The Bible Reading Fellowship A year of making a difference: 2016 17 Transforming lives and communities BRF
Changing lives, transforming communities BRF s goal in 2016 17 was to consolidate and develop our work to deliver transformation through creative programmes and resources for individuals, churches and schools. We are thankful to have seen our efforts bear fruit in many significant ways. Messy Church, Who Let The Dads Out? and The Gift of Years have all seen considerable growth, helping more churches to reach out to their local areas and make a difference. Meanwhile, BRF has brought on board Rachel Turner s Parenting for Faith programme, empowering ordinary families to raise Godconnected children through a supportive community of parents, carers and others. Significant time and effort were invested into the BRF brand to communicate clearly how BRF s diverse range of programmes and activities fits together. This included redeveloping BRF s website (brf.org.uk), to bring our work to life. During the year we put in place rigorous processes to monitor the impact of all our activities. Our investment in digital communications has extended our reach and allowed us closer contact with our audiences, including programme leaders and participants around the world. We are grateful to all our supporters for helping us make a real difference to real people, living in the real world. Thank you to all of you who pray for us, volunteer at church groups, buy or sell our books, distribute or use our Bible reading notes, come to our events, or donate to our work. I hope you feel as inspired and thankful as we do by this review of 2016 17. Canon Richard Fisher, Chief Executive Officer
A year of making a difference through our programmes 96% of leaders and participants at Messy Church and Who Let The Dads Out? said they would recommend the respective programme to others. [Source: BRF s programme surveys] through our resources Over 3,000 participants in BRF staff-led training events Over 800,000 website visits Nearly 200,000 copies of BRF publications sold or downloaded Over 50,000 free website resources downloaded through our publishing 34 books published, on: Biblical engagement and application Christian life and practice Church mission and ministry Parenting and family life Prayer and spirituality 51,500 readers of our five series of Bible reading notes and three journals by spreading the word @ Over 20,000 people now receive e-newsletters about BRF and its programmes 32% more followers on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Over 15,000 followers in total 1
Transforming lives Since our foundation in 1922, BRF s vision has been to support change for the better wherever people are on their Christian journey or their life journey. We want to see people accessing the spiritual health that comes from a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ, enabling them to cope better with life s challenges, to repair and build relationships and to be empowered with hope. We do this by helping people to: understand the Bible and how to apply its principles to everyday life deepen their prayer life and Christian spirituality grow in faith. 2
through working with families I read Parenting Children for a Life of Faith as the young parent of a two-year-old. To be able to see some of that playing out and going national is really exciting. Parent through Bible reading notes We discuss our readings on the phone. The readings and notes often speak directly to the day s concerns and worries. I pray she may continue to find support and comfort. Thank you to all your contributors. New Daylight reader in Manchester, who orders a second copy for a friend suffering from serious mental health issues through books and resources Your book has blessed me and my eight-year-old daughter so much - it was exactly what I needed. We have seen God do great things. Alesha prayed last night and felt more unworried this morning. Reader comment on Comfort in the Darkness by Rachel Turner through events I gained new and meaningful ways of prayer that I hope will transform my prayer life. Festival of Prayer participant 3
Nurturing faith in children and families BRF s Children and Families pioneer, Jane Butcher, works at the forefront of this ministry, which enables churches and families to explore Christianity and the Bible creatively with children, and to find God in the everyday. BRF has been developing this outreach through the Parenting for Faith programme, led by Rachel Turner. From national level to grass roots Collaborating with strategic networks, our team working with children and families has helped shape national thinking, through: helping to organise and deliver the national Let s Talk Family leaders conference contributing to Children Matter, Children s Ministry Network and the Faithfull Generation project teaching on the Cliff College Family Ministry certificate course involvement in the children s and family ministry conference Hand in Hand. A review in 2016 recognised the continuing demand for BRF s resources (training, books and online material) to support this area of ministry. The God s Story series (Becky May) and Comfort in the Darkness (Rachel Turner) spearheaded a list of eight new books. BRF s Rachel Turner speaking at the Hand in Hand conference, February 2017 4 ( Phil Williams)
Parenting for Faith in the real world In 2016 thanks to the generosity of a private trust we were able to invest in bringing Rachel Turner s Parenting for Faith programme into the BRF fold. Its goal: to inspire and equip parents (and carers) as they nurture children s faith in everyday family life. The team developed a free eight-session online video course for individuals and groups, and an extensive library of shared ideas and reflections on the website (parentingforfaith.org) became available in summer 2017. For years, Rachel (author of several BRF books) had developed the vision independently, believing that it s parents who are best placed to model for their children how to stay God-connected in the rough and tumble of family life. BRF now supports Rachel and her team in extending this mission to empower parents, carers and extended family members. In the wake of the March 2017 Westminster Bridge terror attack, a reflection posted on the Parenting for Faith Facebook page, entitled Tips for spiritually processing the London attacks with your kids, reached 37,400 people in ten days. Parenting for Faith gives parents the confidence to share their faith openly with children in every circumstance 5
