Jesus said
"The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath"
Mark 2 v 27
Day One Youth Ministries
Grace Baptist Mission 150th Anniversary Conference
Put ten missionary kids together in a room at a missionary conference, with Don Carson preaching to their parents across the way, and they won’t want to feel short-changed. Stir them together and put them in the care of Tirzah Jones – brilliant! That is what happened at Grace Baptist Mission’s Anniversary Missionary Conference at Cloverley Hall in October. It was a great time for some ninety missionaries and staff, together with members of Council, to come together for three days of ministry, fellowship and discussion, and it was superb to know that Tirzah had a lively programme organised for the children. Most of them had never met before, but she had them bonding together quickly and they loved the programme she organised. Together they explored the lives of the kings, from Ahab and Jehoshaphat through Joash and Josiah to Hezekiah. They learnt about all the missionaries serving around the world with GBM, and made a huge patchwork banner that now hangs on the staircase at GBM Mission Centre. My son Josh insists the songs were the best bit. There were other crafts, making pencil pots and crowns, and when the group needed to be occupied in the late afternoon, games and quizzes and plenty to do. By the end of the week all the kids loved being together and had formed a gang, as seen from the group photo.
Then we all loaded into cars on Saturday morning and drove to Solihull for GBM’s Anniversary Thanksgiving. This was an overwhelming experience, as 1400 supporters turned up to hear Don Carson, and share the sense of thanksgiving to God for his grace. This meant a glut of children in the TOGO sessions, but never fear, Tirzah and a team of volunteers were there to handle the panic. Thinking on their feet, they made do with a smaller room and coped when the main meeting seriously overran.
All in all, it was a joy to be working with Tirzah again, and we recommend her to any organisation that needs help with a Holiday Bible Club, or a special children’s day in your church or elsewhere.
Jim Sayers, deputy Mission Coordinator, Grace Baptist Mission.