Children’s & Youth: Life Changing Encounters with Jesus

1. Children’s & Youth: Life Changing Encounters with Jesus

2. Overall picture • Over 140 years in Tonbridge • 450+ children and young people from the Tonbridge area • 160 volunteer youth and children’s workers

3. Inspiring The Values • Leading children and young people into an enduring relationship with Jesus • Cultivating an environment of expectant faith Relevant Integrated • Children and young people taking their part in the church and the whole church owning the children’s and youth work • Partnering with parents and carers • Presenting timeless truths in up-to-date ways • Relating faith to life in the real world Life- Changing Encounters with Jesus Inclusive Holistic • Children and young people growing mentally, physically, emotionally and socially as well as spiritually • Becoming responsible global citizens • All children and young people welcomed and included • Welcoming local families into the church Supportive • Supporting, guiding and equipping our fantastic team of leaders

4. The Journey • Vision statement • YLT & CLT • Critical thinking • Godly dreaming • Youth – 10 year plan • Children – 3 year plan • Elders

5. Young peoples’ faith journey • Serve and Engage • Transform • Grow • Release

6. Key individuals and organisations • Leaders • Parents • The wider church • Outside organisations

7. Engage & Serve • All young people in the ward to come into contact with tbcYouth (approx. 450 young people). • Open a Youth Community Centre open 3.30-12.00pm Mon-Fri, all day Sat. • Develop schools contacts across all age groups • Developing other “points of contact”, e.g. Toddler Time, after-school clubs, detached work

8. Transform • All young people in the ward to hear a clear gospel presentation (approx. 450 young people). • Alternative worship opportunities. • Expanding and developing an integrated approach to our existing groups. • Capitalising on evangelistic opportunities.

9. Grow • Every young person knows who their ‘pastor’ is. • All young people who attend on a Sunday to be involved in a cell with 2 cell leaders. • Developing All-Age Worship. • Agreed curriculum across groups. • More time and space for the Holy Spirit.

10. Release • Every young person who attends on a Sunday is serving in a ministry (either inside or outside of ‘church’) • Mission for all year groups, i.e. yr. 7-9 regional; yr. 10-11 national; yr. 12+ international • Seeing young people become key volunteers in their church, church staff and missionaries. • Develop a “serving mindset” amongst our children so they come to church expecting to participate and to give as well as to receive.

11. Leaders • Recruit a Children’s Team Leader! • Supporting the spiritual life of our volunteers. • Every youth volunteer able to access regular, relevant training and resources. • Developing sustainable growth: formal mentoring and modelling to younger leaders to take up key roles. • Celebrating and encouraging our volunteers in their crucial role.

12. Parents • Improve communication in both directions. • Supporting parents through courses and groups, e.g. parenting, drugs and alcohol, internet safety.

13. Church & Outside Organisations • Annual “Children’s & Youth Work Sunday” where vision is cast and work explained. • Partnering with other local churches through TCYC. • Input into Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council long term children’s and youth plans. • Key leader in Tonbridge Local Children’s Strategic Partnership Board.

14. What next … • Meetings with parents • Publicising the vision with the wider church • Recruiting Children’s Team Leader