Advice

INSIGHT

Change a child’s life

Volunteers of all ages can make a huge difference on children’s holiday clubs and young persons’ missions. SHARON PRIOR explains

As a teenage Christian, Martyn was struggling to maintain his faith. As a way of helping him renew his enthusiasm for God, his parents encouraged him to go on a Scripture Union holiday. The experience completely transformed the doubting young person. He came back with a fresh desire to follow Jesus and has since served as president of his university Christian Union, a missionary in Africa and is now vicar of a large inner-city church.

Attending a Christian holiday or mission can have a life-changing impact on a child or young person. But they’re not the only ones who benefit. Volunteering on a children’s or young people’s holiday or mission can teach you a great deal about your own gifts and makes you become much more dependent on God. You have the opportunity to make and build lasting relationships with other team members, and return to your home church full of new ideas.

Ultimately, you make a difference: in the lives of the young people, their parents, your fellow team members and, of course, in your own life.

What makes a good volunteer? Someone who is prepared for hard work, but also someone who is ready for laughter, enjoyment, discipleship and faith-building. The range of skills needed varies too. Holiday camps and missions need people to cook, clean, encourage and support, lead worship, organise games, teach drama and much more.

The fundamental requirement, however, is a passion for God and a desire to share your faith with others. Many people volunteer for holidays and missions as a way of giving back the positive experience they had as a child or young person.

Dave says: "I became a Christian on a Scripture Union mission in North Wales, but living it out for the other 50 weeks of the year was never very easy. As a result I really looked forward to the mission every year as a time to learn more about God with people of my own age and thrive off leaders who were a great example of joyful Christians. I became a volunteer as soon as I was old enough, because I knew from personal experience the difference it could make. It is a pleasure knowing you are giving something back."

With so many different holidays and missions on offer, there’s something that everyone can volunteer for. Opportunities in the UK happen all year round and range from kayaking in the Lake District to leading beach celebration services on the Lleyn peninsula, from exciting urban evangelism in London, to playing games in the Quantock Hills or helping young people revise for exams.

For opportunities further afield, there are short and long-term international placements all around the world, including Peru, Australia, France, Ukraine and Hungary. By serving abroad, volunteers take part in organising Bible discovery sessions, leading life-skills activities and teaching English, as well as enjoying the experience of living in a different culture.

While many initiatives on international placements try to improve the standard of living, the aim of sharing the Gospel message with children and young people in a way that’s relevant to their needs and community remains a priority.

For many volunteers, such as Daniel, who served for six months in South Africa, this is vitally important. He says: "You can give your money to a charity that will save someone physically, but you can save someone physically in this lifetime and they can still die and not be saved spiritually. I found it a privilege to share the Gospel with these children."

It is a common misconception that disability or age can prevent people from getting on board, but many organisations run specialised holidays and missions for children, young people and volunteers with a disability.

As for the view that some people are too old to volunteer on a children’s holiday or mission, Moira says: "I’d heard about these short-term missions to Eastern Europe and thought it was a great idea, just not for me. Having recently retired, I assumed I was too old. This type of service was for students, I thought. I thought wrong. I plucked up the courage and applied for a Scripture Union Frontline mission to Hungary and it was fantastic.

"At times I felt inadequate and uncertain but saw God at work, answering prayer and supplying my and the team’s needs, enabling us to work together. Being with Hungarian Christians gave a real sense of our unity in Christ as we planned, prayed, worked and relaxed with each other. There were, of course, many challenges, not least the language barrier, but our attempts at communication brought much laughter, confused expressions and a good opportunity to build relationships with the children.

"Taking part has left me with wonderful memories of blessings, challenges, fun, laughter and hard work. It has given me renewed enthusiasm for service and a fresh awareness of ultimate dependence on God."

Seeing a child or young person get close to God, possibly for the first time, is an unforgettable experience and also a great encouragement for your own faith. By giving some time to volunteer, you can be part of that.

