Durham Children Feature In Presentation To The Queen

Children’s Ministry Adviser for the Diocese, Sharon Pritchard, was invited to attend the service and to meet the Queen. She gave a short presentation on the Children’s Council mini missionaries project. This was recently recognised by Scripture Union through the award of £5000 to the Children’s Council from their Good News fund. The fund which is part of Scripture Union’s 95 Campaign, is based on the statistics that 95% of children and young people aren’t in church and the need to find ways to address that.

The Children’s Council came up with a project called ‘Mini Missionaries’. The mission opportunity is to enable the children to engage in peer evangelism – child to child. The aim is to enable children to engage in a series of activities and events where they share their faith with their friends and other children in new ways.

Sharon said: “This is an amazing opportunity to share with the Queen and others what we are doing here in the Diocese of Durham, that we are working with children as one of our main priorities and that the children are active followers of Jesus, engaged in mission and eager to share their faith with other children.  I am thankful for this opportunity to share stories about the children’s plans for our Mini Missionaries project as it highlights our Children’s Council and values the work they are involved in.”

The sermon for the service was delivered by The Rt Revd, Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham who is currently President of Scripture Union and has been one of their long-standing volunteers and an ex-employee.

Bishop Paul said: “I am delighted that Sharon was invited to present the work of the Children’s Council to The Queen. This is a really significant event, and to have the work we do in this area highlighted for all to see is very special.

”Some of the service will be televised early next year in a special edition of Songs of Praise hosted by Katherine Jenkins with another long-term supporter Floella Benjamin doing one of the readings.”

Over 100 children and young people from around country attended the service alongside Scripture Union International leaders from many nations. 

Picture by Keith Blundy