Whatever happened to January?

Well... I wonder whatever happened to January? It sort of came and went. And there was just no time at all to post any of the events on this blog. However, it was quite an eventful month. So, here is a summary of what took place, with a generous supply of photos to illustrate the various activities.

1. Bible school teaching near Barcelona

From 9th to 17th January, I was involved in teaching a course in Children's Ministry at IBSTE (Spanish Bible Institute and Theological Seminary) at Castelldefels, near Barcelona. This has been the first year I have been invited to teach at this particular Bible College. Sixteen first- and second-year students attended this 30-hour (3 credit) intensive course.

The course covered the following subjects: (i) What do we mean by 'child' and 'childhood'?, (ii) Theology of the child and childhood, (iii) Children's spirituality, (iv) Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Education, (v) The local church and children, (vi) Methods and resources, y (vii) Children's participation.



2. Godly Play in Barcelona
On 14th January, I led an introductory seminar on Godly Play in the chapel belonging to IBSTE (the Spanish Bible Institute and Theological Seminary), at Castelldefels, near Barcelona. Sixty-five people attended this introduction day. They represented different Christian denominations and came from a number of towns in Barcelona and Tarragona provinces. The seminar consisted of three presentations of Godly Play stories, followed by wondering and group discussion.

The comments on the feedback forms were very positive. Here are a few samples:

· I really thank God for being in the right place at the right time.

· It's a great method - so intriguing and appealing, with handy tools that are within your reach.

· It's given me a different vision and encouraged me to carry on with this ministry.

· I've picked up new and different ideas to put into practice and share with others in my church.

· Please keep on teaching others, both grown-ups and little ones.

· I think the seminar was really interesting and practical. It opens up a new way of working with children and with people of other ages.

· It seems to me that the idea of using parables so that children can work through their fears and problems was really relevant.

· I feel very excited by this way of presenting Bible truths in such a direct manner.

· I believe that this method is very helpful in showing that children are able to draw their own meaning and conclusions from a Bible story.

· I have learnt so much and really enjoyed the session. May God bless those who are dedicated to this work, and may they in turn be a blessing to others!

· I'm really impressed. I see it as being very useful for young children.

· One of the most important aspects for me is that Godly Play foments communion, which is so important and vital for Christianity.

· We are starting a new church, so I am convinced we shall take up Godly Play.

· I would like to learn the techniques. When the books are translated, I would like to have them. Thanks!

· The method seems excellent, so tactile and group supporting.

· I'd love to get deeper into this method. As a church, we would like you to come and teach us more.

· We need to support the work of translating the materials, website, etc.

Furthermore, one of the participants left this prayer on her evaluation sheet:

Thanks, Jesus, for these wonderful stories, so well told. For I have felt as though I was right inside them. How much I have learned and grown, remembering the story of The Great Family, which I form part of, and the story of The Holy Family and Christmas, as though it took place only yesterday. I can only say 'Thank you, Lord' and 'May you continue blessing us with your loving kindness'.

Here are a few more photos of the seminar:



3. Godly Play in the Canary Isles
On 28th January, another Godly Play seminar took place, this time in Jinámar, Gran Canaria. It was my very first time in the Canary Isles... however, it rained most of the time I was there! Despite the rain, though, thirty people attended the seminar from several churches and groups on the island.

Here are a few photos of the event...


...and some of the reactions:

• I am grateful to God for this chance to learn something new through this presentation.
• We need further training to really implement this method... I'm keen to go on.
• Godly Play is useful for churches with just a few members, as it can be easily adapted for different age groups.
• For me, this has been a precious experience. I thank God for your ministry and I encourage you to go on sharing all this with other people. Thanks.
• Thank you.

4. Youth programme in the Canary Isles

The church which invited me to spend two weeks in the Canary Isles (from 23rd January to 6th February) really made use of my skills: children's talks, preaching, prayer meetings, adult and youth Sunday school classes... Furthermore, I was invited to lead a week-long programme in celebration of the youth group's 15th anniversary. Although the sessions were aimed at the young people, in fact several other people, both younger and older, were keen to join in! Nobody seemed to mind this, so it all turned out to be an all-age event. The theme of the programme was 'Even the stones cry out', based on Luke 19:40.

Wishing you a happy
Christmas!

Agenda

January 2007
3 MADRID: Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid - Christmas dinner.
9-19 CASTELLDEFELS (Barcelona): Lecturing on 'Children's Ministry' at IBSTE (Spanish Bible Institute & Theological Seminary).
13 CASTELLDEFELS (Barcelona): Godly Play Introduction Day, in partnership with IBSTE.

February 2007
3 BARAKALDO (Vizcaya): Godly Play Workshop ('Parables'), in partnership with the Barakaldo Evangelical Church.
9-10 BARCELONA: National Committee & Council meetings, Unión Bíblica (Scripture Union in Spain).
16-18 LOS NEGRALES (Madrid): 'Working with Children Today' - weekend residential training for children's workers & Sunday school teachers, in partnership with Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid (Madrid Evangelical Educators' Association).

