ALOVE
is 1 this month. 1 year into a new vision
and strategy. But don’t strike up the
candles and party poppers just yet. It’s
been an exciting year filled with equal measures
of promise and practise. We’ve witnessed
particularly colourful waters flowing under
the bridge. But this is not a time for reminiscing:
there are those in society still in grave
need of action, many pages of our mission
wait unturned, would-be disciples await their
making and God’s heart cries out for
our communion and worship. In other words,
ALOVE’s four essentials still have some
way to go. So, for our birthday we take a
closer look at each essential and how it has
been worked out this past year. Beginning
with discipleship.
1.
Can you tell us your full name and your role
in ALOVE?
Janet Robson –Divisional Youth Officer
for ALOVE East Scotland
2.
How has the first year of ALOVE gone in your
area of East Scotland?
It’s hard to say! I think there’s
a desire among young people and their leaders
to see further development and expression
of the four core essentials in local and divisional
settings. I’m not sure if ALOVE in the
actual brand sense is totally part of people’s
consciousness yet as they work towards that.
3. Which elements have young you most enjoyed
and picked up on?
I enjoy any opportunity to be involved in
cell groups- the discipleship essential. I’m
keen to encourage cell because, at its best,
it should quite naturally feed into the other
3 essentials.
4.
How have cells groups been working in your
area?
Cell groups are emerging at a local (Corps)
level. There have already been many challenges
in working out how to actually make it work
– many people agree that cell is good
in theory – making it happen is more
difficult. |
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| Some
of the challenges: |
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Deciding on the day, time, frequency
of cell – some of the groups have
experimented with this and are trying
to find the day/frequency etc that works
best for them. |
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| • |
Reliable leadership |
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Taking confidentiality seriously |
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Building real trust |
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| Signs
of encouragement/hope: |
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Young people ready to share leadership |
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Young people wanting to work out how
their faith works in the whole of their
lives |
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Young people leading the way in some
Corps – where older adults do
not yet meet on a regular basis for
cell or small group study (this is a
challenge too!) |
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5.
Were your young people running cell groups
before the launch of ALOVE?
Not on a regular basis.
6.
How many young people are involved in your
local cell groups on a regular basis?
I would estimate that around 25 young people
around the division are involved in cell groups
on a regular basis.
7.
Have you found the weekly cell group notes
on the website helpful?
I visit the website at least once a week and
always have a look at the cell notes. I’ve
tried to make people aware that they are there
and ready to use!
It’s always good to have ‘ready
to use’ material on hand – a Godsend
for many of the busy people who work as volunteers
in our Corps.
8.
Where would you like your cell groups to be
in a year’s time?
It would be great to see more cell groups
in general! Aside from that I’d love
to see cell life having a clear impact on
wider issues – so that cells can be
seen to result in people making better choices
and being more intentional trying to live
lives that demonstrate the character and values
of Jesus.
9.
Have any young people come forward and wanted
to lead a cell group themselves?
Yes – for example - the cell group at
Edinburgh Gorgie is peer led. Some of the
people involved in the cell group are now
planning to start a cell group for the younger
teens.
10.
Have you got any interesting stories of something
that has happened as a result of an ALOVE
cell group?
I think it’s early days yet. We’re
still trying to get into the habit of cell
– hopefully as time goes on we’ll
have some good stories to share.
11. Which oif
the four ‘W’s is most popular
in your cell group?
Hard to say - from my own experience and talking
to others about cell I think people really
appreciate the opportunity for discussion
in the word and witness focus of the cell
groups.
12.
What needs to happen to help cell groups become
more fully integrated in your area?
Good question! I don’t think cell will
become truly integrated until everyone involved,
values its worth and is committed to making
it happen. Hopefully we’ll see that
happening more and more over the coming months
and year. |
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