Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Connecting the Christian Faith with Children - section nine - part one (good stories)

9. 2007 Survey of Yorkshire Baptist Churches

Good Stories

Some would say that we are doing our best. And the responses to the survey sent to the Baptist churches in Yorkshire contain many good stories and positive figures. For instance:
· 82% (18/22) of churches have a Sunday School or Junior Church meeting at the same time as adult worship.
· 55% (12/22) of churches run a midweek children’s activity.
· 50% (11/22) of churches run other children’s activities such as holiday clubs and one-off events.
· 45% (10/22) of churches have AAW at least once a month. A significant number of other churches have AAW bi-monthly or at important Christian festivals (Christmas, Harvest, etc.)
· 73% (16/22) of churches regularly have a children’s address or an all-age time in their services.

Between them, the 22 churches that responded are reaching at least 400 children of church families and at least 500 children from their local communities. That’s something to be encouraged about! There are a lot of exciting and creative things happening across Yorkshire. And we need to share those stories. The survey forms mentioned have not been a very good way of collecting those stories – some responses have just hinted at things – but it would be good to find a way of collecting and sharing stories of some of the really good things that are happening.

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