New year, new building…new job?

Kerith’s Families Lead Sonia Hopkin talks about her experience of coming to our site with her children for the first time, and shares an opportunity for someone to work for Kerith, coordinating Kids Ministry at Farnborough.

Around seven years ago, my family and I came along to Sandhurst School one Sunday morning for the first time, keen to find out if Kerith was to be our new church family. We dropped off our older two children at the Kerith Kids group for their age and were amazed to find that even our twin boys, who were around 18 months old at the time, could go along to a group designed just for them! They literally slid into their group (seriously – they entered by a slide!) and we waited round the corner to hear if they were happy and settled, before going to the adult meeting ourselves.

We possibly thought at the time that we were the ones having a ‘break’ that morning from the full on demands of parenting, but we soon discovered that day that it wasn’t just us who had been blessed to spend quality time with Jesus that morning. Our children left Kerith Kids excitedly telling us what they had learnt and who they met, showing us the actions to their worship songs! In the next few weeks I went and served in the Kerith Kids Team myself and was blown away by the dedicated team of volunteers who sat playing with, teaching and praying over our children. I also remember how welcoming everyone was after the meeting, having snatched conversations over drinks trying to build relationships with one eye on our kids – people of all generations looking out for and welcoming families such as ours. It felt like home.

Fast forward a few years and as a church family we have our own building, really putting down roots locally and an amazing opportunity to welcome more people of all ages into our church family. Making space for more people to find home with us, helping them find their way back to God.

We still have a dedicated team of kids volunteers who serve our youngest Kerith family members each week; discipling them, praying and playing with them. We passionately believe children should enjoy church in their own age appropriate ways and that they each can have a personal relationship with Jesus for themselves.

We have a vacancy now at Kerith Farnborough for the next person to coordinate our Kids Ministry at our site. This will be partly empowering our volunteer teams on Sundays to deliver the existing Kerith Kids programme – but it’s also a fantastic chance to grow something new in Farnborough! There are endless opportunities of what Kerith Kids ministry could look like in our town - on Sundays and throughout the week. Building relationships with local schools, the local authority – perhaps hosting after school clubs, holiday clubs, Sparklers toddler groups, parenting groups…the list goes on! It’s a fresh, fertile patch of soil waiting for the next gardener to come along, to plant, water and nurture seedlings as they grow.

Do join us in praying for the right person to fill this important role. What an amazing opportunity for someone to develop new and fresh ways to share the gospel to families in Farnborough…could it be God is prompting YOU to apply?!

Are you passionate about the discipleship of children?  We have a vacancy for a Kids Co-ordinator role at our Farnborough site in which you would support the Families Team in building site volunteer teams and supporting them in the delivery of Church to our younger audience.  We would love to hear from you if you feel called to encourage children and young people become passionate followers of Jesus in this two day per week role. You can find the Job Description here. 

If you would like to know more information about the Farnborough Kids Co-ordinator role please contact Kerith Farnborough Site Pastor Heather Pocock, or Families Lead Sonia Hopkin, or if you would like to apply you can e-mail Harriet at harriet.ward@kerith.church who will send you a recruitment pack by return.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 2nd February at 12pm with interviews to be held during the afternoon of Wednesday 9th February. 

Of course we also need volunteers in our Kids team, if you want to sign up to serve you can do so here.