all his life and is used to solving problems. And he has lived with a rare life-threatening heart condition - Marfan syndrome - for the last 30 years.
A keen skier, the 57-year old from Gloucester, UK, was not impressed with the various options on offer from doctors. They would have left him unable to enjoy the life he wanted to the full.
So he started work to devise a solution to fix his own heart.... continue reading
What is youth and children’s work like? A painful privilege…
From Andy:
"I think one thing (maybe not the top thing) I wish someone had made clear to me when I started youthwork was that you will experience pain as the young people that I had invested time/love/energy in choose not to come to youth group/church."
Andy’s comment made me stop and think. You often come across parents who complain about the group because their son/daughter doesn’t want to come any more. Or church leadership who express concern about dwindling numbers. But it’s easy to forget that, when a young person drifts away, it hurts the leader too.... continue reading
1. Delighting in the Trinity E-Book Deal
Until midday on Thursday, the e-book version of Delighting in the Trinity by Tim Chester is available for just £1!
2. Free Bible images
A website full of free sets of Bible story images..
3. St Helen's Training: Bible Overview. Part 5 and 6
Parts 5 and 6 of St. Helen's video Bible overview with Roger Day.
4. What Is the Message of Each Book of the Bible?
One sentence summaries of each book of the Bible. How would you summarise each book?
5. Did the Devil Make Me Do It?
A free excerpt from Did the devil make me do it? by Mike McKinley.
6. And finally…
In case you missed it, our video of the week, a new trailer from Timothy Keller, 'Judges for You Trailer':
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