Understanding the Bible, growing in faith Resources to nurture growth The goal of BRF s Bible reading notes, books and other online and printed resources together with our annual events programme is to help people grow as Christians through biblical understanding, prayer and spiritual formation wherever they are on their faith journey. Hope in the darkness In spring 2016, a fortnight of Bible reading notes in New Daylight, inspired by writer Rachel Boulding s cancer journey, resulted in a deluge of responses from readers. At their suggestion we published Facing Death as a separate booklet. Although Rachel sadly died a year later, we still receive messages of gratitude and appreciation for her writing. As a Macmillan nurse caring for patients with cancer, I have tried so many times to put into words the feelings and thoughts that Rachel Boulding has poured into her writing. I am so grateful for her honesty and insight into faith and hope, when dealing with lifethreatening illness. Thank you so much. New Daylight reader 6
Highlighted books from this year Lent Advent BRF events: creating space for God BRF also encourages people to take time out to invest in their spiritual journey through our events programme. Our one-day Women s Conference (in collaboration with Woman Alive/CPO) and the sixth annual Festival of Prayer (co-hosted by the Diocese of Oxford) were each attended by 200 people, while our nine Quiet Days attracted a total of 211 participants. I gained a great deal from just being and I ve learned that I MUST give myself more personal time with God using the examples from the sessions in which I took part. Festival of Prayer participant 7
Transforming communities We believe that when it comes to living out the Christian faith in the real world, no one can do it alone. We need each other. So BRF s programmes aim to grow, inspire and equip groups of Christians who can in turn reach out to their extended communities and make a difference. Our approach is: interdenominational to address the needs of a range of interest groups, including families, father figures and older people to play an active role at the cutting edge of these ministries to provide a professional education service to support the provision of RE in primary schools to work in partnership with others to promote best practice. 8
the Messy Church way The biggest single factor in the turnaround and new growth in the numbers of children and families participating in the life of churches in the last few years would appear, from looking at the figures for individual churches, to be the expansion of Messy Church. Bob Jackson, What Makes Churches Grow? Vision and Practice in Effective Mission (Church House Publishing, 2015) by engaging fathers We held our first Who Let The Dads Out? on Saturday. We are really excited the feedback was really encouraging. Some dads were regulars from church, some were on the fringe of the church family and at least seven hadn t been in the building before. Who Let The Dads Out? leader through spiritual care for older people The main task of Anna Chaplains and their equivalents is to change perceptions around ministry among older people. There are barriers to cross, but we ll not give up, because it s the right thing to do. The Gift of Years Anna Chaplaincy advocate, Newcastle upon Tyne through exploring Christianity in primary schools The head teacher of a small community primary school in rural Buckinghamshire shared her concern with the local vicar that the children seemed to be more isolated and less community-minded or friendly. The vicar said, I know just the thing you need a Barnabas RE Day. Barnabas in Schools team member 9
Messy Church making thousands of disciples worldwide Messy Church is bringing new people into the Christian family all over the world. A recent study* reported that Messy Churches score highly in drawing the non-churched, less than average for the de-churched and among the lowest for drawing existing Christians. The year ending March 2017 saw a 13% increase in the number of registered Messy Churches, including the first in Albania and Mauritius. BRF s Messy Church team continued to visit congregations, train leaders, network, share knowledge and develop resources, including a popular new strand on Messy Discipleship. In May 2016, the first international Messy Church conference brought together 220 lay and ordained ministers from twelve countries. Development of the Messy Church Does Science project started in 2016, as a way of bringing science into church and celebrating God s creation. It also provides activities that appeal to boys and older children. The project aims to provide Messy Churches with safe and simple scientific activities to try in church. A great deal of interest was seen on social media, with the project materials scheduled to launch in spring 2017. Messy Vintage, a missional offshoot developed in Jersey, is now bringing fellowship and encouragement to elderly people living alone or in care homes. BRF s Messy Church and The Gift of Years teams are now piloting it in different contexts across the UK. Two Messy Mini Books were published: Easter Family Time Christmas Family Time WINNER There were more people in our first Messy Church this evening than over our ten churches combined on a Sunday morning. Anglican vicar and BRF Twitter follower Eden award for Best Children s Resource 10 *The Day of Small Things, a report by the Church Army Research Unit, exploring the impact of different fresh expressions of church.
