Could Rwanda help churches get more from the 2018 World Cup?

A team of lay and ordained people from the UK have made a trip to Rwanda to see the Scripture Union’s ReadySetGO sports ministry in action. Now they are home, they want to share the skills they have learnt to help churches connect with families and young people during the 2018 World Cup and beyond.

John Longuet-Higgins, a vicar in the Ashleworth and Hartpury area, was one of the team that travelled out to Africa. Flying out to another continent to see sports ministry at work might seem extreme to some, but John explains that it has helped the team to see the bigger picture.

He said, “Coming to Africa helps one see the big global picture. The youth leaders and ministers in Kigali see sport as a way of engaging the younger generation with the Christian faith in a way Sunday church cannot fully do. Their vision has inspired the five of us who have come out from the UK.”

The team is inviting anyone with an interest in leading children’s activities to come along to a free meeting on 5 November (2-5pm) at Hartpury College and learn more about the project.

Parishes that sign up will get the skills and training to put on a World Cup themed community day, or link activities to their current activities. Scripture Union has provided training material to help people use events like the 2018 World Cup to bring a new dimension to their parish’s children and youth work.

John said: “The training can be used to enrich current Messy Church programmes and can easily be built into what you are already doing. You don’t need to be particularly sporty to get involved. It’s more about games and also brings a high level of engagement with families.”

Contact John on vicar.westof7@gmail.com to book your place or to find out more.

Watch the video here.

 

Using sport, music and art to build relationships and share the Christian faith.