March 2007
17 SALOU (Tarragona): Godly Play Workshop ('Liturgical Action'), in partnership with the Salou Protestant Church.
24 MADRID: Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos - AGM.
25- 1 April ENGLAND & WALES: Holiday & preaching.

April 2007
1 SOUTH HARROW (England): Preaching & Godly Play at Roxeth Green Free Evangelical Church. Palm Sunday... and April Fools' Day!

May 2007
12 EL ESCORIAL (Madrid): Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos - 'Christian Educators' Day'.

June 2007
1-3 LOS NEGRALES (Madrid): 'Working with Children Today' - weekend residential training for children's workers & Sunday school teachers, in partnership with Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid (Madrid Evangelical Educators' Association). Coincides with the World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (Viva Network).

September 2007
25-28 LOS NEGRALES (Madrid): Meetings with the planning group for the 2008 Godly Play European Conference.
28-30 LOS NEGRALES (Madrid): Godly Play Workshop - weekend residential training for children's workers & Sunday school teachers, in partnership with Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid (Madrid Evangelical Educators' Association).

September 2008
19-22 LOS NEGRALES (Madrid): Godly Play European Conference.

UK Visit: Family Time

Our recent visit to the UK was also a time to spend with our daughter, Lorna, and her family. They have recently moved to Thatcham, near Newbury, in Berkshire, so Cilla and I obviously made the most of the chance to stay at their new home.

We also took advantage of the November sales to bring early Christmas (and birthday!) presents to the girls - a couple of bikes. Our granddaughters were clearly delighted by these gifts and were soon riding off on them.






Here are Cilla, Lorna and little Raúl in a picturesque spot in Newbury.

UK Visit: Godly Play at Roxeth Green Free Church

I have just completed an 18-day visit to the UK (3-21 November). Cilla was able to be with me for the first 10 days, but then had to return to Madrid to resume her work as an English teacher. One of the aims of the trip was to spend time at our 'home' church, Roxeth Green Free Church, in South Harrow (north-west London).

Cilla and I were based at the Roxeth 'manse' (church house), where new core leadership team members, David and Caroline Herbert, live. It was a special joy to get to know David and Caroline - and their hospitality - during our stay with them.






David & Caroline Herbert at a meal out


There were plenty of opportunities to meet new members of the congregation and to renew our friendship with older ones: by sharing meal times, attending and participating in cell groups, mums & toddlers, ladies' meetings...


...children's & youth groups, etc., as well as the more formal invitations to preach and to tell Godly Play stories.


Godly Play was new to Roxeth Green Free Church, and this imaginative approach to being with children and telling Bible stories was clearly the latest development in my own ministry since my last visit to the UK. So, I took advantage of quite a few opportunities to tell Godly Play parables and sacred stories to different church groups: children, teenagers, adults, and all-age groups... first, because the stories are wonderful in themselves, and, second, so that different members of this local congregation could get to know the method and discover why it has lately become important in my work in Spain.



An all-age Godly Play morning at Roxeth Green Free Church





Many of the Godly Play materials were kindly made available to me by the Church of England London Diocesan Children's Advisor, Mary Hawes. I have known Mary for a number of years, as she used to be a Scripture Union children's worker. But it has been in the last couple of years, since my involvement with Godly Play, that we have maintained fairly regular communication. It was good to spend a short time with Mary at London Diocesan House when I went to pick up and later return the Godly Play materials.



Mary Hawes at her office in London Diocesan House





Now, I wonder if Roxeth Green Free Church will itself in time use Godly Play in its own ministry with children. There was certainly great interest in this approach from most of the participants in the Godly Play sessions I was able to lead - especially from parents and Sunday School teachers. At the moment, this local church is facing certain problems with recruitment of leaders to help in its children's work. Perhaps it will be felt that a thorough evaluation of this vital area of ministry is long overdue in the church... and it may be that Godly Play is seen as a way forward. If 'Roxeth' does decide to take it up, it will be one of the first churches in the UK outside the Anglican and Methodist denominations to do so.

Agenda October, November & December

I'll be involved in the following activities over the next three months.

October
21-22 Madrid: Godly Play workshops ('Liturgical Action': Advent), in partnership with Mountainview International Church. Sessions in English.
29 Madrid: Godly Play workshops ('Liturgical Action': Advent), in partnership with 'El Shaddai' Evangelical Church. Sessions in Spanish.

