Big dream, big vision - Come along side

Let me share with you a vision...

Several years ago the YWAM Stirling had a vision of teaching interns mission in the community. The idea was that we would offer an internship programme and the students would learn what it is to have a missional lifestyle working in a community based setting. The participant would go away with an accredited course known in the UK.

Sadly the idea never got off the ground as we soon found out that we needed at least two participants in order for the trainers to be accredited.

Several years on and the vision or desire to have an urban based missions course has not left us.

Running a community based Discipleship Training School.

For those of you that know nothing about Youth With A Mission. A Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a residential training course that combines Biblical teaching with outreach experiences.

It touches on topics like the Fatherheart of God, Encountering God, Evangelism, The Holy Spirit, Calling and Vision,

Traditionally these schools are run on big bases and then the outreaches might be overseas or with local churches.

But here is a thought what if we ran one of these courses in an urban setting?

It has been done before but what if we tried it again in Scotland?

A community based DTS that teaches participants to have a missional approach to life. Participants would be able to be involved in what is going on in the area already.

The second stream or theme would be to focus on Intercessory Prayer. Praying for city, nation and beyond. This may mean that one outreach is intercessory based.

It is a big vision with lots to get in place if it is going to happen. We need staff, we need students, we need to rent a place to house them for 6 months.

But what a great vision, training and enabling people to demonstrate God's love to people. Mission does not have to be scary, you don't have to go anywhere.

What can you do?

Partner with us
You can pray for us to get all that we need to achieve this goal
You can spread the word to anyone you think may be interested in joining us
You can give financially to YWAM Stirling to help us achieve this goal.

2014 is going to be a big year for Scotland, you can be a partner with us.

YWAM Stirling - Seeking God's heart in the heart of Scotland.

Saving a leisure centre

Many of you may know that I embarked on saving a sports facility 2 years ago. The council was closing it and that was that.

Or so many thought...

In my heart though I felt there were issues of integrity with this decision and so I quickly joined with some local mums who had started  a petition against the closure.

I had more than enough on at the time but as a community worker my professional values were at stake as far as I was concerned. I could not stand by and see a facility be demolished because I knew it would have a detrimental effect on the long term health and well being of the community.

It soon became apparent that the decision would not be reversed and the last option was a community buy out of the facility.

Fighting demolition is massive, but thanks to a great team within the community that evolved we have done it - it is the community worker's dream. I am so proud do be a part of this.
What started as my off time,  soon became part of ministry. For where does it start and finish?

So Ochil Leisure Centre is once again open to the public, thanks to a handful of determined parents and local people.

  

It has been a slog at times and I wonder why would you do this as it has impacted family life.... but the satisfaction I got at having my kids back in there doing swimming lessons ( a very important life skill) and hearing kids enjoy themselves is hard to describe.

We have opened the doors in March and have a good staff team but we still need to make it sustainable.
I now have a choice to make too. Have I done my bit or do I become a voluntary Director of the company? (If they will have me)

To be honest I have poured so much of my life into this in the past 2 years  that it has my heart now.... its still early days.

This was no where in my grand scheme of life but its where God seems to have led me.  I have some thinking to do.

Some may think well this is not a Christian venture, you have more than enough to do, but God is interested in the whole being.
 He is interested in us even when we ignore Him. He never abandons us and always accepts us.

I want to see community transformation. Having good facilities that help in health and well being is very much part of that.

If you are reading this and are local, please drop in at the facility and try it.

We want it to grow and bloom.

Raising money for YWAM Stirling - Fundraiser profile page - BT MyDonate

 Hi folks

On the 2nd June I will be taking part in a 10.2 mile walk raising money for the organisation I work for. YWAM  Stirling is a Community Development team, part of YWAM Scotland.

YWAM Stirling has to raise all its own funds, therefore any contribution that can be made is vital and would be used to sustain the work of YWAM Stirling and help it develop and do more.

Please click the link below and visit my profile page. Bt Donate allows you to give securely. Thanks

Fundraiser profile page - BT MyDonate