Sharon Prior is head of voluntary ministry at Scripture Union
What has being a volunteer in any kind of ministry, project or club done for you? Write to info@cfnetwork.co.uk

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		INSIGHT Change a child’s life Volunteers of all ages can make a huge difference on children’s holiday clubs and young persons’ missions. SHARON PRIOR explains As a teenage Christian, Martyn was struggling to maintain his faith. As a way of helping him renew his enthusiasm for God, his parents encouraged him to go on a Scripture Union holiday. The experience completely transformed the doubting young person. He came back with a fresh desire to follow Jesus and has since served as president of his university Christian Union, a missionary in Africa and is now vicar of a large inner-city church. Attending a Christian holiday or mission can have a life-changing impact on a child or young person. But they’re not the only ones who benefit. Volunteering on a children’s or young people’s holiday or mission can teach you a great deal about your own gifts and makes you become much more dependent on God. You have the opportunity to make and build lasting relationships with other team members, and return to your home church full of new ideas. Ultimately, you make a difference: in the lives of the young people, their parents, your fellow team members and, of course, in your own life. What makes a good volunteer? Someone who is prepared for hard work, but also someone who is ready for laughter, enjoyment, discipleship and faith-building. The range of skills needed varies too. Holiday camps and missions need people to cook, clean, encourage and support, lead worship, organise games, teach drama and much more. The fundamental requirement, however, is a passion for God and a desire to share your faith with others. Many people volunteer for holidays and missions as a way of giving back the positive experience they had as a child or young person. Dave says: "I became a Christian on a Scripture Union mission in North Wales, but living it out for the other 50 weeks of the year was never very easy. As a result I really looked forward to the mission every year as a time to learn more about God with people of my own age and thrive off leaders who were a great example of joyful Christians. I became a volunteer as soon as I was old enough, because I knew from personal experience the difference it could make. It is a pleasure knowing you are giving something back." With so many different holidays and missions on offer, there’s something that everyone can volunteer for. Opportunities in the UK happen all year round and range from kayaking in the Lake District to leading beach celebration services on the Lleyn peninsula, from exciting urban evangelism in London, to playing games in the Quantock Hills or helping young people revise for exams. For opportunities further afield, there are short and long-term international placements all around the world, including Peru, Australia, France, Ukraine and Hungary. By serving abroad, volunteers take part in organising Bible discovery sessions, leading life-skills activities and teaching English, as well as enjoying the experience of living in a different culture. While many initiatives on international placements try to improve the standard of living, the aim of sharing the Gospel message with children and young people in a way that’s relevant to their needs and community remains a priority. For many volunteers, such as Daniel, who served for six months in South Africa, this is vitally important. He says: "You can give your money to a charity that will save someone physically, but you can save someone physically in this lifetime and they can still die and not be saved spiritually. I found it a privilege to share the Gospel with these children." It is a common misconception that disability or age can prevent people from getting on board, but many organisations run specialised holidays and missions for children, young people and volunteers with a disability. As for the view that some people are too old to volunteer on a children’s holiday or mission, Moira says: "I’d heard about these short-term missions to Eastern Europe and thought it was a great idea, just not for me. Having recently retired, I assumed I was too old. This type of service was for students, I thought. I thought wrong. I plucked up the courage and applied for a Scripture Union Frontline mission to Hungary and it was fantastic. "At times I felt inadequate and uncertain but saw God at work, answering prayer and supplying my and the team’s needs, enabling us to work together. Being with Hungarian Christians gave a real sense of our unity in Christ as we planned, prayed, worked and relaxed with each other. There were, of course, many challenges, not least the language barrier, but our attempts at communication brought much laughter, confused expressions and a good opportunity to build relationships with the children. "Taking part has left me with wonderful memories of blessings, challenges, fun, laughter and hard work. It has given me renewed enthusiasm for service and a fresh awareness of ultimate dependence on God." Seeing a child or young person get close to God, possibly for the first time, is an unforgettable experience and also a great encouragement for your own faith. By giving some time to volunteer, you can be part of that. Sharon Prior is head of voluntary ministry at Scripture Union What has being a volunteer in any kind of ministry, project or club done for you? Write to info@cfnetwork.co.uk © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.