November
3-21 London: Visit to UK which will focus mainly on our 'home' church (Roxeth Green Free Evangelical Church, South Harrow) and visits to our daughter, Lorna, and family, who have recently moved house to Thatcham (near Reading).
4-5 Thatcham: Family time.
6 Roxeth: Welcome from the church & Godly Play combined event for 3-11 year olds.
7 London: Morning - meeting with Mary Hawes, the Anglican Children's Adviser for the London Diocesis. Mary used to be a Scripture Union children's worker and is now deeply involved with Godly Play as an accredited teacher and a presenter of the method.
Evening - Meal with the Roxeth Leadership Team.
8 Roxeth: Afternoon - Godly Play at an afternoon cell group.
Evening - Meal with the Roxeth Missionary Action Group (MAG).
9 Roxeth: Evening - Godly Play at a joint cell meeting.
10-11 Thatcham: Family time.
12 Roxeth: All-age Godly Play event.
13 Roxeth: Preaching at morning service.
Afternoon - Cilla leaves for Spain.
15 Rayners Lane: Morning - event at the Harvest charity shop.
London: Afternoon - Visit to the London Diocesan House.
16 Roxeth: Evening - Cell groups.
17 Roxeth: Thursday Group.
18 Roxeth: Evening - 'God slot' at the Xtreme youth group.
20 Roxeth: Morning - Godly Play at the JCB group (12-18 years).
21 Afternoon - Return to Spain.
24-27 Madrid: Attendance at I Protestant Congress.

December
3 Zaragoza: Godly Play presentations.

'Holidays' in Galicia

This summer, Cilla and I spent a working holiday in Galicia, northwest Spain. We were helping our son, John Paul, and his family move house and begin their preparations for establishing a rural guest house.

We hired a truck to take personal belongings and new furniture. Here are John Paul and his wife, Mari Angeles, unloading stuff.

While John Paul and Mari Angeles worked inside the house, laying floors and getting the guest bedrooms ready...

I spent most of my time outside, attempting to drive back the jungle and working to restore the original gardens.

Cilla joined us later. She had a reduced number of English classes which she was able to continue imparting by internet and telephone tuition from her new location in Galicia.

As the final results reveal, the effort was well worth it. However, this is just the first stage of the 'rural hotel' project. Although, the house is already open to guests, further stages include building an extension to the main building so that accommodation for customers can be increased from four double bedrooms to six, each with en suite bathrooms. So... there are likely to be more 'holidays' in Galicia in the near future! If you are interested in using these facitilies for your own holiday in Spain (or you would like to come and help!!!), please follow this link for further information: Hotel Rural Andanzas.

By the way, there was time to get away from all the work and relax! Here we are visiting Finisterre (Spain's 'Land's End').

Agenda July, August & Semptember

I'll be involved in the following activities over the next three months.

July
2 Madrid: Godly Play introduction day, in partnership with St. George's Anglican Church. Sessions in both English & Spanish.
15, 16 El Escorial (Madrid): Summer seminar: Children's spirituality and how to develop it. I'll be taking one of the talks and offering the participants a full introduction to Godly Play. Organized by: SEUT (United Evangelical Seminary of Theology), Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid (Madrid Association of Evangelical Educators), y Unión Bíblica (Scripture Union in Spain).

August
Holidays!

September
3 Madrid: Godly Play workshop (Parables), in partnership with Iglesia Catedral El Redentor (Spanish Anglican Church).
17 Madrid: Godly Play workshop (Parables), in partnership with St. George's Anglican Church.
23-25 La Moraleja (Madrid): Training weekend for children's workers, Sunday School teachers, etc, in partnership with Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid (Madrid Association of Evangelical Educators).

EurECA Conference

Last week, from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th May, I attended the annual EurECA (European Educators' Christian Association) conference, which took place this year at Scripture Union's Le Rimlishof centre, in the Alsace region of France. There were about 60 educators present, from many countries in Europe. Most of them were teachers in either state schools or private Christian schools. A few, like me, work in non-formal education. I was representing the Asociación de Educadores Evangélicos de Madrid, who are members of EurECA. The conference theme was 'Love in the Curriculum'.



A view of the nearest village to the conference centre, Buhl, and the beautiful surrounding region of Alsace.

Apart from the programmed sessions at the conference, time was spent profitably between sessions just getting to know other European educators. It was especially interesting to meet Isabel Pinto Pinheiro from Portugal. Isabel is the chair of an association which groups together about 150 Evangelical Protestant RE teachers who work in state schools in Portugal.

I was asked to present Godly Play during one of the optional afternoon sessions. About 20 people attended the presentation, representing a good number of countries, and several of them asked for further information about the method.



David with Isabel Pinto Pinheiro, from Portugal.

BBC radio programme on Godly Play

If you wish to learn a little more about what I am up to in Spain regarding Godly Play presentations and training, a five-minute BBC programme about the method in the UK is available online. The programme was broadcast last Sunday 8th May on Radio4's Sunday magazine. Click here for a direct link to the programme. You will need to have RealPlayer installed.