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NEWS EXTRA

YFC project reduces crime by 25% in Scottish town

The actions of four young Christians have helped to dramatically reduced crime in the small Scottish town of Crieff, according to recently released police figures.

George Bettles, 21, Kathryn Bartholomew, 19, Luella Moody, 19 and Stuart Ratcliffe, 20, all took part in Youth for Christ's Integrate programme for gap-year students, working alongside Logos Trust, a local charity that was set up by churches in the area.

The influence of the programme on the 600 young residents of Crieff, just west of Perth, was such that youth crime such as vandalism and anti-social behaviour was reduced by 25%.

Constable Brian Easton, Crieff Police Community Liaison Officer, said that he was very positive about the project and welcomed anything that would tackle crime in the town. "The youth work programme and the chance to talk to older people has shown the young people a different way of life and has helped to broaden their horizons," he said.

The YFC team was based at the Logos Trust youth centre and Crieff Baptist church for 13 weeks from January to April, and worked together with youth workers from the Logos Trust in running a drop-in centre, lunchtime club and an after-school café for local young people. They also succeeded in initiating Youth Alpha, a course which introduces young people to the basics of Christianity, and set up a weekly youth service at the Baptist church on a Sunday night.

The Rev Richard Tuckley, minister of Crieff Baptist Church, said: "They really got amongst the young people in a big way. They were not afraid to make the contacts with young people or to bring them to what we called 'liquid room' at the church on a Sunday night."

Damian Wharton, YFC's National Missions Manager, was equally enthusiastic about the young people's efforts. "The presence of four Christians, not much older than the young people themselves made a real impact," he said. "It's a small town and they were constantly bumping into the same young people and so, in a tangible sense, they could really see these four working and making a difference."

Logos Trust Schools Co-ordinator, Chris Martin, who helped run the Integrate programme, says he is currently on the lookout for two further full-time youth workers and a dedicated fundraiser to help run the project. There are also plans to bring another YFC team to Crieff in 2005.

Is your church running a project or programme that is helping reduce youth crime? Tell us!

Pray for footballers this weekend!

The Pray for the Summer focus this weekend - which coincides with the Euro 2004 tournament kick-off in Portugal - will encourage 25,000 people to pray for the next generation of footballers!

Some 50,000 young people will attend Christian summer camps run by members of the Christian holiday association CCI, many of them involved in summer football camps.

Pete Monks, volunteer holiday leader of the summer Crusaders football holiday, urges people to pray for the next generation of footballers as they watch the games this summer.

"Football has been a great way of outreach to thousands of young people at camps throughout the UK. Lives have been changed as young people see that there is more to life than football. The adult volunteers involved try to be Christian role models and combine this with their enthusiasm for the sport. Each year we invite professional footballers to join us to share their training skills and their faith."

The holiday celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer. Through its website, CCI has sold nearly 25,000 bookmarks to churches and members to remind them to pray on this weekend. Acetates are available to download and use in church on that Sunday at www.prayforthesummer.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.


		NEWS EXTRA YFC project reduces crime by 25% in Scottish town The actions of four young Christians have helped to dramatically reduced crime in the small Scottish town of Crieff, according to recently released police figures. George Bettles, 21, Kathryn Bartholomew, 19, Luella Moody, 19 and Stuart Ratcliffe, 20, all took part in Youth for Christ's Integrate programme for gap-year students, working alongside Logos Trust, a local charity that was set up by churches in the area. The influence of the programme on the 600 young residents of Crieff, just west of Perth, was such that youth crime such as vandalism and anti-social behaviour was reduced by 25%. Constable Brian Easton, Crieff Police Community Liaison Officer, said that he was very positive about the project and welcomed anything that would tackle crime in the town. "The youth work programme and the chance to talk to older people has shown the young people a different way of life and has helped to broaden their horizons," he said. The YFC team was based at the Logos Trust youth centre and Crieff Baptist church for 13 weeks from January to April, and worked together with youth workers from the Logos Trust in running a drop-in centre, lunchtime club and an after-school café for local young people. They also succeeded in initiating Youth Alpha, a course which introduces young people to the basics of Christianity, and set up a weekly youth service at the Baptist church on a Sunday night. The Rev Richard Tuckley, minister of Crieff Baptist Church, said: "They really got amongst the young people in a big way. They were not afraid to make the contacts with young people or to bring them to what we called 'liquid room' at the church on a Sunday night." Damian Wharton, YFC's National Missions Manager, was equally enthusiastic about the young people's efforts. "The presence of four Christians, not much older than the young people themselves made a real impact," he said. "It's a small town and they were constantly bumping into the same young people and so, in a tangible sense, they could really see these four working and making a difference." Logos Trust Schools Co-ordinator, Chris Martin, who helped run the Integrate programme, says he is currently on the lookout for two further full-time youth workers and a dedicated fundraiser to help run the project. There are also plans to bring another YFC team to Crieff in 2005. Is your church running a project or programme that is helping reduce youth crime? Tell us! Pray for footballers this weekend! The Pray for the Summer focus this weekend - which coincides with the Euro 2004 tournament kick-off in Portugal - will encourage 25,000 people to pray for the next generation of footballers! Some 50,000 young people will attend Christian summer camps run by members of the Christian holiday association CCI, many of them involved in summer football camps. Pete Monks, volunteer holiday leader of the summer Crusaders football holiday, urges people to pray for the next generation of footballers as they watch the games this summer. "Football has been a great way of outreach to thousands of young people at camps throughout the UK. Lives have been changed as young people see that there is more to life than football. The adult volunteers involved try to be Christian role models and combine this with their enthusiasm for the sport. Each year we invite professional footballers to join us to share their training skills and their faith." The holiday celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer. Through its website, CCI has sold nearly 25,000 bookmarks to churches and members to remind them to pray on this weekend. Acetates are available to download and use in church on that Sunday at www.prayforthesummer.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.