Community Projects
June Project 2008
June 2008
Last year in 2007 we launched the June Project, a summer outreach celebration bringing together many aspects of Kings’ life and mission. This year was even bigger and better - and, much to our relief, sunnier!
Following teaching each morning, 90-100 people took to the streets of Durham, doing drama, first-contact evangelism, garden projects, barbershop singing, face-painting, sports, and clowning! In the evenings we ran community events in Gilesgate and in town. We ended the week with a free barbecue in St Oswald's Park and an evening of jazz and funk with 'A Funk Affair'. Overall we had a fantastic week, learning together, serving the local community and taking the good news about Jesus to the streets. And the weather was generally great - thank you Jesus!
More photos will be up soon, but in the meantime here's some of the Interns' reflections on the project:
Naomi Aves
'God is Good, all the time. All the time God is good!' This was the strap-line for June Project this year, and it couldn't be more true. Despite the torrential rain on Wednesday evening, the weather was great for the duration of the week. Everything was organised much further in advance, and with over 100 delegates there were lots of willing hands and feet serving and living for Jesus all over Durham.
There are so many amazing stories to tell, and all of them testify to God's faithfulness. Personally, I was involved in helping to run the barber shop choir (which came together really well in the end and everybody performing and listening seemed to enjoy themselves). It was great to see the delegates throw themselves in and grow in confidence over the project. Even more amazing is just how much of an impact this year has made on the locals. I've been so encouraged to watch relationships grow and new ones start. In particular, it has been great to recognise and say hello to my neighbour who had her garden re-vamped by a team of delegates. Loads of people responded to the invitations to our guest service on Sunday, and one guy in particular gave his life to Jesus. Praise God!
Becky Rolls
Hello all of you who have been praying for us - thank you so much!!!! So the June Project 08 was a time of families, community and action. I was leading teams on the streets doing Theatre, Clowning, face-painting and was in a barbershop quartet which was great fun. All the way through God was answering prayer, about meeting people, timings, logistics and the weather was great - we sang 'We're all going on a summer holiday' - and the sun came out! I had a humbling experience of leading from behind the scenes, facilitating others to have the opportunity to meet people-it was a privilege to see delegates be amazed by what God was doing and being in great conversations because they chose to take a step out of their comfort zones. Every time God showed up! What a faithful God we serve!
Jason Piper
For me, the whole experience of the June Project was a massive demonstration of God's faithfulness, persistent and specific answers to prayer! From the weather (which changed and held up at the right times) to the number and enthusiasm of all of the delegates, there was no part of the project where I didn't see God's hand in inspiration, encouragement and strength!
The teaching sessions were challenging, interesting and filled us for the physically, emotionally and spiritually demanding days of gardening, first contact evangelism sport and other activities which followed. Personally, my involvement took the form of some first contact in the market place, gardening in Whinney Hill, helping at the sports events at Laurel Avenue and Gilesgate Comprehensive School.
The two main events I had responsibility for were the "After Hours" ministry (toastie bar/chill out lounge and detached work) on Friday night (11:30pm - 3am) and "A Funk Affair" (jazz/soul/funk night) Saturday 8-10pm. Both events were extremely exciting and enjoyed by all! Numerous people were interested in having meaningful discussions in the café and enjoyed their stay. Similarly, Saturday night was well attended with plenty of dancing and fun had by all!
Jeanna Shalkowski
The Appleby Rooms were a blur of activity for most of June Project, with training, meals, and preparation! We decorated them with fairy lights, fabric and beanbags to create a relaxing atmosphere which came in useful for events such as the After Hours cafe ministry. Saturday's Fun Day at St. Oswald's Park was a great success despite the showers of rain, during which we took refuge in the main hall. Clowns, a barbershop quartet and face-painting amused children and adults alike, and we had a penalty shoot-out, parachute games, a creative chalk-wall and paint-board as well as giant bubbles and swings and roundabouts! People really seemed to enjoy themselves :) The rain meant that sports day-style races were a bit of a wash-out, but we managed a few and those that took part seemed to enjoy them! Ben and co. did an amazing job with the BBQ and some of those who were at the Fun Day stayed for the 'Funk Affair' in the evening.
Everyone did an amazing job of helping out and talking to people, and we were amazed by how much people were engaging with each other! God was really faithful to all of our prayers and we're so grateful to the delegates and volunteers who helped out with the preparation and the events themselves!
Ben Ward
During the June Project week we held three free afternoon teas: one at each of our normal coffee morning venues and an extra one at St Oswald's Institute. I was astounded at just how much God did through them. St Oswald's was the first one we had ever done at that venue and yet we had a really good number of people show up for a cuppa, a scone and a chat - a brilliant time of getting to know the local residents.
Having student delegates meant that we were able to do more than usual. Not all that many people turned up to one of the afternoon teas in Gilesgate, but this meant we got to meet residents that live nearby who we had never seen before. Lots of them wanted us to pray for them. Please pray that God would continue to work through us in these areas; that the June Project will give these initiatives a boost.
Dave Fisher
During the June Project I was responsible for how we used the Oswald's Institute and the Appleby Rooms. It was there that we did all of the teaching, the first contact training, a lot of the catering, it was almost like a hub of activity. It was incredible to see just how much we did over four days, on the wall was a very large piece of paper that showed what every delegate would be doing at any one time: There were people gardening, doing afternoon teas, performance on the streets, playing sports and that was just on one afternoon! It's amazing to think how much we did over four days and how many people were impacted by us.
Rachel Farish
'God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us'. Ephesians 3: 20
This is definitely the verse that sums up the June project for me this year. God was faithful in so many ways. Here are just a few; providing over 100 delegates, good weather, positive responses, new relationships and in all the organisation an preparation that occurred before hand.
There is therefore sooo much good stuff to tell you about from the week, but I’m going to keep it to a particular highlight. Co-leading the late night outreach and café on the Friday night was a new challenge for me and one that I was looking forward to with just a hint of apprehension. It involved serving tea, coffee, water and biscuits outside the students union, having a late night chill out café and doing detached work from 11 – 3. Initially I imagined the night would begin quietly and then get busier as people came out of planet (the club night in the students union). I guess I hoped for about 10-15 people throughout the night to come to the café and to have a couple of conversations with people outside the union. Within the first hour I was jumping with excitement, God took our simple plans and worked in incredible ways. The café had over 40 people visit it and each time I checked that people were ok outside the union they were ALL in conversations, and not just ‘hi, how are you conversations’, but conversations about the nature of God, church, other beliefs, it was absolutely incredible.
The team worked really hard and put in every effort despite it being the middle of the night. I came away amazed by God, in awe of the way in which he can use simple plans and humbled by the grace which he shows us daily.