We're three weeks in to Promiseland! Here, Fi Moore, our Promiseland Programming Director gives some reflections:
"Promiseland?....Brilliant!
We are now into week 3 of Promiseland and these are just some of the amazing moments we have had, the comments people have made and the benefits of what we have been doing:
- With 50 children attending we doubled the size of our children's ministry overnight!
- "It was one of the best hours of my week" (child)
- There was such a buzz down at the school as a large team of helpers arrived to set up for the morning.
- The children enjoyed participating in the activity time at the start - nail painting, friendship bracelets, football, Giant Jenga, reading, colouring, pinball, lego, crafts.....
- The singing was enthusiastic and energetic - brilliantly led by Emily Tyler
- "I enjoyed the Large Group time - it was fun!" (child)
- We learnt memory verses through actions - and could still remember them the following week!
- Small group time worked very well - "The children in my group are great - I'm really going to miss not seeing them next week" (volunteer)
- There was a real sense of a community of volunteers - working together, not on our own
- "When I got home he was really enthusiastic and can't wait for next week and is already talking about who he can invite from school." (parent)
- All the different procedures that had been put into place worked well - and the things that didn't quite work the first week went much better the second week.
- "The weeks and months of preparation definitely paid off - we were right to take time over this and not to rush into it." (volunteer)
- The 11-18 year olds involved in different aspects of the morning were fantastic - small group assistants, AV operators, setting up.
- "And most of all, I was really pleased to see other children and parents that we know from school who aren't at church queuing up for PL, really, really great to see!"
Prayer:
- There are children on the register who have not yet attended - pray that they will come along and see what they are missing.
- Pray that we will develop relationships with non-church parents over coffee at the end of Promiseland
- Pray that families will come along to Promiseland Plus at the church (the fourth Sunday of every month)
- Pray that the small group leaders will build up meaningful relationships with all the children
- Pray for more volunteers - particularly large group and small group leaders
- Pray for the leadership team - that they will be wise and sensitive to the needs of volunteers, parents and children"
