We hope that the first Streetspace gathering will be alongside the shalom conference to find out more and book a place go HERE
Streetspace gathering
2
Category Archives: FYT
Dave Wiles has finished the book that he started writing 3 years ago!! It is called ‘Stories from the Edge’ – the book is an attempt to challenge, inspire and encourage people who work with other people (especially youth and community workers). It contains some of his own story and lots of the stories of people who are active in youth and community work.
More detail about the book below with some endorsements – To order a copy (£10 plus £2 p&p) please phone 0121 687 3505 or e-mail: frontier@fyt.org.uk … or you can purchase via the FYT website.
STORIES FROM THE EDGE – Over 50 encounters with young people at risk: A practical resource for youth workers
By: Dave Wiles, CEO, Frontier Youth Trust
Foreword by: Adrian and Bridget Plass
These true stories are instructive, inspiring, arresting and shocking. Meet the 16-year-old on probation, who is on suicide watch; mediate between a rebellious youngster and his too-strict dad; listen to a 21-year-old girl, with two children in care, who works the street to pay for the heroin her father deals. Each chapter follows a particular theme, such as ‘Dads and Lads’ or ‘Youth Culture and Gangs’, and ends with points for discussion.
“Stories from the Edge shows us where God’s Kingdom can truly be found …This is invaluable for those who are engaged in ‘frontier’ youth work.” – Nick Shepherd, Centre for Youth Ministry
“Thank God for Dave Wiles, a bruised human being who understands through troubles in his own life and through his involvement in the battered lives of others, that Christianity is a messy business.” – Adrian and Bridget Plass, in their foreword
“Dave not only practises what he talks about, his own story shows the impact that can be made. A moving, challenging and motivating read.” – Tim Evans, Worth Unlimited
“Be warned – this book doesn’t hold back; it is not a gentle read! Instead, it is full of tough stories and the reality of the lives of young people on the edge. The brilliance of the book is in the questions – challenging the assumptions we have when working with young people and encouraging us to be people of grace and hope.” – Jill Rowe, Oasis
“An amazing collection of stories … A refreshingly honest and down to earth read for anyone who shares Jesus’ heart for people on the margins.” – Gavin Calver, Youth for Christ
“Everyone loves a good story and this book is packed with them – stories that challenge, inspire, shock and pull the rug from under your feet. It had me gripped.” – Jonny Baker, Church Mission Society
Illustrated by Jon Birch, www. asbojesus.wordpress.com
Unprepared a way to prepare for mission?
Officially StreetSpace starts this week as a national project. It is with some trepidation that I left the securer role of my split post with BCYM to take on the task of developing 36 new Streetspace/ Church on the edge projects. Whilst my funding is reasonably secure for the next two years, beyond that depends on the take up. I always found risk easier and certainly more fun when I was younger and never know quite what to think when people say they need this or that to get going. My first role was nonsalaried and I lived in a shed for a year responding to a need I identified in my dissertation – Was I naive, or am I now just old? Trying to follow what God is already doing – to an extent feels less risky and is very reassuring when stepping out. Perhaps this is the difference – the see a need meet a need demands a different kind of step to the one I am currently taking.
So what should my preparations be? I have spent the last few months positioning the project between the missional intentions of the churches/localities and the funding streams available. Knocking the paperwork into shape and setting up the first few months meetings. Even though it has been clear to see God in the process so far I still feel unprepared.
My role is about finding what God is already doing and helping others sniff this out in their localities. Using Streetspace positioning where needed or coaching others to develop their missional instincts. The meet the need see the need and where I am perhaps aren’t that different – both are off the map, where the easy to spot pathways are nowhere to be seen, where following the spirit moment by moment is the only way to go. This openness and freedom can be daunting but is the heart of mission so my preparations are to, forget the maps, ditch the compass and to travel Light and remain unprepared otherwise I am likely to miss out the Missio-dei.
Over 80k
We have just heard we received big lottery funding £49999 for the Skate park in chard. In total this means Streetspace has raised over £80000 with the young people to improve the area. Full a full press release and to see how the young contributed go below
PR SS Ramps up 80k
anyone for a notice in church?
Do something small to make a big change for young people! Text the word MITE to 82540 and help Frontier Youth Trust raise £100,000.
Please could everyone turn their mobile phones ON! An unusual request in church – but let me tell you why!
Imagine the young people you see most days, the young people that every one complains about hanging on the streets and in local parks, the young people who are avoided, now imagine those young people being in regular contact with a Christian youth worker with the skills and support to get alongside them and see lives transformed. StreetSpace is a new initiative from Frontier Youth Trust already working successfully with 100’s of young people just like those you have just imagined, young people that would not come near a traditional church. The work has been so successful that Frontier Youth Trust has been awarded £60,000 to start rolling StreetSpace projects out across the country. The plan now is to grow 36 new StreetSpace projects and we need your mobile phones to make this happen!
We recognise money is tight for most people at the moment so we are simply asking for lots of people (actually 100,000!) to contribute a small amount, their widow’s mite (see Mark 12: 41-44), via a text message. We are asking Christians everywhere to turn on their mobile phones and to text their individual mite to help us help young people and workers engage with what God is doing on the streets.
So please turn on your phone now and text the word MITE to 82540 – calls will cost £1.50 and over a pound will go directly to the StreetSpace initiative. Text with all your mite (excuse the pun!) If you don’t have your phone today write the number down and text when you get back and don’t forget to tell your friends to text as well.
Participative processes
On 8th September Frontier Youth Trust in will be joining forces with the YMCA to facilitate an informal training day around the themes of participation
– ‘whoever comes are the right people!’. The different processes can be brilliant as a way of engaging people in exploring a specific issue (e.g. theological) or considering vision for your church, youth group etc. They can work with any age group as well. If you are interested please email nigel@pimlott.org
The session will explore:
* Open Space Technology
* Future Search
* World Cafe
*Details*
* 10.45 – 2.30
* Clevedon YMCA
* Marson Rd
* Clevedon, BS21 7N
* £10
* Includes a free copy of the Participative Processes booklet
* Bring you own lunch
Greenbelt, cyclists, and seminars
Rob and Maz arrived about 10pm on Friday Night and were surprisingly relaxed and healthy. Seeing them around site over the last few days they looks refreshed and revived.
The festival was as good as ever. I went to two brilliant seminars Pete Rollins on The Third Mile arguing that Christ was opposed to ethics, 14 pages of notes in a hour, when I get the tape I will be re-listening for about a month; and Jonathan Bartlet on post Christendom politics and the church as a movement for anarchy, great stuff and is the follow up of Stuart Murry’s post Christendom books.
The Frontier Lecture with Bob and Annette Holman went well with over 150 people attending. One excellent point raised was the use of the word integration in the Green paper and that this was about structures rather than relationships and process. A challenge for use is to re read the paper replacing the word integration with the notion of shalom and see how this impacts our practice.
Canal Trip
Rob and Maz have made it through Birmingham and are following the canal towards Worcester. Encountering a variety of people and had to cycle through a hailstorm “that felt like golf balls” Depending on progress tonight they think it will be Saturday morning when they arrive at Greenbelt.
A well earned Break
Rob and Maz are down as far as Chasewater and thankful that after a day of rain the weather has picked up
It is not too late for you to support this event check this link
to see a crazy way to get involved
Progress Report
Rob and Maz are doing well and having some great encounters including a cyclist who led them across Derby and the owner of the B and B they stayed in donating £5 to FYT. They are about 60 miles into the trip where the picture was taken and heading to Walsall today.
It is not too late for you to support this event check this link to see a crazy way to get involved