"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city into which I have carried you.  Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:7)

WHAT IS DETACHED YOUTHWORK?

Detached work is youthwork among young people who are unattached to any acitivity or club.  It is done in the context of one-to-one contact with young people who hang out on street corners, in parks, car parks, pubs and outside chip shops! Its about working with young people where they are, in their own environment, on their terms and responding to theirs needs as they are identified.

AIM

To build relationships with the young people we meet and to present the gospel of Jesus Christ in a relational way.

WHY?

The underlying philosophy is acceptance because:

• Young people who gather on the streets are often viewed as a threat by the community or at risk to themselves.
• As we build relationships with them we do not label or judge them.
• We don’t condemn them BUT neither do we condone all their actions.

CURRENT PROJECTS

The detached youthwork project that Cornerstone was involved in at Sish Lane has changed and is now an arts and crafts project for young people. This is staffed by the Borough Council and a couple of members of the local Baptist church. The building where the group meet and the surrounding area has undergone some fairly dramatic building works, and at times this has meant that the room has not been available. The numbers attending have been fairly mixed, but the availability of a permanent room should allow more consistency over the coming terms.

Maxine and Pete (the detached team) have been focusing a bit more on the Longmeadow area of the town, and have been going out twice a month on a Tuesday night. There has been some interest from the local church (Longmeadow Evangelical Church) and the hope is that the team will grow, with these volunteers. This project is in the very early stages, and we would really appreciate prayers for the beginnings and developing of relationships.

PRAYER– THE KEY TO THE WORK

For the safety of the team as they go out each week
For the young people we meet – that we would become good role models, to help them make more positive life choices.
For the possibility of doing another night of detached youthwork, that the right people would become available.