Global Impact in the UK schools

England is always interesting and different. It was refreshing to partner with a group that is already in the schools of York, UK: Global York. For a week we came alongside and boosted their already growing program even more. The exciting thing is that they will still be there long after we leave making a difference one child at a time.

I spent the week with a team going into primary schools. We taught one of the lessons from our teacher’s edition of the Book of Hope about handling conflict. I found myself talking about anger to 983 students, in groups of twelve all week long while the rest of my team did dramas and role playing in stations around the room as new classes filtered in and around every hour or so. (86 sessions in all) It was eye opening to hear some of the responses. It was easy to spot those kids that were in crisis mode and those that were well adjusted. Our High school teams found kids who were very apathetic and wanted proof for everything.

I love having dialog with the students. The common language allows for this to happen along with longer time spent in the classroom. The challenge is that these kids keep you on your toes and you had better be prepared for the hard questions because they really want to know why you believe the way you do.

At the end of the week all the kids that were old enough for Global youth were invited to come out to a loud and vibrant youth meeting. Many of the Year 6 students that we saw came out and many responded favorably. I remember one boy in particular who was struggling at the beginning, left with a wide grin on his face: the results of true transformation.

THANKSgiving in the UK

November 2007-- After a week in Stafford and Stoke-on-Kent, England with a Book of Hope Impact team (during the week of Thanksgiving) I’ve compiled a list of the things I am thankful for. Enjoy!

• SNOW. More specifically, seeing the joy on the face of a new Brazilian friend, Thiago as he experienced snow for the first time.
• 25 Middle-schoolers from Swan Bank Church, who now have a relationship with the Lord, including a young boy by the name of Dale.
• The primary schools who welcomed us with open arms allowing us to do a full program on anti-bullying and to go classroom to classroom to talk to them in smaller groups.
• The love, acceptance and questions of the pre-school and elementary age children.
• The Y7 RE classes (Middle School, Religious Education) that allowed us to come in and take over their class. The openness of the students and their great questions.
• For the students we met like Amie, Tom, Stephen, & Gwen; Shining lights in their schools.
• For great church workers who spend their time with these kids to help them discover truth: Sam & Amy (who also helped opened many doors for us)
• The ability to communicate with these kids without a translator (which kept us on our toes)
  


• The “Thanksgiving” spaghetti dinner provided by Swan Bank Church and our wonderful team from places like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Brazil and Liverpool, UK to share it with…
• Our home base at UCB; their wonderful facilities and the great work that they are doing to reach Great Britain with the gospel through radio and television. And their partnership with Book of Hope.
• Our host, van driver, ministry partner extraordinare: Carl, who has a big heart for the children and youth of the UK and whose enthusiasm is contagious.

I am also very thankful for the opportunities and privilege to bring HOPE to kids all over the world and those who partner with me in this work. (those that pray, give and keep in contact). Thank You

PS. We were not allowed to take photos of the children in the schools but team photos and our afternoon in Chester can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimart4ch/