Jane Simpkins

Children's minister Jane Simpkins, a leader on the Treginnis Falcon Camp and graduate of the Arrow Leadership Programme, tells us about her experiences leading a Falcon Camp, and the impact Arrow has had on her ministry.

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'This year on the Treginnis Falcon Camp, we felt led to listen more to the heart of the children, and consider the way they'd like to find out about God.

'We had some key children who we wanted to get alongside in their own mission. There were about eight children who were part of the church, and we asked them to invite whoever they wanted to come on the Falcon Camp with them - those they knew from school who would most benefit from a holiday.

'We also asked a wider group of children what they would like to do on the Falcon Camp. We found that there were less behavioural problems and more engagement than in previous years, and we thought this could be because we'd specifically listened to the children.

'We were keen to meet the children where they were at. Many had no experience of church and Christian faith, and we wanted the teaching to really speak to them. We focused on 'What's your story?', encouraging the children to think about the story of their lives, and then consider the part God could play in their story.

'Arrow really helped me with forming a good vision for the Falcon Camp, and leading the team well. It crystallised my sense of calling to mission outside the church and it strengthened my strategy and long-term perseverance to bring about a vision for schools' work.

'When I was on Arrow, we were asked what one thing we'd love to do if we had no restrictions. For me, this was mission and schools' work in Bristol. I'm about to take up a more strategic role in schools' ministry, and what I learned on Arrow really fed into me realising that call.'

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