Highlights Feb 25
Youth Weekend Away
We had an absolutely AMAZING weekend away with the youth. On Friday 7th March we took 17 young people away to the Pioneers Centre. Over the course of the weekend we enjoyed fun activities like laser tag, team building, football and more. But even better than all of those things, we prayed, worshipped and encountered Jesus.
The theme for the weekend was Isaiah 43, with our guest speaker, Nick, unpacking some of this for us. We delved into releasing our fears to God, opening ourselves up to seeing God do something new, practicing the prophetic, and not hiding our light away.
Luke, one of our young leaders, led a seminar about how God brings us from feeling unloveable, to knowing we are loved.
We had some incredible moments of encounter, as the youth band led us in worship. During this time people shared words and pictures, and on one day 2 people experienced physical healing! Ros and Nathan led a seminar on experiencing God’s joy, and during the prayer time the presence of God was felt so tangibly that nobody wanted to leave. We left the space open at the end for people to continue encountering the Holy Spirit, and it was another 20-30 minutes before people began to drift out.
It was a total joy to be able to pray with young people across the weekend.
Mission update: Emily Piper in South Africa
Through the missions committee, we financially support different organisations and individuals to bring the Good News of Jesus here in Coventry and across the world. Emily was a member of the congregation here at St. Marks and has gone to work as a missionary in South Africa. Here is a report of some of what she’s been doing over the last month.
Over the past month, Emily and her team have been deeply engaged in community work across different regions of South Africa. They traveled to Schoemansdal, a rural town near the Eswatini border, where they worked with women and youth affected by extreme poverty, gender-based violence, and cultural challenges. Emily led training sessions on boundaries, menstrual health, and relationships, adapting the conversations to address cultural realities. She also participated in discussions with young men about traditional marriage customs, helping to reshape perspectives on women's value and dignity. Through these sessions, Emily aimed to provide hope and healing, emphasizing God’s redemption and the importance of mutual respect in relationships.
Emily also facilitated various workshops in urban and township settings, including an awareness session at Bay Church on God’s design for sex, which sparked open and meaningful discussions among teenagers. Additionally, she led a "Dream and Dare" day at a primary school in Mitchells Plain, helping young girls understand puberty, personal boundaries, and menstrual health. The day was both emotional and empowering, with students opening up about personal struggles and gaining practical knowledge. Through it all, Emily felt a deep sense of purpose, recognizing the importance of her work in fostering healthier relationships and empowering young people with knowledge that could shape their futures.