Touching the Future with ReGener8

Jan 2007

Regenerate was set up as a separate organisation in February 2002 (Tyndale Baptist Church Pastor Bert Weenink was involved since the outset) and this ministry has grown ever since. The work covers 4 different areas:

1. School Assembly Teams

Under the leadership of Alison Thurlow three separate teams go into 23 different infant, junior and primary schools in Yate, Sodbury and surrounding villages. These teams are made very welcome in the schools and have a lot of freedom to present the Christian message. Around Easter special Easter services are organised for all the year 6 pupils in the area in 2 of the local churches and the Gospel is made abundantly clear. In July special assemblies for Year 6 are held in the schools where each pupil gets a book published by Scripture Union.

2. The Fizz

There are now two Fizzes, one in Chipping Sodbury led by Sue Pearce and one in St Nicholas led by Alison Thurlow. Children aged 5-11 come together once a month for 90 minutes and have a great time singing, playing games, and listening to Bible teaching relevant to their age. Twice a year there is a Mega Fizz, where both groups come together with a special speaker.

3. Rock Solid

In all three comprehensive schools we are now holding lunch-time meetings. There are three teams led by Val McFarlane, who is also responsible for organising school assemblies for year 7 with the help of Alison Thurlow. At present we can only cover years 7 and 8, but we pray that it will be possible to employ a secondary schools worker to expand the work as the doors are wide open.

4. The JAM

Once a month about 60 young people from the area come together to worship God under the leadership of Mark Stuckey. It is a popular meeting as young people love to meet with their peers, and it is good to see so many in a place that is not only safe, but where they are also taught the Christian message in a way they can relate to.

The day to day work of Regenerate is overseen by a Ministry Team, which is chaired by Pastor Bert. We are also in the process of setting up a charitable trust and have recently appointed 9 trustees – among them are our own Mary Willmott and Pastor Bert, who is the secretary of the newly formed trust.

The work of Regenerate is funded by local churches and by the YMCA, but if we want to expand into secondary schools in a big way, we need the Lord to provide through individuals and other trusts. Please pray for this work.

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