What makes a good disciple?

Hmmm, a good question? What do you think?

The word disciple comes from the Latin word for learner (discipulus), so it well worth thinking about in our quest for learning, education and development... Discipulus is variously translated as student, disciple or pupil.

How do we learn today? What do we yearn to learn? What have you learned lately? 

In our aim to share content and ideas from our member churches, we have a feature from the URC. The magazine for the United Reformed Church (URC), Reform, has been considering this question : What makes a good disciple? You can read the full article HERE. 

In the coming weeks, why not think and pray about how you might become a better disciple... a better student in Christ...?

Festive! Let's celebrate and give thanks to God!

As you may already know, the Free Churches Group have been shaping how we can support churches to engage more effectively with further education. One of the organisations we are developing working links with is Festive. 

Festive are a Christian organisation who support and engage students, chaplains and staff in further education across the UK. They have much to celebrate! Their recent Annual Report includes testimonies, news and success stories. You can read it HERE.  At Free Churches Group, we will continue to pray for the work of Festive and look forward to strengthening our links and alliance with them. 

Perhaps you would like to share this prayer in your church in the coming weeks, which was written by the Education Assistant, Sara Iles,  at FCG, and includes praying for colleges and student life... 

You can support Festive in a number of ways - through prayer, volunteering and giving... 

Festive say:  "We believe that the best people to reach students are students! We long to see a generation of Christ’s ambassadors living out the Gospel where they study. That’s why we’re all about: 

• Inspiring students that Jesus is the best news this world has to offer, letting His beauty transform their hearts so that they can look… 

• Seeking God in prayer, asking for His help and power to go… 

• Sharing the life transforming message of Christ with their friends through their words and actions!"

Festive's MISSION IS: 

to inspire and support Christians in Further Education Colleges and Sixth Forms to live for Jesus and to equip them as they share their faith through their words and actions. 

Festive's VISION IS:

to see an ongoing vibrant witness of Jesus in every FE College and Sixth Form in the UK. 

New Secretary of State for Education

As you may have already read in the press, The UK have a new Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP. 

A recent newspaper article based on Hinds' first big speech in the role is interesting. He encourages schools to aim for an ethos that develops pupils’ character, resilience and workplace skills. It will be interesting to see how this aim translates into practice. We pray him well as his work in the role develops and extends. You can read the full article HERE from The Guardian on 22nd January 2018. 

The Education Team at FCG are grateful to Justine Greening MP for all of her work in this role over the last couple of years and pray for her as she continues her work as an MP. 

Big thinking for little minds...

As part of our aim to feature articles and inspiring stories from our FCG member churches, here is a great piece from the Baptist Union of Great Britain. 

Big Thinking for little minds... 

Thinking big! That’s how one BMS World Mission worker has achieved something incredible. Thanks to the teacher training programme Annie Brown has developed, every child in Nepal will have the chance of a better education and a brighter future. 

Starting in January 2018, the plan is for all teachers of students aged between five and 13 years old of all subjects in all government schools throughout Nepal to undergo training pioneered by Annie.

Please join us as we pray for Annie and her team in Nepal and for all teachers, the children and the communities they work with... 

** How are you thinking BIG with your church and community this year? **

Share your stories with us! 

Photo of children in the Lamjung District of Nepal - from the BMS website

Perseverance!

Do you find it easy to persevere?

How are your new year's resolutions moving along?

Do you want to gain a greater ability to persist in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success?

How do we help our children and young people to develop perseverance?

Barnabas in Schools, as part of their Exploring Values in the Bible series, have published some useful resources which might help us and our groups... You can review and download the one related to Perseverance HERE. 

"The Bible has so much to offer in this area of positive personal, relational and community values, and its timeless wisdom can help all schools pass on to the next generation the qualities of life that are most valuable and which, as Christians, we believe are not only God-given but also can be God-energised in our lives." From Barnabas in Schools' website

I hope you enjoy these resources - you have the opportunity to give feedback to Barnabas in Schools too. 

'Keep your mind on Jesus... Then you won't get discouraged and give up' (Hebrews 12:3).