Over 500,000 people attend Messy Church each month 3,680 registered Messy Churches worldwide 132 regional coordinators supporting local Messy Churches 11
Who Let The Dads Out? - reaching out to fathers and father figures Who Let The Dads Out? inspires and equips churches for missional outreach to father figures and their children. The Key Locations Project was launched to extend the programme s reach into London, Birmingham, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In May 2016, the first Ministry to Fathers teaching weekend launched as part of Cliff College s short course programme inspired the planning of further regional training days, beginning with an event in Manchester in January 2017. In spring and summer 2016, members of the Who Let The Dads Out? community came together to climb the highest peaks in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and to pray for outreach to fathers. 240 Who Let The Dads Out? groups reached 7,680 father figures and their children Almost 100,000 bacon butties (and similar) served a year at Who Let The Dads Out? groups! Among the participants on Mountain Dad: Snowdon were three generations of the same family father, son and grandfather 12
This is the best thing ever to hit Aldershot. We ve noticed plenty of preschool stuff for mums and their children, but there s nothing for dads. The chaplaincy team thought Wouldn t it be great to have this place set up where dads could meet other dads along with their children on a Saturday morning, have a bacon butty and a chat? Army chaplain who started the first Who Let The Dads Out? group in the British Armed Forces, November 2016 22 volunteer regional representatives supporting local groups 17% increase in the number of registered groups around the UK 13
The Gift of Years - spiritual care for older people The reality of an ageing demographic has made The Gift of Years programme a key priority for BRF in particular the Anna Chaplain model of ecumenical, community-based chaplaincy to older people, which sits at its heart. In November 2016 we hosted a second 24-hour gathering for members of The Gift of Years network from around the UK to share experiences and resources. Despite a long gestation period from initial enquiry through to commissioning, the network of Anna Chaplains (and others in similar roles) almost tripled in size. The Gift of Years team continued to work with others to develop training courses, and BRF published resources. The first copy of Bible Reflections for Older People was presented in November 2016 to a 108-year-old reader Joanna Collicutt s Thinking of You, a resource for the spiritual care of people with dementia, was published in March 2017. The Gift of Years network grew from 12 to 34, including eight Anna Chaplains appointed by Rochester diocese Anna Chaplains offer companionship and spiritual care in homes and care homes @ 14 111 Anna Chaplain information packs were sent out to serious enquirers and followed up by the team
Barnabas in Schools - Christianity comes to life in primary schools BRF s Barnabas in Schools team (of two staff members and twelve freelancers) enables primary school teachers and pupils to explore Christianity creatively and confidently within the curriculum through Barnabas RE Days for pupils and inspiring and practical teacher-training sessions. It also offers online resources and participates in the national debate on RE. 141 Barnabas RE Days delivered to 28,500 pupils 14 INSET training sessions delivered to 334 teachers The new Barnabas theme for 2016 17, Creating Character, was particularly popular, especially in the light of a reported rise in bullying in the playground. Schools are offered two Barnabas RE Day themes, one focusing on the values of Friendship, Forgiveness and Peace, and the other on Compassion, Service and Community. 216,110 Barnabas in Schools website visits 27,330 ideas downloaded Fantastic delivery and content. The session really got the children using high-order thinking skills. Very useful for teachers as well. Teacher 15
Finance matters Charitable activities 43.8% ( 1,004,254) Income 2,291,898 Bank investments/ other income 0.5% ( 10,660) Grants, donations and legacies 55.7% ( 1,276,984) Charitable activities 94.5% ( 1,883,228) Expenditure 1,992,726 Raising funds 5.5% ( 109,498) 16 For more detailed information about our income and expenditure for 2016 17, please see our complete report and accounts at brf.org.uk/funding.
You matter The work of The Bible Reading Fellowship depends entirely on the generosity of our supporters. We are grateful for all gifts financial and prayer support, as well as the gift of time and energy from those who are directly involved in our programmes and activities. It matters when you give Regular giving allows us to plan for the future and to find new ways to help people understand and follow Jesus Christ. You can set up a direct debit quickly and easily at brf.org.uk/donate or by calling 01865 319700. It matters when you pray The entire BRF team appreciates your prayer support, especially our programme team members, who often work on their own, in new places and with people they ve never met before. Please sign up to receive our printed seasonal prayer diary or our electronic fortnightly prayer diary at brf.org.uk/pray, or call 01865 319700. It matters when you get involved Even if you aren t able to play an active role in our programmes and activities, you can still help us spread the word and make connections. Please sign up to receive our latest updates at brf.org.uk/keepintouch, and follow BRF and our various programmes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Alternatively, please call 01865 319700 to be sent our seasonal BRF News to stay up to date with how BRF is transforming communities and lives around the globe. Knowing that BRF friends are praying for us helps us know we re never alone, and that we re part of a much larger community that cares about us. Thank you! Lucy Moore, Messy Church founder and former Barnabas in Schools team member
What does it mean to follow Jesus? Who will help me journey towards him? BRF s purpose is to enable people to understand what it means to follow Jesus and to help those who choose to do so. (Top right photo on front cover by Wim Roose; page 7 Thinkstock; page 12 photo by Kerstin Oderhem; page 15 photo by Stella Wiseman) BRF, 15 The Chambers, Vineyard, Abingdon OX14 3FE +44 (0)1865 319700 enquiries@brf.org.uk brf.org.uk BRF The Bible Reading Fellowship is a Registered Charity (233280)