Churches share fresh vision for the Isle of Man

A shared vision for the Isle of Man has expanded churches’ mission partnership with Scripture Union Ministries Trust (SUMT) beyond wildest dreams!  SUMT, headed by Alex and Amanda Brown, has been working with schools on the island for the past 20 years, and they are invited into every secondary school to develop Christian Union and Just Looking clubs.

But the response of churches in recent months has overwhelmed Alex and Amanda. They were commissioned by Anglican and Methodist churches to review the state of youth and children’s work, and suggest ways forward. So they spent an intensive six months interviewing leaders representing 90 churches on the Isle of Man.

Alex said: ‘What we got from them was a picture not just of where things are at the moment, but of a shared future vision that all churches could work towards, and we put forward our suggestions for ways that we could work to get to that common future.’

Today SUMT has achieved verbal and financial support for the next three to five years from the Anglican Synod, Methodist District, United Reformed Churches, Elim churches, and other key independent churches. ‘It’s a very exciting place to be in,’ said Alex. ‘And we’ll be teaming up with the major players in these denominations to equip, train, challenge and support children’s and youth work across the island.’

During this time Alex and Amanda will also continue to develop schools work, training pupils and leaders to run their clubs, and accepting invitations to take assemblies and lessons.

Longer term, their vision is to establish a volunteer year-out scheme next year based at SUMT’s Mallmore Guest House, in Port St. Mary.  They’ll disciple and mentor team members, working, living, eating and playing alongside each other for the year.  ‘We’ll be able to be a great resource for the local churches and schools,’ said Alex. Each year-out volunteer will get:

• Scripture Union’s School for Schools Workers one-week course.
• The Share Jesus HistoryMakers intensive course for young leaders over two weeks.
• Weekly Bible teaching from Amanda, Alex, and other local leaders.
• A one-week course of their own choosing.
• A one-week course at Mattersey Hall Bible College on creative arts in ministry.

Alex said: ‘The community feel at Mallmore answers so many of the fundamental issues surrounding volunteer years, especially issues such as support, pastoral care, and feelings of isolation, and it will really fulfil us as a couple.  It will also mean that SUMT are able to resource the churches and schools with a team.’