Haverhill Schools Initiative

We believe this is God’s vision for the work of HIS, worked on by Beckie Pickering, Diana André and Youth For Christ’s Rachael Heffer and Rob Ryan.

The long term vision for HSI is based around effective outreach, discipleship and growth and it was felt that Youth for Christ’s 4D Strategy would be helpful as a base for planning effective mission and outreach in the future.

Simply outlined, this is based around the 4 stages of:

i)   D - Demonstrate           

Serving local Schools and Churches and engaging young people through word and servant-hearted action

ii)  D - Declare

Finding opportunities in Schools / Churches / Community to declare the good new

iii) D - Decision           

Providing locations and opportunities where young people can hear the gospel and respond to it

iv) D – Discipleship        

Responding to the needs of young Christians and helping them develop in Christian maturity, lifestyle, witness and churchmanship

In five years time, with no boundaries in terms of finance or time, HSI would like to see the following in place:

-         A Café project in the centre of Haverhill town used effectively as a Drop in / Training Centre / Study or Music Venue / Teenage Mum’s Centre etc. to combine Schools work, Church and Café outreach.

-         Shared vision, ownership and enthusiasm across churches for relevant Youthwork with 11-18s

-         HSI’s work in schools to provide a bridge to encourage young people’s access to Church Groups, the Café, Youth Alpha courses etc.

-         Long term relationships with many young people sustained through opportunities provided.