Dear Supporter

Welcome to the first Regenerate newsletter of the new school year. We are so grateful for your commitment to praying for and supporting the work of Regenerate.

‘Love your schools, not your schools’ work’

This was the title of a magazine article I read over the summer. It is a reminder that we only do the work we do because God has called us to love all the children, young people and staff in our local schools. It may be that the year ahead will see changes to the work of Regenerate. Perhaps God will call us to stop certain things, to do some things differently or to start something completely new. Let’s pray that God will help us to make truly loving our schools our first priority.

Looking Back

We are grateful to God for the opportunity to deliver the Moving On programme to Yr 6 pupils in every primary school last term. In each school the team talked to the children in small groups about their hopes and fears for moving on to secondary school. We were able to encourage and reassure them and everyone was given a copy of the Scripture Union booklet ‘It’s your move’. By the end of term our Accompanying Project pupils were feeling much more positive about the move to secondary school than they had been when we first met them back in February.

Lunchtime clubs in the secondary schools ended on a positive note with students being keen to continue meeting in the new school year. Unfortunately we were not able to resume lunchtime clubs which had been stopped in May at Yate Academy or Woodlands schools.

Looking Forward

This term is a time of establishing the work again as the teams go into schools for the first time this academic year. In the secondary schools we will be taking assemblies to advertise Rock Solid and starting the club sessions. We will be reconnecting with students we got to know last year to establish Refresh groups. We will also be meeting with our Accompanying Project students to see how they are settling into their new schools. Val will be meeting with the Head at Yate International Academy which we trust will open the door again to Regenerate work.

Les has a busy programme of assemblies in all the schools and will be seeking to establish good relationships with the eight new Head teachers who have started this term. There will also be new groups of infant children to get to know at CRASH and crafty clubs.

This month also sees Regenerate Sunday taking place on 20th September which we hope will result in much needed extra finances, volunteers and prayer support. Regenerate’s AGM is then taking place on 30th September.

Prayer Points

Please pray for our school communities:

  • For staff as they get to know their new classes, especially for staff who are new to their schools including the new Head teachers taking up roles in eight of the local primary schools. Pray for staff in positions of leadership facing tough decisions and teachers struggling with challenging behaviour and heavy workloads.
  • For children and young people settling into school, especially those just starting in reception classes and in the first year of secondary school. Pray particularly for any who are feeling lonely or finding school difficult.
  • Pray that our schools will be caring communities where each person is valued regardless of their abilities or behaviour.

Please pray for the work of Regenerate:

  • For all the primary assemblies taking place this term
  • For the resumption of CRASH and Crafty clubs, which support infant children who struggle with confidence and self esteem.
  • For Les and the primary team as they get to know new members of staff and Head teachers
  • For opportunities to open up again at Yate International Academy and Woodlands Primary School
  • For effective advertising of lunchtime clubs in secondary schools and the establishment of Rock Solid Clubs and Refresh groups.
  • For Val and the secondary team to get to know the young people coming along to clubs and build up a sense of group identity.
  • For a really positive response in our churches to Regenerate Sunday
  • For the AGM and the trustees who work so hard to oversee the work of Regenerate