Wishing you a very Happy Easter!
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Hello and welcome to the April 2012 Edition of WhatsLauraUpTo! I
hope that you are able to take the time to grab a cup of tea and a
biscuit and have a little read of what’s been going on.
It’s been a fairly busy few months with events and family birthdays!
On 3rd February, my nephew Billy turned 2, then March saw my
brother Russell’s birthday, my mum’s birthday and my brother-in-
law Matt’s birthday!
I have managed to squeeze in a
few trips back to Braintree and
some days out with my sister
and her children, Maddie, Emi
and Billy which is always lots of
fun.
I have recently re-taken up tap dancing on a Monday night! I used
to dance when I was younger but stopped about 7 years ago so am
a bit rusty! It’s lots of fun and I’m really enjoying it.
I’m really looking forward to some time off over Easter to relax with
family. We are heading up to Selby for a few days to spend time
with Andy’s parents which I am really looking forward to! We will
also get to catch up with some great friends while we are away.
Then the busyness really starts when we come back!!
I hope you have a lovely Easter, whatever you are up to and have
the opportunity to reflect on what it really is all about.
Take Care,
Family/
Friends
Billy and Andy
Things have been going really well at Arise
Ministries HQ! On 29th February, Ed (my boss!)
and his wife Emma welcomed baby Ella Grace
into the world. She is very tiny and very cute!!
As well as all the events we have been taking
part in, we have been doing some updates to
our website—if you get a chance go to
www.ariseministries.org.uk/latestnews to have a look!
We have 11 confirmed dates for 2012 Just a ‘child’?
Regional Equipping Events and are beginning to book
in our 2013 tour.
We also have a new promotional video for Just a
‘child’? - view that on our website.
We have been very excited to hear how our Easter
resource ‘The Great Hot Cross Bun Hunt’ has been used
across the country—in assemblies, after school clubs,
family services and special events. It’s awesome to think
of the impact that is being had on children and families
at Easter time.
Andy Keel has joined us for a few events in the past months which has
been very helpful! It also means that for the first time on 21st April,
Arise Ministries will be in 2 places at once! Andy and I are heading to
Worcester for an exhibition, while Ed heads to Eastbourne for a Just a
‘child’? Equipping Event.
We’re very excited for all that the future hold for Arise Ministries!
Ministry
20th-22nd January: Worship Rally at Trinity Baptist Church, West Norwood
Arise Ministries were invited to London to lead Trinity Baptist’s Children’s
Worship Rally. We spent the Saturday afternoon looking at the story of The
Good Samaritan, who our neighbours are and how we can practically help
them – but also how we can take hold of the truths in the Bible and not just
hear it as a story. We had about 60 children from the church and a great time
learning, craft-making and singing with Big Fish Little Fish who came along with
us. On the Sunday Ed spoke at both morning
services about the challenge before us when
it comes to Children’s Ministry. It was a great
weekend with a church we have worked with
before on several occasions (although the
first time I have been there) and they were
great hosts – we were fed extremely well!
3rd-5th February: Children’s and Families Ministries Conference, Eastbourne
We spent the weekend at the national conference giving away free
Hot Cross Buns in promotion of our Easter resource ‘The Great Hot
Cross Bun Hunt’. We had lots of great conversations and a chance
to share with people the vision and passion of Arise Ministries. The
snow came on Saturday night which meant a few people left early,
but it didn’t cause us any problems – well until Ed got stuck in the
office car park when we came to unload!
17th February: SOLID Remix, Chelmsford Cathedral
I was involved in helping out technically at this SOLID event. It was a great
evening with just over 200 young people attending. We had a variety of
activities including a pamper area, inflatable assault course and games
consoles. Jon Keel (Andy’s brother) led worship and there were a series of
testimony videos on the theme ‘I am second’.
20th March: Church of England Children’s Advisers Conference, Hoddesdon
Andy Keel and I headed to High Leigh Conference Centre to exhibit in the
Marketplace at the Anglican 2012 National Children’s Work Advisers’
Conference, attended primarily by the children’s work advisers from the
different Anglican diocese’ around the country. We were one of 14
Diary
organisations providing a
‘marketplace’ for day one of the conference. The
day was a great opportunity to share how Arise
Ministries can help equip parishes and churches
and also enable inter-denominational links to be
developed.
24th March: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event at Sandy Baptist Church,
Bedfordshire
We had a great day with a group consisting of a variety of positions and roles.
We had those who describe themselves as
team members, we had paid children’s
workers, we had team leaders and even a
church minister. We were looking at 3 key
topics:
- Children – within our reach.
- Children – ready for release.
- Children – growing as disciples.
Some of the feedback already received from the day includes:
“It has helped me to see our ministry in a new way.”
“I have found the day relevant and helpful to our present day.”
“A stimulating day, well organised and run. I would commend the programme
to all involved in Children’s Ministry!”
31st March: ‘The Great Hot Cross Bun Hunt’ at Newbury Baptist
We are working closely with this church, having been there in January to
deliver some training for their holiday club and we are partnering with them
to run a Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in June.
We had a great couple of hours with 12 children exploring the real meaning
of Easter with the help of a Hot Cross Bun! The children got stuck in to all the
activities and enthusiastically ‘dun, dun duh’ed
every time Ed said ‘The Great Hot Cross Bun
Hunt’! It was encouraging for both us and the
church as we discovered afterwards that the
children were about half and half in those that
attended the church and those that didn’t. In
particular there were two boys that they hadn’t
seen at the church for the past year.
Diary
Upcoming
Events
6th-15th April: Easter Holiday
21st April: Exhibition in Worcester
Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in Eastbourne, East
Sussex
24th April: My 24th Birthday!
4th-6th May: Baptist Assembly, London —Running the Children's
Programme
12th May: SOLID Remix Sports Day, Romford—Stage led activities
19th May: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in Plymouth, Devon
26th May: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in Croxley Green,
Hertfordshire
2nd June: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in Southampton,
Hampshire
18th-22nd June: Holiday in Selby
21st June: Andy’s 22nd Birthday!
23rd June: Just a ‘child’? Equipping Event in Newbury Berkshire
• Finances:
• Personal: Please pray for my personal finances, and thank God
for His provision for me, enabling me to continue what I feel He
has called me to do.
• Arise Ministries: Please thank God and pray for those people
who are supporting the work of Arise Ministries, enabling us to
equip churches in reaching out to the children in their
communities.
• Health: Please pray that I keep healthy!
• Dad: Please pray for my dad who is still suffering from pain in his
spine despite having had injections.
• Andy: Please pray for my boyfriend Andy in all that he is involved in
at Viz-A-Viz Ministries and for us as a couple that we can switch off
from work talk when we need to!
• Opportunities for Arise: Please pray for new opportunities for Arise
Ministries to help equip and enthuse churches in their children’s
ministry.
For a day-by-day prayer diary please visit: www.whatslauraupto.com/pray
Finances
I believe that God has called me to do what I am doing, and part of that is
trusting him to provide the finances I need.
A massive thank you to everyone who supports me regularly. It’s so lovely
to know that people feel the work I am doing is valuable and wish to
support me financially in this.
If you feel you are able to support me financially please contact me or visit:
www.whatslauraupto.com/support
To support me with a one off gift online please visit:
www.everyclick.com/laurabayliss
Thank you very much.
Prayer
Points
Arise Ministries
Phoenix Court
Christopher Martin Road
Basildon
Essex
SS14 3EZ
01268 530531
Facebook: Laura Bayliss
Twitter: @bayliss206
Contact
Me
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